From Las Vegas to Long Beach

It's been so nice to be off of school and have a little fun with my sidekick!  Last weekend it was a trip to Las Vegas which was supposed to be a celebration of my little sister's FORTIETH birthday along with watching my dad bowl for the Bowling Sweepstakes.  The weekend ended up her celebrating everything else but her birthday.  Well, I must say that her friend Rhena and her sister Shana along with my sidekick had a GREAT time celebrating her birthday at the Hard Rock circular bar.  We then made our way to the MGM Grand but Steve and I left a little bit after we got there because it was very crowded and I'm not a huge fan of crowds.  Little did we know that the Billboard music awards were being held the next night...hence the major crowds.

All in all it was a great weekend spent with family and my sister's friends.  I even met and took a picture with Frankie Avalon!  He was doing performances at the hotel we were staying at and my brother in law thought out of all of us, I would be the one who had the guts to go up and ask for a picture.  Which he was correct. 

The last weekend was spent in California, again, this time for our daughter's graduation from CSU, Long Beach with her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and her teaching certification which was the UTEACH program that Long Beach provides.  It was a great week spent with family and friends.  I came out earlier to work and my sidekick drove out for the graduation and was nice enough to drive home with my little sister so Steve didn't have to sit at my parents house all day long. 

I love this picture.  She's so excied.

My family minus a few members (Duane, Nikki, Nathan and Bryce)

Never underestimate our dorkiness.

I am so very proud of my daughter and all she has accomplished.  It was a long journey to get here and I don't begrudge her any decision she made getting to this point.  I also wouldn't change anything I did to help her get to this place in her life.  All the hurdles she faced only made her a better person and will make her better teacher.

Her dad and step-mom threw a very nice graduation party for her at their house which I wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy but since I had to drive back down to San Diego for a very needed appointment, family time with my cousin and my aunt and lunch with a friend, it was necessary for me to leave early to get my beauty sleep.  Then it was back to Long Beach for dinner with a long time friend.  When I say long time friend I mean that our parents knew each other before we were both born, we went to tiny tots, kindergarten and the first four years of grade school together before I moved to Downey.  Then we met back up in high school again.  Lost touch for a few years but have reconnected and I enjoy our dinners and happy hours.  She's a very special lady who was the saint in our friendship to my devil.  I was a terrible child. 

Since my sidekick drove home with my sister, I made the trip home by myself (boo!).  It was nice to finally get home and be with Steve.  A week away from home is too long for me.  I love my time with my husband, sidekick, best friend, etc...  it's been a very nice time being home!!! 

I'm so glad it's SUMMER VACATION!

I can breathe a sigh of relief that this semester is over and done!  Although going back to school to get my degree in Biology is important and I am having a good time this second time around, it sure takes away from having fun and being able to upload little blog bits of what's happening with Steve and I here in Arizona!

So, this will be a catch up of information! 

The last three months have been stressful, exciting, fun, tiring and alot of back and forth trips to California for some fun and some business.  We had volleyball tournaments for Nicole, soccer games for Megan, baseball games for Nathan and a swim meet for Mia.  We couldn't be prouder of our nieces and nephews and their accomplishments!  Megan scored a goal from almost 3/4 of the soccer field, Nicole's "kills" during her volleyball tournaments had me jumping up and yelling "THAT MY NIECE!", Mia set an all time best in two of her swim meets.  So much so that she was even proud of herself and let's not forget about Nathan and his big hits with his even bigger bat.  While we were at his last baseball game I started laughing because as he ran from first to second base, it dawned on me that he runs JUST like his dad!  Duane used to remind me of little "GusGus" the mouse from the Cinderella movie.  What's even funnier is that Kimmy even remembered that!



Mia during her backstroke meet



Nikki and her kill...



Nathan hitting the ball during his game.



Megan after one her fabulous throws into play







The last five month also had us going to alot of Spring Training Games and that had my sister and her family coming into town for a long weekend. 



 

 

 

Steve and I also went to our first NASCAR race living in Arizona!  We went with my sister and the family and had a great time!  The roar of the engines as they came around the fourth turn was exhilarating and the whoosh of the cars kept me awake the entire time.  So much fun!

 

We were also able to catch up with friends whether it was here in Arizona or in California!

Karen, Lily and I having lunch in San Diego.

I loved seeing Rob and Beth in San Diego
and then the next weekend in Arizona!

Laurel at her 40th birthday party also.

 

 



One last photo to share with everyone is of the golf tournament that Steve plays in each year.  My ex-husband coordinates this golf tourney and the last few years he has been doing a fundraiser for those families in need.  This year it was for my little sister who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.  The Saturday round of golf had most of the guys dressed in pink which kind of freaked out everyone at the golf course until it was explained what was happening. 

In the Payne Stewart hat is my ex-brother in law Steve, next to him
is my brother in law Duane, then my husband Steve, my ex-husband's neighbor Bob,
and then to the very right it's my ex-husband Tom.

My handsome husband, my dad and my BIL, Duane.

 



The best story of that weekend came AFTER the golf tournament and Duane and Steve decided to stay one extra night instead of driving home that Saturday.  So, they decided to go see the new G.I. Joe movie and also decided to stay in the same pink outfits.  I thought it was hysterical to think this is how they went to see the movie.  I love that they are so secure in their manhood to walk around Temecula dressed in THAT much pink!!! Hope you all have had a wonderful first part of the year.  Looking forward to seeing what the next seven months bring.  Especially when school starts up again!