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!!!