Girl's Weekend in Vegas

 There aren't many perks with turning forty, but at least there's this.... it's a heck of an excuse for a Girl's Weekend in Las Vegas!!!!! Four of us soon-to-be forty year olds met in Sin City and had a FABULOUS time. The gals consisted of Katherine (friend from elementary school), Rene (friend from junior high) and Jeri (friend from highschool). Katherine and I figured it was our "Ruby Anniversary" of friendship. That's a good reason for a trip, if I've ever heard one.

I flew out of Minneapolis, which means I had an almost 8 hour drive and a hotel room just to GET to the airport. I was all alone for an entire day. It.was.heavenly. Don't get me wrong. I love my family passionately. But getting the chance to actually miss them once in awhile is a rare and wonderful treat. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. 

We girls spent our time lounging by the pool, eating, laughing, shopping, and walk walk walk walking along the Vegas strip.  All roads lead to the MGM Grand in Vegas, just in case y'all didn't know.  Another little-known fact about the Vegas strip.... there is nowhere to sit down.  Unless you're spending money, that is.  You know - on slots, or at a restaurant.  Methinks this is on purpose.  Sly dogs.  After six gazillion hours (no exaggeration) walking in my un-supportive flip flops, I was about to collapse, so decided to splurge and invest a single greenback into a penny slot-machine.  The goal was to  see how long I could make it last, to give my poor hooves a break.  Much to my surprise, I hit the penny slot jackpot!!!  YES!!!  That's right.  $18.40.  CHA-CHING!!!  I'm no dummy, and wasn't about to push my luck, so cashed in immediately.  That was the extent of my gambling the entire weekend, and I left on a decided high note.  Us high-rollers need to keep it real, so I didn't let it go to my head.

 Rene's big win. ((AHEM))) Why,yes.  That does say $.10.  Yes it does.

 Fremont Street - old Vegas.  A little seedy, but pretty dang cool.

Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.  One of the few "good deals" in Vegas. 

Those are some tired feet, let me tell ya.

Whose leg is who???? I can't tell.

At one point, Katherine very nearly met her dream of instigating a  "flash mob" sing-along on the shuttle back to the condo.  She got at least half the bus going in a rousing rendition of SOMETHING.  Just... no one knew the words.  It wasn't a very catchy song.  If only Prince had come on the radio at that very moment, I'm sure that we would've had every last person singing their heart out.    So close -  yet so far. 

Our last evening, we went to see Cirque Du Soleil's Elvis show. AWESOME. Incredible. Just.... way way way way cool. I honestly didn't know the human body could move like that. And I now understand why Elvis has made generations of females swoon. So fun.

 That thar be a dragon made of solid chocolate.  Good thing it was behind glass for it's own protection.

Free birthday cake at the Venetian!!  Don't ask me why we're wearing coffee filters on our heads.  The waiter handed them to us, and we just did it, like good little girls. 

 I have the best friends in the world.  So lucky to get to spend time with them!!!  And so blessed to have a husband and in-laws willing to watch the kids while mommy went to go play.  A big shout out to big sis for the use of the cool time-share, too!!! 

Roll credits.

Daddy/Daughter Adventure Day

Mother's Day Love Letters

The actual DAY of Mother's Day, my children essentially forgot.  Around bed time, I reminded them that they had said they made me something at school, and they belatedly remembered the marigolds they had grown.   The next day, I checked their backpacks, and found these expressions of love and devotion.  Little boys, little boys.  You have no idea how much stuff like this means to your mama!!!!

O.K.  I hate fish, and Quinn knows it.  I have no idea why he put that on here.



This is Colby's.  He called me a Hot Chick.   I can't decide whether to be flattered or offended.

To say that I'm "great at cleaning the house" is more than a little inaccurate, but it makes me feel good that he appreciates my effort ;).

OHHHHH, you little turkeys.  HOW I love you. 

Meaningful markers - MiningGazette.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Michigan - The Daily Mining Gazette

Meaningful markers - MiningGazette.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Michigan - The Daily Mining Gazette

Group places cemetery flags

May 14, 2012

By GARRETT NEESE - DMG writer (gneese@mininggazette.com) , The Daily Mining Gazette

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HOUGHTON - In advance of Memorial Day, community groups placed almost 1,300 flags on the graves of Copper Country veterans Saturday at Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton.
The Marine Corps League has undertaken the project for the past decade, said Paul Smigowski of Keweenaw Detachment 1016.
About 70 volunteers from Reserve Officer Training Corps, Junior ROTC, Michigan Technological University Volunteers Club, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Good Will Farm and the MCL placed flags by 1,290 graves Saturday morning.
"I think the big thing is for the younger kids, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts," Smigowski said. "You've got a little bit of personal involvement of remembering the veterans of the past years, of realizing there's a lot of people they may not know were veterans, but in fact did serve their country. They come home, go back into civilian life and don't make a big deal they were veterans."
About 10 a.m., three students at the Good Will Farm had only four of their original 50 flags left.
"I like helping out the military," said Daniel Hull. "I plan on going into the military."
Quinn Aho, 7, of Chassell, was placing flags as part of Cub Scout Troop 201.
"I get to do good activities," he said.
Once they were done, the volunteers had grilled hot dogs from Vollwerth's and Seeburg Vending and reflected on a job well done.
"A lot of the plots have enough flag density in it, that they can stand back and say, 'We did this,'" Smigowski said.

Mother's Day

Mama Aho and her gnarly brood.

Preparing for Memorial Day

This is the second time now that the kids have helped put flags on the graves our area veterans.  Dad took the kids to the cemetary this year, while Mom was at work.  So cool for the kids to get even an inkling of what sacrifices others have made for their freedom.