Hi Kenny and Kristi

Whew....we were about exausted from all of our Saturday outings but this outing I had to make a priority. Kenny O'Quinn was having a spaghetti supper fund raiser at Glory Inn off of GrassBur road. It was so good to see him. I truly felt like I was standing next to a Godly man. It was so good to see him and Kristi and their family. There were so many people there, wow....what a support team! We'll continue to pray for you Kenny. You are looking great and getting stronger and stronger every day!

Viva Las Vegas-A girls weekend!

Let the fun begin....I was invited by my friend, Sharon from Montana, to join her in a girls weekend out to Las Vegas to see Cher. At first....I didn't think the idea was even possible at all....How would I ever leave my babies? But....after talking it over with Cory, he said, "I should go, it would be good for the kids to be away from me for a while and it would also be good for me to get a break". So....I guess that is all it took....because the next thing I know....I was booking my flights!

Sharon was invited by her friend, Cindie who also invited Lisa from California to join us. These ladies were great.
Oh the Vodka tasting at Red Square was very interesting. We didn't do the vodka vault because Sharon and Cindie were not too interested in going in below zero temps, since they just left those temps in Montana. Who could blame them?
We tasted the Around the World vodka and found that they were very different from each other. Can't say all vodka's are the same any more!
oopsie...getting tipsie on sipping vodka!
They took my camera away during the Cher concert but I was able to take a few pictures of Cher's wardrobe cases outside the theater. I didn't realize how skinny and short she is. I think she wears a size 2.
Then...get this....during the concert, Cindie and I sneaked out to to to the potty and walked pass the souvenior stand and saw Dr. Phil's wife, Robin. I had my cell phone with me and I asked her if she would let me take a picture with her and she said, yes. She was really sweet!

ooopsie....getting kisses from a stranger on the street.
Outside of the Mirage
Yes, that is a starbucks cup in my hand. I was on a winning streak and I could afford to drink Starbucks!
We had a blast! Thanks Sharon for inviting me!
She got a manicure.....
while I got a pedicure!
This is Cindie!
And this is Lisa.
And this is the gang!
Don't ask me why I had a knife in my hand.....I think I was trying to protect my carrot cake!
Very nice hotel...except our electricity in the bathroom blew a fuse 2 different times. Arrggh....both times while I'm trying to get ready!
I should have taken a picture of our shot glasses....I found some that said, "WHO LET THE GIRLS OUT". I thought they were really appropriate.
oh....yea....one more tall tale.....Cory gave me the wrong wake up time on the day that we were leaving. I asked him to wake me up at 4 a.m. Las Vegas time and he said, that would be 2 a.m. his time, which I didn't question it....I was too tired to think. Needless to say.....it should have been 6 a.m. Ugh....so instead he woke me up at midnight Las Vegas time. I tried and tried to go back to sleep....but that wasn't working so, I went down stairs and played some Texas hold'em and did pretty good. It was a fun game (when you are winning).

We found these really awesome Lampwork glass necklaces and they were very cheap. I just found them listed on ebay too. I'm going to buy each of my secretaries one for Administrative Professionals Day on April 21. We also liked the Iris Impressions wrap around skirts, and I also found them A LOT cheaper on Ebay as well. Whoop.....I just love EBAY and being a BARGAIN HUNTER! Dave Ramsey should be proud of me! Speaking of, I got a whole lot of compliments on my silver heart necklace that I wore this day. They would ask where I got it and I was proud to tell them at a garage sale for five bucks. Their jaws dropped every time!
Shopping on Fremont Street.
We really enjoyed the Nathan Burton Magic and Comedy show at the Flamingo Casino. I think our tickets were $28 and included a dinner buffet that had snow crab, prime rib and duck. They also had a chocolate fountain and made crepes upon your order. It was really good!
Even Santa Claus was in Las Vegas this weekend....taking a break from his winter activities.

Okay.....I better explain the next picture....I really felt lucky this weekend, because I kept winning a little bit of money here and there. I ended up coming home with the same amount of money that I took (in other words...I won enough money to cover all my expenses while there...including shopping). But if I need to give credit where credit is due....I should really thank Sharon for dragging me away to the next activity. If it wasn't for her....I probably would have gambled it all away. But anyway......my biggest earnings were in shooting dice. I basically played the pay line and covered the 6 and the 8. I was raking in the chips, and when I cashed out, I tried to not count it, I just tucked it away in my luggage, or purse somewhere. But when I got home and unpacked, I was well pleased to find all that money tucked here and there. It was like winning all over again. So....I couldn't resist taking a picture of my "lucky" toes. Aren't they funny.....dice....so that everyone knows I went to Vegas.
I had a great time and I really, really, really appreciate Robin for taking care of my kids, Cory for encouraging me to go and for Sharon for inviting me. We are already talking about making this an annual event. I'm READY!

Early 50th B-day wishes for Cory

Cory was going to be working on his Birthday, but his schedule got changed where he will be home, but I had already assembled everyone to be together on Easter Sunday. Since....it would have been hard to get everyone together again....we went ahead and celebrated Cory's Birthday a little early. We couldn't let this birthday just slip by without acknowledging it....we needed to give him a little extra something to help him remember that he turned the BIG 50 this year.
He was pleasantly pleased to get the majority of the family together. He really enjoyed his little book of Birthday cards and notes. He felt really loved and appreciated as a Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle and Nephew!

Thanks everyone for helping make Cory's 50th Birthday special.

The Peter's family! We were missing Rachelle and Carson. We wish you could have been here! We were also missing Poppy and Konan. Sigh.......

The whole crew....

Uncle Teddy Bob and I traded out in this picture. Okay....see everyone again on Mother's Day weekend when we go to Great Wolf. It's going to be fun!

Easter at Home

The little man is feeling a little sick and wants to cuddle on the sick couch.
Sissy...on the other hand wanted to color eggs. We got lucky because Robin still had all of her egg coloring stuff still out on the picnic table....so, we just brought our eggs over and used her stuff. Have I told you lately how awesome our neighbors are? Well.....should I say more?

Awesome.....a pink and blue egg make PURPLE. Cassandra is amazed.

Wow.....look at all the pretty colors.

Mommy made a camouflage egg.

Then, of course Mr. Cotton had to put his spin on the Eater activities at home....He brought home lobster for dinner. I would say how sweet.....but we are suppose to be on the Dave Ramsey plan....is this in our budget???? Rrrggghhhh......

Bad boy!!!!

How was the concert, guys?

Well, I'm not too sure what to write about this big event in our lives, except our money and our nephew went to this concert on our behalf. We were all set to take Lucas to this concert and bought the tickets and were ready to go until I discovered it was the same night as the "Last Supper" play that Cory was in, therefore, we came up with a plan B. We asked our wonderful neighbor boys to take Lucas for us. I'm pretty sure they had a good time. They came home about 10 p.m. but Lucas stayed next door until about 1 a.m. playing X-Box. I think ;-) He is still sleeping this morning, so I haven't gotten all the details but I know Lucas' Mom would enjoy these pictures right away........

Thanks Elias, Isaac, and his girlfriend Erin for taking Lucas for us.
Okay Rodriguez boys.........lets smile a little bit!!!!
How was Granger Smith? I hope it was fun for you guys!
And.....I hope you weren't too embarrassed to hang out with the dude with the funny hat.
Yes.....feel free to make fun of him......he is in Texas....NOT MONTANA. Just kidding Lucas, we love you, hat and all!

My Disciple

I am so proud of my husband! He was in a church play last night at Zion Church of Kurten and he did a great job. He really worked hard to memorize his two lines and was really stressing over it, but he pulled it off. Isn't this great.....13 men were in this play. I missed the pose picture, but it was really awesome. They had all the men pose like the "Last Supper" picture, with their hands in the air and it was really cool. I'm kicking myself for missing that shot!

Isn't he handsome? Well....you don't have to agree, but you have to admit, with his beard, he looked the part! He was Thaddaeus.
True actor.....listening to the words that Jesus spoke.
Again.....I wish I got the posing picture. Ugh.....
turn up the volume and you can hear him say his part!



Encore, encore.......Bravo, Bravo! You did it! Way to go Babe! I'm proud of you! Can't wait to see the next play that you are in. Haha

Lil' Patch of Bluebonnets

Yea....I was so glad to see that my bridal wreaths came into full bloom while Lucas was down visiting. Well...I was glad...I'm not too sure if Lucas was glad though. He was beginning to wonder exactly how many pictures was I going to take.
And one by yourself...
A few more with Cassandra and Jase.
Now....a few bluebonnet pictures. This is just a small patch in front of my neighbors yard.
Keep smiling....I'm not finished yet!
Nope....we are not finished....just keep smiling!
Yes! You have to! Now, a group photo!
Cassandra loves Lucas. He is her buddy!
And Lucas loves the kids....even enough to put on the kids bicycle helmet for them....ugh...a little small don't you think?
Now....let's throw rocks.
And I've been taking Cassandra's picture in this green chair ever since she was a little baby. She keeps growing and growing.
and every year....she gets cuter and cuter!
And of course...this is my favorite picture. Aren't they cute together?
Now....a picture of my little monster.
Yep....he is growing up way too fast too. No more little babies. Sigh....
Until next time..........The End