VIVA LAS VEGAS!

"Hey Baby let's go to Vegas!"

Brett and I have been talking about visiting Vegas for a while now.

Most of you won't ask why, because you already know why one would want to go on a trip to Vegas, but for those of you who are sincerely asking why, here's a few reasons:

1. Vacation. 2. His sister lives there. 3. Vacation. 4. It's warm! 5. I've never been.

So we decided to take a long weekend and hit up Vegas!

It was so great to meet Brett's sister Jill, her husband Scott and their 2 kids, Keagen and Hailey.

Talk about a fun family- they were so welcoming and we just had an absolute blast with them.

Our fun filled weekend included:

• frisbee golf
• swimming
• eating lots of halloween cookies
• playing and relaxing poolside
• going out to dinner with the family
• touring the strip
• watching the Belagio water/music show
• going to the play Phantom of the Opera
• seeing "THE dam"
• going to Keagen's baseball game to cheer him on!
• watching movies
  playing woofle ball with the family
  

Here's some pictures for your enjoyment:

please note- DO NOT pay attention to my "way too short haircut"

Brett, Keagen, and I after Keagen's baseball game. He did such a great job, it was so fun to cheer him on. Everyone was so proud of him!

When we got there- the kids were excited to show us some cookies they had made the day before- seriously how cute are these kids?

Loving the fact that I'm poolside with the kids right now instead of FREEZING in Chicago!

LOVE THIS SIGN! Brett thought it would be a great idea to close his eyes for this picture- I'll let you all be the judge.

Funny picture with the kid-o's!


I loved this ceiling in one of the hotels- the name of the hotel escapes me, but I kept staring- I couldn't get enough of this!


We decided to hop on a plane and fly to Paris as well!


Yes- a mall. Enough said.

Brett and I at "the dam". Brett decided this would be our funny picture- problem is he forgot to let me know!

Belagio water/music show. It was amazing! We got to see 4 different ones- I could have just stayed there forever to keep watching!

On our way to the airport, we had to stop at Cafe Rio- Cafe Rio never disappoints, it was delicious!

Me with the kid-o's! Such great kids- we had a blast!

UTAH!

For those of you who don’t know, Reed plays football for Snow College in Utah. We had the opportunity to fly to Utah in Sept to be in the stands for one of Reed’s games- oh how we love cheering for Reed!! This year the whole family got to go- Dad, Mom, Adam, Jenn and Sadie! We had a blast cheering for Reed and hanging out together- it’s always so much fun and never long enough! Sadie loved cheering “GO REED GO!”- she loves her Uncle Reed, it’s just adorable!

Reed, Sadie and Adam after his game

After the rest of the family left on Sunday, Reed and I got to spend some time together on temple square- I love temple square so much, and loved that I got to be there with Reed!

Saying goodbye :(

Michael and I at dinner with the family

Zak, Noelle, Emrie, Adam, Jenn, and Sadie
Zak and Adam have been friends for a long time- like pre-mission days for Zak at BYU-I. Noelle and Jenn were roommates at BYU-I. Funny how things work out!

Noelle and Jenn (and little Emrie in the background- isn't she adorable?!)

Zak, Reed, Adam and Dad

Guys discussing the game

little Sadie in Reed's helmet :)

Reed and I

I love this kid!

p.s. don't mind my flat hair- I have nothing to say about that.

Reed with Mom and Dad

There he is- #90!!!

How precious is this?

OUR #90!

Kayaking downtown Chicago

Hear me out....I have a really good excuse for not updating my blog....once upon a time I got robbed...yes, you read that correctly. I got robbed- including my computer that I loved so much! Sad day, I know. To be honest, I'm still pretty bitter about it....but the show must go on. I'm trying to update everyone quickly with short, exciting posts!

I finally had a chance to go kayaking downtown Chicago! I've been wanting to do this since I moved here 2 years ago-a beautiful Saturday was the perfect opportunity. Here are a few pics to take each of you on the ride :)

So Brett and I took a break and had fun playing with the camera. This is me almost falling out of the kayak just to get a picture.

Brett showing us his perfected form!

"This is the life!"

I am absolutely loving this!

The crew

One more of Brett and I

The Crew- take 2

Viva La CANCUN!

VIVA LA CANCUN BABY!

Despite the swine flu scare- 4 of us decided to take our vacation to CANCUN in May! We stayed at the Casa Magna Marriott resort- absolutely beautiful! I WILL be returning to Cancun someday soon, and will stay at the Casa Magna.

This is the view from the road- as we're pulling up to the Casa Magna Marriott resort!

This is our lobby! When we checked in, we were the only guests in the whole resort!

This is the view from the back of the resort

This is the view from our balcony- breathtaking!

Our last night in Cancun, we decided to splurge and eat at a really nice steak and seafood restaurant (the name escapes me!). The food was fabulous! For dessert they brought out cotton candy-I've never seen that for dessert before-we had fun with it :)

L to R: (bottom) Me (Abby), Brett

(top) Lonnie, Dax

We spent some time at the ruins in Tulum- what an amazing place! We all felt such a great spirit there.

We heard a couple people in Cancun talk about how good the "Shrimp Bucket" is, so we decided to try it out. The verdict? It's good, not as spectacular as people were making it sound, but good!

What would a vacation in Cancun be without a little relaxation time laying out by the pool or the ocean?

Sit back and enjoy!

We took a day trip to an island off of Cancun (Island of the Women) to go snorkling and walk around the island to experience "life on the island."

Here we are on the island

Dax, thrilled about being on the island!

Dax snorkling

Here I am snorkling

We're on the boat ready to hit up some snorkling.

This is what you call a little "Dax Fun" in the pool!

interesting creatures

Some pictures from Tullum

This place is absolutely beautiful!

Dax and I in Tullum

Ater a day of exploring the island complete with an adventure of snorkling, here we are on the ferry ride back to Cancun.

Another view from our balcony.

Cancun was amazing! The people are so kind and generous and the weather could not have
been any better. We enjoyed great sites, great food, a great resort, overall great fun! I can't wait until I can return to Cancun where more adventures await me!

updates coming

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still alive and still very much involved in the blogging world! I will be enjoying 5 BEAUTIFUL days in Cancun Mexico starting on Wednesday; what does that mean for you? You'll be enjoying a new post next week with amazing Cancun pictures!

Home Sweet Home

Last weekend I had the chance to go home for a few days.  Reed came home for Spring Break from Snow College so I thought I would jaunt home to enjoy the fam!  I got to go up to St. Cloud to see Adam and Jennifer's ADORABLE house--I saw the MOST ADORABLE nursery EVER while I was up there--yup, it was Sadie's!  That is one lucky girl, her nursery really couldn't be any cuter!  I came home to my mom in the middle of re-doing our family room; I'm excited to see the final product of all her efforts--she's so talented!  Here's a couple photos from the trip!

Reed really wanted to go bowling with everyone, so as we were driving to the bowling alley little Sadie fell asleep---AWESOME---there was my excuse not to bowl!  So I got to sit and hold little Sadie as she was fast asleep, I LOVED every minute!  Then she woke up and was ready to bowl herself!

So thought we'd start off with Reed and I being goofy (I know it's so abnormal to see!! haha)

Adam and I 

(turns out Adam was the bowling champion--Adam, you're really making it in this world now!)

Adam bowling with little Sadie

Jenn bowling with Sadie---look at that form!

Please take notice to my sister-in-law's HOT NEW HAIRCUT!!!

Jenn watching Sadie's strike!

Adam and Jenn

I love them so much!

The reason I included this photo is to show that this little girl is ALWAYS on the move--it's hard to get a picture of her--perfect example!

I had so much fun helping little Sadie bowl!

Uncle Reed's turn to help Sadie

I think Reed learned a few bowling moves from Sadie!

Sadie took time out to drive the car at the bowling alley

Sadie is HILARIOUS!  She has such a fun personality, as you can see here.  She loves wearing reading glasses like her Grandma!

Sadie being silly for everyone

Uncle Reed reading to Sadie before bed 

Sadie with her silly face

Sadie playing at Gam's house

Uncle Reed kissing Sadie goodbye :(

It's so hard to say goodbye to this sweet girl-  I just hate when I have to leave!

I love coming home and playing with Sadie--she sleeps in my room when I come home so we get to have our own little time together in the mornings before everyone gets up!  I miss her so much when I'm not at home!  Overall, it was a great trip--lots of fun and lots of inside jokes--per usual :)  I love my family so much and feel so blessed to be a part of them- I'm the luckiest!

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Just wanted to take a little time to wish my sister-in-law a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! For those of you who know Jennifer know how FABULOUS she is! She is the greatest friend, greatest wife (that info straight from the source---my brother) and such an amazing mom! I love her so much, appreciate how FUN she is, love that she loves SHOPPING as much as my mom and I do, and love that she makes us LAUGH all the time! She loves my brother so much, which makes us love her that much more--and Sadie loves her mom (as she should). Jennifer, this family wouldn't be the same without you---I am so lucky to have you as my sister-in-law, thanks for always being there for me--I love you so much! This slideshow is for you (wish I could be home for your birthday!)