One of my good friend's, Tanya, came to visit this weekend. She called me and asked if I would be able to slip away from the kids on Friday night because she had tickets to Love at the Mirage. I don't ask often so Charlie did not hesitate to keep the kids that night. Tanya got these tickets from a friend of hers here in Las Vegas. I joked with her and said, "Wait a minute! You live in Albuquerque and I live here, yet you are the one with the hook-up here in Vegas, how does that work?" But you have to understand Tanya. She is a FANTASTIC networker! But what makes her so unique is that she doesn't just build contacts, she builds friendships. She has got the biggest heart in the world and once she takes you in as a friend she treats you like gold and occasionally she in turn gets treated like gold...as she should!
I left work on Friday night and headed over to the Mirage where I met Tanya, her good friend Kim and Tanya's mom at the California Pizza Kitchen for a very quick bite before the show. After some great food and even better conversation we headed over to the show. We were seated four rows from the stage, we had fantastic seats! The show was amazing. 
I didn't realize how much I liked the Beatles music until this show. Every time a new song would start I would think to myself, "wow I really like this song." My favorite part of the show was when they brought out some of the cast on a huge bed that floated above the stage. The actors on the floor below the bed started pulling sheets off of the bed and across the stage and then up until the audience was completely covered with the sheet. There were huge fans blowing the sheets up and the lighting effects on the sheets were amazing. For a minute I truly thought I was in some funky dream. The show was GREAT and I couldn't thank Tanya enough for treating me to such wonderful night. 
My brother and sister-in-law were also in town this weekend so I had to divvy up my time and wasn't able to meet up with Tanya again until Sunday night. Her and Kim were on a last minute souvenir shopping spree so I headed down to the strip to meet up with them. That is the night I discovered a very special place on the Las Vegas Blvd, Serendipity 3. I had walked by this building adorned in bright pink lighting a hundred times and always figured it was some kind of a bar or something. Boy was I wrong. This place is the cutest little restaurant. 
We sat out front for almost fifteen minutes reading over the expansive menu posted on the wall. I couldn't get over the dessert selections. Tanya mentioned one in particular that they are famous for, The Frozen Hot Chocolate. 
Tanya had seen these tasty treats on the Oprah show and said that Oprah and her audience absolutely loved them. We finally decided to go on in to try one but were met at the front by the hostess who informed us they had just closed :( Bummer! The good news was that Tanya was at least able to purchase the Frozen Hot Chocolate mix to take home with her (which she made for her kiddos the next day and said it really was fantastic!)
I didn't realize how much I liked the Beatles music until this show. Every time a new song would start I would think to myself, "wow I really like this song." My favorite part of the show was when they brought out some of the cast on a huge bed that floated above the stage. The actors on the floor below the bed started pulling sheets off of the bed and across the stage and then up until the audience was completely covered with the sheet. There were huge fans blowing the sheets up and the lighting effects on the sheets were amazing. For a minute I truly thought I was in some funky dream. The show was GREAT and I couldn't thank Tanya enough for treating me to such wonderful night. My brother and sister-in-law were also in town this weekend so I had to divvy up my time and wasn't able to meet up with Tanya again until Sunday night. Her and Kim were on a last minute souvenir shopping spree so I headed down to the strip to meet up with them. That is the night I discovered a very special place on the Las Vegas Blvd, Serendipity 3. I had walked by this building adorned in bright pink lighting a hundred times and always figured it was some kind of a bar or something. Boy was I wrong. This place is the cutest little restaurant. We sat out front for almost fifteen minutes reading over the expansive menu posted on the wall. I couldn't get over the dessert selections. Tanya mentioned one in particular that they are famous for, The Frozen Hot Chocolate. Tanya had seen these tasty treats on the Oprah show and said that Oprah and her audience absolutely loved them. We finally decided to go on in to try one but were met at the front by the hostess who informed us they had just closed :( Bummer! The good news was that Tanya was at least able to purchase the Frozen Hot Chocolate mix to take home with her (which she made for her kiddos the next day and said it really was fantastic!)I can't wait to go back here. I really want to take the kids and enjoy a little of everything on the menu! I did a little research and found the original Serendipity 3 has been a fixture in Manhattan's Upper East Side for years. If I ever get back to New York I will definitely have to make sure to check this place out!
The Original Serendipity 3 in Manhattan.
Quaint decor in Manhattan's Serendipity 3.
My parents cooked a fabulous meal followed up with red velvet cake covered in my mother's famous white mountain icing...yummy! 
She is a great mom, a successfull business woman, and a great sister-in-law!
(Charlie's sisters and mom)
I wish him all the luck in the world as he joins the world of law enforcement. It is not always the easiest profession and can sometimes have dark days but the profound pride you gain from fighting the good fight always seems to overcome. Good luck Troy...we are SO proud!
Kadee and Troy at his wedding in '08.
He was their big surprise, the way Chance was our surprise. I bet the moment they laid eyes on him they realized just as I had with Chance that this would be THE best surprise of their lives!
The kids were awfully surprised when they came downstairs in the morning.
That afternoon my mom came over so the kids could help her decorate the heart shaped sugar cookies she made for Valentine's day. 
The kids loved getting out into the fresh air. Chance was all decked out in his fishing gear.
Cole and Kadence spent most of the time feeding the ducks. They each threw a line in the water but it was up to Daddy to keep an eye on it the rest of the time.
Then after the performance each teacher got up and presented awards to four of their students in their classes. Kadee was so excited to receive one. We are so proud of her!
On our way out to the parking lot me and Charlie had a conversation about how anytime we are at an event of hers how overcome we get and get butterflies in our stomachs because, there she is, our baby girl turning into such a wonderful big girl.
Next thing I knew I caught a glimpse of Cole in his window. He had woken up from his nap and must have heard us down below.
Cole played with his pitching machine...his all-time favorite toy right now!
And Kadee climbed the tree!
What a fun day!
