Weekend in Vegas

Kids got out of school on Friday and I loaded them up and we headed to Vegas. I had planned on attending the Nash-ville Party sine I heard that my friend Mel was moving in June. As it got closer things started to get in the way and I almost decided I wouldn't be able to make when my good friend Rachel invited me to stay with her for the weekend. Josh and Whitney had went to the cabin so it would just be us and her and Conor. I couldn't resist spending time with Rachel and the chance to see dear friends I hadn't seen in 6 years or more. The kids were pretty excited. As I got to Vegas I headed to our old house and noticed A LOT had changed. Rachel thought it was funny the way I got to her house, but I didn't want to risk getting lost so I went the same old way, from my house, instead of taking the new freeway exit.
As soon as we got there we headed down to the Beligio so I could show the kids the water show.

Some people go to Vegas to try their luck at gambling. My kids wanted to do it the easy way and raid the fountains.

We watched the water show over and over. The kids were so excited I was getting a little annoyed with them because I had to keep getting after them. I had to threaten that if they didn't settle down and listen to me I wouldn't take them to M&M World because I hate to holler at them in public and have them ignore me. ;)

The weather was sooo beautiful!

My dear friend. We ended up staying up until 4:00 a.m. talking. Rachel is training for the Boston Marathon next month so I told her I would get up with her in the morning and run. So...we got up at 6:30 a.m. and went to the awesome new Gold's Gym close by her house. Oh my did it kick my butt! I really miss Rachel as a work out partner and realize I have been slacking and need to push myself more.

Time was getting away from us and after we worked out. We kept talking and I ended up waiting to long to get in the shower so Rahel made the pot luck dish which was a delicious salad and we headed over to the park for the Nash-Ville Party.

My friend, Melody Nash, and her family have decided to move to Nashville so Melody can pursue her dream of being a singer and song writer. Melody is a great friend and I have never really gotten the chance to hear her sing. I know Matt heard her at a Pioneer Day Celebration and he said "SHE ROCKED!" I was so excited to hear her and the songs that she has written. Of course my memory card filled up fast and I only got a small clip of her singing but she was soooo great! I truly believe she has everything going for her and know she will go far. After hearing the story of how this all came to pass I admire her and her family for their faith and going for their dreams. What a neat family. Good Luck Mel!

Melody, Sara, Me, Sarah, and Rachel

Jason and Steve

John, and Adam

When she is rich and famous we will always remember her sitting on a cooler in the park singing to us. She said I could come to Nashville and be in her music video. LOL! Hey, never say never. These are desperate times and I hear the economy is booming in Nashville. :)

Big Thank You to the Murray's for planning this get together. We missed everyone that couldn't make it. I was planning on leaving Sunday so I didn't even think of making it to church, but as Rachel was getting ready to go she mentioned that I should stop by. So I sat in on YW with her and got to hear my sweet friend, Sarah, give the YW a beautiful lesson. I loved seeing my friends in my old ward and realized how much I miss it!! They will always be great friends. What a fun weekend!! I needed this for my soul. ;) Even though I missed a great horse ride, which made my hear ache a little, and missed almost 48 hours of sleep thanks to the time difference, staying up all night, and the time change, it was all Worth It!
Matt and I had been texting back and forth and I knew he was very nervous I was still in Vegas and not home safe and sound. I thought it was really kind of sweet of him to be worried. We passed each other near Valley of Fire on the freeway. I saw him wave and he flashed his lights. :) I really love him, and missed him over the weekend. He was headed down to Death Valley for work for the week.

Judd and Wendi Jo November 12, 2010

Mom and Dad. Judd and Wendi had their reception in Tabby at this beautiful hunting lodge. We had so much fun picking a room to stay in and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Aunt LaMay and Uncle "J"

Grandma, Judy and Kitty worked so hard in the kitchen all night keeping the refreshments going.

Beautiful Blue Eyes!

Me and my girls at Judd and Wendi's SLC reception.

So Cute!

My Grandma Iris. She always looks so pretty in her turquoise.

Wendi's sister made these darling skirts for all the nieces and the boys had matching vests. They all looked so cute!

Roberts Family At Salt Lake Temple. Everyone is here except Tadd who is on his mission.

Olivia "Liv", Lucas "Luke", Dallas, Maile, Jabin, Joni, and Haddy. Not pictured is little Max.

Red Rock Relay-Couch Kickers-

Couch Kickers: Emily Judd, Erin, Melissa, Me, Melody Nash, Kaysea Wadley, Rene Valentine, Terraza Van Orden, Bekah Martin, Shiloh, and Rachel Purcell Rachel told me about the RRR last spring. I told her I was in for sure and I would make it work. I didn't realize at the time how tricky that might be but I was determined to meet up with my sweet friends and make it work. I ended up doing two relays in two weeks and putting off Jabin's baptism, along with getting a terrible viral cold right up until the day I left but I got to Cedar at the same time as my friends and as soon as I saw them it was all worth it! These girls are so sweet and just great beautiful friends. We got registered and had a good spaghetti dinner with the most wonderful Great Harvest Bread cookie and then headed up to Rachel's cabin at Brian Head. Some of us got a little car sick driving up. What a beautiful cabin! It has Rachel's good taste and decorating touch which makes it amazing!! I got to bunk up with my beautiful friend Melody. I had a hard time getting to sleep and we needed to get up early to start the relay at the Brian Head ski resort.

We were a team of 11 with one short, it should have been 12, but Rachel, Emily, and Rene stepped up and took the extra legs. Rachel and Terraza rode up the ski lift and ran down the steep rocky mountain. I was the next runner and my leg was called the Diablo, which means devil, because it was straight up which happens to be my specialty. The only problem is the terrible pain I have had in my leg. I went to the physical therapist and several doctor visits and I guess it is tendinitis after having it diagnosed as IT Band and a torn ligament I'll take tendinitis. It is sooooo painful. I was so frustrated to run in pain but I did it. Everyone had hard legs and I thought our team did really well. We really had strong runners even with all of our injuries.

My Vegas Girls! Bekah, Mel, and Rachel-I love and miss these girls!!

I like that this picture is blurry because that is probably how I felt at the time.

My second leg was at night and it was called the "Off Roadie." It was dusty so I looked a little Like Michael Jackson but I was prepared. It hurt pretty bad the whole time and I was so glad to see the bright light that meant that my 5 1/2 miles on a dark dirt road were over and it was the exchange.

186 Miles from Brian Head to Zions My last leg was 6 1/2 miles up hill and it was over 100 degrees. I had taken a pain pill before this leg and when I started to run I couldn't believe it finally wasn't hurting as bad. I was so excited I tried not to care about the heat because all I wanted was my leg to quit hurting so I didn't feel like I could ask for anything else but I did thank my heavenly father for sending a slight breeze once in a while. I think I drank about 4 water bottles and I never drink while I run because I get a side ache. My girls were so good to follow close and replenish my water. They did have to go to the next exchange and so I asked some other support team and they were so nice to give me some water. Everyone was soooo nice on this relay which made it so much fun. When you pass someone you call it road kill and you mark it on your van. I got quite a few road kills which is pretty fun. If you pass a guy they say they got Chic'd.

I had the second to last leg and Rachel had the last leg. Bekah and I really wanted to run with her, just across the finsih line, because we were running buddies in Vegas. We ended up running with Rachel earlier then we thought because we wanted to keep her hydrated in the heat but it was so great and a really neat experience to run with those girls. I have told them that I feel like I have been on a Happy High since the weekend and I think it was from being with them and accomplishing something so incredibly painful and physically hard! It is a great feeling and we will definitely do it again.

These relays are 24 hours so you are lucky to get maybe 2 hours sleep total. Everyone had to get back to Vegas so I headed home. I was so tired I have no idea how I made it home. I stopped in Beaver to sleep for a little while and then kept driving. I came home and almost decided not to walk in the house but I just went right into bed in my running clothes that I had ran that really hot run in that day and crashed. It was so funny because Haddy's primary teacher left a comment on my facebook that said Haddy told her I was so tired that I fell asleep in my jogging clothes. I sure did!

Our leg marks. We finished together and will be friends forever!

Labor Day at Mill Meadow

The fishing was horrible but that didn't stop Dallas from trying she just got some reading done while she waited. Dallas loves to fish and I love to watch her. I am so glad she enjoys it and her special fishing pole her dad got her.

The only catch of the day, perch, being cut up for bait.

Trying out his new BB Gun.

Cute Cousins

Aunt Camille. Matt went riding with Wag and his dad and they picked a bag full of elder berries and Camille made some jam with them and brought Matt a jar.

Camp Cook. Wag is the best cook and is so good to cook for the small army that gathers around his dutch ovens.

Jabes hoping for a sunset catch

Matt had a couple big bites but they got away before we got a look at them.

Grandma Marianne cruisin with the girls.

The kids kicked the adults out of the tent and played their own game of Texas Hold 'em. I think the bet was a Pepsi and a twinkie for the winner and the looser had to eat a worm. Dallas ended up loosing and she would have probably ate the worm but I made her just lick it.

You can't really tell how big these marshmellows are but they are huge. That is Dallas special on the right.

I ended up just resting in the camp trailer most of the weekend and reading the Storm Testament because I wasn't feeling well

Some of the things we did this Summer

This is a very bad picture of the Horse Head on the mountain in Monticello but you might have fun trying to find it. Don't worry nothing will jump out at you while you are studying it like some of those emails. It is a black horse with a white cloud on his face. There is an indian legand of a Chief and his favorite horse, Bally, was killed up there and that is his face.

Okay, this is a start. I have more pictures I want to post but am out of time for now. We are headed into The Lakes next weekend to finish out our summer fun and I hope I can get some posts up along with the rest of the summer pictures.

Riley, Kristina, Maile, and Joni! We had a great time at Arches and can't wait to go back.

Taylor family picture at Wilson's Arch

On the 24th of July we got to visit my family in Monticello. I love Monticello and have so many good memories with my cousin Sidney. I ran in the 5K and got 3rd place in my age group. It was a higher elevation, about 8,000 feet so it was a little challenging but good training for the 10K I did the following weekend at 10,000 feet. I thought I got 3rd place again but when the paper came out it turns out I got 1st place in my age group 26-39. Yeah!! I was so excited. I have to tell my friends Rachel and Bekah that that was for them because I didn't commit to the Marathon this year but I am trying to stay in shape so maybe someday........

Roberts Family group Picture at the old hotel in Monticello.

Tim and Sid took us out on their awesome new boat. Thanks so much Tim, it was a fast trip but it was so fun. I even did a little cliff jumping again...he he. Matt said he hasn't seen my legs shake that bad since I rode the 500 up Sand Mountain.

Me and my favorite cousin Sidney. Our girls are the same age and it was so fun to see them together, it brought back lots of memories for us.

Our summer vacation with the girls. I got to take my girls down to Cedar again to visit my good friend and her girls from Vegas. It was so fun to catch up and of course I got some great tips and recipes including yummy tempura vegtables. We got to see Comedy of Errors and Secret Garden the musical which was so beautiful. Thanks again for the great weekend Lynn and Berry! Love ya Jessica and girls!

In July we had fun with friends at Fish Lake, fishing, boating, 4-wheelers and fireworks. The kids didn't like trolling as much as I did, I love to relax in the water but they got a little antsy. Our friend Doug was so nice to let us use his boat.

Taylor Cousins

Handsome Taylor boys: Rowdee, Jabin, and Yates

Time Flys when your having fun. In June we had a little reunion with Matt's family. The kids had so much fun swimming and playing with cousins. Aunt Julia was in from New York and heading to Colorodo. It was fun to see her. This is Matt's whole family minus Jabin, Dallas, and Yates who were still in the stream/mud.