Window To Our World: February 2012

Monday, February 20, 2012

Las Vegas

A LOOK BACK: (January 1-6 2012)

Every January the Promotional Products Buisness Industry puts on a huge Expo in Las Vegas. We try to go when we can. This was our 2nd year going. We were super excited for all the classes we signed up for and the speakers we were going to listen to. We arrived Sunday night and for the next four days from 8am-6pm we were going to be busy learning, learning, learning. In the evenings we were able to enjoy ourselves walking around the strip, shopping at the M&M store, looking at Art galleries, watching the Biaggio water fountain shows, eat out for some yummy terriaki chicken, attend the Phatom of the Opera musical, exploring the different Hotels, eating Haagen-Dazs ice cream (my favorite: Belgian Chocolate), and enjoy some R&R.

The Expo always gives us a good start to the New Year with ideas and goals on being better business owners as well as inspiration on where we want to take our business to. Also during the week we have the chance to associate with other business owners in our industry and learn from each other. We also get to meet our suppliers in person that we deal with on a regular basis from all over the country. And they send us home with so many samples and products that their company offers. The booths from each supplier takes over 2 whole floors of the convention center. We take the first floor on the 3rd day and the second floor on the 4th day. It's a lot of walking but worth it.

(One of the Inspiring Speakers was the Captain/Pilot of the Blue Angels)

One of our apparel suppliers had a $100 cash giveaway, if on the hour they spotted you walking on the floor wearing their designed T-shirt. Well this place was enormous with two floors and so many people we thought, what was the chance of us winning. But we did it anyways. So Derek and I were wearing our matching T-shirts they gave us all day. And towards the end of the day we were talking with another supplier at their booth and heard, "Excuse me? We would like to let you know that you have been chosen for our $100 cash giveaway!"

We were so excited including the model that gave us the news!!! When we got to their booth all the other employees were ecstatic too since we were the first "couple" to win this prize. They had to take pictures of us. It was so awesome! It paid off to wear our shirts. And then the next day Derek won a $50 bill for a drawing. So we left Las Vegas with winning $150 and didn't even have to gamble. :)

Look at all those lights!

The EXPO was at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. We are soo glad because there's no smoking.

Could you imagine taking this to a sports game?

One night at the Venetian Hotel enjoying some Christmas themed entertainment

Can you believe that's a real person, and not a statue?

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
The performance, theater, and music was UNFORGETTABLE and ROMANTIC! We only had to pay a total of $20 for this show when normally it was over $100 a ticket. Yeah!!

The Theater
(pictures don't do justice)

The Fountains of The Bellagio Hotel. Every 15 mins. they had a new show to a new song. As we walked around we had to stop every 15 mins. to watch it. AMAZING and MAGICAL!!

Paris Eiffel Tower Hotel across the street from The Bellagio Hotel. You can see the fog just over the water after the fountain show.

"FANCY" Mall in Caesars Palace, one of the few places in the U.S. with a spiral escalator. This was a great experience. Then I walked into the Valentino store curious on prices and found some cute open toe pumps for $1,600 and a dress for $25,000. It was CRAZY!!!

A cool painting from one of the Art Galleries

Pegasus at Caesar's Palace
(had to take a picture for Cassidy she really likes these creatures)

The Luxor Hotel

Our Place of Rest, it was nice to be able to come home each night to a quiet, nice, resort away from the strip. But still only a 5 minute drive away.

The last day before we left Las Vegas I enjoyed the sunshine and soaking in the pool. I felt so spoiled!

And the Hot Tub was nice too.

The Hoover Dam

Our drive back to Arizona to be reunited with our little girl.
Cassidy had her own kind of fun with her Grammy, cousins, Uncles and Aunts.

Below is a video of one of the Fountain Shows we watched at the Bellagio Hotel

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Good to be Honest

At Cassidy's school they make it a priority to focus on core virtues, such as: Respect, Integrity, Generosity, Compassion, Courage, Responsibility, Gratitude, Honesty, Perseverance, & Faithfulness. Every month they focus on one virtue that entire month. Each teacher nominates a student in their class that has shown an example of that virtue.

Cassidy was nominated in January for Honesty. It was very exciting! Near the front office they have a "Student of the Month" board with a picture of each student from every class honored for the month. The kids have a little questionnaire that they fill out. Like what's your favorite book? What's your favorite activity? What's your favorite subject in school? Who's your hero and why? On the board as well.

The school also has a "Student of the Month" lunch spotlighting each of the nominees. The parents are invited too for the special occasion. Derek was able to leave work and be there also. Cassidy really enjoyed the cookie treat they gave her and shared it with us. She was kind of shy to stand up when they called her name while all the kids and parents cheered. We are so proud of Cassidy and that she lives her life with honesty.

Oh and Kaley her doll was there too!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

What were you doing on February 14, 2006?

We were going through security at the airport and so excited to bring our baby girl HOME from her birth place of St. Cloud, Minnesota

We couldn't wait to get on this airplane and be in the clouds so we could be that much closer to HOME.

Cassidy's Nursery decorated with love by her Grandpa and Grandma Strong as they patiently waited for us to arrive HOME

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

We made it safely HOME! It was the perfect Valentine's Day! Adoption it's about LOVE!

Monday, February 13, 2012

What were you doing on February 13, 1999?

Derek took me on a drive to the Grand Canyon...just 80 miles west from our college campus in Flagstaff, Arizona.

It was a beautiful sunny day, just the two of us admiring the beauty of the canyon. One of many God's creations.

Who knew after a perfect day, that night would also be perfect, and my sweetheart would be asking me to spend the rest of forever with him.

(a picture of us on one of our many dates years ago 1999)

(the apartments we both lived at during the time of our courting at college)

Northern Arizona University...The place where we met, strengthened a friendship, and fell in love.

Happy Engagement Anniversary Sweetheart!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Special 11-11-11 Birthday!

(Having to catch up...)

Derek planned a special day of 11 surprises for my 11-11-11 birthday. Also, if you multiply 11x3= 33 was the age I turned on that special day.

I was thrilled to have my parents, Abuelita, sister Jess and her kids here visiting too the week of my birthday. On my birthday, 1 I woke up to everyone singing Happy Birthday and 2 bouquet of 11 pink tulips in a vase from my honey. Derek also gave my mom a bouquet of tulips too, since she had something to do with my birth as well. :) I thought it was soo sweet and so did she.

Then I walked into a kitchen full of people cooking a 3 delicious Belgian waffles, sausage, lots of fresh fruit, breakfast. Yummy!!

I enjoyed my 4 birthday cards and the ones Derek and Cassidy made themselves. Then the doorbell rang and it was my visiting teachers who came with birthday hugs and a cute water fountain gift. It actually was quite funny because we found out that my parents know my visiting teacher Melanie's sister because she's in my parent's ward in Arizona. And my sister Jess knew her other sister from college. Small world. :)

After breakfast, we got dressed and headed out to go 5 shopping at the Shops at the Briargate. Derek wanted me to buy whatever my heart desired. It doesn't sound exciting, but I bought a pretty bra, I really needed a new one. One of the ladies at the cashier asked me for my birthday and then the conversation went like this: "Oh Happy Birthday!" "Are you having a great birthday?" Of course I couldn't help but smile and share the thoughtful ways my honey has made the day special so far and that it wasn't over. She was so giddy about the whole idea and loved the 11 surprises throughout the whole day. I think it melted her heart as much as it melted mine. She had to tell her other co-workers right in front of us. It was cute! Derek was a little embarrassed.

While we were shopping Derek gave me a little gift box. I opened it and inside was a carved wooden cell phone (he made himself with his scroll saw) giving me a hint that he was giving me the chance to enter the new world of Smart Phones. 6 I love my new Samsung Epic 4G Touch- Android!

After we finished shopping, we were getting hungry so we stopped at the 7 mall to eat lunch. It was nice because there were many choices of food. It was also fun to watch the kiddos play at the indoor playground.

Then on the way home Derek dropped me off at a 8 Spa for a Body Massage. I was so surprised! I had never had one before and without any notice I was being spoiled with one. He told me he would come pick me up after I was finished. It was soo relaxing and so nice. I felt like I was on cloud nine. My knight in shining armor came to pick me up and we headed back home. On the way home my friend Tiffany called and told me she had something for me since we were just down the street we went to see her. She had baked a huge chocolate chip cookie and decorated it with my name on it. It was so sweet! After our visit we headed home to find another friend had dropped off a gift for me, lotions and comfy slippers. It was so thoughtful.

9 At home Derek handed me some new Scentsy candles, flavors- Citrus passion & Vanilla Cream. I was excited! Later he mentioned he had planned to let me take a nap after lunch and have the candles burning during my nap before my massage appointment but we ran out of time. I reassured him not to worry because I practically took a nap during the massage. He's so sweet. Sheesh not like he hasn't done way too much already! :)

Everyone was ready for dinner by this point so they had me choose where to eat. 10 I chose Mimi's Cafe. I was in the mood for their sweet and sour chicken. It was a great experience for all. Since this was the first time the kids and Abuelita experienced dirt cake with gummy worms. Their faces were priceless and the laughter in that room was contagious!

After dinner we went home and Derek asked everyone to go downstairs. Hmmmm. What's going on???? The next thing I knew we were all sitting down and then 11 Derek turns on some music to a song I'm in love with now, "Without You" by David Guetta. And Derek starts singing this song to me and I just soak it up while my family is sitting around me smiling. My eyes were tearing up with all this love in my heart for this MAN standing in front of me. Then all of a sudden the beat picks up and my entire family jumps up and dances like this was planned all along but I HAD NO CLUE!! Everyone, kids and adults were dancing! I think the only reason why my twin nephews weren't dancing too was because I was cuddling with them on my lap and they couldn't get away. I couldn't stop laughing it was AMAZING! I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!! I wish my honey would have let me video tape the whole thing. :) Everytime I hear this song, it makes me smile and laugh out loud because of that memory. I will never forget it! I loved how Derek had my family practice this when I was away having my heavenly massage. I was the only one that didn't know what was about to go down later that night, a dance party in our basement! Of course my mom loves to dance too and sometimes can't control her body so she popped my dad in the nose with her flying hand. My dad was a good sport. It was so funny to talk about afterwards together. This last surprise had to be my favorite part of the whole day!!

I am soo grateful for the abundance of love I felt from people I care about so much. From the cards and gifts I received in the mail, happy birthday wishes on facebook and email, Birthday lunch with my friend Jamie who was also celebrating a November birthday, Birthday phone calls, family visiting for my special day, Derek and Cassidy bringing so much joy. Thank you!!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!!