Day 13 – A First Impression

Growing up in my family (and my extended family) we were all really close in age.  I never had baby nieces or nephew or anything close to that.  So imagine my surprise when Matt took me to Richfield for Christmas Eve for the first time.  Let me just preface this.  I came from a family where we would all sit around the room and each take turns opening Christmas presents and comment on what each person received.  We would sit around the dinner table complete with center piece politely talking about current events, school, and church happenings.
Fast forward to Christmas Eve 2001.  I was wearing my nicest pants and a festive sweater.  Upon our first arrival, little Garrett came up to me and I picked him up and we started to play.  I don’t know how it happened, but within 10 minutes my clothes were filthy.  There was frosting, dirt, and some kind of white paste (I’m thinking diaper rash cream).  Oh well, those little guys were so cute and they really liked me.  After a while, it was getting time for dinner so I looked around for the table expecting Christmas China and flowers.  After the prayer was said, the kids filled their plates and headed downstairs.  So biggie, it was more fun to sit around and talk with all the adults.  Then Santa came.  As everyone was sitting on Santa’s lap, Cindy slowing began making separate piles of gifts.  After Santa left, the kids were all sitting in front of their gifts on the floor.  This was my favorite part.  I have always enjoyed little children’s reactions to the gifts they receive.  Picture little Connor and Garrett hovering over a pile of presents, a mania was filling their eyes, it was almost like an eagle about to strike on its poor unsuspecting prey.  I was standing in the the hall between the kitchen and the living when Cindy screamed, “GO!!”  Suddenly paper was flying everywhere and kids were screaming with delight.  I was shocked!  I was so shocked that I backed myself in a corner and almost took the fetal position for protection.  Matt was looking around and saw my reaction and he just started laughing.  I have never seen anything like it in my entire life.  After a few minutes, the madness was over and each grandchild went about their business of sorting, and playing with their toys.  My heart rate went back to normal and all was right in the world again.  But let me say, that was the most memorable first impression that I have ever had.  :)

Day 14 - On the Road

Aahhh, Family Vacations.  We've had a lot of them.  My very first vacation with my family?  Bryce Canyon.  I was so young I don't remember it:

Next, in 1985 we went to Hole In The Rock:


The next year, we went to Dinosaur National Monument in Price:
 
Whatever you do, don't look directly at mom's pants.
 
The next year, we went to Moab.  And walked and walked:

and then I pouted because I didn't want to walk anymore, so I headed back to the car:

Then in 1988 we went out and visited my mom's brother in California.  So of course we went to Disneyland:

and Magic Mountain: 

and Knotts Berry Farm:

A few years passed and we decided to go to Disneyland with Rex's Family and the Jackson's. We stopped over in Vegas:

Then we went to Disneyland:

Yes, that is my dad:

All I remember about the old submarines is that it took FOREVER:

Riding on the train:

Then we went to Universal Studios:

In 1993 John's family rented out a beach house for a week.  It was a blast.  I spent the entire week in the ocean:

Did you notice Dad in his wranglers with our old ginormous camcorder?
When I was a Senior we went to Cove Fort:

The summer after I graduated, we went on a big family vacation before I started college, and of course I couldn't go without my boyfriend, so my parents brought him along:


Universal Studios:


Then I went to school and most of our trips consisted of Vegas.  I got married and our first vacation was Moab and I was pregnant with Bailee (2004) that was NOT fun:



The next year was Matt's 1st trip to Disneyland:


And we were hooked. 
The famous Universal Studios Picture:
 
We went back to Disneyland every year.  Here's 2006:

and to Vegas for the NFR:

2007:

This was the year dad got hurt, so we decided to take him on a car ride around Fairview Canyon.  He wasn't able to go too far from home:

2008:

We also went to St. George:

and Vegas:

2009:
 
 
2010:
 
 
I love family vacations.  It is time away from normal everyday life.  It's great!  Things happen while you're on vacation that don't normally happen (like Dad wearing pink minnie mouse ears).  The memories made and being together make the price worth it.  I love them.  So the next question is, who's coming on our next trip?

Day 15 - The Magic of Bailing Twine

If you were to happen upon the Bailey ranch in the 80's you would probably find about 5 kids sitting on the tailgate of my dad's brown Chevy truck dragging orange bailing twine along as we would drive down from the bench.  It was a time honored tradition.  We would each carefully select the best dragging candidate and place ourselves in the usual positions.  Louis and Kevin were always on each end, to prevent "the girls" from falling off.  Allynne, Amanda and I were flanked in between them.  It might not seem that difficult, but trying to keep your bailing twine in your hand until we got back home was quite challenging.  And whomever still had their twine once we reached our destination was awarded to choice of our next activity.  I NEVER kept my twine the entire trip.  It would get caught on a tree limp or something and it would just slip right out of my hand.  It was the best thing.  We would try to get our twine to jump in the air or caught around our neighbors twine.  Our little imaginations had them turning into a snake that was chasing us.  One time, Louis even tied an action figure to the end of his and pretended it was Indiana Jones trying to climb up on the moving Nazi vehicle.  The possibilities were endless.  It is one of my fondest memories of my childhood and who knew how much fun a piece of twine (and a little bit of magic) could be.

Day 16 - The Vegas

Oh man, I LOVE the Vegas.  I was 8 years old and we were traveling on I-15 headed to California but we were spending the night in Vegas.  We pulled off Tropicana Ave. and headed to the Excalibur. 

I was AMAZED.  Everything on the strip was bright and flashing and ginormous.  That was what did it for me.  Fast forward to Senior Year and that is when the regular Vegas trips began.  It started by going to the NFR with my family:
 

Then we had a trip with my friends:
 
 
We graduated and headed off to school, where I started dating Matt's roommate Brandon and what better way to spend a weekend than in Vegas:
 
Zach was from Logandale (he calls it Pimpville) so he showed us the sights:
 
 
 
Matt was working so he didn't join his roommates on this trip.  Then, they all went off on their missions and I had to find someone else to head to the Vegas with me. 

That's my BFF Holly and our friend Amy (we call her Amy C. because I had a roommate named Amy as well).  So we headed down there in January.  It was here that we decided we would one day come back and see a cirque de soleil show. 
 

 
Then I headed to Vegas with my roommate Amy S (and there might have been some boys too).
 
and a maybe a boyfriend:
 
Sadly he was a premie and went on a mission and I went back to the Vegas with Amy and Darin:
 
 
Skip forward a year and I was back to the Vegas with this guy:
 
Matt was home from his mission so to celebrate, we headed to the Bellagio along with my sister and best friend.  We made a few stops on the way:
 
The Vegas isn't the Vegas without a wedding drive-thru.
 
The next few trips were just Matt and me.  You know things are serious when you go to the Vegas as just a couple.  Here's July:
 
and here's August:
 
 
 
Here is November:
 
In December I did a bunch of Christmas shopping with some friends.  The Vegas has some AWESOME shopping:
 
Look how cute me and my roomies are.

A little side note:  the best part about bringing boys to the Vegas with us was they carried all the shopping bags!!
 

My mom and Dad came down to Cedar City for New Year's Eve, so I got it in my brain that we should experience New Years in the Vegas.  It was INSANE!!!!  They shut down the boulevard and there were thousands of people everywhere.
Then, Matt and I got married and spend our first night in the Vegas.  Don't worry, I won't show you any pictures.  Then we went to the Vegas for Angie's graduation.  Next, we had Jeremy and decided to take a little getaway just us so of course we went to the Vegas:
 

A few months later we discovered I was pregnant again (the Vegas just keeps on giving), so we made one final trip before little Bailee entered our family:
 

I was rubbing his belly for luck.
Then jump to 2005, we stopped over in the Vegas on our way to Disneyland:

 
Stupid guy wouldn't move for our picture.
December of 2006, we headed down to Vegas for the NFR:
 
 
Two years later, we were back at the NFR:
 


Six months later, Holly decided we needed a girls trip:



To me, the Vegas isn't gambling, or shows, or questionable billboards.  When I think about the Vegas it will always be eating at the Red Lobster on Decatur, browsing Virgin Records, riding a gondola with Pookie while being serenaded, sitting for hours next to the fish tank at Caesars palace, touring the Luxor pyramid, lounging by the pool, and doing anything at the Bellagio.  That's my Vegas.  So the only thing left to say is "Thanks for the memories and I look forward to the ones to come!!"