I feel the need to warn anyone reading my blog that this may be the longest blog post ever due to the fact that while on vacation (which is weird to say since I am actually vacationing at home), I haven't had anytime to blog! So I have a lot of catching up to do and I just couldn't seem to leave anything from our first 4 weeks here out because it has all be so much fun!
After my first two months in Australia, Christmas came early when David and I flew to America in the beginning of december for a nice, long, six week visit for the holidays! It has been so good being home with my family and friends! When we first got into LAX, we stayed with my sister and brother-n-law at their cute house in Huntington Beach, California for the first few days.
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I have missed Kristen so much!
I'm happy she quit her job right before we got there because we were able to play all day in Long Beach.
The plan was to go to the outdoor ice skating rink but it was TINY and I am pretty sure the ice had all melted. So, instead we...
Stopped for lunch in Beaumont and decided to do a little shopping.
We went in the cutest candy shop ever!
Back at the Cantrell's, David introduced the famous australian
Tim Tam Slam to Kris and Dave.
Tim Tam Slam: taking a Tim Tam biscuit (aka cookie), biting two opposite corners off,
then sucking the hot Milo thru is like a straw until it melts in your mouth.
Basically, tim tam slam=most delicious snack ever.
Warning, it's a bit messy (i.e. Kristen's post slam shot).
David and Dave roasting some mallows on the fire.
David has had MANY firsts on our trip...
#1 enjoying his FRST S'more.
On the 6 1/2 hour drive from Huntington to Mesa, I got a little restless, and really bored.
Thank goodness for David's arm being my canvas and Wendy's frosty's for always doin me good.
First night home we went to see the beautiful display of Christmas lights at the Mesa Arizona Temple with one of my best friends Kristin! It's always a good time when you are with K.
Behold my niece and nephew; Aleese (3) and Ryker (1).
They are quite possibly the cutest kids in the world. This was when me and David took them to the park to play. Aleese called herself Cap' n Hook the whole time. Her whole life is Disney and everyday she is a new character; she is the funniest girl in the world. Ryker is just a fearless, sweetheart with the most adorable smile. I love them both so much!
This is a picture of CityCenter on the strip in Las Vegas. It is the largest commercial construction job in the world and it was operated by my Dad! I'm so proud of him!! We were lucky enough to go to the grand opening of Aria and Crystals! It was the most amazing event!
Another first for David...tasting caviar. Yuckk.
Did I mention we got full VIP all night long?
Me and Kristen! I'm so happy she got to come down to LV for this!
The man of the hour who made CentyCenter happen, Mr. Mark Caspers!
Crystals, where we pretty much stalked Eva Longoria in Louis Vuitton.
je t'amie
This is just PART of the suite at the Aria hotel. There is still a bedroom, a massive bathroom with two showers and a hot tub, not to mention a dinning room. Best part about this room (besides the gorgeous view of the Las Vegas Strip) was definitely the complimentary robes and slippers.
My birthday was December 19th and it was the big 2-0!
I celebrated at the Lady Gaga concert! She played at the Pearl in Palms and it was an amazing venue because it was smaller and we were on the floor in front of the stage!
Her performance proved not only that she truly does have an incredible set of pipes, but that she can entertain a crowd enough that they will call themselves "little monsters"
(you might have had to be there to get the whole monster thing).
We now share a mutual love of her hit "Bad Romance"
David now claims its "our" song. I'm worried.
Double date with Dave and Kristen, checking Avatar in 3D!
Hiking Camelback Mountain. Don't let anyone ever tell you it's easy!
That's how I felt the whole way up the mountain until we got to the very top!
Afterward I realized it was actually pretty fun. Do I every want to do it again? Not until I'm actually in shape.
David doing the zip-line rigged up by ol Brent DeWitt out at their property in Florence.
I don't want to put up the video of me doing it, it's too humiliating.
I was the only one (of course) who happened to do a complete backflip.
We hung out by the Buffalo Bar for a while waiting for dinner to be done! That's my impression of the buffalo. Which really just looks like how I get when I'm hungry...which I may have been doing. ANYWAYS. McKenna made that sign for her Dad, how cute is it? I guess she decided being the best cook in the world wasn't enough, she had to go and get crafty.
Arizona really does have the most beautiful sunsets around.
Story of our lives!!!!
When Ryan, my brother-n-law, asked his daughter why she would rather have David be her dad instead of him...
"But daddy...David lives with the kangaroo's."
PHX Zoo.
I really hate to bring bad news but, don't ever go there! All the cool animals are missing.
The night I reunited with my bestfriendfover after 3 long months!
I love you Kenna! That's a friendship 14 years in the making!
He really is such a great boyfriend. While Kenna and I were catching up, he kept the kids busy. Aleese and Ryker are in love with him. I don't know what they're going to do when we go back to Australia!
We went snowboarding up at Sunrise and it was snowing so hard the whole day and I have never seen it more crowded!
It was David's first time and surprise surprise, he was better than practically everyone else. He was even teaching me things, and I've been about 8 times!!
The Suns vs. Celtics game was UNBELIEVABLY good!
Not only did they kill the Celtics, but we had 2nd row seating!
GO HOME TEAM!
