XXXV

Last weekend was EPIC. AMAZING. A ONCE IN A LIFETIME (maybe twice if you know some people who know some people) EXPERIENCE. For my 35th birthday we went back to Vegas for the I Heart Radio Music Festival with seats so good that even the ticket girl was jealous. PINCH ME.

After arriving in lovely Las Vegas Thursday night, we headed to our hotel to check in. The birthday Gods were with me because approximately 1 minute into standing in line a young man who resembled an angel walked directly up to Tony and I and asked us "if any of these bottles tickled our fancy?" The words "all of them" came flowing out of my mouth before my brain actually told me to speak and just like that he handed them to us and walked (flew) back to heaven. EPIC.

After a good night's sleep (I wish we would have fit in a couple of those) we spent the day shopping at our favorite outlet stores and then prepared for our 1st night at the festival. No preparation for a fabulous night out on the town is ever complete without some new jewels! And just like that, Tony surprised me with the red boxes I love sooo much. EPIC.

We were not as lucky as last year to get handed the "golden" black bracelets to the MGM high roller VIP room, but I was lucky enough to marry a man who doesn't need such a bracelet. After watching opening act Taylor Swift take the stage, Tony left to grab some beverages and came back with a personal butler carrying Red Bull vodkas on a tray. I couldn't make this up if I tried. Apparently he walked right into the VIP room with some major swag, threw a sizable tip into the bartenders jar and recruited a tuxedo wearing staff member to help him with his drinks...you know...with a broken wrist and all. And it didn't stop the entire evening. Or the next. EPIC.

After two days of dancing like no one was watching to the likes of 50 Cent, Eric Church, Weezer, Motley Crue and so many more, we indulged in a fantastic meal at The Palm and a Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show to round out my birthday weekend. We engaged in just enough debauchery to truly leave in Vegas (you didn't think I could tell you everything in this blog did you?) and returned back to our daily lives left with only one thing in our heads; LAST WEEKEND WAS FREAKIN EPIC!

Eat, Sleep, Sports

Kids and sports go hand in hand. Tony and I were both raised at various sports complexes throughout the Bay Area so we are familiar with this type of lifestyle. What is new to us is being on the other end of raising kids with sports; being the parents! Between paying for the activities, uniforms, accessories and travel we are having to "divide and conquer" each going in separate directions to get everyone where they need to go and trying to eat dinner before 8 o'clock at night. Being that the kids are only 7 and 5, we know that this is just the beginning...and we are hoping we have time to perfect the system!

Cienna continues to do gymnastics, where she is currently working on her back handspring. We had our 1st trip to urgent care after pulling a back muscle trying one too many times at the park. Better her than me. Every single time I see her slam against the ground, I can feel a part of my my back herniating. I either need to stop watching or she needs to get better at back handsprings soon. My back simply can't take it.

She also began horse riding lessons this month which is much more than saddling up and riding. She is learning how to care for a horse named "Maggie", grooming her, putting on her saddle and bridle, and learning how to control what Maggie should be doing vs what she would like to be doing. She is loving it and as expensive as it may be, if she continues to show sincere interest in it and not just going through the motions, we will figure out how to pay for it!

AJ has begun his 3rd soccer season and his energy and focus this time has impressed everyone around him. We have gone from him flopping his body on the ground in the middle of the field if someone got the ball from him, to no one is getting the ball from him. Period. He is aggressive to the ball and does not stop until he scores that goal. Last weekend I was told that he scored so many goals that they took him out of the game. Fortunately with age has come maturity and no meltdown ensued. Also, I think he was ready for a break!

My hands down favorite thing about AJ playing soccer is how after each and every goal he looks over to his daddy and I on the side lines and give us a big thumbs up. Melts my heart every time!

We are excited to see where sports take these amazing little people. What we know so far is that when they put their minds to something there truly is no stopping them. Here is hoping they never lose that!