Vegas does not disappoint!

Las Vegas is beautiful at Christmas time!  The decorations are amazing, but I think the Bellagio wins for best Christmas decor!  Just stroll thru the pics below and enjoy - it's always a great experience to see what they come up with!  Notice the blown in snow - it's on the branches and everything, just like home!!!  

Reindeer made of nuts!

Notice the streams of water!

They were just finishing putting on all the flowers on the snowmen!

This was pretty cool too - Dan and my first hands when we sat down at the blackjack table - WOO HOO!!  (I can't believe they let me take a picture!!)

Sitting in KC airport...waiting to go home...

Well, I'm sitting in the Kansas City airport...trying to get home. I've been sitting here for quite a while...with a million other people trying to get home for the holidays. With snow and ice in Chicago and Detroit...and I'm going thru Chicago, it's quite a feat! But, as long as I get home sometime today, I will be happy!

SO, I may as well blog, right?

This is the last flight of a 5 flight trip. Started out on Dec. 3rd to Phoenix, did the Tempe show with Dan and then we went on to Vegas for 4 days. From there we went to Tucson for a show and then back to Phoenix. Dan left at 4a on Monday and drove back to Waterford...weather was trying for him as well, he was glad to arrive home 3 days later.

On Wednesday I flew to Kansas City for a conference and here it is Friday and we had rain and ice here last night and lots of snow in Chicago and Detroit...so that brings you current! I'm waiting to go stand-by on this flight with hopes to make my Detroit flight in Chicago, so I may have to close this computer quickly!!

Here's some pics from our trip. I have some more on my camera but it's in my checked luggage, so will post those later.

So, off Joye and I go...I think we put a lot of miles on this car...cuz we sure spent a lot of time driving it around town!

First stop - Domestic Bliss!!  What a great store, just lots of stuff that I really liked...wish I could take it all home with me...actually would like to take the whole store to Michigan!!

Cute dresses...Willa sized ;-)

Cute lamp...Sarah style!

Ok, these pics are out of order somehow...but here's Dan after the show in Tempe, I'm sure Joye and I were embarrassing him about something!

Oh yah, and this would be why...

Man, I messed these up...but you get the picture, it's all about food!!

Tempe Art Festival...Thanks to Joye for all her hard work!!  You can see our booth, the one with the little chalkboards on the outside top!

Picture from the...

bar...

Not to worry, we ordered for Dan too!!

After the show we had a great dinner at Kelley's and Patrick's!!  Thanks guys for the hospitality, it was great to see you all, as always!!!

Kelley is the 'Where's Waldo' expert!!!  Just ask Logan!

Logan didn't think she liked lasagna...until she figured out it tastes a lot like ravioli...then she ate it right up!

Still looking for Waldo...

Jammies on, after dinner!

The rest of the pictures were taken by none other than the new up and coming photographer in our family - Miss Logan!!  She is a natural I think!

Brother Jake...

Uncle Dan & Lucy...

Mommy...

one of the doggie cages...I think Kelley must have polished it, it sure shines  ;-)

Aunt Kelley's plate holder, nice!

Let it snow Christmas Ornament...come to MI, I'll show ya some snow!!

Pretty ornament!

Mommy and Jake!

Uncle Dan - sign language I think...

Charlito's back!  Nice fur!

Lucy's back...end...

Lucy...trying to get away - but no go!

Charlito, nice pic!!

We had a great time - but it's so nice to be home, I can actually say I even appreciate the massive amount of snow we got...didn't think I would ever miss it, but I did!  And I sure did miss my little Wilsy!   All's well now that I got my hugs and kisses in today!  (oh yah, I got called the last one on my standby flight...so I actually made it home last night - YAY!!   So finishing this up today!)

No worries...

Joye managed to not get a ticket! She apparently forgot to put her lights on when we left Carrabbas. Dan was behind us...so he was a little surprised when the lights went on and Joye pulled over!! I couldn't stop laughing...as Joye had a few comments for the cop when we went by him and then next thing we knew he was behind us! Amazingly enough, he never asked us if we had anything to drink...which we didn't at Carrabbas, but had been to Z Tejas prior to Carrabbas where yes, we did enjoy a Margarita! Then I'm trying to take pictures incognito...which just made me laugh more! Fun was had by all, you should have been there :-)

Having a great time in AZ!!

uh oh...

More to come later!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Cuz we are leaving for Arizona and Las Vegas this week!  :-) Just a couple of pics from last night...we had a big storm come thru, luckily most of it went north of us...but we've had a bit of snow already this winter...I feel like it should be January!  I took the first one with a flash on and then the 2nd without the flash...I'm not up on this photography stuff like Sarah and Julie...but I was trying to capture the beauty, cuz it was really pretty!!  Still is, like a winter wonderland!

Sarah and I went Christmas shopping yesterday in Plymouth...and it was snowing so hard and the flakes were just huge!!  We were so wet from the big flakes melting on us, our hair and feet were soaked!  Sure gets you in the mood though!

On to CHRISTMAS!!!

We had a great Thanksgiving at Tim's house.  I don't think any meal tastes better than Thanksgiving dinner.  As much as I love Christmas it is not as much about the food as Thanksgiving is - there is so much more to think about...like what's in the presents under the tree?? (among a million other  things...) Thanksgiving is so special because it's about reflection and thanks for all the wonderful things and people in our lives and we can focus on just that and yes, the food!! It truly is a wonderful holiday! BUT, now we move on to Christmas, my most favorite time of the year!!  As most of you know, I am always traditionally late in getting my decorations up, shopping done, etc. etc...but I must say it doesn't usually matter cuz I enjoy every minute of it, no matter when I do it. BUT, this year - I want to go on record as having my house decorated (inside only...) a week before Thanksgiving!! I know it's amazing (for me) and it will probably never happen again...but I'm leaving this week to travel - for shows, family time in AZ, and a litte vacation in Las Vegas, tack on a work trip at the end, and I don't return until Dec. 20th...so it was do or die...cuz doing it all the last week would have been very risky!!  

Looking forward to spending holiday time with family in AZ - it so makes this another wonderful Christmas - being fortunate to see those that we don't get to see every day and doing holiday shopping, celebrating, and just being together at such a wonderful time, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!!

"Tis the reason for the Season!!"