04.24.2013: Drake's Spring Concert

Drake had his last concert of the year at Shadow Mtn High School. It was a huge collaboration with all the elementary, middle, and high schools in the Paradise Valley school district.  There were TONS of people there...and it was really cool!!  Drake loves playing the bass and was super excited for this concert because they announced the performance on the news right before we left for it...and there was a news camera there too.  Didn't see if he ever made the news later, but it was kinda exciting...the thought at least!

 

04.20.2013: JBJ...Jon Bon Jovi!!!!

Sooooo, annual JBJ concert in Vegas baby!!!!  Yes, the crew is back!!  One of those events that just keeps getting better and better each year as well.   Dad & Vince ran in the Tillman run/race in Phoenix this morning....and as soon as they were done, we hoped in the car and rushed to Vegas to make the concert with the JBJ crew.   Vince and I got a flat tire in Kingman...luckily close to town...so had to make a pit stop to get 2 tires replaced.  Only set us back about 45 mins.  Not too bad, but enough to set the stress meters up to max levels!  But luckily we got back on the road, just in time to get to Vegas, change our clothes and make the pre-party!  In need of a very strong drink....good thing we found one (or two)!

 

Oh also, Mom & Dad got upgraded to a ridiculous 1,600 sq foot suite at the Rio where we were all staying!  It worked out great because that's where we had our group pre-party and happy hours each night!

 

 

Erin, Sarah, Craven & Dad...

 Kenny giving a toast...or at least making some comments about something!

 Glad to all be here again!

 Left to Right....Jerry, Erin, Ken, Nick, Sarah, Craven, Kelsea, Kenny, Dad, Mom, Vince, Me, Jen & Nick.

 No Filter Jerry...in rare form!

 The "adults"??!

 Kenny in his "we better not miss the concert" mode!

 Erin & Jerry

 We love limos....

 Cuz we looked (acted) like we had never been to Vegas before...limo driver thought we needed to see the sign. Whatever!  We'll get our photo op in....

 Nick & Jen

 Sarah & Jeff

 Erin & Jerry

 The other Nick & Jen

 Ken & Kelsea

04.20.2013: Pat Tillman Run

 

The annual Pat Tillman run in Tempe, AZ just so happened to take place today...4/20...in honor of Pat Tillman's number #42.  It's every year about this time....  We already had the Bon Jovi concert planned for Vegas, but this run has become a tradition for the family as well....so to fit it all in, Mom & Dad drove out for the run, then planned to take off for Vegas afterwards...just in enough time to make the concert.

 

Mom & Dad, Gina, Bill, Chris & Nicole all drove out for it.  Vince ran this year as well.  I sat it out....hadn't been running since the Vegas marathon...so was no where near ready.  Even though it was only 4.2 miles, I didn't want to walk any of it if I did it.  So, I stayed home and watched it on TV and packed for Vegas!

 

The runners & walkers...

 

I caught a glimpse of Vince & Alisa...enough to take a pic on the TV anyways.  Not too clear, but you get the idea!  :) Vince is in a camo hat...Alisa a blue hat.

04.12.2013: Taking A Walk on the Cali Coast

So Vince and I took the long way home to Riverside.  We drove down to our fav spot on the coast for a walk....Salt Creek Beach.  Nothing we have found can really beat this area.  Too gorgeous for words!!  We always try to take advantage of our opportunities to visit this area.....

 

 

OK on the way down to Salt Creek, we took a little detour to the Shake Shack.  Yes, in the midst of our "diet" and eating somewhat well (sans Taco Night), we took another time out for some Shake Shack.  How can you pass up some shack???  Delish!!!!  Not to mention, what better way to spend your lunch hour on a beautiful Cali day???  I can truly think of no other....well, maybe on a yacht.

04.11.2013: Wild & Crazy Taco Night

AKA:  Night of Amazingness Night

AKA:  Hate to Be You And Not Be Here Night

AKA:  Never Going to Miss Taco Night Ever Again Night

 

Getting it yet???  This was a night of amazingness, truly.  Christina & Lex attended this event last year, and told us ALL about it...and all we could think of was "well, good for you and your amazing tacos".  We knew there was no way we were going to miss it this time!   And we made sure, no matter what, that we were there.  The deal is...it is a charity event that is sponsored by Share Our Selves (SOS).  Lex is connected with them through one of his hospitals.  He donates time and surgeries to the less fortunate.  So, there were a lot of doctors there, but a lot of other people on the "who's who of Orange County" list.  The event was actually held in the parking lot of SOS (which is a soup kitchen).  So, it is not a "fancy" event by any means.  HOWEVER, do not get me wrong...this was no soup kitchen event.  There were probably 30-ish very high end restaurants that came...and each had a booth...and they make a taco out of something unique and crazy.  Most booths had a few tacos to sample....and trust me when I say that we sampled most of them!  There were no standard tacos there...all wild and crazy. 

 

There were also wild and crazy alcohol vendors there.  An amazing tequila company called Tres Sietes Tequila.  They swore they because of the way they distill or maybe don't distill the tequila, you don't get a hangover from it...so we thought we would test their theory.  They were giving us unlimited shots, as well as mixing up amazing margaritas for us.  I was drinking a grapefruit-habanero margarita.  WOW.  I got my money's worth in the night just from those drinks!  Soooooo good!  And, no hangover.  They were very right.  Highly recommend if you find it somewhere.  Right now it is pretty local, as in just in the OC area....but they are branching out to San Diego as well.  So check it out if you see it somewhere.  They had 3 levels...and we preferred the higher end one...so get that one!! I forget the "label".

 

So there were a bunch of photogs there also...from a couple websites and magazines. For whatever reason, they loved taking pics of our group...mostly Vince and Christina...but whatever! Haha!  Found one of our pics on the internet but the time I am writing this...maybe more will show up later on.  Who knows!  Either way, we had an amazing time, ate till we could pop, drank until we were about to fall over (oh wait, I actually did fall over), and got lots of gift cards for some restaurants that these people want us to come try!!!  All in all, it was a super successful outing!!!  Can. not. wait. until next year!!!



 

 

04.04.2013: My Throwback Pic of the Week

So for those Instagram lovers, you already know that Thursdays are traditionally "Throwback Thursdays" where you post an old picture...a "throwback".  Today, in honor of Gramma's birthday, my throwback pic was of Gramma, Brent and I....from when Brent was just a few months old.  I am pretty cheesed up...must have been pretty happy about something!  Maybe just cuz I was hanging out with Gramma!

 

  Happy Birthday Gramma!!!!