The Phantom of the Opera is here.....inside my mind

Just so you know, I was/am singing the title of this post as I am typing. I am a sucker for a good musical. Anyways. Last weekend we took a quick trip to Las Vegas. We made a pact to see Phantom before it closes in Sept. and we finally made it happen! We spent the first night with one of my best friends Riann at her place in Henderson. We ate dinner at a fabulous mexican restaurant with an awesome view.

I have also decided that it is one of my life goals to have a craft/sewing room as awesome as this.

We had breakfast at Bread & Butter and loved it! And while I cringe at posting a no makeup picture, it was the only one I took with this lovely lady, so please excuse me.

That day, we checked into our hotel and spent the day at the pool. It was so hot that if you were outside you had to be poolside!

That night was Phantom!  I cannot even tell you how much I loved it. The theater was amazing, the music was haunting and the performance gave me chills on more than one occasion. It was so good! I love love loved it! All the songs are stuck in my head!

After the show we walked around a bit and got some dinner. While walking around the strip I was thinking about how much I loved coming to vegas when I was in college and how much it has changed. Then I realized, vegas hasn't changed, but I have! I much prefer the quiet and relaxed atmosphere of Henderson then the loud, crowded, madness of the strip. I am getting old!

Family Time in the Bay

So after playing in Long Beach for the week, my sister and I drove up to northern california to visit our the rest of our family. It was so much fun.

 First off, we got to see the Mack side of the family at a huge pool party at my aunt & uncle's house. We spent hours swimming, eating bomb bbq, and listening to crazy stories about my dad and his siblings when they were growing up. Wow.

My gorgeous aunt & cousin sneaking in the back...

 Jasper was loving the pool. 

Patting my face means he loves me. :)

 Little brother silliness. 

 All the cousins!

We also got to visit the Martinez side of the family..ie. my Grandma Esther. 

 My 83 year old grandma is an avid walker (she also has free weights she uses at home, yeah she is pretty awesome) and we always take a stroll around her neighborhood when we visit.

 4 generations. 

This was the first time she met her first great grandson. Look at those smiles!

Of course we had to make time to have dinner at our favorite chinese place. 

If you are ever in the teeny tiny town of Pinole, make sure you go to Hunan Villa!

Exhausting and way too short, but such a fun trip!

Family Time in Long Beach

This summer has been full of fun! My sister and my nephew came for a visit from CT.  Anytime we were at the house, baby Jasper always had a shadow. These pups had so much fun with him!

 Taking Gus Gus for a walk.

 Drawing with sidewalk chalk in the backyard. I especially like the chalky handprint on Gus' nose. 

 Driving to the dog beach. 

Long Beach dog beach. 

Car show in our neighborhood. 

 Jess & the most delicious waffle/ice cream dessert. 

 Jasper playing in the bed of Mason's truck. 

Apparently dog crates are really fun. 

And dog beds.

Sharing his toys with Jax. 

Enjoying some thrifty ice cream. 

 The OC Fair!!

I love their faces in this pic. They are watching the hypnotist work his magic on a group of people on the stage, but it seems to have worked on them a little.