Vegas!

While Grandma Smith & Grandma Susan were in town, we were able to sneak away to Vegas for a few days!  Don't judge us, we love Vegas!  The sun, the pool, the food, the people watching, the shopping.  Love it all.

I think I sat by the pool and read for 5 hours straight the first day.

No one called me "Mom."

No one needed me to take them to the bathroom.

No one needed me to get them a snack.

No one needed me to hold them.

 No one even talked to me.

I'm not going to lie, it was pretty awesome.

While I enjoyed the sun, Chad enjoyed the cable... and a nap.

That night we ate at a Mob Themed Italian Restaurant.

Holy cow, it was amazing!

We will definitely be going back next time we are in Vegas.

We also enjoyed walking the Strip, and Downtown Vegas, as usual.

On our last morning, we went to The Hash House A Go-Go for breakfast.

Again.  Holy cow, it was amazing.

I got the Bananas Foster French toast.  Soooo good.  

One of those things that you eat at a restaurant and then immediately go home and try to replicate.

 Chad got a waffle that was stuffed with bacon.

Sounds like his kind of waffle for sure!

Karli loves bacon.  We will have to bring her here sometime :)

 While we were away, the Grandma's kept us updated with picture texts.

We knew they were in good hands!

 We loved receiving this picture:

In the middle of the day, at the park, wearing her jammies, eating an E.L. Fudge.

Grandmas are the best!

Thank you for taking such good care of our girls!  

We sure enjoyed the break.  But I couldn't wait to hold my girls.

Truth be told, when we pulled up, the girls shouted "Daddy, Daddy!!!"

Wa Waaaa.

Ice Skating

Karli has been asking to go ice skating for quite some time now.

So, we left Ash at home with Grandpa, and we took Grandma ice skating with us.

Sounds like a plan!

 Thank heavens for those training bars!

It took Karli a few rounds to get the hang of it.  For the first few rounds, she was mostly walking on the ice in her skates.  Like she was in ski boots.  Then she had a giggle fit and she kept going limp.  Super funny and frustrating for her mom who was trying to keep her from falling.  Luckily, Grandma got some good shots.

She finally started to get the hang of it and even skated with her walker by herself.

 Karli loved watching the big kids do their fast skating and "tricks."  

She loved being alone with Mom, Dad, and Grandma.

Overall, big thumbs up from this girl.

 And how cute are these two?  

Pre-Marriage, Pre-kids, Pre-Actual Adult Life.

We went ice skating with our Ward for FHE.

Same ice skating rink that we took Karli to.

Ah, the memories.

Tamales

Did you know that Chad and I are an interracial couple?

It's a burden we have to bare.

It's true.  He is half Mexican.

The man loves a tamale, and so does his brother, and now...so do I.

So, after Curt learned how to make them at Christmas, they came over and taught us.

Quite the process.

Spreading the masa on the husks.

 Curt had to take a phone call.

Get back to work Curt!! There's masa to be spread!

 Did you notice that we are all dressed in the same color? Kelly green.

When you make tamales, you all have to wear the same color.  Little known fact.

Just kidding, it was St. Patrick's Day.
And we are all very festive!

 Pork filling for the tamales.

 Just wrapping away.

I was the wrapper.

I've got beats.

 Steamed!

 Final product.

Smothered with green chili and served with Spanish Rice.

Pretty much heaven on a plate.

Don't let this post fool you into thinking this is easy.  Including pork cooking time and steaming, this whole process took over 24 hours.  And actually making the tamales with 4 people took us over 4 hours.  We did manage to make 12 dozen tamales.

I know you probably want some, but Chad is VERY picky about who he shares his tamales with.

You have to appreciate them.

Really, really appreciate them.

 Appreciate how much time and love went into them.

If you do, then he will probably share with you.

Just make an appointment, and we will have you over for dinner.

But hurry, these will go fast.