I'm getting better at figuring out how to use my digital camera (due to some great tips from Friend Rebecca) and I am so happy with how some of my picts have turned out lately. I had to post this particular photo on my blog because I love it so much. It's a photo of a pioneer-era home in St. George, Utah. I love how the leaves of the Japanese Maple compliment the color on the wagon, and I'm so happy with the composition. I think I might get this one printed out in a bigger format and frame it for my house...it would look great in my great room area with my red wall.

Actually, I'm not blue...quite the opposite, because I saw the Blue Man Group Saturday night in Vegas and I have to say, that was hands down the coolest show I've ever seen! Wow! Too funny. I loved the bit about the internet cafe/digital frontier.

 

I didn't enjoy our hotel that much (Luxor) but before this weekend, it had been seven years since I'd even been to Vegas and I wasn't sure where we wanted to stay. Now I can say I highly reccommend the mid-strip area...The Venetian or the Bellagio are nice (if you're rich ;) or my sister and her hubby stayed at the Flamingo which was also a great choice for about half the price! Good to know, as I'm sure I'll be returning more often now that my parents own that lovely little pad in St. George :) How convienent! Another tip....Treasure Island Buffet. mmmmmmm.

 

Other great things about the weekend...

 

-I won $18 (but then lost it)

-I saw my good friend Katie and her two daughters

-I got to hang with  family members I don't get to see too often

-I visited Zion twice....one of my favorite National Parks

-Ethan walked his first hike (without us carrying him) and did great! (Emerald Pools)

-I mastered the art of running through the airport with 4 bags and a toddler (if you add my sister and her kids we had 4 kids, 9 bags, and two purses.)

-I discovered Sephora lipstick

-Ethan went to a KILLER easter-egg hunt

-I only spent $12 in the local scrapbooking store (a record)

-I discovered I don't totally suck at tennis!

 

My parents like to tease me about how my life seems like just one vacation after another. (they are one to talk...they go somewhere just about every weekend!) They also tease me about how much money I spend on vacations. I was calculating how much I spent on travel last year, and yeah, it's a chunk of change. :)

 

Why is it that I can't seem to sit still for more than a few months tops before feeling like I need to GO somewhere?

 

Phillip told me the other day that he was having a discussion with some guys at work about the demands of their wives. They asked him what his wife (me) just HAD to have, and he said "Vacations."  Ha ha, I thought that was funny..so true! And they thought that was cool! Apparently their wives were more interested in expensive cars and plastic surgery. What a waste of money...I'd much rather take a trip to Italy than have a BMW. (That's a toss-up for Phillip though :) I'd even rather have a smaller house and travel than a bigger one and be forced to sit home in it and never go anywhere...that's not my idea of a good time.

 

I saw an article about ways to keep your mind stimulated and your attitude about life positive in Real Simple this month, and they listed Travel as one of those things. I couldn't agree more, and realized that this is exactly why it is I need to travel. I always come back refreshed and feeling like I've learned or seen something new...even if I've just visited somewhere I've been dozens of times. It's a big world out there and I want to see it!

 

To each their own, but I will always choose travel over a big house or a fancy car. Travel keeps me happy. Luckily my little guy already seems to have my love of travel and vacations...he's already been to England, Sweden, the Bahamas, Canada, and several states in the US at the age of 3 and loved all our trips. Loves to camp too, much to my delight. He'll get to see a lot more of the world as long  as I'm his mother. What a lucky boy! :)