Recent Happenings from Vegas...

Last Sunday when it was a 100 plus degrees, we decided to take a drive to Mt. Charleston. It's about 30 min away from our place, about the same distance as the strip but in the opposite direction. It was quite pleasant and very comfortable at about 70 degrees. It felt like we were right back in Idaho. We plan on visiting often.

We celebrated Russell's 26th birthday on the 9th. I made him Chicken Enchiladas for dinner and some Pistachio Pudding cake, which I ended up eating most of. I put trick candles on his cake. Josie thought it was hilarious.

And the for the most exciting news....... Josie went pee in the potty! I got the little potty out just so she could get used to it and within about 10 minutes she peed in it. I'm sure it was beginners luck but I was very excited!

Home Sweet Home?

We've been in Las Vegas for a week now. My parents drove down with us last Sunday, spent the week here and drove back home on Friday morning. During our first week here we explored the strip a bit (saw a lot of crazy people), went to about 5 different Walmarts about 10 different times (saw some choice people there too) and went to the Fantastik swap meet (where yet again we saw some interesting folk). We've been busy all week getting all the things we need to make our condo feel like home including a new HD tv, slipcovers, chairs and toilet paper (since my parents will no longer be providing it).

We really like the area of town where we live. We're right on the edge of town, literally, there's just desert between us and the mountains. We're about 30 minutes away from the strip and we have almost all the shopping we could ever need within about 10 miles, including Costco and 2 Targets, which are my personal favorites. We're enjoying life here so far, except for the above normal temperatures, I hope I can survive in these triple digits.

We miss all our friends and family at home. We especially miss free rent, free satellite tv, free Internet, garbage/mail service, Sunday dinners and all the other countless luxuries provided by the Larry and Cindy Pond household. But it feels good to be on our own, even if it is way more expensive!

Here are a few pictures from this week. Sorry they're aren't any from the swap meet, cameras were not allowed, which is quite unfortunate.

Nan and Grandad

Russ and Josie on our strip venture.

The view from our complex entrance.

More pictures of our place and our adventures here in Vegas to come....

Just a couple...

Just a couple more days 'til Russ comes home, just a couple (or few) more days in Idaho, just a couple days at the cabin....here a just a couple photos. Josie and I spent the weekend at the cabin in Stanley with Tara. I'm not sure when we'll be back there so I wanted to have a fun day outside. I wasn't too thrilled when I woke up to several inches of snow on Sat and Sun morning. We spent most of the weekend inside... oh well, it was still beautiful.

My New Headbands

My sister Laura was kind enough to take pictures, yet again, for my etsy shop. This time they are of me, which is kind of exciting! I'm really excited about these new fabric flowers, they take a lot of work but I think they look beautiful! You can visit my shop here http://www.justjosie.etsy.com/

Our Last Minute Trip

Josie and I couldn't wait the whole 7 weeks to see Russ, so last Monday we hopped on a plane to Vegas to hang out with him for a week. We stayed with some relatives of Russ' that were the nicest people ever, they were very good to us and fed us tons of food. We looked for apartments without much luck, drove around the city we'll soon call home, and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Now we only have 4 more weeks!

Our Last Days with Daddy

Russ started his new job on Monday, yay! However he's in Dallas for training and he'll be gone for seven weeks, which is not so yay. Josie and I already miss him very much, 3 days down and 44 to go. Anyway, on the days leading up to Russell's departure, the three of us spent some good quality time together. Russ' last day of classes was Thursday, so we took Josie to the Zoo (where a lion hunted Josie, but seriously, it charged the glass and got right up to Josie's face... thank goodness for the glass.) and later went out for ice cream to celebrate. On Saturday we went to a movie and dinner. Then Sunday morning we bawled our eyes out and said goodbye. We can't wait for Daddy to come home!

The Lion that wanted to eat Josie.

Daddy, Josie Chippy Time

Josie and I on Sunday evening, missing our Russy.

This is what we're using to count down the days until dad gets home.

What Did the Easter Bunny Bring You?

Well if you ask Russ, nothing, because he is very certain there is no such thing as the Easter Bunny. According to him, a Bunny that 'poops' eggs is beyond belief, so not only does he not believe but he claims he won't allow our children to believe in such an insane idea. However, he loves Easter candy more than anyone, go figure. Anyway, despite Russell's negative attitude towards the bunny, we woke up Easter morning to beautiful candy filled easter baskets. I guess he's lucky that Josie and I believe. :)

Josie couldn't wait to dig in.(And yes my daughter is wearing boy pajamas.)

Russell's candy spread.