CHEERS AND GIGGLES

I always like to take a trip up to Idaho Falls around Cy's birthday. It is kind of a fall thing, fueled by my and Heidi's mutual distaste for the season. Stella of course always has the best time. On Saturday, both Cy and Catcher had basketball games. We missed Cy's because it was way too early in the morning, but we made it to Catcher's. Stella was so excited to see a basketball game (hopefully my fears of a sports-loving child will not be realized). She was the best cheerleader ever, always giving a shout out to Catcher while jumping and clapping. Catcher had a lot of fun at his game. Scores were not kept at either of their games, but in my book, I know they won on adorableness alone.

In the afternoon, Stella and the boys took a ride in the Beehive Bug. It is both a bug and a limo and apparently very rare. Craig's credit union bought it for promotional stuff and it was at the house because they used it for Cy's birthday party with his friends earlier in the week. Stella thought the ride was hilarious. With lots of bumping and noise, she was laughing like crazy with her boys in the car. And don't worry, we didn't really let her drive it. She is only two for heaven's sake and doesn't yet know how to drive a stick.

We did nothing on Sunday, just ate and hung out. When we finally got on the road at 7 PM it was raining like crazy and rather windy. As we started on the freeway I thought for sure that it couldn't last forever. But the weather was terrible for three whole hours. I thought for sure that we were done for several times. It was raining so hard that sometimes I couldn't see a thing, then the wind would blow and I thought we were going to blow off the road. Stella was in the back seat saying prayer after sweet prayer and we finally made it home in one piece, although my nerves were shattered.

VEGAS BABY

I love Las Vegas. I have only absolutely awesome memories from my many visits there, and I had a smile on my face the whole time we were there this week. Heidi and Craig were there for a conference and we decided to come down so we could hang out with Miss Heidi while Craig was in meetings during the day. Stella was super excited and talked about "Vegas Baby" for days before the trip. Especially after I packed her swimming suit and told her that she would be able to go swimming in a few days. She could hardly wait. To add to the already good time, my dad flew in from his trip to Africa and met us there as well.

Our first day, Stella couldn't wait a second longer to go to the pool. She was excited to find a baby pool just her size. She loved going up and down the stairs, and then bouncing on Grandma's legs. If she could talk about it to you, I am sure she would tell you it was an awesome time.

Then we headed to the super awesome outlet mall where we shopped almost 'til we dropped. Seriously. I was so proud of my Heidi who actually spent some money on clothes for herself. I also managed to find some awesome shoes at Dolce & Gabbana and a purse from Kate Spade for myself. Stella was a total trooper. She sat in her stroller and just enjoyed the thrill of shopping. She only caused a little bit of trouble when she lost her sunglasses (that I thankfully found), and it was also a struggle for her to go anywhere without getting a compliment on her adorableness.

That night we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Stella was really thrilled to see Craig, even though she totally played shy when she finally saw him. As we were leaving the awesome statue show at Caesar's (that draws in tourists from near and far) was going on and we thought Stella would like to watch it. It made her so scared and she kept her hands over her eyes the whole time. It was hilarious.

Here we are posing like the models in the wall poster for the new H&M store that is "coming soon."

Would you believe the next day was more of the same: pool, shopping, etc. And it was just as awesome? Yep. That is Vegas Baby for ya! (We got Stella to say "Vegas Baby" a lot.) She also was excited to point out all of the helicopters, which she called 'helipoppers.' So cute.

Right before we left, Stella started taking all of the empty shopping bags and, taking her cue from her mom and auntie, she started posing with the bags and asked me to take her picture. I was happy to do so.

When we were booking the trip, we decided that we would be more comfortable with a two bedroom condo than a room on the strip. When my mom found this place she told me, "I found a nice spot that isn't too much. It just has the worst name." "What is it?" I asked. "The Desert Rose." "Ewwwww!" I cringed, "That sounds like a feminine product."

We both hated the name and laughed every time we had to say it to someone. Like when I was checking out the car: "Where are you staying?" asked the courteous girl behind the counter. "Oh, just a little condo-ish place off the strip by the MGM Grand." Which was specific enough to me. "Ma'am, we need a name." PAUSE. "Well, um (in a whisper) The Desert Rose."

While talking with Brent on the phone: "We've made it to our room at (spoken seductively) The Desert Rose." (uproarious laughter by me) Brent: "I don't get it." And perhaps most of you won't either but my mom and I did, and that is what makes us hilarious.

IN THE ASPEN TREES

Last weekend I had a wedding and my sweetheart Crystal came with me to be my second shooter. We had a very long drive through some absolutely beautiful parts of Utah that I didn't even know existed. After seeing like 20 awesome photo spots and talking about our love for bare Aspen trees, we finally just stopped and took some pictures. It was great to have a little break. Now, I am trying really hard not to talk bad about myself, but when I look at these pictures of me trying to be young and sassy...all I see is a total mom trying to be cool. I feel even worse next to sassy Crystal, but I think these are still worth sharing. I obviously took all of the ones of hottie Crystal and a couple of the tree shots and Crystal took all the pictures of the mom in the pink sweater (me).

SALLAY ACCOMMODATIONS NEWS

Announcing the newest addition to the Sallay Accommodations Family. Our basement guest room is open and ready for visitors. Michelle Sallay, president and CEO of Sallay Accommodations is thrilled to be able to give her guests their own private space including a full -sized bathroom. "Before the finished basement, guests would have to stay upstairs with us. It wasn't a big deal until Stella was born and started to take over the upstairs bathroom. We started finding ourselves keeping guests up late just so Stella could take a bath." Brent Sallay, co-founder and CFO told us, "Now that we have this extra space, we can walk around naked upstairs when people stay over and they won't even know."

The Douglas family from Orange County, California was the first family to try out the new space. "The room was very fashionably decorated with a modern flare," explained mom Christy. She added, "The kids slept great and the room was the perfect size." Her husband Geoff told us, "I found the beds very comfortable, and my stay was exceptional." When 3-year old Aedan was asked if he liked staying in the room downstairs, he said, "Yeah. I did."

Michelle says that although the decorating is on the right track she still has more plans for the room. "I am definitely going to add some pictures that I have taken or perhaps a painting or two. I will have Brent hang them though because I hate putting nails in my walls."

Both Brent and Michelle feel really lucky to be able to share this extra space with the people they love, and look forward to hearing what future guests have to say about the new addition in the years to come.

The Douglas family shares a family moment in the new guest room. Photo taken by CEO Michelle Sallay.

LOVE TO THE CAMERA

Having Christy with me this weekend was too fun. It has been almost 10 years since she came into my life as a little sister missionary fresh from the MTC ready for me to teach her how to be a cool missionary. It was kind of love at first sight, and I adore her. I love her little kid giggle that usually helps her to get what she wants and her love for all things girly. Plus she is an awesome friend. Christy is one of my number one photo supporters and she also loves to take pictures, so like me she is often behind the camera. It has been a while since we got a picture of the two of us, so I made her husband Geoff take some pictures of us modeling this morning. Christy and her family are now on their way back to California, and I miss them already. However, I am looking forward to going to sleep at normal times again and not being tempted to stay up until 4 am sharing sizzling gossip.

THREE AMIGOS

Stella is having another awesome weekend. Her friends Cali and Aedan are here and she is having so much fun. We all went to church this morning and Stella and Cali looked adorable in their brown dresses. Getting all of the kids to pose at once is rather tricky so we used some flowers to keep them still for more than one second. Later in the evening we had a little birthday party for Miss Cali who is two today. It was really fun and the kids loved their cake.

HAWAIIAN BABIES

My mom bought Ava and Stella matching dresses from Hawaii a long time ago. She wanted pictures of the girls together in their outfits. It took me a long time to do it because even though I love both of these girls more than anything, just thinking about taking pictures of them together gives me a headache. Last week, Ash and I buckled down and did it. Ava lost interest in posing quite quickly while Stella just stared at the camera looking confused. So we only got one of the girls sitting together where they both look okay. However, there were still some real winners in the mix. The love they have for each other is obvious, and I am glad we captured that forever.