What Happens in Vegas

Stays in Vegas.
Except what I'll be telling you about here, because it's too good to keep a secret...
My best friend Sarah from high school and I both were invited to our mutual friend Barbara's wedding in Vegas. (For some reason I have to keep explaining to people that she lives in Vegas. That's why she got married there. Duh.)
All three of us ran cross country together all four years. The real kicker is that Barbara married Matt, another kid from our high school who ran cross country with us and who she really didn't like in high school. It was a mutual show of non-affection...which was obviously misleading because now they are married. So Sarah and I had to go see this match with our own eyes.
We drove ten hours to see it, in fact. Sarah was a great sport - I didn't want to dish up the money to fly so she suggested driving and even provided her car for the trip. We loaded ourselves up Friday afternoon and even allowed for a little stowaway - Bekah. We were stopping for the night in Flagstaff and Amy was very kind to invite Bekah to stay there for the weekend. (Amy's daughter Sarah got to tell everyone that she was getting a sister. And Amy had to clarify that she was getting a cousin, not a new sister.)
Saturday morning came early and cold, as I could attest to when Amy, Sarah, and I (clad in shorts! eek!), went for a walk/run at 6:30am. I have to insert one thing right here about the Challenge - I am so grateful that it made it possible for Amy and I to run together. That hasn't happened since I was in high school and it was wonderful!
After warming up and cleaning up from our walk/run, eating breakfast, and finding Bekah to say goodbye, Sarah and I hit the road. The drive went fast; I enjoyed In-N-Out for the first time ever in Kingman. Tyler clued me in to the "secret menu" so I ordered the single, animal style. Yum. Good stuff.
When we got to Vegas we drove down the strip, wandered around a little bit, saw "Nunsense," a forgettable comedy by singing Vegas-style nuns, and ate a very memorable dinner at Emeril's in the MGM.
Sunday was perfect. We slept in, had breakfast, toured a chocolate factory, ate amazing chocolate, swam in the hotel pool, went to church with my aunt and uncle, were treated to a wonderful lunch by my aunt and uncle, drove up to see the Las Vegas temple up close, and made it back to the hotel with plenty of time to get dolled up for the wedding.
Somehow we were running late when it was time to be at the wedding...but we showed up in plenty of time and didn't have to literally run into the chapel. Matt was the first person we saw when we walked through the doors. He was in the foyer with Barbara's dad, and they both were so happy and surprised to see us. They both told me, "Gosh! You're so tall!" In fact that's what everyone who knew me in high school said. I had to take off my heels at one point to prove that, "See, I'm not that tall!"
Here I am with the bride:And here we are, just like ten years ago...sort of!
Anyways, the ceremony was beautifully done and the reception afterward was really fun. They had a dance floor and played a lot of old school songs and it was really a blast. We danced the night away! I loved seeing Barbara and Matt dance together, and completely cracked up at Barbara's dad dancing...he was a hoot!
And then Monday Sarah and I headed home, swooping in to pick up Bekah in Flagstaff, (Amy said: Keri, Bekah asks a lot of questions!). We made it home in good time and I was happy to see my kids. But not Rus - he had left that same morning for Kansas. I kept teasing that I wouldn't come home till he had left so I wouldn't get any fallout from his weekend with the boys. :)
Again, it was just a wonderful weekend. I really enjoyed Sarah's company and the entire adventure. YAY!