Raubel Reunion 2009

What seems like just a few years ago (in 1998), I graduated from High School. I moved to Utah to go to BYU. My sophomore year, I went on a little study abroad to the Dominican Republic. I'm pretty sure one of the reasons I was destined to go there was to meet Rachel and Aubrey who were also in the program. (Of course the reason wouldn't be to actually learn Spanish...pssssh...that's what college was for). I HAD to meet these girls. When we got home, I lived with Aubrey and Rachel and their other friend who would also become one of my best friends, Eleisha. And thus was the beginning of RAUBEL (Robyn, Rachel, Aubrey, and Eleisha...four names in one! Get it? Dorky? Fine.)

I must still like these girls, because THREE years ago, we chose to have a little reunion over the weekend of my 26th birthday. Two of us had teeny, nursing babies, but we didn't want to miss out on the fun. So we brought them along. We celebrated, and I left even more sleep deprived than when I'd arrived. This year, over the weekend of my 29th birthday, we had another reunion...this time in Vegas. And my present to myself was to LEAVE my children home! I couldn't miss out...friends like these are hard to come by. A weekend away with these girls was just what I needed!

We ate. We shopped. We laughed.

We ate some more, and laughed some more. (What's on your shirt, Rach?)

We sweat. We swam. (And no, Michael, I didn't come home with a spotted tan, thank you very much!)

We saw the latest Cirque du Soleil show, The Beatles LOVE show. We loved it!

Did I mention that we ate? My new favorite chips and salsa are in Vegas...at the Isla Mexican Kitchen at Treasure Island. My favorite birthday dessert continues to be at the Cheesecake Factory. We were even good girls, and went to church...only to find out that it was the Spanish branch! Fitting, since Spanish is sort of what brought us together in the first place. (Even Eleisha, although she doesn't speak it! Her and I wouldn't be friends if I didn't!)

Rachel is getting ready to move her little family to Australia. Here's hoping that our next reunion is somewhere down under!

Problem is, I may never again be able to bribe anyone to watch my kids. While we were gone, my sweet mother-in-law and hopefully-still-friend, Kandis watched my kids while Joe worked.

Kandis made it look like she had a fun day by taking these pictures in our backyard:

But what you don't see is that Avery actually threw up all day long, and Parker decided that he didn't want to poop in the potty anymore. Kandis is going straight to heaven!

Joe's weekend wasn't much better. So thanks to RAUBEL, Mom G., Kandis, and especially my amazing husband Joe for giving me the best birthday present ever...time for ME!

And after one day back...I'm ready for another vacation! (I know, poor me...)

Let's do it again soon, girls!