Las Vegas

Sorry I'm falling behind on blog posts, but I've been getting adjusted to my new work shift (5:45 to 2:15), friends visiting Hawaii (I'll blog about that next), and preparing for family to visit.

We took a red eye flight to Vegas on the 12th and arrived at our hotel at 8am.  We got washed up and headed out to the strip.  Darcy (Kyle's sister) and her husband, Josh, were already in Vegas, but they were still sleeping when we arrived.  Kyle started gambling early and within the first hour we were up $120! We won't talk about what happened after that. ;) But we had a blast playing black jack and roulette.  We actually gambled a lot and did NOT go over the limit we set.  Woo hoo! Maybe next time we'll come home with a thicker wallet. :)

Here is a little documentation of our trip:

The Strip during the day.  What a view!

The Flamingo where Kyle started ahead of the game, but then it wasn't too kind to us.

The New York New York.  Kyle and I really loved the look of this hotel/casino the most!

 

Kyle and I playing slots.  We didn't play many slots, but Kyle just wanted a free drink, so we decided to play a bit.  Slots are more confusing that table games! We LOVED black jack! The 4 of us played a lot and made our money last quite awhile, which was fun!

Before Cirque Du Soleil!  

Where our seats started out and before the show started we ended up getting moved to the 8th row! 

   The show was fantastic! Can't wait to go to another one!

Kyle and Josh had $25 chips before we decided to leave...they told us, "That's not enough to cash out.  We need more than that!" So they decided to place their $25 chip on on the table for one hand of black jack.  Kyle AND Josh pulled a 10 on their first card, then Kyle got a 3 and Josh got a 2.  Ouch! ;) Then Kyle hit and got an 8 and Josh hit and got a 9! THEY BOTH GOT 21! It was hilarious! So here they are with their two, $25 chips :) 

In the colosseum inside Caesar's Palace, right AFTER watching Celine Dion perform! It was a 2     hour show and was SPECTACULAR!!!

I have loved Celine ever since I was a child and never thought this day would happen! Thanks to Kyle for taking me and sitting through it! 

The Strip at night! Such a sight to see!

Bellagio light show! Thanks Aunt Linda for telling me to definitely see this while we there! It was a great thing to see! Now when I watch Oceans Eleven I'll be able to say, "Hey! I've seen that!" :)

Goodbye Vegas! View of the strip from the airport at 6am! Ready to fly to Portland to have our 8 hour layover! We were so happy and excited to be able to spend a few hours with family before heading back "home" to Hawaii.  Here are some pictures from our time in the Great Northwest!

We were able to meet and EAT and Red Robin (since we don't have one in Hawaii).  Our families came plus Aunt Sherry and Dona!

Greg and Kyle were excited to see each other again, as well as me to see Meg and her pregnant belly!

Siblings! So great to see all of them again and to see how big Macie has gotten!

Our parents :)

Overall, our 4 day trip was a blast! Vegas was so much fun and it was fabulous to have a layover at home! Next time, we do a Vegas trip or other vacation, family and friends are invited because did I mention...

We bought a time share :)

1st Lieutenant Kyle Durant

No more butter bars! :)  2nd Lieutenants wear gold bars on their uniform like this:

Kyle's last day to wear gold bars :)

Butter bars is a term used that isn't usually used in the nicest context and sorta means "boot", but now Kyle's got his silver bars, baby! :)

For Kyle's promotion they said they were going to hold it at the front gate where there is a smaller version of the Iwo Jima Memorial.  We parked there and then his Captain and Gunny told him, "Give your wallet and phone to your wife...alrighty we're gonna go to the ceremony down my the water."  Kyle knew something was up, so he said, "Nah, I'm good...we can stay up here."  But they insisted :) 

Luckily, Kyle had a Marine (from Oregon, who's a Duck fan) who took some wonderful pictures of the ceremony. 

Kyle saluting Captain Petronzio before his oath. Kyle's platoon is behind him.

Captain chucking Kyle's gold bars...See ya later!

Gunny Shaw (who Kyle works closely with and really enjoys) and I, pinning on his new bars.

Taking his oath.  Right after this I heard Captain Petronzio say, "Have at 'em boys!" I knew they were going to throw him in the water so before they could reach him, the wife had one request...a picture before he's soaked :)

So proud of my Marine :) 

After our picture, this is what happened! :)

And finally this :) Kyle put up a fight, but his Marines got him!  Captain told us this is a tradition for AAV Officers and I'm sure the Marines love throwing their Lieutenant in the water, so no wonder the tradition stuck :)

This was definitely a memorable promotion!

Kyle's Marines congratulating him.

Kyle and Gunny Shaw

And one last picture with Kyle and his soaked cam is :)

All in all it was a wonderful promotion ceremony and I am so proud of my husband!  You are an amazing Marine, Kyle and we are all so proud of what you are doing!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Well, on Thursday I had my quarter century birthday and I am officially half way through my twenties. :) 25 years old!  Can't believe it!  I was a little iffy about how my birthday would go this year without Kyle home...again.  Last year he was in the field and I wasn't even able to talk to him, but thankfully I was able to extend my trip home to Oregon to spend my birthday with family.  This year I didn't have that privilege, but I was definitely surprised with how well my Marine Corps family celebrated my birthday! Here is a glimpse of my birthday :)

I was getting ready for my work day at 7:00am and get a call from my lovely parents telling me Happy Birthday! :) Then I got this text message directly after:

I could NOT stop smiling after that!  That is my good friend Mandee and her daughter, Marcella, and son, Maddox.  Her husband Stu went to TBS with Kyle in Virginia.  They got stationed in Hawaii too, but Stu is deployed, so Mandee and the kids are with her parents in Ohio until they get housing on base.  But guess what?!  They FINALLY got a house and Kyle and I will be picking them up from the airport on the 3rd and they will be staying with us until Monday when they move into their house! I am SO excited and have been waiting for this day to finally come! :)  Thanks again for the text!  It made my day! :)

I headed to work to see the lovely children I work with.  I walk into the room that all the kids get dropped off in.  When I walk in they all scream, "Happy Birthday!" and then they started singing to me! :)  A few minutes later, two sisters (who may be some of my favorites :) ), Grace (8 years old) and Abigail (6 years old) walk in with their Dad and they have a BEAUTIFUL bouquet of flowers!  I looked at their Dad and said, "You did not have to do that...".  Then he responds with, "Last night they were BEGGING me to let them get flowers for Miss Brittney.  So I took them to Food Land at 9pm."  He smiled and I said, "Well, thank you! I appreciate it!" 

Abigail, Me, & Grace :)

Then after breakfast, we always meet in the gym to separate kids into their groups and tell them our schedule for the day.  I walked in and there was a big box covered in wrapping paper.  The kids started shouting, "Open. It! Open. It!"  I opened the box, dumped it out and there were hand written cards from all of the kids and birthday balloons!  It was such a surprise! 

Happy Birthday To Me :)

After that I took the box into the staff room and look at what I was greeted with!

  

After lunch I went with the younger group (6 to 8 year olds) to the pool on base.  This whole summer the kids would go to the pool once a week, as well as gymnastic (there is a gymnastics gym on base which is GREAT for kids!).

Belly Flop!!!

Now this is Hawaii for you! Sunny one minute and pouring the next :)

My coworkers (who are mostly Marine wives) made my day SO special! I was not expecting any of that! They truly made my day feel special even though my Marine was gone.  Thank you all!

After work I went to Starbucks to redeem my free coffee! It was delicious!

:)

Yum!

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to talk to Kyle or not, since he is still on ship, but he CALLED! :)  Reception was going in and out because he was on the top deck of the ship, but they were close enough to shore to get a bit of reception.  It was so wonderful to be able to talk to him. :)

Last night I had the privilege of going to dinner with some close friends to celebrate my birthday.  We went to a restaurant in Kailua (right outside of base) called The Grove.  I am truly blessed with the friends I have made here...they are WONDERFUL Godly women that I learn from daily :) Thanks for a great dinner last night!

My delicious salmon!

Left side of the table starting in the front:

Stephanie (I met Steph in Virginia.  Her husband Patrick went to TBS with Kyle.  And this was her first night away since having her little boy, Evan, on June 1st)

Amy (I can see her house from mine :) I met her at Bible study and she is an amazing, passionate woman of God! She is a great mentor)

Valerie (I met Valerie back in March at Bible study.  She is a newly wed and we became friends quickly!)

Jenny (Jenny is the gal I lived with for a couple months while Kyle was gone and her husband was deployed.  We miss each other!  And don't tell our husbands, but we miss living together SO much! :)

Right side of the table starting in the back:

Rachael (Rach is my next door neighbor and we are almost one of the only wives with no children on our street :) We love it though!)

Jenny (I met Jenny at Bible study too! We actually had the same skydiving instructor! She's a blast!)

Me

Aimee (Now, this is an interesting story...Aimee's boyfriend, who is also named Kyle, moved to Hawaii a couple months ago.  Kyle's dad, Casey, is my Kyle's dad's boss.  Catch that? ;) My Kyle worked at the company for a little bit after we got married and he'd met Casey through my father-in-law Larry.  Well, Casey came out to Hawaii and Larry told Kyle to get in touch with him.  So we went out to dinner with him and his son, Kyle and his girlfriend, Aimee.  We've exchanged numbers and have been doing double dates which has been fun.)

Free birthday dessert.  Mango/Berry sorbet with blueberries!

Oh! And before Kyle left for RIMPAC, he surprised me with an early birthday present so I could spend my time alone to use it and get it all together!

Thanks everyone for all the birthday blessing and wishes, birthday gifts, and wonderful memories of a birthday I had to celebrate without Kyle!  Love you all!