dubai

at the airport
we just arrived in dubai...and first impressions are: it's pretty cool...russ and i left sunday at 5 pm...we flew on emirates air..straight to dubai...no stops...the flight was 16 hours...they had about 500 movies to choose from, so you were kept entertained...not as bad as i thought it would be...we got off the plane and walked into this gorgeous brand new airport...it is all chrome, glass and mirrors, it's really nice and emirates is using it, so it was pretty empty...it took about 1 minute to get through customs...we then were picked up by the hotel and as we drove in, the driver showed us many different things...we'll be off tomorrow to see them...the hotel looks amazing..as we walked into the lobby a guy 'hit a gong' .....it's very arabian..which i guess, that's where we are...so tomorrow i'll have more to report...oh, an added note...when you sign into the blogs...it's in arabic, and everything goes from right to left..that's how they read...it's always fun to see the differences in a country...

up, up and away!

and we're off!!

russ and i are flying away today...we're going to dubai, india, and thailand...we'll meet up with kathy and steve fryer in india...so stay tuned for all of our great experiences!

uh oh...not for the faint of heart!

what do you get when you mix a guy, a surfboard and waves?

a BROKEN NOSE!!!!

poor boy!

wedding

beautiful bride and handsome groom

craig, katelyn, lindsay, justin, taryn, kathy and steve
russ, ker, kel, jo, tar, just, whit, kel

tar and justin and parents

kel, russ, whit, ker, kel

i've been in slc for 10 days...i went up for my good friend taryn and justin's wedding...it was a beautiful wedding..the day was pretty windy outside, but that was ok..everything else was perfect...tar looked so pretty...like a 1940's moviestar...then the reception was up in park city...a great dinner...lots of fun people...it was a great time..

the rest of the time i got to spend with family...all the kids except willie were there..so it was a fun time...crazy with the babies..it's so fun to see kate and gavin run and hug each other...owen and tommy aren't quite the bud's yet...but, tommy is starting to walk..so anytime...gavin built a snowman...we played, the kids snowboarded...i saw different friends and family...it was great as always...

part 2

after palm springs i flew up to slc to celebrate our friends taryn and justin's wedding...it's been fun so far...hanging out with the kids...shopping, eating, watching movies...the grandbabies are arriving...the party has begun...the big wedding is tomorrow...we also went to the new draper temple to see that...it's beautiful...we are so lucky to be able to see that...

fun times

what does 4 friends....one big hotel....a few days...and a great spa make? you got it...a great get-away....last weekend that's exactly what i did....we went to palm springs and had a great time...and of course, i think it was our mouths that did most of the work...how is it possible that you can talk and talk and talk and still have more to say...we seem to be able to do it...so our weekend away was a great success...even if the sun didn't shine...or the mall made us laugh...we had a wonderful time...the spa was alot of fun..what a perfect day...what great friends...we'll be doing that again and again...

brothers

dad and mel

russ, tom, and willie

Seeing uncle mel reminded me so much of my dad...it was alot of fun..

dad and mel with friends

mel told some fun stories of dad and his growing up years...

how dad won an extra dollar when he was caddying by playing craps with the boys...

grandma wasn't happy about that...

scouts

how dad taught the bully of the neighborhood a lesson..by beating him up!mel, dad, allan and uncles
it sounds like they were hoodlums!

but, what a fun life they had...

they didn't have any money..but, they did so much with so little...

bagley boys

then, i started thinking of these 2 brothers...

willie and russ

i watched them grow up...they were fun...

willie, russ and ty

willie was the sweet (well, until later, then willie started torturing russ) older brother

that russ wanted to follow everywhere...

willie and russ

and willie let him..they've always had fun together..

russ, willie and friend ryan

it could be tennis, rock climbing, snowboarding...whatever...they are great brothers...just like their grandpa was...

the other side of vegas

after the funeral....kerry and i had a little bonding time...it was great..we went into vegas, where we stayed at the bellagio....it was a nice day and a half.

we went to see "o" cirque du soleil...what an amazing show...i've never seen one of those...we had a fun time...then, we went shopping...so, a perfect trip...we saw family...each other...a fun show...and great shopping...all you can ask for!

barbara

bagley cousins (check the hairstyles between this pic and the other family pic..they sure got fancy!)

last weekend i met this girl and this sister in vegas...it was an unexpected trip as our aunt barbara died...

bathing beauties-barb and june

my aunt was a fun lady, married to a really fun guy, my uncle mel...they have 4 daughters and 11 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild...

barbara, mel, june, jiggs

i remember many fun trips to vegas during the summer to see them...we would stop on the way to california, have a sleepover, sometimes polly and i would stay and visit...it was always really hot...so we would swim and swim...

bagley family--what fancy hair...

they would come to slc to visit the family...we would have dinners at grandma's which always included singing and shows...what a fun time and great memories...

it was wonderful to see the family...talk to uncle mel..it's like talking to my dad...they are so much alike...he told some great stories of their growing up...

what better way to honor people, than to hear the stories of past years...i'm grateful i could be there...

my inner dirty harry

After a great day of bowling...in which we were scolded like schoolchildren! (oh the drama)

i had to 'shoot' off some steam......so shoot we did...and what fun it was...russ and our good friend dick went to the pistol range and shot and shot...what a great time...

and then topped it off with a little romantic comedy....but, sorry dustin...i've really always wanted to be like 'dirty harry'!

busy work

it's the new year and all...so i'm trying to get organized...a few years ago, when kelly and willie lived in california, they worked the whole year to burn all of my cd's onto my computer...they worked long and hard...every cd in my house...and there are alot!

well, my computers and i seem to have problems...they seem to crash! alot! but, i had a plan....a backup plan! so, diligently, i backed up all of these songs...i wasn't going to let my computer win...but, in the end, it did...for some weird reason...the backup was there..but, it wouldn't convert back to songs....

so, after a year of wishing and being bugged...i'm backing up all my songs again...i'll tell you, it's a pretty boring project..but one that will make me happy when it's done...i wish kelly and willie were doing it...it went much faster last time!

sunny and clear

i have to say for all you readers out there that DON'T live in california......i'm so SORRY....i just read this blog about a snow day...and have been hearing how cold it is in other parts of the world, like in this post..just know that i'll be thinking of you...while we live in beautiful sunny california...

a good week to be sick

well, it was a great time in utah...a little too much fun i guess, because as soon as i got home i got sick...but, luckily for me...

some favorite shows started...24 (with a friend like jack, how can you be sick?),

lost,

the bachelor...

and i had some great reading material...a new author to me...his name's matthew reilly...he writes adventure books that keep you going...sort of like da vinci code...

so after a week of recovery with the tv and a great book...i'm feeling much better...almost as good as chicken soup!

and a Happy New Year!

hope your year is fantastic, fun and full of great things...

she's so sweet

gabi, one of my sweet, sweet nieces honored me by asking 7 questions for her fantastic blog! so thanks, gabi...you're the greatest!