To celebrate knowing each other half of our lives we decided a trip to Vegas was in order.  

First day in our apartment soph year, Aug 2001.

I was a bit overwhelmed with selling our current house, building our new house, just getting back from Washington, and dealing with everyday kid (Miles) things.  So, these amazing ladies just let me show up. 

December 2001

I planned nothing.  I made no choices (other than New York New York roller coaster).  I didn’t get an uber once.  I didn’t even have to drive or navigate.  They pretty much let me be dead weight and it was just what I needed.  

These are my people and I am grateful everyday I got to go through college with them.  Words can’t even express what I feel for these 3 and how I will be forever grateful they were put in my path.  

April 2002

We ate amazing food and did lots of people watching.  

We sat poolside.

We hiked.  

We choose the strenuous hike for the first time in 11 years, since we didn’t have kids with us. 


It was a blast.  Lots of climbing, slipping, and laughing.  We even lost the trail for awhile. 

But, we climbed to higher ground and figured it out.  We are pretty Bad-A like that. 


I never thought Las Vegas could be beautiful.  I was wrong.  

Never a dull moment with this group.  

After our hiking we got thai massages.  One of the crazier things I’ve done. :)  We haven’t stopped laughing about it and pretty much it just bonded us even more.  

We had tickets to see Celine.  Sadly, she cancelled her show. Backstreet Boys weren’t performing on the night we could go.  So, naturally we ended up at Penn and Teller.  


I still can’t figure out how they did any of those tricks up on stage.  It was impressive.    

My one requested activity was to ride the New York, New York roller coaster.

So good for the soul to have a little terror mixed in with screaming and laughter with some of your favorite people.  

Here’s Emily and I riding it back in 2002.  We still make the same terrified faces. 

Another throw back to mine and Emily’s first time to Vegas together in February 2002 when we were 19.


Still BFF’s 18 years later.  

Another highlight for me was having uninterrupted time to talk with Michelle on our drive to and from Vegas.  When we get together we usually have 4-8 children running all around us, so it’s hard to get a complete sentence in.   We also got to listen to the old CD mixes we burned, on Michelle’s beloved CD burner, in college.  Best of times.  

It’s been 18 years.  Lots of moves between us.  Even more kids.  We’ve had different life experiences and we have a variety of views on a variety of topics.  Yet through it all, we have been able to remain close. 

August 2001

It’s a privilege to be able to surround myself with these strong women who are passionate about the life they are living.  I pray everyday my kids make friends like these when they go to college.   

September 2011

July 2013

April 2018

CWIC4EVER!