The Ultimate Girl's Trip

Back in December, my friend Claudia's sister, Shelle (also my friend) asked if I wanted to go to the ACM (country music) awards with them for Claudia's 30th birthday. We had worked it out where Ty and Jonesa could take care of the kids and I could go. Then we found out that Jake would be having surgery and I wasn't sure that it would work for me to go. But as it turned out, the timing was perfect and I got to go on the ultimate girl's trip! Jake was about 5 weeks post surgery this last weekend and doing great so I got to go with Shelle, Claudia, and Shelle's college roommate, Lisa to Las Vegas.

Shelle treated us to a truly amazing weekend! We stayed in the Aria hotel in the VIP suites where it just so happened that the celebrities from the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Tournament were staying. As a big sport's fan and a pop-culture junkie, I was starstruck the whole trip! We saw a big list of stars each day in the hotel's lounge area. Claudia and I had coffee with Wayne Gretzky. He was so very nice and sat down and talked to us for quite awhile. I told him what a huge hockey fan my dad is and he told us about his early career and how the golf tournament was going. The chief from Grey's Anatomy (James Pickens Jr.) had breakfast next to us one morning but he wasn't as friendly. He and I did reach for coffee at the same time and I said, "excuse me," and he said, "uhhhhhhhuhh (If you watch Grey's you know that his mumble he does on the show all of the time…it was funny). We rode the elevator with Alan Thicke and I SO wanted to sing the "Growing Pains" song for him :) We saw Michael Jordan and Jamie Foxx in the lobby and they said hi. We also saw Dr. J and Drew Brees walk by…Definitely starstruck…

During the day we had a great time relaxing at the pool and spa and touring the hotels. I had never been to Las Vegas and the hotels and casinos were just amazing to look at. I loved all of the architecture. Each night we had a big adventure that Shelle had planned for us.

Saturday night we saw Celine Dion at her new show and she was amazing…she moved the entire audience to tears. She performed at Caesar's palace which was breathtaking itself. Sunday night we went to the Academy of Country Music Awards which were being aired live on TV. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime! We saw GREAT music :) I have all kinds of new artists to add to my iTunes list for sure. Sunday night we went to the Women of Country Music awards show which will be aired later this month.

Before we left for the trip, I noticed that Casey James who was on American Idol last year would be performing at a pre-show. He's my favorite contestant from Idol and I told Claudia I would love to see him. We saw him Saturday night after Celine walking around and got pictures with him and he was so nice! Then the next night after the awards' show, we literally ran into him again and he remembered us…what are the odds of that? Maybe pretty good in Vegas :) (ha! ha!)

The whole experience was surreal. Claudia had a wonderful birthday trip! I had a wonderful time getting to celebrate with her and am so glad I got to know Shelle better as well as her sweet friend Lisa. We discovered we're both Jane Austen and Anne of Green Gables fans, kindred spirits for sure (she's also cousins with my friend Ben from Harding)! I don't think I can ever thank Shelle enough for this trip. Besides being relaxing and star-studded weekend, it gave me a much needed break and let me rejuvenate.

This Oklahoma girl was in a constant state of shock and awe the entire time and has some wonderful memories to last a long time!

Here are some pictures (they're from phones and cameras so not all the best quality):

Claudia and I before seeing Celine

Us with Casey James (he told us his album comes out in June…he's been touring with Sugarland this month.)

Me with "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky

The Bellagio

Shelle and Claudia at the ACMs

Carrie Underwood singing with Steven Tyler (this one is for Ty…he loves Carrie!) This performance was amazing because Steven Tyler was a surprise to the audience. So fun!

This was my favorite performance…Taylor Swift!

James Taylor played with the Zac Brown Band…pretty cool!

The country women honored at the women's concert. Carrie Underwood sang "How Great Thou Art" and it was amazing! The Judd's were hilarious.

Claudia, me, Lisa, and Shelle at the women's concert

Claudia and I at the MGM Grand..my first time ever to wear cowboy boots…super fun!

We ran into the group Steel Magnolia after the concert..they were very nice!