Jason & Clarissa: A wild weekend in Reno!

Well, I guess I have experienced the best cities in Nevada now. First it was Vegas and now... Reno. This weekend that is where I went, while my two sweet boys stayed at home to give mommy some mom time. The truth.... I wasn't really excited about it. Then it happened and well... here's the story.

So, I have made many friends here in Spring Creek. I actually kinda like it here now for that very reason. It's awesome that I'm always busy with walks, visits, and play dates with the wonderful people that live. I have become really good friends with my neighbor across the street and her friend who lives about a mile away. We have actually done quite a few things together, and the friend who lives down the street (Christina) invited the both of us to got to Reno for the weekend. A mommy get away was in store for her, and she wanted us to come along. I was invited to my first every hotel and Spa experience at the Pepermill. We picked our room, looked at the spa menu, and counted down the long weeks until we would finally go.

To be honest... I was not that excited. A weekend get away sure, but I was nervous because I live a very different life style from these ladies. They are into drinking, dirty dancing, and partying, I am into chick flicks, crafts, and junk food. When we have our kids around it's easy to be friends, because we have the wonderful thing in common where we are all stay at home moms. Well... I was totally ready to make up an excuse for me not to go before the date came too close, but after talking to Jason he convinced me that it would be good to build these friendships and put the idea of a missionary experience in my head. So, I said yes, we decided to take my car, and before I knew it I was picking everyone up Saturday morning at 7.

The drive there was wonderful! It went by so quickly and I loved talking to Kelly (my friend from across the street)! She is such a wonderful person, and I kept looking for opportunities to share things about the LDS church (she would totally be LDS if it weren't for the drinking and partying issue). A opportunity didn't really present its self and before I knew it, I was in a hotel room with my friends getting dressed in front of each other. Well... luckily I had the excuse, because I'm still nursing, that I needed pump. When I came out of the vanity area, everyone had their bikini on, I was given my bag (they thought I'd take too long) and we headed to the spa.

This was my first ever experience going to a spa. We were checked in, given robes and sandals, then we were off to relax and do our own thing. I felt so fancy and almost like a queen. It was crazy to be in a casino/hotel like the ones in Vegas, have valet parking, and staying in a room fro the night. We spent the whole day in the spa relaxing in hot tubs, eating yummy treats, drinking amazing water, getting pedicures and other treatments, and falling asleep in the comfiest chairs. 7 hours later we walked out refreshed, relaxed, poor (expensive!!!), and hungry for some real food. That's when we hit up an all you can eat sushi place in the casino, and I found a new love for seafood. I LOVE SUSHI!!

Great story so far right? Well... while indulging in our delicious sushi, one of the men that had been hitting on Kelly said they got us on the list at an exclusive club. Normally the entry fee is $25, but not for us ladies. We were put on the VIP list. Sounds amazing right?! Well, not to me... but to them they were in heaven and so very excited. I was planning on not joining in their fun, especially when we went back to our room and they each drank a bottle of wine. We even had a conversation about not limiting our families to certain experiences on this earth. They all thought, we are here so party and have fun. We're all going to heaven, so let's do this! Some how I found myself showing my I.D and walking into to The Edge. I'm not sure I can describe the feeling I had when I walked into that place, but it wasn't good. Once we were on the dance floor (the whole reason we went to just dance) guys were all over us and offering to buy us drinks. Why turn down free drinks right? I should have left then, but my friends were wasted, and I was worried. I asked for some water and endured the experience...

2 am rolled around and we were finally back in our room, we brushed our teeth, took showers, and everyone was out within seconds, except for me. I couldn't help feel sad for my friends. They were not going to feel very good in the morning, and did they really have that much fun? Married women getting drinks from single guys and dirty dancing the night away.... hmmmmm....

Sunday was the day we were going home!!! We all got up, they took drugs for their awful headaches, we waited in the valet parking line to get my car, and then found ourselves at a charming little cafe for breakfast. I wish I could say that we had an amazing conversation about the church and they realized that maybe the choices they made the night before weren't the best, but that's not what happened. They did ask me if I wanted to go shopping, and I was able to explain why I don't shop on Sunday. Well, then I bore my testimony and they all realized they shouldn't be shopping on Sunday and we went home!! Ha ha not, the subject was changed very suddenly and then we were at the mall doing some shopping. I walked around and tried to enjoy myself, but it was a little hard when all I wanted to do was see my family and be home.

The drive home seemed so long, and I almost cried when I got to see my little Carter and my handsome Jason. I was able to tell Jason all my thoughts and frustrations, kiss my sweet little Carter's cheeks, and be so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I am so thankful to know that I have a Savior. He died for me that I might live with him again. I know he didn't die for me so that I could eat, drink and be merry on this earth, but so that I could prove myself to be worthy. I am so thankful for the knowledge that I have and that someday I will share what I know with these friends. They may not want to hear what I have to say or believe it, but it is my responsibility to share what I know to those around me.

Well, I don't want to end on too serious of a note, but right now it's snowing outside, I'm drinking hot chocolate, and little Carter is pulling out all the DVDs. I love that little boy! I hope you all had a great weekend!