Good Photo Hunting

I have started to participate in the Photo Hunting going on over at Slowtrav. I love the Slow Travel website, their forums, and the slow travel philosophy in general. Plus, hunting for photos to fit a theme is really fun!
So, I did a few last week and have done one so far this week. Here they are:

Italy photo hunt theme: Summer
This photo was taken in Positano, Italy

Worldwide photo hunt theme: Motion

This is a photo of Ryan on a roller coaster from Gillroy Gardens, CA

Worldwide photo hunt theme: Shadow
This photo was taken of the Colloseum in Rome

Worldwide photo hunt theme: Warmth

This is a photo of our campfire at Lake San Antonio, CA

I will keep posting my future photo hunts!!

Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day Fun!

Here are some fun photos from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! Carrie and my mom came over and we opened family presents on Christmas Eve. Our tradition is to eat lots of yummy appetizers that night. We had some great ones! Christmas Day they came over again in the morning for stockings and Santa presents. Then, we had The Climers, my mom and sister over for Christmas Dinner that night. We had a blast and ate more yummy food!!

This can't be said enough!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I stole this from Mackenzie who stole it from Jill. The things I have done are in BOLD.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (lots of them)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (2 more weeks!!)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language (I have had help)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (does fish count?)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

and you?

Pure Christmas Cuteness

Last night Bella's preschool had their anual Christmas concert. Each age group got up on stage and sang a few songs. Bella's group was so cute, singing and dancing to Up on the Housetop and Jingle Bells. Afterward, Santa stopped by for a visit with each of the children and handed them out a book!

I am posting a few videos, some from the kids practicing their Christmas carols and some from last night, and some pics from last night. Hope you enjoy!!!

A little bit of Christmas

Here is a peek at our house from last night. The kids wrote their letters to Santa. Riley asked for helicopters, Lego sets, spy gear and more dart guns. Bella asked for a Princess dolly, princess necklace and Princess dancing girl! Hope you enjoy!

I am making Christmas cards!!!

This month I have been really busy with photo shoots!! I did two last week, have 4 to do on Saturday and two booked for December. I decided that in addition to the shoots, I would also try my hand at designing Christmas cards for my clients. Here are the ones I have designed so far:

I would LOVE to hear your comments and suggestions. And, if you want me to design yours just let me know!!!!

October Recap...

October was a very very busy month for us!!

We said goodbye to our foster sons, Riley ran in a race downtown Paso, we went to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin, Riley had his birthday and birthday party and it was all topped off with Halloween!!

I have to say Riley's bday party was a blast this year. For those of you who know me, it comes as no surprise to hear how much I love to plan parties, especially kids parties. Riley is so into Star Wars that I knew that would be our theme this year, and we went all out!! His invites told people that they had to come to Jedi Training Academy so they could defend the universe against Darth Vader. When the kids arrived, they each got a Jedi robe with the Jedi Training Academy logo on it. Ryan was a Jedi Master and directed the kids in each activity. First they colored star wars pics while waiting for everyone to arrive. Then they completed a Star Wars trivia contest and did an obstacle course and received their own light saber. After that, we had a surprise visit from Darth Vader (Ryan) and each child was able to challenge him to a duel. Vader left announcing that the Jedi had won!! We ate pizza, had cake and opened gifts before presenting each of the kids with a laminated certificate saying they had passed the Jedi Training Academy and were now considered Galactic Heroes. They LOVED it!!!! I don't know how I am going to top it next year...

A Great Day for America!!!!!

I am officially a soccer mom!

Not to be outdone by her big brother, Bella started the Kidz Luv Soccer program last week. She is in the 3 and a half to 4 year old group. Imagine all of those little ones running around chasing soccer balls! It is seriously way too cute. The best part is that Bella's friends Christopher and Ella are in class with her. She is loving it!

Riley did the Kidz Luv Soccer program for three years before playing on a team through AYSO. The coaches are fantastic and they make it fun and exciting for the kids. They learn how to kick the ball, how to control it, and play silly games so the kids have fun. Here are some adorable pics from Bella's first day at soccer. Enjoy!

Listening to Coach Ryan



Look Ma, no hands!

Bella and Jeremy (Ella's brother and one of Riley's best friends)

Christopher, Bella, Jeremy and Ella. What a cute bunch!

Woot!

I got my first (and probably only) blog award! Seeing as how I only blog for friends and family to know what is going on in our lives and to see pics of the kids, I do not expect awards. However, getting an award is always fun and makes me feel oh so special!

So, THANKS JILL!!!

The rule upon receiving the award is that I then bestow the it on 7 other bloggers but since I don't read 7 other blogs, I am going to nominate the ones I do read (and therefore, obviously love, or else why would I read them??)

Palma

Krista

Mackie

Jillarama

Shelley

I hereby bequeath you the I Love Your Blog award!! Rock on ladies!

My new favorite thing and the Creston Classic Rodeo

And no, my new favorite thing is not the Creston Rodeo.

I recently discovered Picnik. It is a photo editing website that is free and easy and the best part is that I don't have to download anything so I can play around on it at work! Oops, I mean I can play around on it at home but never ever do anything like that at work (cough cough).

We went to the rodeo in Creston a few weekends ago. Never heard of Creston California? That surprises me!! I mean, after all, it is famous for.... okay, nothing. It is famous for nothing. It is a blip on the map. A blink and you miss it town. But, once a year they hold a rodeo and the kids have been dying to go to one (and I was not about to pay over 25 bucks a ticket for them to see the rodeo at the fair this year). I grew up going to the rodeo in Hailey, Idaho and have very fond memories so I definitely wanted my kids to exeperience it at as well.

So, I decked them out in their cowboy hats (yes they both have them) and off we went, with mom, Ryan and the foster boys in tow.

It was hotter than hot, dusty, dirty and FUN! The kids really enjoyed it and I was in photo heaven! The best party was what they called Mutton Bustin'. Basically, little kids don their bike helmets and climb on top of a sheep and hold on for dear life while the sheep runs around the arena. It was hilarious!! Riley said he wanted to do it next year!

Here are the photos from the rodeo that I enhanced using Picnik (remember, my new favorite thing?):

This one of Bella is my absolute FAVORITE picture at the moment. A fair entry for sure!



And here are some other fun pics from the rodeo:

Tired after a long, fun filled day!