i'm baaack

I've been on Holiday...or as normal people call it-Vacation. We have been out of town for a whole 6 days and I haven't touched a computer in that long. It's been nice. I'll be posting soon pictures and information of our adventures. But today I'm going to leave you with a small snippet of something from the trip, my big purchase. 

Yeah I know it's summer, but I've wanted some Minnetonka's for a while and I finally was able to try some on and these are so different than anything else I have. So I jumped in and bought them. And if I don't end up wanting to wear them out and about-I never will have to buy slippers again because they will last so long. Plus I don't have a pair of brown boots. Have I justified my purchase enough yet? Gesh. 

I'll be back soon! 

Blessings! 

Me and House Hunters

I have been having more fun with photography. I've been learning more and more simply by trial and error because reading things about photography isn't really interesting to me. I learn best by just jumping into things and learning as I go, I don't even know what the user's manual for my camera looks like.

I've learned a lot about lighting and angles, settings and other things in the last few weeks and I like how and where things are going. I know that photography is the "in" hobby right now and it seems everyone and their dog as a camera, a, big fancy camera and thinks they are a professional. I'm not claiming to be one and my photos come from...you guessed it, trial and error and a little bit of a creative eye.

I'm learning that I love photographing things. People are great, but I really love looking at nature, architecture, old junk, and animals through the lens. I believe I will never have enough pictures of sunsets, clouds, pretty flowers, and...old junk, including cool buildings. This should not surprise anyone who has simply glanced through my blog.

But I have a confession. The other day I was wanting a new camera. (Today I still want...) A bigger camera, I love my Nikon S8100- even though I don't know what that means, but I wanted something that sure, "looked" a little more professional, but also made a cool clicking noise when I took a picture, and that would take even better pictures than the camera I had now. Upgrade is what I was thinking. I oould still keep the Nikon and it could be my "fits in my purse/coat pocket camera. Absolutely nothing is wrong with the camera I have now. It's convenient and a wonderful piece of equipment, plus its the first big gift that I ever received from Senor Smarty Pants.

After I spent an hour watching House Hunters on HGTV I realized I needed to take a step back from my wants. I spent that hour thinking the people on that show were so shallow. They had a list of needs that they would not concede on. 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, granite, pool, etc, then they saw a place with a media room and that became a "need." I sat there and judged them for the 30 minutes they were on and then a new episode started and a whole new family with a whole new list of "needs" came on. But who am I to say anything as I sit there with my wonderful camera, wanting and almost to the point of "needing" a bigger one? What could I do with that money instead? I could probably sponsor two of little Rui's friends in China for the cash that I was about to whip out for a new shiny piece of equipment. So does that mean that I will never upgrade cameras? Probably not, it just means that the camera is lower on the list of things that need taken care of. Prioritizing, it isn't always fun (is it ever fun?) but it's so necessary.

Sure, my desires were different than the people on House Hunters, but they came from the same place. And I don't like that place. I feel greedy in that place and I refuse to camp out there.

Blessings!

mum's the word monday

Blessings! 

M is for Mother

Mom, Moer, Mommy, Mutter, Ma, Makuahine, Mama, Madre, Mami.

However you and yours say it, tell the lady Happy Mother's Day and thatcha love her.

Happy Mother's Day to my Momma!

Blessings!

Graduation

Whew. It's about back to normal around here...except for the big pile of graduation gifts sitting in the corner of our living room. 

Last weekend was filled with cooking, cleaning, and me having to brush my hair and put on mascara, which by Sunday I would have been fine with never doing again. 

Our garage looked so nice when we got it all cleaned out. We have a little secret to getting most of the stuff out...we simply "throw" things in the boat and then pull the boat out and park it in the Quonset. But then we do have to clean out the window sills, sweep a couple times and cover up a few things that won't fit in the boat.  

What is this? Oh this is the tree outside the gym, where graduation took place...what are those on the tree? Ladies undergarments? YES. I thought this was a pretty funny and harmless prank, and I was pleased that they remained there for the ceremony. The boys wouldn't stop so I could get a decent picture when we went to see it before graduation, they didn't want to become "suspects."

We had really good seats, second row, right behind Aaron. I think he may have been a little less than thrilled with that set-up. 

Our little Alli D made such an excellent speech. It made me tear up, she is such a talented lady. 

Senor Smarty Pant's brother graduated too. I made sure to not make eye contact with their mother, it may have been bad news. 

The big moment! 

Aaron's cake. Doesn't it look great? Exactly what Aaron wanted! It was delicious. 

In all the hub bub of the party, translation: I was busy holding my teeny tiny, new baby cousin and I did talk to some people, I didn't get any pictures of the party. And while, Aaron and his achievement was the main event of the evening, we had another big mile-stone. Look below: 

I think I shall call this photo "Senor Smarty Pants Conquering His Fear." He likes babies and even is thinking about working with them in his nursing career, but he has always seemed to keep a safe distance from them, especially wittle ones like baby E, meaning he likes them from my arms, cause I'm kinda a baby magnet. But he finally did it! I had to document it.

It was a wonderful weekend and wonderful celebrations. 

Blessings! 

mum's the word monday

Blessings!

Today

Today's the day! The day that Aaron is graduating. Can you believe it? Can I believe it? Let me answer that for you: NO. Yesterday I was sad, I kept swallowing the lump. But today, so far, I'm feeling pretty good. I'm feeling pretty tough. I'm feeling like I can make it through the ceremony, because then I get to hang out with my awesome family! So, to continue the montage that has been this week in my life here's another picture of Aaron.

Im going to go steal some frosting off his cake. 

Wish me luck. 

Congratulations "Air Bear" so proud of you!

Crap I just teared up. 

I'll post pictures of the events soon, the graduation events, not me crying, but I'm not going to cry anyway, remember? 

Blessings!