Monterey Day

(Son of a gun.  This was supposed to post like two weeks ago!  Here it is, much later than what it originally should have been.  Oops.)

If you maybe follow my photography blog (soon this one and that one will be combined), then you know that the weekend before Easter I went to Monterey and Carmel to take senior pictures for a friend of the family.  We had a fun time.  But while I was taking Katy's pictures, I was also snapping some of what was going on around me.  Hope you enjoy!

The end.

My Mug

You haven't seen my face in awhile.

(me. not recent. but taken within the last ... 2 months.)

Ha, you haven't really even heard from me in awhile. Sorry about that.

Things have been crazy. And it doesn't fail, everytime I have a good topic to blog about, or something to rant/voice my opinion about, I'm driving. Can't really blog and drive at the same time. I think that falls into the same "illegal" category as texting and driving. And then by the time I get home, I've forgotten. So bear with me. I'll be back. Full fledge I'll be back!

Oh, and stay tuned...I'll be updating my blog.  And my domain name.  And it's gonna be grand!  Now I just need to get it going.

Wine Tasting/Murphys Irish Festival Day Trip

Some few weeks ago, I went on a quick little day trip up to Murphys in the Sierra foothills.  You see, they put on a Irish Festival every year.  So we went.  My parents, brother, future SIL, and bro's friend.  Murphys = total Irish pride!  On the way though we stopped at Twisted Oak Winery to do a little tasting.  Good stuff!  Then we proceed to Murphys to walk around downtown and have lunch.  Good times!

Afterwards we stopped at Iron Stone Winery to taste their stuff.  It wasn't that great, but the flowers definitely were!

As so concludes the day trip.  I napped on the way home.  Wine + hilly roads = lull to sleep.

Uh oh...

I just realized I didn't give the February birthday a shout out...

Happy Birthday Kait!

Y

Yeah, she's dead sexy!

March Birthday Shout Outs!

March is a month of birthdays for me.  So since the month is almost over I thought I better honor those close to me with a birthday shout out. 

Happy Birthday Bro!

My brother turned...26...  And he's getting married in October.  I'm so proud of him.

Happy Birthday BFF!

My bestie and I are now, for the next 2 months, the same age.  She's a proud mama of 2.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

I'm not going to share how young my mom is now.  Because she still makes me dinner.  Love ya Mom!

Do I owe anyone else a shout out?

Hail Ball!

It's been a few weeks ago now.  I know so much for getting and staying caught up. 

A few weeks ago it rained.  Poured really.  (sorry the picture is quite blurry, but you get the idea, plus it was taken sans flash)

(picture with flash. it was just starting to hail)

Then it hailed. 

Hailed so much it was like a thin layer of big snow. 

Hobie.  Well, he loved the rain/hail/wanna be snow situation.  The other dogs...they hid from the cold/thunder/lightening/rain/hail/wanna be snow situation. (picture of my parent's deck)

 Now, if only I could figure out how to get the 150 consecutive pictures into a time lapse video of that dog...

And by the way, we found out that a free mute who turns how to be semi high maintenance must be hand dried and brushed everytime he gets wet (which happens to be on a daily basis because Hobie likes to get in the pool when it's 43 degrees outside) to prevent matting.  He just got a haircut, he looks like a different dog, but he's mat free.

Christmas Party

Christmas.  Christmas time.  You know what Christmas time means to me?  It means sharing the holiday with friends and family.  With those you love.  With those you hold near and dear to your heart, and those that reciprocate back.

I love entertaining.  The fun of planning a menu or picking stuff to make.  Trying new things.  Thinking outside the box.  Having a real reason to clean the house.  Wowing others with a) yummy food, b) a clean, fabulously holiday decorated house, and c) a time well spent fellowshipping with friends.

So, here we are, me trying to get caught up and you peeking into my little corner of the world.  How about on to the pictures?  Yea, good idea.  Warning, these pictures are...flashless.  I don't like using the flash whenever possible.  And even when I should be, I don't.  I need to work on that.

I tried to get all cool and set up my tripod on the counter.  It didn't work out so well.  But hey, you can see the spread.  And from one end of the house to the other.  Oh, and just ignore that goof with the remote.  I need to learn how to be more sneaky with that...

George and Devon.  So cute...  George took the remote and had some fun with it.

Liz and myself.  She's fun.  She's in my Bible Study group (we consist of 1/2 the group).  She's single, like me.  So we commiserate a lot with each other.  Or we just get together to enjoy a glass of wine and giddy girl talk. 

Carrie and Katie.  Carrie flew in all the way from Chicago for the party.  Well that, and the fact that she's from California and it was Christmas break.  And she missed her mommy.  But I'm uber honored that she made a special trip to Turlock for my party.

Random.

Oh pretty fire...

Scott, not asleep yet, which is shocking.  He's a good, fun guy!  And he has an a-mazing voice.

Random.  How 'bout that angle?

The catering crew even showed up!  No, I didn't have the party catered.  The one with the cheesy grin, you make recognize her as my favorite future sister-in-law, Colleen.  The one sipping her hot buttered rum, that's my sis Paige.  Poor things had to help mom with a catering job.  I'm glad they where able to come over after though.  Colleen, next year, ugly sweater party!  At your place!

I ended up with about 75 candy canes.  No joke.  I wanted some to decorate with, therefore I ended up with a bulk pack.  Then more showed up.  I have about 30 left.  Anyone want any?  I use them stir my hot cocoa.

So concludes the party.  Good time had by all.  People are still talking about it (which makes me happy!).  Obviously there are more pictures.

Hummm... Now I need to have a reason to have another party...  Any ideas?

New Year's Eve Bash

New Years Eve.  Always a great excuse to have a paar-tay!  And an excuse to have an adult beverage.

Or two.

Devon and George hosted this year's (2009) at Devon's new house.  It was great fun!  And you know how I'm gonna prove it?  Yep, with pictures.  Brace yourself.  It's gonna get a little crazy up in here...

Room shots!  (not to be confused with the jello shots that were consumed later...)

 Amiee, George, Lori, Rachel, and myself.  Lookin' quite lovely if I do say so.

 Devon's family.  The tall one in Red?  He's the one I went to see in Reno playing football.

 Another room shots!

And there was some Rock Band...

 

Do I look haggard?  I think I look haggard.  And my hair wasn't cooperating.  It was supposed to be curly (like from an curling iron), but it ended up just going blah.

 Food shot!

 Goof shot!

We'll end with more Rock Band.  Don't mind the chopped off heads.  It's about 5 pictures "stitched" together.

And, yea.  That's about it.  I got home that night around 3am.  Then had to wind down.  In bed around 3:30am.  And then I slept.  And slept.  And I didn't get up until about 12 hours later.  And you know what?  My dog slept too. 

Check out all the pictures.

Do Not Open Until Christmas...

Of course the dog couldn't wait.  She was antsy from the minute I put up her stocking with a couple toys and bones in it.  In fact, she successfully pulled it down.  Good thing the stocking hanger-upper thing was basic and flat, 'cause it would be broke if it wasn't.

This is Riley...

This is Riley's stocking...

This is Riley trying to get her stocking!

Then I thought, hey you know what, I use to get to open a gift on Christmas Eve, so why not give her one of the toys on Christmas Eve.  And this is what happened...

And the results.  Oh, the results.  I'm still picking up the results.

(please ignore the messing bed)

Straight for the squeaker!  That's all she ever wants.  The fluff and stuffing is just in the way.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is why you don't give your dog a new toy for Christmas.

Showering the Babies

Any day now, my little niece(s)/nephew(s) (whatever combination they may be) are due to be born.  Rylen will be officially at multiple full-term on the 8th.  And I am so excited for their arrival.  1) Then we'll know what they are.  2) So I can spoil them rotten.  3)  'Cause I looooove babies!  During November/early December, Rylen had 4, yes, 4 baby showers.  Double the babies = double the parties = double the need for gifts.  I went to 3 out of 4 and took pictures at 2 out of 3, so that's what I'm going to share with you.

Shower #1 - Work Shower - Mid-November
Ready to open presents?!?

 2 little sweaters from me.  One boy/gender neutral and one definitely a little more girly.

The cake... "Look Out World, Here We Come!"

Rylen, please don't kill me...  Look at her little belly.  Makes you wanna rub it doesn't it?

 Group photo!

Shower #2 - Late November

Guests...

Show stealer...

BFFs.  I won't tell you what I told her when we were taking this picture.  Hint though, it's about placement of parts of our anatomy...  'Nuff said!

Rylen is doing so great with her pregnancy!  I'm impressed and inspired!  I do know though, I'm not nearly as anxious as she and Jim are for the arrival of these two!

(Oh, and my gift at the 2nd shower is taking pictures of the babies each month of their first year as well as their 1st birthday).  Although, I'm sure picture taking won't stop there.  :)