Cinco de Mayo Party

The Cinco de Mayo party the other night was a blast! I was the only sober person there! I am not a big drinker but I still had a great time. Here are a couple pics celebrating our night.

A mix of adopted family and new friends.

That's Tom and I in standing in Chris's Bar.






Our host, Christian (Toms best friend since forever). A great host with a terrific private bar at his ranch in Juniper Hills, Ca. A great, fun guy.

He is single and shopping if anyone is interested.

We had a great time Chris! We will expect our going away party to be just as great!

Afternoon Tea- Photo Friday

Some afternoons I want to take a quiet break and sit with a good book and a cup of tea. I did 9 loads of laundry by the time I took this break so it was well worth it.

My Photography

I have been thinking a lot about photography lately. I think my new camera is the best purchase I have made in years. I have already gotten so much pleasure out of it. Most of the pictures I have been taking have been of my family and my home. I haven't had a camera in so long I felt like I have missed documenting our lives for the past 4 years.









I think I got that out of my system. I am starting to think like a photographer again. I am itching to go out and find a great shot.












I have also been a little more artsy then I used to be.









I ran out of batteries this afternoon or I would be taking pics right now. I probably should be reading Portrait of a Lady by Henry James instead. I have to read it for my English Lit class. After reading Madame Bovary I am hoping for a different writing style from Henry James. So far, so good. I am hoping for more excitement soon though.

As for sewing, I covered a new pillow. And I think I have everything to start quilting that purple quilt

Off to flirt with Henry James!

Photo Friday- The Blues

She looks so blue, doesn't she?

This is my first Photo Friday, Yea!

Justin

My neighbors kids are so cute. But one of them is so photogenic! Here are some shots of him today. They are so adorable. I really love the close up. You can really see the life in his eyes. I missed class again today. Thanks to my mother who hung up on me the other day, I didn't have a babysitter. It was not my fault that she hung up. She just didn't want to hear the truth. Anyway, she will call when she gets over it.

New Camera

I got a new camera! I haven't picked it up yet but I am so excited! I've never bought a digital camera before. I always borrow my parents camera but this new one is way better. It has so many neat features. I am going to have a lot of fun with it. I am going to be taking so many photos! I am a photography junkie. I hope this gets my enthusiasm about photography up, I really miss it. I used to have some great Film SLRs. I have a Roloflex and a Pentax, among others. They all have something wrong with them and although they take phenomenal pictures, I think that a newer digital camera will work for now. Its better then having nothing, like I have had for 3 years.

I almost didn't buy it. I have this complex about large purchases. I want the best one at the best price and I always find what I want, but that is when I get cold feet. What if this one isn't the best value or what if I find a better one tomorrow? Well, I need to get over this because I am too busy waiting for perfect, when something enjoyable and perfectly adequate is right in front of me. At least I don't have this problem with men.

I am picking it up at Best Buy as soon as my hubby comes home. I cant wait!

I Am So Excited!

Isn't she cute?

I haven't been able to stop thinking about Santa Cruz. In case you missed out on the news, I was accepted to UC Santa Cruz. I am going to miss my family and some of my friends but honestly I cannot wait to move away from here. I was born in this town. I know so many people here and I have had to many experiences, good and bad. But this place is my childhood and I am not a child anymore. I need to grab life by the horns and embrace it. That's what I am going to do! I have never moved to a place where no one knew me. It is a fresh start. To prepare I am loosing weight. I have already gone from 175 to 159. Its still coming off too! Yeah!

When we move we are going to have to get rid of a lot of stuff. I cant wait to go through my things with a fine toothed comb. I have so much stuff that I don't need. I really like that clean simple look. Its very relaxing. We are looking for a two bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz so we will have more space. Pumpkin will have her own room for her bed and her toys. She is already sleeping out on the couch. Right now her bed is in our room but she falls asleep every night on the couch and then we move her to her bed, but in the middle of the night she is moving back to the couch. I hope to put her in her own room when we move.

That photo is one of the beaches in Santa Cruz. Isnt it beautiful? I am so happy to be moving there. Its a dream city to live in. Hey, I grew up in the desert!

A Moment in Time

I adore photography. Especially nature photography. There is something about capturing just the right moment in time, capturing it forever on film (or on a card nowadays). I have had my moms camera for the last week and I haven't had much time to go picture taking however when I went to the library I did take this photo which I am very pleased with.

Now this type of tree coloration is not common where I am from. The city recently started planting more colorful trees as part of their beautification project. I think this is indeed beautiful.
So is this.



My little pumpkin playing in the leaves. She is... I love her. I hope everyone is blessed with a child they love.