my bookworm

Although book is not the first thing she would pick up if she had a choice between an ipad or even a drawing pad and color pencils, she enjoys books. We take trips often to the local library or to the book store to sit and read.  She enjoys the funny humorous books and loves beautifully illustrated books.  That's because she has the funny sense of humor and she is quite the little artist (or visa versa)!

  

flowers and mustache

On the way to grandma's, we just had to pull over at the pretty colored building that seem to jump out from the street.  The harsh mid-afternoon light was straight on and without the proper equipment we got all kinds of shadows and squinting eyes.  Miss Megan was so cute when she blocked the sun from her eyes with those pretty flowers she picked from the tree.  LOL~  those leaves kind of made a mustache!

penelope the penguin

My sweet Megan, 

We spend a day at the aquarium today.  You love the zoo and love the aquarium.  Each time you go, you learn something about the animals and always share your new found knowledge with me.  It won't be long before you will no longer ask me to correct your homework or ask me what is what. 

On the way out at the gift shop you saw this baby penguin and just fell in love. You used the Christmas money grandma gave you and brought her home.  You named her Penelope the penguin. We are going to knit a pretty scarf for Penelope when we get home.  Thanks for another fun day just the two of us!  

                                                          

jamba juice in december

Where else can you have a Jamba Juice instead of a hot cocoa in December?  You just gotta love Southern California!

halloween 2012

These pictures were taken last Halloween but I thought I add them on.  Megan's school had a Halloween Festival "Trunk-or-Treat".  Some of the parents volunteered to decorate the back of their trunk and we voted on which was the "BEST".  Megan had a blast with her friends.  Halloween is one of her favorite holidays (after Birthday and Christmas).  This year I suggested that she be an angel (it was the very easiest costume to make) and she approved the idea.  And guess what?  She won "Best Costume".  That was pretty cool!

This was our favorite trunk!

merry & bright

We have been getting some cold and wet weather here past week.  And it's beginning to look lot like Christmas with decorations everywhere and people bustling around town to get ready for the holiday to celebrate with family and friends.   It was drizzling again this morning, but we decided to see if we can get some cool shots in the rain.  It was cold (I mean us southern Californians are not used to temperature in the low 60's) so we wrapped it up quick.  In spite of the complaint, we wished it was snow instead of the rain....

This shot made us laugh out loud.  "Look, it's Mary Poppins!"

family dog

Today is Charlee's birthday.   He got a birthday bath, a double servings of birthday dinner with extra goodies on top, and we wrapped him up with Christmas lights for a birthday picture.  He even got a birthday privilege to sleep on the bed.  Lucky dog~  : )

what {autumn} looks like in southern california

This is Autumn in southern California where fall foliage is MOSTLY green. 

portrait | my senior

This is my beautiful baby bird.  She is flapping her wings getting ready to fly out of my nest and soar through the skies.   I believe in her...she is ready.  

She will find her dreams and she will find her adventures.  I pray the winds will be gentle on her new wings and carry her high. But when the skies are grey and the winds blowing hard, I will always be here so that she may rest her wings and recharge her soul.  

Year 2013 will be your year, my baby girl!  I am so proud of you and I love you with all of my heart!  

We took a snap shot before we went to get her senior picture for the yearbook.

I strongly encourage moms to take their teenagers out and "make" them take the picture.  Don't forget to include yourself in a picture also...

Opportunities will be much harder to come by once they are out of your nest.  *sigh  sniff*

portrait | mrs. karen

We have been friends since our kids were in kindergarten.  She is a mother of two boys in 9th and 2nd grade.  She looks PRETTY stunning in these pictures (and these images are SOOC - straight out of camera)!!!  We had originally planned this to be a family photo session, but she just couldn't get the boys (and the husband) to cooperate.  You will be seeing more of her and the rest of her family in the future.

"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

portrait | miss megan

megan in the garden