Jen's Blog

It's All About Me

2008-03-06T15:55:00.001-08:00

Mommy and Me

2008-02-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

Lazy Day

2008-02-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

Caleb & Jeremiah

2008-02-11T13:25:00.000-08:00

I still remember Caleb saying to me, "Mom! You know I don't like babies!" I would hear this anytime I expected him to be around any children smaller then he was at the time. It seems he has changed a little in the last couple of years... Here he is holding Jeremiah while watching television. They were both quite content.

Snow in Tahoe

2008-02-10T21:16:00.000-08:00

Finally! We went snowboarding! We took lessons and OMG was it fun! I don't have very many pictures, because I was much more interested in another ride down the hill, but here are a few...

This is Krista making her way down...

Nathan John Arthur Meyer

2008-01-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

We have a new nephew! This is brand new baby Nathan John and his big brother Avery, Mike's oldest brother's children. (No, I did not take this photo, but I did run it through Photoshop prior to posting.)

Now Online

2007-12-08T15:16:00.001-08:00

Finally! I have my old personal site back online again. I uploaded hundreds of photographs from my trip to Port Alexander this summer. Enjoy!

The Christmas Countdown

2007-12-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

Today I was told that I should be posting more... I suppose she was right, she usually is. So I will share with you the reason my life is so chaotic at the moment. These are photos of my bedroom and my office.

This is George, under my house. He is my cousin here helping with the house. I am thinking that at this moment he is wondering why?

I guess he didn't like me taking his picture. He threatened me with the nail gun. I ignored him.

The view from the garage. Beautiful, isn't it? Ugh.

Something To Smile About

2007-11-21T08:49:00.000-08:00

Wherever you may be giving thanks this week, show up happy and relaxed as a gift to those around you. - Yoga Journal

My Dad Eric and my two Kids, Krista & Caleb

$50 Billion for Nuclear Industry

2007-10-21T00:59:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah

2007-10-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

I recently spent some time in the hospital, not for me, but for a friend. She had a baby and allowed me to share the experience with her. It was amazing and I am so happy she let me be a part of it.

I realize that this picture is a bit, um, gross? But it was truly one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed.

Mom and baby were pretty beat up from the delivery. They didn't get too many moments together during the first day. This was the first time she really got to hold him.

Me holding a baby and yes, I even like him.

9.1 lbs
21 inches long

He was a big baby.

I Love My Kids

2007-09-26T21:03:00.002-07:00

Really. I do love my kids. They have made me cry too many times in the last two days and I thought seriously about quiting this whole "mom" thing and I am still trying to figure out how I am going to survive tomorrow and yet somehow, I love my kids.

My daughter decided yesterday that she is now a teenager. She didn't tell me this exactly and she is only eleven and yet somehow I just knew the change had occurred. It doesn't seem fair really. I don't want to know how much she hates me yet or how convinced she is that I am trying to ruin her life. I want my baby back.

My sister sent me this email today. I think it is supposed to be funny, but I kept trying not to cry in between smiles and laughter.

Enjoy...

Who Owns Organic?

2007-09-25T21:12:00.001-07:00

Oh my...

Ownay inay Igpay Atinlay

2007-09-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

owhay oolcay isay isthay?!?

He Loves Me

2007-09-16T22:32:00.001-07:00

Today I was sitting at my desk when Mike plopped a large box onto my lap and mumbled "Happy Anniversary".

He may not be the most romantic guy around, be he definitely knows me pretty well. I love my new toy!

Saturday Ride

2007-09-15T23:44:00.001-07:00

We went on an evening ride today. The kids are doing so well with their bikes. We rode nine and a half miles with out any complaints! It was wonderful. We met up with our bike group, but this time for a kids ride. There were kids there the same ages as Krista and Caleb. They loved it and I must say, so did I!

Look! No hands! Unfortunately it didn't turn out so well. At least he had his Jamba Juice to make him feel better!

I didn't pull my camera out until dark, so I didn't get too many pictures. Next time I will have to do better! Now that I have my little point and shoot I need much better lighting conditions! The price we pay for convenience I suppose.

Career Day

2007-09-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

According to Krista, she chose her dad's career over mine because his is a "real" career. Brat! Lol. She sure looked cute though!

I Almost Cried Today

2007-09-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

As sad as I was to see all of his beautiful hair go, he was so happy, so I suppose it was worth it. My adorable surfer boy gone GI Joe. Ugh.

Interesting

2007-09-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

I love sushi. It is a good thing I love sushi. Right now I am not sure what else to say.

Yummy

2007-09-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

Today my kids needed a very yummy snack after school and nothing in the cabinets seemed quite good enough, so I pulled out the recipe box. Do you ever forget just how good something you used to make is? I made a few changes from the years past and oh my gosh, these cookies are amazing! My kids are good cooks!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1 1/4 c butter
3/4 c sucanat sugar
1/2 c evaporated cane juice
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c white whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3 c oatmeal
1 1/2 c raisins

Heat oven to 375. Cream butter with sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour, baking soda, salt and spices to creamed mixture. Mix well. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased baking stone. Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

Abbie Burgess

2007-07-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

Brandon gave us a tour of his boat. It was fun and the kids loved it!

The Galley had Oreo's. Yum.

We almost got lost, but then we found this sign. Thank God!

This buoy has a story behind it. I will let Brandon tell you...

Grandma Mimsy

2007-07-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

My Brother Sent Me A Picture

2007-07-18T17:39:00.001-07:00

My brother got a new camera and sent me a picture. He has never sent me a picture before. I think he might be a natural at this photography stuff. I am so impressed I had to share.

The Attack

2007-07-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

There was a warning, but we missed it. Caleb was attacked first, a vicious sting on his arm that caused even him, the toughest of boys, to cry out in pain and sob, begging for mercy from the agony. We didn't realize though that it was a warning. We thought it was coincidence, that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and so we did nothing.

What a mistake this act of dismissal was. Two days later they swarmed, angry and unheard, and claimed their territory. The attack came swiftly and with great anger, they had warned us and we hadn't listened. This time, they made sure that we would hear them.
Screams of terror broke out from the front porch. Sobbing and hysteria, not sure what to do or where to go, they stood there as the attackers sunk their sharp, poisonous stingers into the innocent flesh of our children. Quickly we rushed them across the yard and in through the door that offered safety. Krista and Abby had both been stung this time, Caleb saved by pure luck, and Audrey and Anna saved by beloved nap time.

Salve was applied to the stinging wounds and for a mo ment it seemed that safety had been found. An angry mob swarmed at the front door, but we were safe from their terrifying stingers, protected by strong walls and a steel door. Then, just when we least expected it, a last attack was made as Krista screamed out in terror once more. An angry buzz flew out of her pant leg, seeking new flesh to attack. Brandon bravely went to battle as the innocent children were rushed to safety. Then the buzzing ceased. Brandon had won this small battle, but for now, they have won the larger battle. The front porch belongs to them as we retreat in fear.

Warm Sun, Cold Water

2007-07-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Swimming in the ocean, too cold for me!
Really! The water was THAT cold!
Make it all go away!
Audrey's owey.
The lazy ones. We sat right there and yelled at the kids most of the day. I am sure the people around us loved it.
Anna eats dirt. Mary gets mad.
Mikes futal attempt at the water. It was too cold though so he quickly retreated.
Playing catch with Bridget, she didn't mind the water at all!
Rinsing off, time to go home.
Look Mom! A rock! Can I keep it???

The Maine Meal

2007-07-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

Facination, curiosity and perhaps a bit of fear, all natural reactions to lobster roaming loose on the kitchen floor.Can I touch it?

A feast to remember, steak and lobster, lemon cous-cous, sauted mushrooms, grilled asparagus, rolls, wine, and to end it all just right, a chocolate cheese cake.

Mayplace Moments

2007-07-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

Reading with Rosie. In this story of the three little pigs, the wolf really eats the first two pigs! Then,when he messes with the third little pig, he falls in a big pot and is turned into wolf soup. Original stories are great!

Finally! We get to go to the beach!!

Nice sandals Brandon.

These stairs were steep! Anna gets a ride up.

Caleb asked me to take these bear bread pictures. He really wanted to collect the bear bread, but I wouldn't let him.

Caleb took pictures of Mike and me.

A picture by Krista.

More of Mayplace

2007-07-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

It is funny how a place that you haven't been to in twenty-six years, since your childhood, can feel like home, a place I belong in. It was fun watching Krista, my mini-me, exploring and playing in the place I last was at her age.

Rosie will never be to old to play with the kids. The last time I saw her was in Alaska, her and Dee were sledding with us! They may not know it, but they are an inspiration to me and how I choose to live my life now.

Krista loves this piano. She spent most of her time at Mayplace on this bench.
Caleb and Nayan had a great time together.
A lot of family around one table. Very fun and a bit crazy. Mom, where are you?!?

My cousin Emile. We meet again. I think we were ten the last time we saw each other.

My mom's brother Lunn and his wife Denise.Admiring pictures of Stacy's wedding dress. She will be wearing it very soon! Her and Emile are getting married in September.

Back to Austin. Now that I know it is weird, I may have to visit!My cousin Mia. Isn't she cute?
My sister loves me too, I am sure of it!

A Visit to Mayplace

2007-07-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

My last visit here was when I was just ten years old. It seems much smaller now, but still quite wonderful.

Caleb and my cousin Nayan running through the fields.

Mary & Brandon looking so very cute together. Amazing, three kids and they look like they still like each other!

New kids, old toys.

A feast prepared by Rosie.

Happy 4th!

2007-07-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

We celebrated by barbecuing at my sister's house. It was fun, but we missed Brandon who had duty. I will let the pictures tell this story...

Maine Parade

2007-07-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Maine on July 2nd after a long and torturous journey across the country. A red-eye flight followed by a four hour drive with two kids and a dog; not really a recipe for family fun. We made it though and by July 4th we were almost back to normal. Here we all are, minus Brandon who was stuck at work, at the Parade in Thomaston.

Abby, Audrey and Anna had a friend in the parade. This is Emma waving to them.

Bridget howling with the firetrucks. We laughed so hard I think I had tears in my eyes.

How cute is this? I love these girls!

Fry bread and cotton candy for lunch. Yum!

Caleb could have watched these guys all day. We left part way through and he asked first to watch this one last fight, then for just four more minutes and then for just ten more seconds. Finally, with much dismay, he agreed to go.

Anna and her faces...

The walk back to the car was even harder then the walk there. Krista carried Audrey almost the whole way. It was maybe a mile?

Not enough seats so Mike got the floor. Mary drove VERY carefully!

More Camping

2007-06-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of pictures here! This is the second half of our camping trip, the journey home!

We decided to make a detour when we left our spot at Black Canyon campground to head for the beach. We were so close to Crater Lake that we just had to stop and see it. On the way we drove through Pumice Desert. That was so cool! We walked out quite a ways comparing rocks and seeing who could find the lightest one.

Crater Lake was amazing. Mike described it as the Grand Canyon full of water. It was quite far up into the mountains though, we were not expecting snow on this trip!

It was too early in the year to camp at Crater Lake, the snow and all, so we headed back down the Mountain to Diamond Lake. We paid a little extra for this amazing spot right on the water. Our bay window in our new tent over looked this amazing view. It was perfect.

Finally the ocean! I love the ocean. This is Sunset Bay near Coos Bay in Oregon. It is a bit touristy here, but we love it anyway. We put the canoe in the water and paddled around for awhile. We collected some kelp for kelp pickles. It was fun. There was a nice swell coming into the bay from the ocean, so we didn't go out too far.

After we finished playing on the water, we played on the beach for awhile. The tide pools were a lot of fun too!

The campground at Sunset Bay.

Just across the Oregon California border, we found a great campground in the middle of the Redwoods. It was so pretty. There were Salmonberries everywhere & we were told bears too, so we had to be a careful to put everything away. We went to a class on slugs that night and learned more then we ever thought we could about banana slugs. The kids found one and put it on a ziploc bag to watch its one big foot move.

Our last stop was in Fort Brag, CA. We finally got to go to Glass Beach!

Camping

2007-06-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

Military life. We seem to end up in places that are okay, but not really where our hearts are. I asked Mike recently if we would ever find a place that actually felt like home. We wonder if Oregon might be it.

We spent ten days camping through Oregon and along the northern California coast. It was so beautiful and so much fun! The first part of our trip was spent near Westfir, OR. This was our spot at Black Canyon Campground.

Caleb had to scrub the bugs off the car to earn enough money to pay for the gum he stole from the local store. Life lessons are so fun!

The best part of camping here, was seeing Karen & Bill. We spent five days with them, visiting and going on adventures. This is Krista and Caleb with their dogs Mango and Pearl and our dog Bridget.

After The Storm

2007-06-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

My two most favorite boys...

The Hunt Is On

2007-04-08T21:32:00.000-07:00

What could be more fun than an Easter Egg hunt in 20 degree weather? Rhetorical question. Mike, Cindy and I took the kids to an egg hunt. Hayden didn't want to go because it was too cold out! I can't say I blame him!

Bloody Knuckles

2007-04-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

My son is crazy. He met one of Hayden and Macy's uncles at an Easter party we went to and a discovered a cool new game. The scary part? He is good at it! Such a boy!

Easter Colors

2007-04-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Henry Doorly Zoo

2007-04-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

We are off on another adventure, this time with the kids. We arrived in Omaha, Nebraska on Tuesday, visiting Mike's brother Scott and his family, and have been on a whirlwind of adventures since our arrival. Our first stop was the Henry Doorly Zoo. It was cold and windy out, so we visited all of the indoor animals. They had some fantastic exhibits and we ran fast between each one to stay warm!

The cousins! They get along with each other so well. Just look at all the smiles! Krista and Caleb above, Hayden and Macy below...

This is Mike's brother Scott and his wife Cindy. They hadn't figured out yet that the camera was pointed their direction.

Hayden loves shorts. He actually had shorts on under his pants and when it was convenient for him, off came the jeans. It was very warm inside, but warm enough to strip? I am not so sure about that!

Spring Portraits

2007-04-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

The most beautiful girl in the world...

First Impressions

2007-03-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

Pittsburgh. We are staying at the Renaissance. My first impression of the Renaissance was not so great. I was tired. It was 1:30 in the morning over here on the east coast. I had two suitcases, a backpack and a large purse. I did not travel light. I had to get through two sets of double doors by myself with all my luggage. In my late night opinion, this hotel was a dump.

The next morning I awoke to discover a very nice hotel with excellent customer service. Amazing what a good night of sleep can do for ones perspective, isn't it? With this new morning outlook, I set out onto the streets of Pittsburgh to see what there was to see.

My first impression...

Creative Yawns

2007-01-27T18:47:00.000-08:00

The last two weeks have been interesting to say the least. Try as I may, jump starting my creativity after a chaotic Christmas break as not been so easy. My brain seems to be lacking the enthusiasm I have so desperately needed. This lack has lead to a daily struggle of coaxing ideas and inspiration out of myself. As grueling as this has been though, at least I do have something to show for my hours of labor, another wedding album complete. *sigh*

Get Creative - Websites to Inspire

2007-01-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

Adobe Creative Mind

Play with color: explore kuler.
Visit this new web-hosted Adobe Labs application, where you can search, create, and share color themes.

Good Day

2007-01-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

Today will be a good day. Even though my son threw himself onto the floor this morning in hysterics. We were supposed to be leaving for school and I asked him to put his coat on. It is 34 degrees out, so this seemed like a reasonable request to me. He forgot his coat at school though, twice now. And he forgot his sweatshirt and warm vest he wore yesterday because he forgot his coat the day before. So today, when I suggested he wear his orange fleece, the hysterics.

Yes, there is logic behind this, it is just that it is Caleb's logic which at times can take awhile to understand. Let me explain for you. If he were to wear his orange fleece, there would be yet one more item to carry home and how exactly is he supposed to wear FOUR coats home today? Yes, Caleb's logic. Eventually I won.

Today will be a good day. Even though I broke two nails. One too far down so now I have this nail hanging that I can't cut off but that is broken.

Today will be a good day. Even though I almost ran over a little girl this morning. The sun was so bright. I saw her as my car was half way though the crosswalk with a sort of nervous bewildered look on her face. Or perhaps she was terrified at the prospect of being run over by my car. Regardless, I felt beyond terrible, like a monster undeserving of a license at all. As I drove away, the other drivers stared at me in disgust.

Today will be a good day. I am not out of coffee. My dog didn't puke on the floor. It isn't raining. My kids are both in school. I will have a good day today.

Today will be a good day.

Ice

2007-01-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

Weather for Live Oak, CA
20°F
Clear
Wind: N at 0 mph
Humidity: 89%

Christmas Parties

2007-01-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

This year we went to two different parties for Mike’s work. One was more for us and one was more for the kids. Since I was asked to take pictures at both, I have a lot! These are some that I liked…

Someday

2007-01-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

The house still has a long way to go, but the siding is getting close to being done.

Mike has been diligently working every weekend, all weekend long, trying to get this project completed. I am always trying to drag him away to do something, ANYTHING, other then work on the house, but most of the time I fail.

This is him siding the back of the house through his entire three day weekend. His determination amazes me.

A Winter Walk

2007-01-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

As much as I complain about California, I have to admit that I do enjoy the winters. For the last week or so it has actually been quite cold though. The other day I saw ice on the ground in the middle of the afternoon! Very strange.

I went on a long walk with a friend the other day on this bike path. It was a bit windy, but as you can see, quite beautiful out. This is one of our short, five mile long bike trails in Yuba City. I hadn’t been on this trail before. Once day I will have to bring the kids to come ride here. They would love it.

Happy New Year

2007-01-14T18:07:00.000-08:00

For me, 2006 will be remembered as a year of long hours and hard work. Getting a business off of the ground, remodeling a home, raising two children and trying to survive the hustle and bustle of modern living. Life is always so busy, most of the time too much so. It was nice to end the year relaxing with family and friends; time I can honestly say was well spent!

Gingerbread Houses

2007-01-14T16:31:00.000-08:00

These are becoming quite the tradition in our home every year. The kids love building them. Soon I will have to teach them how to make the dough and bake the pieces too. I don't love the process quite so much as they do!

It is fun watching how much care and time they put into them though. They put a lot of thought into the overall design and this year is took them a couple of hours to complete.

Our 2006 Mini Christmas Album

2006-12-26T19:48:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

2006-12-26T15:48:00.000-08:00

Christmas Meltdown

2006-12-24T16:28:00.000-08:00

Oven rack. Cutting board. Yes, there is a story. No, I am not going to tell it. Your imagination will work just fine.

A December Portrait

2006-12-21T09:27:00.000-08:00

Snowy Sitka

2006-12-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

I recently returned from a trip to Alaska. I went to take pictures and oh my did I take pictures. It was a lot of fun! It was supposed to be just a week and a half, but I was so busy I stayed a few extra days. I tried posting a few times while I was there, but never had time to finish!

So now a week or two later, a few scenic pictures...

A Party For Caleb

2006-11-26T19:30:00.000-08:00

My baby is seven now. Seven.

Trick candles. Very hard to blow out. So hard it required climbing onto the counter for added blowing leverage.

A Late Halloween Post

2006-11-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before candy when all through the house, lots of creatures were moving, yes, even toads. Perhaps poetry isn't my strong point, but this will make more sense as you read on. Anyway, carving our pumpkins this year was much less work then in years past. The kids actually did most of the work! Finally!

The finished works of art. Krista's is the witch, Caleb's is the scary face. Not a bad job for first time carvers!

Finishing off the night with a little more excitement, Krista and Caleb caught a toad! They were VERY excited about this. And I think they even managed to keep it alive while fighting over who would hold it!

Velvety Carrot & Ginger Soup

2006-11-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

It must be the holiday season that is suddenly inspiring me to use my kitchen for more then making coffee. Thanks to Mike, we even started eating at the table again, as a family! It is nice.

I found this recipe for Velvety Carrot & Ginger Soup in the November issue of Taste For Life, a magazine my local healthfood store hands out.

I think this soup is fabulous. My husband and daughter found it to be okay, but would probably rather I not make it again. My son hated it and had no problem telling me so numerous times. It makes a lot too. So I canned the rest. Now I have a delicious soup just for me whenever I want it. How sweet is that?

If you are brave enough to try it, even after the mixed reviews, here is the recipe:

Velvety Carrot & Ginger Soup
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
3 Medium Onions, peeled and chopped
5 Cups Vegetable Broth
6 Large Carrots, peeled and diced
3 Tbsp Finely Grated Fresh Ginger
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Coriander
Pinch of Cayenne
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Black Pepper

In a stockpot, saute onions in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until softened. Add broth, 1 cup of water, carrots and 2 tablespoons of grated ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer partially covered for about 20 minutes or until carrots are tender. Remove pot from the heat and let cool for about an hour.

In a food processor or blender, blend the soup with the remaining tablespoon of grated ginger, cinnamon and coriander until very smooth. Season with cayanne, salt and pepper. Return soup to the pot and reheat gently.

I served it with with a quick pumpkin bread. Very tasty.

The Rest of the Story

2006-11-07T14:13:00.000-08:00

Wow. I wish I could put all of these into one post! This is frustrating. I will have to make my pictures smaller the next time I have a lot to post. Here are the rest of the pictures...

My beautiful girl!

Waiting for our hay ride back.

Loading the truck. What beautiful (expensive) pumpkins we picked! All in all, a good day of fall fun.

More of the Story

2006-11-07T13:56:00.000-08:00

How sad is this? I am just now getting back to my blog to share the rest of our pumpkin picking experience and I have so much else I had wanted to post too! The Holiday Season has definitly arrived. Here are more of the pictures...

Evelyn, Krista and Asgar petting a donkey.

This is Brandon. He seemed to dodge my camera a lot! He is another of Caleb's good friends.

Finally! The Pumpkin Patch!

My favorite picture from our adventure. My sexy pumkin pickin' man. Yes, he did pose for this!

Pumpkin Picking

2006-10-29T16:06:00.000-08:00

No fall is complete without at least one trip to a pumkin patch! So we loaded our truck full of kids and headed off on one of the busiest Saturday's of the pumkin picking season.

Top left is Caleb's good friend Asgar. The top right is Caleb. The bottom left is a pig. The bottom right is Krista's friend Evelyn.

Pig races. A first for me. Quite interesting. Not so interesting that we stayed long though.

Because There Is A Difference

2006-10-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Tragedy often strikes when least expected. One moment my DSL was working fine, and the next nothing. It was dead. Apparently our beloved phone company (SBC/AT&T/Yahoo) confused our line with the line of someone who actually wanted their DSL disconnected. They were very sorry though. They assured us that just as soon as they finished disconnecting our line they would be able to start the reconnection process. It should only take a week or two. At least they were sorry though. As if the deal couldn't get any better, they offered us dial up to use while we were waiting. Dial up! What am I supposed to do with dial up? Did I mention that this is the second time they have disconnected our service for no reason?

We now have DSL through a new company. SYIX.com. Good customer service is a fabulous thing. And DSL that works again? I am in heaven.

Moments

2006-10-09T22:59:00.000-07:00

I have been told love never fails. But perhaps this isn’t true. Or perhaps I don’t quite understand what is meant by it. Either way, all around me, love seems to be failing. So quickly we fall into love and yet just as quickly it is gone? How is this? Everywhere relationships are crashing, falling to pieces, and ending with the bitter scent of failed love lingering in the air.

And yet while all around this chaos of shattered love screams, there are moments. Perfect wonderful moments. And so I hold on tight, afraid to let go. Afraid to feel the agony of failed love ever again.

These flowers were one of those moments. One of those perfect, wonderful moments.

Grab Life By The Horns

2006-10-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today was an interesting day. Mike and I sat at the breakfast bar enjoying our very quiet house. This only happens when the kids are either gone or asleep and we had just dropped them off at school only moments before. Unsure of how to spend our childless day, we decided on the only logical choice. Starbucks.

While this sounds innocent enough, somehow things went much differently than we had anticipated. We did make it to Starbucks and even sat inside the coffee shop sipping our tea and contemplating life. Once we had finished our tea, we thought we would stop by the bank to look into a car loan. We have been contemplating a truck for sometime now and the moment seemed right to make the first step.

After that went better then expected, we thought why not start looking around a little, see what is available. We checked out a few lots and even saw a few trucks with potential, but nothing amazing. Then, on a Honda lot, just as we were leaving to head home, we were caught.

Quite suddenly, before we really even knew what had happened, we were admiring a truck, then driving a truck, and then that was it. All caution was tossed aside; all our plans to take our search slowly disintegrated. We found ourselves quite unexpectedly the proud owners of a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 5.7 Hemi 4x4 Truck.

We took the truck out on some back roads to get these shots. The first shot is a view of the Buttes, a small mountain range near us.

Weekend Getaway

2006-10-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while you just have to get away. To celebrate our eighth anniversary, Mike and I did just that. We enjoyed a perfect weekend in Sacramento.

Among "other" things, we dined at Biba's, attended a comedy show at Punchline, had drinks at the Blue Lantern while being entertained by a Reggae band, found time for plenty of shopping at the Westfield Mall, enjoyed leisurely strolls, consumed ample quantities of wine and spent a lot of time in a fabulous room at the Hyatt.

Our hotel was right across the street from the capitol building, so this morning after breakfast we enjoyed a nice walk around the park. The grounds were beautiful, the weather was perfect, especially now that it is finally cooling off a bit, and as you can see, we found plenty of photographic opportunities.

We ate so much good food all weekend, we were both convinced we had gained at least five pounds! To help counteract the effects of our high calorie vacation, I immediately embarked on a five mile run upon returning home. I felt much better after that. Mike pushed even harder. He ran six.

Skipping School

2006-09-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

My poor baby girl. Two teeth pulled and a camera in her tummy all in one week. Not exactly what every ten year old dreams of. She was very brave and seems to have made it through the week all in one peice. I am so proud of her. The good part? She should be feeling much better then she has in a very long time!

The Short Story

2006-09-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

I bought a pair of shorts. My first pair this summer. I found them on the clearance rack at American Eagle (my favorite store ever for right now). Mike was waiting for me, rather impatiently. He had that "can you PLEASE hurry up" look on his face. So I grabbed them and tried them on. They fit. Amazing. They didn't even look too bad. Even more amazing. I bought them. It was hot yesterday, so when we got home, I put them on and wore them. My first shorts of the summer. Yes, I know. Summer is over. Not here though. It is still so hot. When I took them off, the tag caught my eye. I looked again. Unbelievable. I had grabbed the wrong size. And yet they fit. They were a size too small. What a fabulous end to a day.

Mechanical Moments

2006-09-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

As a child I remember helping my dad fix things. My job? The flashlight holder. Try as I may I never could hold it still enough and as my mind wandered so did the beam. I learned at a rather young age that men and mechanics make for little patience! Why then did I choose this moment to photograph my husband? I guess I still have a lot to learn! These are the shots I got before he looked much to irritated with me to continue!

Finally

2006-09-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

The moment anticipated has arrived. Will it be able to withstand the expectations placed upon it? Can anything with this much anticipation involved ever live up to the expectations, or is it doomed to fail long before it has ever been given a chance to succeed?

Derailed.

2006-09-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

Just because you cannot see the wreck,
does not mean it is not there.

Playing Dress Up

2006-09-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

My good friend Stacey and I dressed up to attend the Celebration of Justice, a gala event put on by the Pacific Justice institute. Of course any event requiring this type of attire definitely requires photographs as well. So for all of you waiting (some of you not so patiently) to see our dresses and us in them, here we are...

And a few more photographs...

Our husbands were supposed to attend with us, but since mine didn't make it home in time, Stacey and I braved this dinner alone. Somehow we managed to have a great time, even without them.

Mike's new expected date of arrival? Soon. Very soon. I am trying not to hold my breath, but I keep catching myself not breathing.

*Photographs of me taken by amateur photographer, Katherine Christian.
http://www.myspace.com/kateloveshercake

Flower Girl

2006-09-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

Absence

2006-09-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

I recently entered a themed photo contest, the theme being "absence". I am showing two images here, though really only the first one strongly says absence to me, and it is this image that I entered. I did not win, but I did get a few votes, so I was pleased. *Hint* Click on the image to view it larger.

I found I kept coming back to this second image, my eyes drawn to his troubled face. This image seems much angrier then the first.

A Long Ride

2006-09-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Today I joined the Hammerin' Wheels meetup group for a bike ride along the Sacramento River. It was such a great time. I had planned on writing a longer blog tonight, but our ride was 34 miles, by far the longest I have ever ridden, and I am exhausted! Last week was my first ride with the group and we rode 22 miles. I was impressed that I made it that far! Imagine my surprise at discovering I could actually ride 34! I am so tired I keep falling asleep at my computer.

Fifteen Days

2006-09-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

I suppose fifteen days isn't all that long, but at the moment my dramatic side screams that it might as well be a lifetime. It is like that last five minutes on the treadmill when you have already been running for 25 and you just want to be done. He has been gone for over four months and my world has been turned upside down waiting for his return. This is the man that can still make my heart skip a beat when he looks at me. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry. He is my best friend, my lover, and more often then I care to admit, the stability that I tend to lack on my own. I can survive without him. I just don't want to.

A Day To Celebrate!

2006-08-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

The reason I get out of bed in the morning and the reason I fall into bed so thoroughly exhausted at night, my children. Today school started again. A blessed day worthy of great celebration! As much as I try to treasure every moment with these two that I love so much, I cannot suppress the great joy that I feel in discovering myself alone to work in peace once again. I believe summer break was actually created to test the sanity of parents. I am afraid if school had started one day later, I may have failed the test. I have nothing but respect and admiration for single parents who successfully raise children capable of functioning in today's society. I, however, don't think I would be so successful! I believe my children were more excited about returning to school than I was to see them go! Perhaps the only thing missed more then school this summer was their father.

Flowers For My Mom

2006-08-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

A Watchful Eye

2006-08-15T22:32:00.000-07:00

If ever I could be so still as this, quietly watching life as it unfolds around me. If I could learn to be this still inside, might I stand as strong? How much more might I observe? How much more might I miss?

The Beginning

2006-08-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Family, friends, complete strangers & possibly even those who can't stand me, welcome. My blogging days have begun. This is a moment I have contemplated for some time now, but for one reason or another, or perhaps for no real reason at all, I have not until just now, taken the plunge. So here marks the beginning of my journey, may this be the first of many posts that inspire, amuse, or manage to evoke some level of emotion from those who accidently or intentionally stumble upon this one small place on the web.