Last Minute Trip..

So for those of you not knowing since I'm doing such a swell job at blogging lately...lol I am taking 4 classes this semester. One is another photography class! I think this semester is going to be fun & I am really excited about our first project. So that leads me into our completely last minute out of the blue trip. I wanted something different and possibly creative and 5 photos towards this assignment were due on the next class. SO... after some thought & debate & internet searching.. we went to San Francisco this past weekend. We left at 7 pm Friday night & returned at 11 pm Sunday night. We had 2 full days down there & I did get some pictures I will be using towards this project that no one else will have. :o) It was also the kick off to the Chinese New Year! Another reason that sent me down there, we all know that I love festivals & different things. We had a great time, spent Sat. in Chinatown, that evening we went to Pacifica and had Fish & Chips, the kids loved going to the beach but of course wanted to find shells. Sunday we went to the Wharf, drove around the city a little bit & then back to Chinatown. They had a traditional Flower Market, in which they believe you need to have fresh new plants/ flowers to bring in the new year & I believe its supposed to bring good luck or something. I don't have the paper in front of me or really remember the details since it was a week ago. :o) It was fun though! I know some of you after reading this will be disappointed in us not visiting while down there, but like I said it was completely last minute & we were busy going everywhere with no plan in mind. We plan on coming down again hopefully soon. :o) You can see all the pictures at my photo site www.public.fotki.com/karibird28 I plan on using it from here on out, as you can see only Prague has been loaded as an album & that was in 2007. Here are a few photos from the weekend....

Jason Visits

My cousin Jason who we haven't seen in about 6 years came up to visit family in CA & then came over here for a day. My parents did a BBQ and we hung out and visited and played the WII. Here's a few pictures from the afternoon/night.

Kati w/ attitude on phone

Jason

Kody trying to take his shirt off

Jason helping Kati play the WII

Kody trying on McKena's Hannah Montana glasses

Kyle, Ben, Dad, Jason & kids

Happy "50" Scott

Tonight was a surprise party for Scott, my parents friend. The kids had a great time, I am still full from all the food!

Scott & Nancy dancing

The girls

Surprise!!!

He loves to put his hands in his pockets

Random pictures of Kody

This is before his haircut yesterday. He has chocolate all over his face but he is just to cute sometimes. :o)

A Year in Review...

A friend of mine had sent an email about what she had learned about herself or things in this past year. So I went somewhat off of it... as well as what things I plan for myself/family this year.

My past year....

1. I went back to work after being a stay at home mom for 9 years!! I LOVE my job!! 9 months there and going strong!

2. I turned 30 & LOVE IT!

3. I lost 25 lbs of baby weight from Kody!

4. I am not nearly as shy as I used to be, thanks to my job.

5. I went back to school after 12 years!

6. I started up a on location photography business.

7. I have become a stronger believer in "things happen for a reason" with this attitude I am able to go about my life and adjust quite easy as things happen bad or good.

8. We have had some financial problems like everyone else but.. we manage through it. :o)

9. I have decided to try and live as best as I can even though its hard sometimes by this quote.. " Don't make someone a priority in your life if you are just an option in theirs." I know in the past I have def. put to much effort into people that would not put that effort back into me or my family.

10. I learned that I need to focus on myself as well, if I don't things just snowball and others areas of my life are neglected eventually.

11. I had my first surgery, emergency at that... Appendicitis and HATED IT!!! Worst experience of my life, I would rather have 20 more kids then go through an hour of surgery and a week of recovery! So if I ever talk about having Liposuction or a tummy tuck can someone please remind me of how terrible this experience was for me!! lol

For... 2009.... I plan to..

1. Loose my last 15 or so lbs and tone my body up!

2. Advertise my business, and take more pictures on a personal basis (I know that doesn't sound possible! lol)

3. ORGANIZE my LIFE!! Things would run so much smoother if I can get things organized better.

4. Stay in School and possibly work towards a degree in Social Work.

5. Finish my State Of NV Domestic Violence Certification (this is a pain in my ass because its TONS of reading!)

6. Kati will start Kindergarten in the fall!!

7. Find a religion? or learn more about different religions.... I notice religious people do seem to be better off on certain levels. Its time to figure this out for our family I think.

So reading back through this 2008 was a pretty good year for myself on a personal basis. I actually didn't think it was a good year before starting to write this out, but I think that is because it was more financial issues that always came up or medical. :o) I do feel blessed to have the life I have and see everyday that things I think are bad, are seriously nothing compared to what happens to some people. Things can always be worse and I try to remember that when I think things are tough or bad.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Album

I finally put together a album for our Christmas pictures! I haven't shared one of those on here in awhile and was having a hard time picking which few pictures to post on here. This way I can share more of them, and in no way is this all of them! lol :o) I think the best way to view them is in Slideshow, but for some reason it doesn't automatically show the titles to the pictures so when you click the link, go to View Album.. then play slideshow.. as soon as it opens go to the top to "options" click it, then click "show titles" then it will show the descriptions to them! :o) Hope you all enjoy. http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AaNWbJm1aMXIw