Gigi & Me

test

testing this out again.

PhotoBooth

Just look at all the important things you can do with a Mac. Photobooth is a very valuable tool when trying to entertain a 5 year old.

Mama got a MAC!

My Dell PC crashed hard. I lost so many images that were dear to my heart. I went through all the stages of grief....what happened when I reached anger?? I went out and bought a iMac! No more viruses and computer crashes for me!

It's Official....

I'm old.  I just picked up my progressive lens bifocals this morning.  I was fine with my age when I had my birthday this summer.  I'm not quite 40 yet and still feeling pretty sassy.  I have to say having developed Presbyopia all ready and the need for bifocals so I can see my daughters handwritting really doesn't help with the whole feeling "sassy" thing.  I tried to pick a funky pair so as to distract from the whole old lady thing and maybe people will think I've just developed a new fashion accessory obsession.  I don't know.  They are taking some time to get used to this morning.  Moving my head around slowly and feeling a bit dizzy when I look down at the dog on the floor.  I'm sure my brain will get used to it.  What's next to look forward to?  Menopause, arthritis, osteoporosis....?

I think I'll get a tattoo today :c)

My mom

I had the chance to photograph my mom today for a digital photography class I'm taking.  This is in her creative space with her inspiration board behind her.  Fun morning.  Thanks Mom!  See, I told you, you were beautiful!

Fall is coming

The heat is finally starting to break.  We were below a 100 degrees all week.  It's such a relief.  It may creep back up there again for a few days but we know now, it won't last.  Monsoon season is in full swing.  The days are sunny and by about 4:00 in the afternoon the clouds begin to stack up behind the mountains and get big, and fluffy and thick.  Soon they change from bright white to dark and the rain comes.  It rains hard and fast.  Then it's done.  It makes the evenings so much cooler than we're used to.  The pool temperature is dropping now and we will have to resort to other ways to entertain ourselves.  Our community is starting Sunday evening Jazz concerts at a park that is a bicycle ride away.  Aaaahhh, we are almost....almost done with summer.

What a difference a week makes...

It's been over a week now since Gabrielle has been in school.  We have adjusted to the routine of it all.  The packing of lunch the night before, good breakfast, nice walk to the bus stop, checking her backpack as soon as she gets home for papers that need to be signed.  It's all good.  Then swimming.  Every afternoon she's able to get in some swim time.  How awesome is that?  I've even enjoyed doing some laps in the morning out there all by myself under the brilliant blue sky that always seems to be here. 

She loves school.  Loves the kids, the bus, the routine of it all.  I think she's going to do a great job!  I'm so proud of her.

I've signed up to Arts Masterpiece with her classroom.  It's a program where the parents go into the classroom and teach the kids about different artists.  Very, very excited for that.

Today I cried...

I don't know if it was the rain, or the fact that I put my baby on a bus for the first time.  But yesterday I expected to cry, I didn't schedule anything for the morning so I could come home and let it all out...and nothing happened.  I was fine.  Today she got on the bus and we pulled away and I cried....

She's independent now.  Was I a good enough mom when she was little and home with me.  Did I make the right choices along the way?  I hope so.  That's all I can do for now is hope so.  That and promise to be a good mom as she continues to grow and become more & more independent each day.  I know in just a month from now, she'll be a completely different kid from who she is today.  It's really neat to think about.  But as a mom, it really pulls at your heart too.

The bus pulled up and all of a sudden Gabbi decided she didn't want to go on.  Her voice got a little panic in it and she said "I don't want to get on the bus!".  Thank God for Maddie our neighbor who is Gabbi's friend and in 1st grade this year.  She came right up and grabbed Gabbi's hand and said "Come on Gabbi" and off they went.  Maddie assured me she'd help her get to her class.  Thank you Maddie.

Now to wait until 3:00 this afternoon to see how it all went!

1st Day....

of Kindergarten.  Wow.  I can't believe how fast time has flown.  It seems like just yesterday she would lay on the floor and coo up at me as I'd tickle her belly.  And now, she's a kid....such a cool kid.  Her confidence amazes me.  She had a great morning and hopefully the rest of her day will be so much fun.  I can't wait to pick her up this afternoon and hear all about it.

This picture was taken in front of a hutch that used to be in our dining room as a kid.  Of course it was that wierd 70's wood back then.  My parents took my photograph in front of it every year on the first day of school.  So now it's painted white and has been in Gabrielle's room since she was a baby.  Here's her first day of school in front of it :c)

How Cute is she?!

mexico

We woke up on Friday morning and it was shaping up to be a day like any other day.  Coffee was made and emails were checked.  When suddenly...an idea hit!  Let's go to Mexico!  And we did just that.  Typically we are not that spontaneous, I don't know what got into us but we left by 10:00am and happy hour was spent oceanside drinking Pina Colada's!  Two nights later were back home.  Awesome, awesome trip!  Gigi did such a great job!  We ate shrimp, swam in the ocean, shopped in the Market...just hung out!  Here's some pics!   Adios Amigos!

I'll post more tomorrow that I took with my other camera!