This and That....

Fireworks

Taking pictures of fireworks with an SLR camera can be tough.  One little shake and it's all over!  You really should take them with a tripod, but I thought I'd give it a whirl without one and see what happens.  Check them out and tell me what you think:

Not to shabby, if I do say so myself.  Didn't take very many pictures on the 4th.  Sometimes its nice to just enjoy the day and not worry about "capturing the moment"...besides, I was in the pool for about 4 hours straight that afternoon - not so good for a camera :)

Yes, sometimes you do need a sign...

...to understand how to use an inantimate object!

While n Hong Kong, there were numerous times when i'd wonder why in the world there were shoe marks on the toliet seat.  And NO, I'm not kidding here!  Keep in mind that many of the "facilities" in HK were considered "Turkish style" toliets.  The type where you *Stand Up* over a hole in the floor - and NO, I never used one of those...saw them, but never used.  There was one time when we were in a bar, drinking lots of beer and the girls all headed in the restroom, only to turn around and say, "that's it, we need to leave now!"...and we headed down to the subway down about 4 stops and into a real high end store to use their restrooms.  And still, I saw shoe marks on those toliet seats too!!  So yes, this sign would have been really nice to have while we were there :)

Enjoy!

Studio 365

A week ago Riley and Emma got to experience the newest store in Downtown Disney called Studio 365.  This is where *tweens* go to have their make-up and hair done and then walk the "purple carpet" and get their pictures taken as if they were Rock Stars.  Even though the *tween* age is really 6-12, they still enjoyed themselves being at 3 years old!!  Check them out:

Waiting patiently :)  They girls were so good in the hot store waiting their turn.

and while the girls dance, sign their names in chalk in front of the store and eat their candies, what do their mommies do???

Check their voice mail, emails, get updates on *Michael Jackson dying*...yep, this is where we found out all about MJ. 

Want to see more pictures from the fabulous time we had?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88365013@N00/sets/72157620672467449/

Check them out there :)

Duffy Boat - Newport Beach

Yesterday we were treated to an AWESOME Duffy Boat ride around the Newport Beach harbor area as a Christmas gift from Stacey.  The "sisterhood" had a fantastic time enjoying the beautiful weather, great friendships and terrific food, not to mention the White Star Champagne and wine that was flowin :)  Afterwards we went to Blue Water Grill on Lido Isle for another glass of wine to wind up the afternoon.  A GREAT time was had by all!!

Lisa, Stacey, Sara, Rhonda and Melanie.  Sara and Rhonda made us these tie dyed shirts to wear.  And yes, Melanie did "get the memo", but she was adorable in her Ed Hardy shirt and bucket hat!  Gwen missed the event cause she and Carlos are down in Cabo - whatever to that!  We enjoyed the sun right in our own backyard :)

Thanks to Stacey for a fantastic afternoon, to Rhonda and Sara for driving the duffy and to all you wonderful Sisters for a super fantastic afternoon!!

Wanna see more?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88365013@N00/sets/72157620538691279/

Is that "FIRE" I smell?

Earlier this evening I heard sirens  - lots of sirens and then I heard them stop.  I thought that maybe there was a big accident of the corner, which is a major intersection.  More sirens, and then they would stop.  Then all of a sudden I could smell it - FIRE!!  I live right along a big gully that could easily light up.  I grabbed my camera that was sitting on the table and ran outside to see if I could see smoke.  Down the stairs and yes - I could see smoke and heard more sirens.  I started to walk, really fast, in the direction of where the smoke was coming from.  It was far enough away not to totally freak me out, but close enough to freak me out!!  then I could see it, a helicopter coming this way...it past the area, went down to Ladera and came back.  It must have circled 10 times then it started getting lower...and wham...the water came pouring out.  Not to long after that, the smoke started going away.  Crazy afternoon I tell ya.   Wanna see?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88365013@N00/sets/72157620193589399/

Great Movie

The Proposal staring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Renoylds:

A book editor is forced to marry her male assistant in order to stay in the country. When they travel to Alaska to meet his family, the new couple has to fake their way through a surprise wedding thrown by his parents.

This movie has it all - humor, great scenes, tears, laughter  - Betty Davis is hysterically funny in this movie.  And who can pass up Ryan - he's hot!  And he's NUDE :).  And sheesh...Sandra is so skinny and looks really good.   Honestly, this is one of the better films I have seen in awhile.  I highly recommend it!  Might even have to buy the DVD when it comes out - and that's saying A LOT!!!

"Stop - do you see it?"

While taking a walk on the backside of where I live the other night, I suddenly stopped and quietly told my friend Joe to stop too.  he looked at me like I was nuts, and I said, "do you see it?"...he said WHAT?  I said "shhhhhh...the deer!":

Pretty cool in the middle of Orange County!

Wii

Last night my friend Joe came over and set up his Wii for me so that I can start using this:

Pete and Jorie have this at their house and watching the kids play made me want to get one and start exercising!  I know, hard to believe that I WANT to start exercising, but its all about weight loss this year!  Doing really well with Weight Watchers, but needed to start with the whole exercise thing and this so fits!  I love the fact that you can do this in your own home, but even better are the cute games that you can play.  Joe tried the hola hoop last night and had me in hysterics!  He was totally using his upper body and I kept telling him to shake his ASS!  you should see Kaitlyn do it - she's good.  I hear that Pete is the BEST, but didn't get to see him in action.  Will have to witness that next time I go to Colorado.

Am just thankful that Joe doesn't use his Wii and let me "borrow" it for now :)

BTW - my Wii age is *79*!  Guess I need to improve my balance!  At least my Brain Age is only 38...that's using my Ninetindo DS...gotta start somewhere!!

Colorado

I'm back from visiting the Maggs in Colorado :)  Had a fantastic weekend!!  Even experienced my first tornado warning where the radio station switched over to the emergency broadcast system and everything!! 

I can't believe how big the kids have all gotten.  Tyler is going into HIGH SCHOOL - WOW, I still can't believe it!  Andrew was off to camp on Sunday, but I did get to see his new "mohawk" cut!  And little Miss Kaitlyn is not so little anymore.  She is so darn cute wearing her glasses.  We went to the library yesterday and she kept coming back to where I was sitting and handing me the books she wanted to check out.   When I was flipping through them I couldn't believe that she can read those types of books!  Going into 5th grade - again WOW!

We went to downtown Denver and experienced the People's Fair.  It's kinda like the Orange Street fair, but not as many food booths.  Saturday night was the start of their weekly "bonfires" in the front driveway.  They light a big fire in this chimney thingie and everyone in the neighborhood just shows up with their chairs and drinks - very cool and lots of fun.  Sunday we went to the Outlets and then headed home to watch the news about the tornado! 

Enjoy some photo's of the weekend:

Kaitlyn singing at church with her VBS friends!  They did a great job.  And what a nice neighborhood church they go to. 

No, this isn't Pete and Jories house!  but there are houses like this, and barns, all over the place.  Great for taking photo's of!

Coffee

the last month i've been on a quest to find a new brand of coffee.  i've tried so many and gotten so many suggestions on what to try.  I FINALLY found one that i'm in love with...and you'll never guess what brand it is.

Yes, Dunkin' donuts :)  they have the BEST coffee!  yummy.....