Riding at Sunset

As promised, I took the girls back to the spot we found last week to try and take a sunset shot. It was nothing like that one night. We were in Sacramento on Saturday and Sunday and couldn't get to taking sunset pictures until last night, however, we did get an extra treat.

We meet a cowboy. He was riding his horse in the field as we were taking sunset shots. His house and stables were across the street from the field. Great spot and just 5 minutes from our house! I just love were we live!

The girls loved seeing all the horses and watching the cowboy. When we were getting packed up to go home the cowboy was riding in. CK said to me, "I want to know the horses name. Can you ask him for me?" I told her no. "I don't care what the horses name is. If you want to know his name, you need to ask." She did not like that answer. She tells me she is shy. Well, I was not going to ask him. She needs to learn if she wants to know something, she needs to ask. I waited to see what she would do. I started to pack up my camera.

Apparently, O also wanted to know the horses name, so when the cowboy came up on the sidewalk she ran over and asked, "What is your horses name?" He told her (Gold in Spanish is all I remember.). She came running back with the name. That took care of that.

Beautiful horse (don't think I've ever seen an ugly horse actually) very nice man. He asked how my pictures of the sunset went. Okay, I told him. Not as nice as the other night would have been. I told him I am a photographer, gave him my card. He might be contacting me to take photographs of him and his horse. I would LOVE to! I already know exactly what images I want to take. I'll keep you posted.

Sunset

The girls and I saw the strangest sunset tonight. We were on our way home from dinner out with friends and saw this giant red glowing sun through the fire smokey air. A giant glowing ball low in the sky. We raced home (very safely) to grab my camera and tripod. We went up the hill behind us to try and find a good spot to take photos, but we were too late. The sun had set too fast for us. The girls were disappointed. O says "I hate missing stuff!" Poor thing.

I told them with the sunset you need to be fast to get the shot. CK says "You need to just always have your camera with you." YES, Miss Smarty Pants. She's right, but it's just not possible to always have it.

On the bright side, I did find a great spot for the future. It overlooks part of the city. We'll try again tomorrow night. With all this smoke in the air from all the fires, it should be the same tomorrow night. We'll be in Sacramento. We'll see what we get up there.

Mommy Goes To Summer School

I just got back from my annual class at Golden Gate School of Professional Photography (GGS). GGS is a wonderful way for photographers who are starting or building their businesses to learn more about our business. There are classes on every aspect of a professional photography business. It's also a great way to network.

This year I took a class on kids and families from professional photographer Jennifer Wilson. Jen is an award winning kids and family photographer. She was great. I learned a lot and can't wait for my next portrait session.

Wednesday night when I got home from class C and the girls took me out to dinner. On our way to dinner they sang to me,  "Everything" by Michael Buble. It was so sweet. I cried. It's such a beautiful song.

Today one of my new friends and fellow photographers emailed me a photo she took of me during class. I showed it to the girls.

Me: "Look this is a picture of me at my class. This is my teacher and she is taking pictures of a family."

CK: "Is she showing you what to do?"

Me: "Yes."

CK: "So, you weren't paying attention then?"

SMART ASS kid

Last Day In Tahoe

We are all very sad to leave, but we must re-join the real world at some point. We actually stayed one extra day.

We made one last trip to the lake today (for this trip). C and MB had to do their jump off the pier. They do it every year. This year the lake level is so low they actually couldn't jump. Not deep enough. They settled for falling back off the pier ladder instead of jumping. It was also really cold! Five 13 year old girls cheered them on from the beach. Our four girls just watched in astonishment.

Tomorrow we go home. We will be back to Tahoe before the end of Summer. At least the girls and I will be.

Hike to White Cloud Falls

For our hike this year we went to White Cloud Falls. Beautiful views, gorgeous water falls, and a great hike.

Again, all the girls did fantastic. O is still our little billy goat. She doesn't stop, doesn't complain, just keeps on hiking. Usually at the front of 

the line. TB had it made. She was able to ride the hike again this year instead of hike it.

These are some of my favorite images from the hike, including two pooped out girls at the end. There were actually 4 pooped out girls, but I only have pics of my two.

Relaxing by The Lake

We have been relaxing in Tahoe since Monday. We are here on our 5th annual Tahoe vacation with the B family. It is so much fun watching the girls grow up at the lake year after year. What wonderful memories.

The girls all play so well together. This is the first year TB is able to play with the big girls. She was scooching around on her tush last year. This year she not only walked all the way down to the lake but walked straight into the water. As you can see, O enjoyed relaxing in the beach chair. What a little beach bunny.

New Walkway

We recently had a flagstone walkway put in. I'm finally getting a chance to share the pics. We love it. It will especially be nice in the winter when the grass is wet and muddy.

We also had the strip of lawn on the left side of the garage removed. There is now a nice concrete strip there. This widens our driveway and we can fit three cars or C puts his truck there and I can get in and out of the garage easily. We love it. Our gardener did a great job on both.

Father's Day

I know, I'm a few days late. Such is life in our house. We actually celebrated Father's Day on Saturday. C had the day off. He asked for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off, but they only gave him Saturday. What do you do with one day! You enjoy that one day. That's what you do. 

On Saturday after dinner we walked down to our "lake." It's really a percolation pond, but I call it our lake. People water ski on there. These pictures are from that walk.

Sunday morning, C made breakfast. Some people make breakfast in bed for their husbands, the father of their children. Not in our house. We were going to go out, but the girls and I needed to get ready for Tahoe.

Once C went to work the girls and I left for Sacramento. We spent the night and left for Tahoe Monday morning.

We are now in Tahoe. Our annual Tahoe vacation with the B family. The girls are all getting so big. It's great to see them together at the Lake every summer. I'll start posting those pics later.

It's Official - It's Summer Vacation!

CK has been out of school for a week, but today was O's last day of school. We are now officially on Summer vacation! YEAH!

I know by the beginning of August I'll be asking when school starts, but for now we're looking forward to lazy Summer days at home, camping, the beach, Tahoe, Girl Scout Day Camp, and getting together with family and friends.

Next week is our first Summer get-away...Tahoe! We are all looking forward to a few relaxing days by the lake!

Tell The World

Sunday afternoon the girls and I attended The Choral Project concert, Tell The World. It was a superb concert of wonderful Gospel music.

My mom is in the choir and Papa records them. I haven't been to one of their concerts since the girls were born. I miss it. I went to every concert when C was in the choir with my mom.

This was the girls first Choral Project concert and they loved it. It was such wonderful spiritual upbeat music. It really kept them entertained. All though O did fall asleep. I don't know how anyone can fall asleep during a Gospel concert, but O managed to do it wonderfully. What a talent she has.

During intermission and after the concert the girls had their programs autographed by the wonderfully talented soloists and, of course, Nonna and Papa. That was CK's favorite part. O liked the singing the best.

This concert will be released to CD. I'm going to pre-order one for us. It will be a wonderful memento for the girls. They will be able to listen to this wonderful music anytime they want.

Outside

CK:  "Mommy, when are we going to go outside next?"

Me:  "What do you mean? You can go outside anytime you want. We go outside all the time. We'll be outside tomorrow."

CK:  "I mean outside, so I can wear my new tennis shoes."

Me: "OH! You mean a trip to the park or something."

CK: "Yea." with a smile on her face.

Eventually I get it. Sometimes it takes me longer than others.

"I don't know how to read!"

Monday Afternoon:

O: "Mama, I'm bored."

Me: "Why don't you go and get a book to read."

O: "I don't know how to read!"

Me: "Are you kidding me? You just read every word on Super Why, before the show said the word."

O: no comment

I then printed a learning to read book from one of my favorite educational websites (www.starfall.com) "Zac the Rat." I helped O read it. I needed to help her with a few words, but she pretty much read it. I still don't think she is convinced she can read. I don't know what other proof she needs! For crying out loud!

This morning when I was dropping off O at school I was telling her teachers "You probably know this, but O can read. She doesn't think she can read, but she can."

One of her teachers, Ms M, said she was going to talk to me about that. She agreed. It happens often they said. O especially is a perfectionist and gets very upset when she can't do something (anything) perfect. I mean upset, crying, tantrum...the whole thing and not just for not reading or writing a letter.

Ms M was then telling me how they are teaching the kids (Pre-K) sight words. They put the word the on the board and asked the kids what the word was. All the children sat and looked at each other, looked at the word, the teacher. No one knows what the word is. O then pipes up "THE!" Drawing the word out very emphatically, as if to say DUH, what are you stupid.

But, she doesn't know how to read. Oh no.

Mother's Day...a little late

Sorry, I'm a little behind on my blog. I've been SO busy with the end of school. I can't wait until Summer vacation! 4 days for CK and 5 days for O! But, who's counting. 

Since I'm so behind and I have a minute I'm going to tell you all about my wonderful Mother's Day weekend.

It started on Saturday with a Girl Scout Mother-Daughter Box Social. My mom was able to join us. We did crafts, sang songs, and had a picnic lunch. There was even a talent portion and my very own CK played the piano. She did an outstanding job! Not one mistake. She played her song in front of about 30 people and she had to go first! I was so proud of her.

After the box social C was able to join us for an afternoon symphony concert in the park. Papa was playing and we didn't want to miss it. C, for some reason, had the night off. Can't remember now why, but I have learned not to ask why. You take weekend days off when you can get them! They are few and far between.

After Papa's wonderful concert we had a family dinner out. Just the four of us. We went to

 our favorite restaurant and walked around Santana Row. It was such a treat to be able to do this on a Saturday night.

On Mother's Day we had brunch at my brother and sister-in-laws house. C then went to work. The girls and I took a ride with my mom to Monterey. We had a wonderful afternoon shopping on Fisherman's Wharf. The girls even got to hold a parrot. What a treat. They both loved it, as you can see from the pictures.

Papa joined us for dinner after recording a concert. We had a wonderful dinner overlooking Monterey Bay. The girls had a dinner show watching the Seals and Seagulls from their window seat. What a beautiful day. What a special weekend.