Dinner with Friends!

We joined some wonderful friends for the holidays to have some delicious food.  We ate and we talked the night away and we all had such an awesome time!  The only bummer was that I had to cut the evening shorter than I would have liked because I had been majorly sick a few weeks back and I still had that horrible...HORRIBLE cough that just always seems to be the last thing to go.  

Toni we had such a wonderful time!  Thank you so much for opening your beautiful place for us all to enjoy! Looking forward to the next time!

 

    

    

Went to visit Santa...

Finally took the kids to get their picture taken with Santa! We took Samantha as well with us because my niece Katy and her hubby JC had to finish their holidy shopping.  We had a wonderful time at the mall, taking pictures, having lunch and getting some ice cream for desert. 

Wising everyone a wonderful Merry Christmas and a Terrific New Years 2008!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday this year...

We had 2 Thanksgiving celebrations this year because we got to see my brother-in-law Patrick and his beautiful girlfriend Shay who live in New York. The came out to visit with us for a few days before the actual holiday and then spend time with Shay's family as well. We hadn't seen them in a couple of years, we had missed them very much (especially Kaitlin and Nathan) it was so nice spending time with them. We fixed a ham with all the fixin's and I was so happy that Toni was able to join us for dinner and spend time with us as well. (Thanks Toni) :)

For Thanksgiving Day - Phil and I cooked all day with the help of my parents. We had about 18 family members join us. We had a HUGE Turkey with all the trimmings and had a wonderful time. We ate so much but we couldn't help it...it was sooooo delish.

My sister in law Marissa and my sister Maria 

Katy (4 1/2 weeks pregnant) Marissa and I 

Gran, Gramps, Kaitlin and Nathan

The gals...Jazmin, Katy, Marissa, Vicky and Miriam

I just have to say I am so grateful for the family and friends that I have in my life...I couldn't imagine my life without you all in it. Love you very much.

Student of the Month Award goes to...

KAITLIN SHEARER!!!

Wow...she has received one every year since Kindergarten - so this makes it her 6th one in a row for 5th grade. We are so proud of Kaitlin she has done such a wonderful job in school.

Aneli - one of her best friends got Student of the Month in her class as well.

A picture with the New Principal of McKinley Elementary this year Ms. Bobbie Kavanaugh!

Proud Grandparents who came to cheer Kaitlin on when they called her name.

Halloween 2007

We had such a wonderful time on Halloween this year! First of all...this was the 1st year I dressed up for Halloween in a long, long time. Phil and Toni picked out the costume and Toni bought me the wig.

The best part of it all was the kids LOVED it so that made it all worth it. So we finally have a picture of the whole family dressed up for Halloween...yippie!!

First we walked a few blocks up in th Burbank Hills and got a bunch of candy...the kids were happy...lol. We had a quick dinner @ Burger King. Then we met up with Ada and her family and walked around in the Toluca Lake area and we had a wonderful time. We had never been there before and the kids had a BLAST! Last but not least, we went to Sherman Oaks down the street from where Toni lives and went to "Boney Island" where we've gone for the past 3 years and it was a BLAST!! Thank goodness we went because it was the last year this guy was going to be putting on his display - he did for 10 years.

 

 

 

Self Portraits...

I realized the other day that I hadn't taken any pictures of myself lately (always the case when you're the one behind the camera...lol) so I had a few minutes yesterday and took a few. Let me know what you think...

My Beautiful Children...

I took these pictures a few months back but had to post them on my blog because I just loved them so much...

We had a mini-photoshoot for Kaitlin's 10th B-Day invitation and this was the one that we picked.

And Nathan said "Mommy aren't you gonna take my picture"...lol...so I did.

I'm the worst blogger...YEESH!!

I have the best intentions of keeping up with my blog and then "Life" takes a hold of ya and takes ya for a lonnnnnnng ride...lol. I have really missed my blog...so I will really try to keep it updated more often...(crossing my fingers).

I've been extremely busy these past...um...8 months since my last post...yeesh...8 MONTHS... WOW...I can't believe that much time has passed by. Anyway, I've been very busy and putting most of...if not ALL my attention on...Photography. It has totally consumed me and about 6 months ago I made an exciting decision...I want to be a full time photographer. It just feels so right...FINALLY...something that feels so wonderful and so RIGHT! I have always loved taking pictures since I could remember... but now it's totally different...it has become a passion. I just LOVE being behind the camera and capturing those "Special moments in people's lives". I had my first paying gig (a freinds referral) just a few months ago and had a wonderful time doing it. I'm hoping within the year (or sooner) to have my website up and running. I am so inspired and soooooooo very excited!!!! I'll keep ya'll posted - Wish me luck! :)

Also, Phil and I switched from PC to Macs last May and we haven't looked back. We have been extremely happy with our new computers. I got the 24" iMac and I absolutely LOVE IT and Phil got the MacBook Pro Laptop and it's his new best friend...lol. We had to buy all new software but it was totally worth it. I had been on PC's all my life and thought I was going to have a much harder time with the learning curve and I didn't - it was really easy to make the switch. My mom even made the switch and loves her 20" iMac as well.

Here's a picture that he took of me on his camera last May. I had come back from a weekend trip with the girls and Phil had surprised me. He had transferred everything from the old computer and had added all the new software as well. Boy I was doing the happy dance...WOO HOO!!! Don't I look happy...lol! Love you Babe!!

I've also been learning Photoshop CS2 and been taking tutorials on-line (WOW what a huge program) but can I just tell you that it's one of my favorite programs...I LOVE IT!

Last subject for the night...I promise...LOL. Phil and I had the pleasure of performing in the very first John Burroughs High School Choir- Alumni Pop Show last September 8th. We had the BEST time seeing old H.S. friends that we hadn't seen in over 20 years. We had to rehearse (just like in HS) gosh that brought back so many wonderful memories. We just received a copy of the Show on DVD and after watching it...let me tell ya - we put on a Darn good show. And because of the show we got in contact with a long time friend who we hadn't seen in over 15 years and her name is Jenny Mathious. She was so special to us and we all lost contact with her and we are ALL just so happy to have her in our lives once again. We love you Jenny and I promise to call you and get-together - okay! Here's a picture of Jenny and I.

And here are a couple of pictures of the show...


Teri, Roz, Karol and I - right before going on stage to sing "Meeting in the Ladies Room" By Klymaxx. It was a huge hit in 1986...lol.









Phil worked on his song for a couple of weeks. He learned all of the background parts and recorded and video taped all the parts separately and the final product was AMAZING!!! At the show he sang live while the background vocals were pre-recorded.









And this is the reason we ALL came back to do the show...Mrs. Mary Rago. She was the Choir Director for many, many years, she was and still is such a Special and wonderful teacher that truly inspired us all. We dedicated the show in honor of her because she retired the previous year.

Well, there ya have it. I told ya I've been busy...but I know that's no excuse..lol. I promise to start posting more often and I will also be busy uploading pictures to share as well. Bye for now! :)