California 2011

Where does the time go?!?

Seems like I just got back from California, and was having a really hard time getting back on schedule, but it's really already been 3 weeks! Yikes! (addendum: WAS 3 weeks, when I first started writing...coming up in 4 now...since we've been so busy house hunting, I didn't get to finish this!)

I had a great time, and really needed to be 'home' and reconnecting with friends and family. Tho I love my new life in SC, it's hard being away from your network of friends and what has been your entire reality for so long. I tell ya, I never felt more popular than since I moved away! hahaha...

I had a very busy, but FUN schedule!

As per usual, I got my bags and rental car, and headed straight for the beach! :) The weather in SC during the Summer is miserable, and to see blue skies, but cool temps just makes me giddy!!

I went to Balboa penninsula, and took some pics, but not for long. I headed to my friend Frankie's in Laguna. We walked the beach and caught up over some frozen yogurt.

Then to Danielle and Malcolm's where I would be staying. They took me out for Mexican food, and I was in heaven!! :)

The next day I was up and running..breakfast with my Starbucks friends, off to Redondo to see Sharon and Jerry with Bonnie, then back to OC for a Fair preview!

Friday morning was the infamous 'bike to get coffee' episode, where I fell into the wall, and spilled coffee all over myself, undoubtedly giving some commuter a great laughing start to their day! LOL funny!

Then out to Riverside to get Rick from the train station, because of course it was "Carmageddon" that weekend! We caught up, saw his parents, and got a little nap in (on cloud beds) before our Licorice Pizza reunion! So much fun! Lots of old friends showed up! We laughed A LOT!! So great to see everyone.

I can't believe I stayed out until 1:30, and I was whining! hahahaha Guess I got old at some point.

The next day was back on the road to San Diego! I spanned 4 counties this trip!

Met with friends the Curran's for lunch in Oceanside, and more catching up! I hadn't met their (beautiful) kids yet!

Had some photo fun with Kim, (she took this rather flattering photo of me) and was off again to see Flicka and family in Escondido!

                         

 

Spent some time hanging out there, laughing, taking pics, and eating a fabulous meal Tom cooked for us, before heading out to Julie's for the night.

 

Had fun at Julie's with the kids and their friends in the party kitchen, telling stories and watching Adam's post wisdom teeth-pulling video! HA!

I always sleep SO good at Julie's house. I don't know what it is... but the futon and the open window, combined with the sheer exhaustion, and being with family all must add up....zzzzzzzzzz :):):)

Next morning with Julie and Greg, then back up to OC for a nap, early dinner and the OC Fair!

Went with Malcolm, Danielle, Catie, and Laura to meet up with sister Joanna!

Got some photos, rode some kid rides with Catie, and cruised the exhibits. Got to see Danielle get another ribbon for her baking!

Monday was my last full day, and after a nice morning walk, and easy morning, Danielle and I met with our former Spanish teacher Andrea Kustin-Mager for lunch in Laguna. We had a lovely afternoon catching up, and laughing over great food. When that was done, I let out a big exhale, as all my commitments were done! I had so much fun seeing everyone, and still had more to see that night, but my travels were over.

That evening, Phil and Tracy came over, then Leslie and Dennis, and our great old friend Curtis!! So nice to see everyone! Malcolm grilled some awesome Mexican fare, and we all ate outside and then had some Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake!! How cool is that?! :)

Aren't you just tired reading all of this?!?! lol  This is definitely one of those "I need a vacation after my vacation" times.

Even so, what a great trip, awesome weather, awesome friends, awesome family, awesome memories!

I have to say, flying Southwest was just fine, and there's nothing like flying out of smaller, closer, airports. Orange County and Charleston were easy to get through security, and easy to get in and out of.

Thanks to everyone who made my vacation so wonderful!

I love you all!

XOXO

Houses, baby (photos), and vacation!

So much going on, I really wanted to post before I leave for California.

I'm so excited to be coming home for a visit!  I can't wait to see many of your faces, and re-connect with what will always be 'home' for me.
I'm sorry if there are some friends/family I won't be able to see, but I'm excited to see some I haven't seen at all since I've moved.

OK, so last I wrote about doing the newborn shoot. It went really well!  My friend Amanda loaned me all the gear I would need, and that made it so easy.  The tricky part is trying to mold, move, and bend a new little baby!
I know they don't break, but when they're not yours, and well, frankly, they don't WANT to be in the fetal position, it's a little hard. hahahaha!
This little sweetie was not a big fan of the fetal position, but she is adorable nonetheless, and it was my pleasure to meet her. :)

Of course, she was wide awake when we started...of course every OTHER day she was asleep by now... lol

But we soon got her sleeping, and then we had fun.

What a sweet little baby.  I learned a lot, and think it went pretty well for my first time. :)
This one is my favorite tho, classic.

I have 2 more children sessions now coming up, and possibly another newborn session in Jan. I may have to start buying some gear. 


The house hunt is on, and last night Chris and I went out for our first looks with our Real Estate agent!  It was good for us to see in person what we liked online..we knew they would be different, but some were REALLY different. (not in a good way, lol)
We found 1 that will be on the short list...and if it had a garage, we probably would have made an offer! ha!  We just started tho, and if that one is meant for us, we will have it. For right now, we are still looking. Very exciting times!

I got home last night to find another photo sale from my etsy shop! I just get so thrilled when someone buys one of my photos! It's a good feeling.

We are in Full Summer swing here. 90+ everyday, thunderstorms possible or real everyday.
Life is good, and it will be even better next week when I get to CA, and the cooler coastal, NON humid weather! :)

OOh!
Update on Tom:  He is doing much better. Healing from his bypass surgery, and from his unexpected bloody nose episodes! ugh. It's not always easy for this man.  Keep on sending those healing prayers! :) Thanks.  He'll be back working before we know it. 

Love and blessings.

Summer Vacation!

Last weekend Chris and I went to Myrtle Beach for a little vacation! His brother rented a house for the whole family to get together. 5 bedrooms, 3 baths for 12 people! We had 19 when Chris' Uncle, Aunt, and cousins came over! :) It was FUN! It was also our first official vacation together!

We stayed at a place called Ocean Lakes Campgrounds and it is HUGE! 310 acres of houses, RV spaces, camping, and people! (we were in C4 see map...one block from the beach) They have an arcade, a small miniature golf course, a big pool and (the coolest) kiddie pool, horseshoes, basketball, shuffleboard, etc, etc... Tons of stuff to do, when it's not a billion degrees outside, and it was a billion degrees outside. (it felt like it) And HUMID. I have never felt that much humidity ever. Just being outside for a couple of minutes my feet were wet in my flops!

Anyway, it was hot, but we were at the beach. :)

I was really excited to see what the beach was like on the East Coast, and there are a few differences.


1. The dunes and dune fences. The dune fences are so cool, and I loved taking pictures of them. They were the main subjects of my pictures.  (I did a whole series of dune shots you can see on my Flickr page)

2. Small waves, warmer and shallower water. I think it's the continental shelf, but you can walk out quite a ways before having to swim, unlike in CA, but not as far out as Hawaii.

3. More shells on the shore. You know how in CA as the tide goes out you can find the sand crabs by the V's in the sand? Well here, there are air holes, and if you dig, you find little bean clams! They're alive and have little mollusks in there, and if you set it down, you'll see it scoot itself back down into the sand! It's fun! I found a video on YouTube if you want to see it.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V8xm_6ht_I&feature=related

4. People go down early and set up canopies and chairs. Not just umbrellas like I'm used to, but good size canopies.

Now at this place, the golf cart is KING. Everyone has at least one. We rented 2. We parked some of our cars in overflow parking, and from then on, it was walk or cart! We had so much fun out in these carts!

It was a fun way to see the whole grounds, and cool down with the wind in your face! Some people own some over the top golf carts, and we could see some of these during the nightly teenager golf cart 'cruzin' up and down Ocean Blvd! HAHAHA! it was so funny!! from about 7:30 pm til 11:00 pm (curfew) a constant parade (hundreds!!) of golf carts full of kids holding out their hands for 'five' and teenagers being 'seen'. One night Chris and I tried to get in it, but by the time we found the end of the line, (far away) we sat, thought better of the whole thing, and took off. So funny.

I loved getting up early with my camera and jumping in a golf cart to go looking for places to take pictures. Then sometimes Chris and I would go out alone or with others to just cruise around. It was nice at sunset too.

So we hung out with family, ate, went down to the water, swam, picked up shells, played poker, went to the arcade, cruised, took pics, and had a nice relaxing time until we left on Tuesday.

Chris had the rest of the week off, and I was back to work on Weds. It was a lovely, and I'm so thankful to Chris' brother and family for such a fun time!

(ugh, I know this is a terrible pic of me, but wanted you to see our group!)

I hope you are all having a nice Summer, and tho I hear SoCal had a short heatwave, I hear it's quite cool at the moment, and I would like to say :P

I still hope to come back for next Summer and the Fair. Go say Hi to the Fair for me!

XOXO! Kelly