Beach Cottages, Boogie Boards, and Crab Legs....

My kind of vacation! Just the four of us! It was so weird to be on a family vacation without my Justin... I felt like a little kid when it's just me, Chase, and my parents. But we had tons of fun and it was great to spend time together.

Highligts of the Trip included:

~ Staying in an amazing, huge, Cottage at the "Beach Cottages"

~Breakfast at Konos!!

~Long, long, super long walks on the beach ( my parents are totally into this)

~Dinner on the patio of our Cottage enjoying a fresh clams, mussels, and steak!

~Chase taking his first oyster shooter!! I can pretty much talk him in to anything.. it's so fun!

~Bike riding from Mission Beach to La Jolla

~Shopping on the Boardwalk

Walking Pacific Beach in the morning......

~Trip to Sea World

~ Hanging out at the Beach

All you can eat crab legs.....

~Baby Olafs on the Boardwalk

Fun, Fun, Fun and relaxing! If only it was acceptable to take week long vacations every month!

Read more...

Another Beautiful Wedding Captured ...

Wow. all I can say is Justin's training with Still Life Studios has paid off! I have selected some of my favorite images from the Wedding he shot at Seville.

Read more...

No Doubt Concert

Can I just tell you... how much I love this band!!! I was thrilled when I heard they would be touring again and creating a new album. So... we jumped at getting tickets... and the concert date fell two days after Chase's Graduation so we took him as a gift from us. We had great seats... ( the only bummer thing was that it was at Cricket Pavilion ... not my favorite venue) but still it was No Doubt- so it didn't matter.

The band was incredible... hard to believe it had been 5 Years since they'd been together... they did sing a new track which I'm assuming will be on their next album called " Stand and Deliver"... very exciting.....

Read more...

Chase's Graduation Celebration Weekend!

I keep saying this over and over again, but I just can't help it... I can't believe my little stinkerbell is a high school graduate, heck I still can't believe he's old enough to drive a car... I guess that what happens when I moved out 10 years ago... Chase grew up!

This particular month was just unbelievably busy, but I'm so thankful I was able to take the weekend off to spend with my family.

The celebration begin with a good ole CG Graduation at Cougar Stadium. And the coolest part about this night was the weather... it was overcast and sprinkling all day but the school decided to go ahead and chance and kept the Graduation outside.

Right as the Graduates begin waking on to the field it started raining. And Chase, as Student Body President lead his classmates on to the field rain and all!

Just was the first opening firework blast off, mom and dad were introduced as the proud parents of Chase Norris!! This is the proud moment when dad yells out "that's my boy!"

At that exact moment the rain stop falling and Chase walked up the podium and delivered an incredible Graduation Speech to his class...

After his speech the rain begins to fall again.....

and the class of 2009 is announced as Graduates!!!

Complete with a balloon release and fireworks display!!

Chase was in charge of the streamer cannons....

I love the photo (above) it's as if Chase has that "what do I do next" look???

And the answer is simple Chase... you hug your sis!!

and your dad....

and your mom!!!

We love you Stinkerbell and are so proud of all of your accomplishments, you really did make the most of your high school years- which means you make the most of the rest of your life!!

PART TWO: THE PARTY!!!

Mom and I had a blast planning Chase's Graduation Party!! There's no doubt about it.. Chase is definitely "Going Places"!!! So only the best kind of party would do.....

Complete with custom invites...thanks to Justin!

Custom Grad Cake to match the theme of course!!

and my favorite part... all the fun Dr. Seuss inspired decor!!

an interactive candy station.......

Tons of wild and weird decorations... including custom floral centerpieces ( thanks to mom!), red linens, about 50 hanging lanterns, and huge inflatable movie screen, poker table, and tons of candles... so fun- let's do it again!!!

An overall super fun time.. and we all know by now- no party is complete without Bag-o!!!

Tom Valenzula, Tom Hancock, and Dad ~Casa Grande Cougars...circa 1972!?!

Me and Aimee Sloan ~Casa Grande Cougars..circa 1999!!!

Casa Grande Cougars Class of 2009!!!!

Good times Chase... good times... now off to ASU~ oh the places you will go! Love you!!

Read more...

May Birthdays for My Favorite Gals:

Well, not sure how this happened but I did see all my favorite girls (well... kind of... atleast within the same week) on their birthdays... but for some reason.. I don't have any photos from these events. So instead I picked some of my all time favorite head shots.....

So let me just say....

Happy Birthday Mom.......

Happy Birthday Granny.....

and Happy Birthday Aimee....

I love you!

Read more...

Mo Parson, Native New Yorker, New Tattoo... I just love her!

Happy Happy 30th Birthday to Mo! We were able to join Mo and Tom and their crew at Native New Yorker to celebrate Mo's 30th Birthday with her:)

Read more...

Saki Bombers

So... we have now lived in "Anderson Springs" for about 5 1/2 years.... and I have to say even though we bought a "condo"... and sometimes we wish we had a bigger place... we really do live in a cool area.

Awesome lake, goregous sunsets, cute baby ducks, charming little turtles... and really cool resturants and stores in walking distance... are favorites being Coffee Rush, Valle Luna, Pita Jungle, Sprouts to name a few... however one night we decided to try one of our "newer discoveries: "Sushi and Cocktails" (atleast I think that's the name)

Anyways the sushi is great and the saki bombers are even better. And the best part is the tableside entertainment when you dine on the patio:

Read more...