A "Twilight" Birthday

November 20th was the night of a super fun party with about a dozen of my girlfriends. Not only were we celebrating 3 birthdays, but it was planned on the eve of the release of the movie "Twilight". Last summer, I got hooked into a group of women all reading the "Twilight" series of books. There are 4 books in all. I read them all in 8 days, couldn't put them down. It helped that we were reading and discussing them along the way, made it much more fun. Discovering they were releasing a movie this winter, we made a pact to go see it as a group.

"Bite Me"... yes, it's a vampire cake (red velvet inside!) if you don't get it, understand that it's part of the story.

Sybil, Leigh and Stephanie - all with November birthdays celebrated that night. Here's the really wild part - we went to see the movie that night - the MIDNIGHT show! I've never done that in my life... it was crazy, but fun. Yes, I was tired the next day!
Marcia and Susie hosted this event, and Sybil (right) is the birthday girl that I know the best of the 3 guests of honor.

I made this mirror for Sybil, but forgot to take a photo of it, so she did it that next week. Most people see a 'groovy flower' design, it's actually the shapes created by rotating an "S" around all 4 sides. It's one of my woodburned/painted pieces. I was happy she liked it!

Normal Life

My friend Kelly said, "go ahead and take photos" even if the family is just doing 'normal' stuff - so here are a few.....

Moka hangs out by me a LOT, so she ends up on the other side of my camera a lot as well!
David went up on the roof in mid November during one of the many sunny weekends to get the Christmas lights put up and avoid doing it in the rain. HOWEVER... we refuse to plug our lights in until after Thanksgiving. Not only the retail world jumps the gun on holiday decorating, but so many people in our area had lights up before Halloween, and lots more before Thanksgiving. I personally think that is WRONG!

Ryker working in the yard... all the trees are beautiful, but they also produce a crazy amount of leaves. Note: it's been a few weeks since this photo and we still have leaves falling!

Have You Ever....?

Have you ever?
Have you ever done anything on this list?

I got this from Kelly's blog, and since I left my camera in Vegas (David is bringing it home today) I can't update with all our fun photos yet... here we go! If you feel like it, join the fun and highlight the things that you've done on your own list or comment on some similarities or differences to my list. I'll make the highlighted things I have done in a purple text.



1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (okay, it was 3rd grade & I did the base drum...)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (sounds familiar, but could have been a movie)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (attempted, but not edible!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (how about a baby kangaroo? - ok, didn't 'hold' it, but saw it being born!)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (in park, or over the fence?)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (does text language count?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David (I have a similar one - better)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (have you seen 'shrek-Tina'?)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (only snorkel - very scary!)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (that's a personal question)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (they won't let me - always too small)
65. Gone sky diving (no, thank you)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter (does seaplane count?)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (okay, not really)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (mo-ped count?)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (what generation are you from?)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Where's the Action?

In the time that I have been a "blogger" I have never posted just journaling - I've always used this forum as a mini-scrapbook. The last couple months were so busy with lots of fun events for photo opportunities, I was frequently posting to my blog. It's been quiet the last 10 days or so.

This is not to say we aren't doing things, I guess they are all just "normal" activities. Should I try to get photos of Jordan on a giant soccer field, dashing around an indoor arena or sprinting across the basketball court in poor lighting? Should I embarrass Marina by snapping photos of her through the studio viewing windows while she's at dance, or perhaps while she's laying across her bed doing homework in her incredibly messy room? How about Ryker coming/going from the pool at one of his many swim workouts, upstairs playing crazy video games or sitting on the couch watching movies with his girlfriend?

The dogs are tired of my attempts to capture their personalities on film (is it even film? guess not - it's all digital now...) so hold on for a couple weeks. The holidays are fast approaching. We travel to Las Vegas on the 25th for a soccer tournament and a family Thanksgiving. If anything fun happens, or I get creative with my camera prior to that - you'll see it here!

Halloween Night '08

Ryker as "The Joker"

(bummer it's blurry)
Jzo as "Duct Tape Man"
(his own idea/creation.)

At the Foley's - Nik, Carl (another Joker), Jordan & Noah

Ready to go trick-or-treating.

"Hurry Mom!"

Marina had gone to that big party the night before, so she and a small group of friends went to the high school football game, and then hung out at Lauren's house. The Cats didn't come out again.

Moka

Before.....

...After!

Poor Moka went to the groomers today. This only happens a few times a year, as it's pretty much torture in her mind. She'd become pretty matted (she has "hair" not fur.. and it doesn't shed out, so it mats really easily), and overgrown, so she is now groomed shorted than she's ever been! I like her Halloween ribbons, but not sure she does. She also got a blueberry facial - the groomer's October special. She smells delicious! Tomorrow is her 2nd Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Moka! We love you!

Our Haunted Home

Tina & David

Wishing you a haunting night!

Kitties with clean teeth!

Natalie & Marina... "Meow"

Off to a party last night!