{1.29.09}

reflecting in mud puddles

{1.27.09}

birthday love

my new favorite bag, a handmade birthday goodie from my mother.

{1.26.09}

 in love

with my new nikon d60

{1.25.09}

surprise

yesterday while my mother and i shopped, unbeknownst to me, adam, my father and close friends were home planning a surprise party for me.

and so they waited...

and waited...

until we finally arrived tired and ready for a glass of wine before going out to my "fake" birthday dinner at pine tavern.

i was completely surprised!!! also, very impressed with adam that i didn't see any of the food or libations he had stashed throughout the house and freezer. we had such a good time we didn't take any photos of the evening. bumma.

{1.23.09}

happy all-about-me day

and it was truly happy! i couldn't have asked for a better birthday. i was showered with loving emails, phone calls, text and facebook messages & gorgeous flowers!!! i want to thank everyone for making my day a little brighter as i got a little older - you all rock, totally!

last night my most handsome men took me out to dinner at the new canyon's location. the food was amazing and we had the best family time together. at home, adam had me close my eyes while he brought out a plate with one single candle in one single twinkie. See, for those who don't know, i heart twinkies...a lot. after twinkies we played our new family game, whoonu, followed by snuggly time on the couch.

a few of my favorite gifts...

gift #1: sir winston - he's a true love and gives me the best kisses without tongue.

gift #2: inside the birthday card from adam was a photo of a camera with the writing:

decisions, decisions...

happy researching to me!!!!

{1.22.09}

birthday quote

"i could not, at my age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. life was meant to be lived! curiosity must be kept alive." --eleanor roosevelt

{1.21.09}

pausing on 34

tomorrow i turn
thirty-five, oh my, oh me
how did that happen?

wish i could pause on
thirty-four for just a while
more, that is my wish.

a wish for more time,
and days to appreciate
being thirty-four.

{1.17.09}

art?

in keeping one of my new year's resolutions,
today i painted with watercolors for the first time.
my rendition of chinese brush painting:

{1.12.09}

lucky kiss

yesterday julie, phil & paige came over for a fun afternoon walk in the canyon and dinner after. while the boys played wii golf, julie and i exchanged gifts (i love my heart, thanks jules), looked through brenner's baby albums and tried (four takes later) to capture paige giving winston kisses.

replay is a must!

Paige kisses Winston from Mel on Vimeo.

{1.11.09}

a celebration

for lauren passing the oregon state tax preparer's exam.

we're all so proud of you!!

guess who was the only wine drinker?

{1.6.09}

it's a haiku update

two miscarriages
both mysterious and sad
onward with hormones.

a box from smallthings
a blue ring with two birdies
now can't live without.

we love sir winston
a delightful puppy but
fond of pointy boots.

sweet old hamster george
god rest his soul from below
no more seeds or ball.

emergency room
and vicodin for adam
kidney stones no more.

sugar free candy
and I do not mix kindly
the results are gross.

happy hour date
is just around the corner
wine and greens for me.

lauren's party is
coming together but oh
the colors must go.