Photography Subjects

Back in April I took Photography 101 at the Leisure Learning.  We received our spiffy digital SLR camera a year ago and I feel like I know so little about how to take full advantage of how to use it.  Part of it is that I want to get a cool big lens to take better close up pictures.  But, part of it is that I think I need to practice more.  But, that requires time and diligence, like everything else.  

Here are my subjects and some photos with my manual setting.  Clearly I need to continue practicing.  If you look beyond the high over exposure, you will see my adorable cuties, Isa and Diego.  

PS.  Isa is wearing a blue bow because she insisted that the dress was blue and that a blue bow was in order.  The funniest part was she got so many compliments at church that morning on her PURPLE dress that by the end she conceded that her dress was not in fact blue.

Pascua 2009

Happy Easter!  We had a great family-filled weekend in San Antonio.  We started our weekend by going over to a friend's house for an Easter egg hunt.  Isabella and Reese had a great time finding eggs, re-hiding them and finding them again.  Meanwhile, Diego would sit for good whiles at a time entertained with  just one egg.  Matson on the other hand couldn't sit still and loved going for the dirt or anything that wasn't good to put in his mouth.  Friday evening we drove to SA and arrived to freshly made pound cake that my mom made.  Can we say yum?  

Saturday morning I was given one of my favorite treats - time alone with a book, a cup of coffee and a comfy chair.  Nani took Isa to the park while Diego napped.  Bret went golfing with his dad.  If you haven't read it yet, I recommend you read Nap Time is the New Happy Hour.  It's hysterical.  

Saturday afternoon we went to the Easter egg hunt at my parents' church, Holy Spirit.  It was a cold, drizzly, gloomy day, but the kids had so much fun.  The hunt was well organized into various age groups.  Isa was a pro this year.  Uncle Christian had a blast as well.  After the egg hunt, there was a race involving spoons and eggs that you pushed on the ground.  Christian called it mini-golf.  The best was saved for last - pinatas.  Isa loved hitting the pinata and has become quite proficient at it after so many parties lately.  After all the candy gorging, we went to the gym to work out.  I don't think the kids really worked out though because when I went to pick them up from the Child Center, they were comatose in front of the TV watching Enchanted.  So much for getting exercise in!

That evening my mom made a scrumptious meal of pesto shrimp pasta, spinach salad, and flan. Abuelito-tito Juan, Tia Concha (my dad's sister who came in from Mx City), Tia Fia, her sweet boyfriend, Nehman,  and Uncle Christian all came over to enjoy dinner.  We had a great time hearing my Dad's ridiculous jokes and playing cards after dinner.  

Easter Sunday we celebrated the resurrection of Christ by going to Mass and then going to Abuelito-tito Juan's for a non-traditional Easter meal of brisket, delicious guacamole and other delicious goodies.  Uncle Christian provided the entertainment by setting up a pinata that he made from platic cups.  Mee-maw, Grandpa, Uncle David and Bret's sister, Susan and her dog Puck all joined us for the afternoon festivities as well.  A good time was had by all.  

Hit the ground running!

We came back from our ski/visiting gparents trip to Utah and hit the ground running.  It was Spring Break, so we filled our days with fun-filled outings.  All of which included animals.  Apparently if you live in H-town, you need to pretend you're not city folk on your days off.  

Monday we went to the RODEO!  We scored some free passes, free parking passes and a free tour to the rodeo!  We went to the livestock part and even saw two calfs being born.  New life is always amazing - such a miracle.  We went with two of my good friends, Hilary and Kim and their offspring.  The older kiddos had a great time running around holding hands, checking out chicks, and running AWAY from us.  Lucas had already become a pro rodeo goer, so he was excited to show Reese & Isa the tractors.  The kids had a blast climbing all over the place on the tractors and pretending to be driving on a farm.  Sadly for them, their parents don't know the first thing about running a farm.  Diego, Matson and Jonah were good sports and basically stayed in their strollers the entire outing without making much of a peep!

Tuesday I had to work, so the kids didn't get an exciting outing.

Wednesday we went to the zoo.  A word of advice:  DO NOT, I repeat, do not go to the zoo during Spring Break.  It was a complete ZOO.  I have never seen so many people in one place.  I think I got the last semi-legit parking space.  We arrived early and met up with Erin B. and Hilary and one of my high school friends, Milena who had just recently gotten back from a 9 month trip around-the-world.  Milena was such a good sport pushing Matson's stroller around and indulging us by letting us talk about our kiddos galore.  We gave her lots of advice: sleep as much as possible, enjoy your cocktail, sleep, watch movies, sleep, go out to eat, and sleep some more.  

Thursday we went to the Houston Oil Ranch with our Spanish play group.  Isabella rode a horse - she was very adamant about riding the horse and not the pony.  She refused to milk a cow.  She paid attention to the talk about the utters and where milk comes from.  But when it came time to actually milking the cow, she completely wimped out - even when bribed with stickers.  She also refused to feed the cows.  Diego on the other hand loved it and squealed at the cows coming up to our wagon.  The best part we saved for last of course - the train ride around the pond and more farm animals.  Isabella really enjoyed it and wanted to go on it again.  We had to jet as Diego was soo ready for his nap and I had to get ready to go to the Elton John/Billy Joel concert that evening.  

Finally it came to Friday and Isa woke up asking me where we were headed that day.  Umm, nowhere sweet pea.  Mama is TIRED.  We stayed in and didn't get out of our pj's until the afternoon.  It was a much needed catch up day.  I think three big outings in one week is plenty.  

Isa takes her family to Utah

Papi, why is it cold in Utah?

Papi, why is there snow in Utah?

Papi, why is Utah far from Houston?

Papi, why isn't the man in his seat?

Papi, why did the man come back from the restroom?

Papi, why did the man leave the plane?

 

Those are the sounds of traveling on a plane with Isa to Utah, pretty much like that nonstop for 3 hours.  But of course, it's a small price to pay to spend a relaxing week in Utah and teach Isa how to ski for the first time.  Not to mention, answering "why?" questions is much easier than Mom's task, which is to calmly hold Diego for three hours.  Hand him to Dad, no way, Diego won't have any other seat than resting comfortably in Mom's arms.

So, on to Monday, Isa's first day at the slopes.  Sara's Uncle Mark kindly drives Isa and me from Sara's Grandma and Grandpa's house, up Logan Canyon, and up to Beaver Mountain.  It snowed that whole day, so it's always good to have a local personally drive you through the canyon leading to the slopes.

Let me tell you why I love Beaver Mountain - best snow on earth (or so the locals advertise their Utah snow, and I have to agree it's fantastic), lift ticket for half price ($38 for the day) and $19 for skis (or free to me, thanks to Mark for letting me borrow from his personal ski closet).  Pretty much can't beat the skiing and snow for the price.

Ok, so back to Isabella.  Mark drives us up the canyon for Isa's lesson at 12:30, and what happens?  Isa takes a nap for the first time in like 6 months!  I am ready to go and she's sound asleep and snoring in the back.  So, ok, I will go check out the lift tickets, rentals for Isa and the Wee Ski class for 3-5 year olds.  Ooops, the wee ski was at 10 in the morning.  No matter, I will take a few runs and then Isa can take a private lesson.

And I'm back... and Isa's still not awake so Mark has also taken to her idea for a brief nap.  One more run and then back to grab Isa.  No more sleeping, it's time to ski.  She's got her gloves, mittens, hats, and she is ready to get those skis on.  Papi, why can't I put on the skis in the lodge?  Isa, it's because... never mind, let's go.

Off she goes with her instructor, Deb.  It's snowing and pretty cold, but she's a trooper (both Isa and Deb).  Down the hill to the flats, learning to put on the skis, and then over to the tow rope lift.  Isa is skiing!  Then over to the big lift and down Gentle Ben, Beaver's easy green.  That's it for the hour lesson.  Seems like not much, but I can attest, when you're teaching a 3-year old, it's a slow trip down the hill.

Now it's Tuesday, my turn to teach Isa to ski.  Good thing I've been practicing skiing backward in a wedge in a hunched over position, oh wait, I'm a tax accountant.  But I'm loving it, watching Isa ski, her goggles taking up most of her face.  It's slow, but fun.  Ok, my turn, I say as I ski a few feet away; and now it's your turn, Isa.  And we go again, but this time there is no movement from the 3-year old.  What's wrong, Isa?  Papi, es que no quiero hacer, Whoa!  What, I ask?  Es que no quiero hacer, Whoa!  Ah, now I get it, "I don't want to go, Whoa, Daddy!  Translation: I want to ski between your skis, not by myself.  So, back I go to the reverse hunched wedge position.  Isa is loving it, skiing between Daddy's skis with her head leaning way back.  Make a pizza pie, I say, but it's no use at this point.  She's figured out the easiest way down the hill.  And of course, I'm delighted to help her get the ride of her life.  What fun I had teaching Isa to ski!

We'll be back next year, and hopefully, she'll be one of those little torpedoes who makes no turns from top to bottom.  And I can return to facing downhill...

El Zoologico

This morning, our good friends the Buntings gave us a ring and invited us to go to the zoo with them.  We had no plans for the entire day and quickly agreed.  Bret was excited for a nice family outing.  Before agreeing though, I did quick investigative work on what the weather would be like.  I am a Texas girl through and through when it comes to the weather and if it seems too cold, I don't like going to the zoo.  But, the weather (through my Mac dashboard) was supposed to be in the high 60's or low 70's today and completely sunny.  This only meant one thing - it was a perfect zoo day.  And it was.  

Erin and her family have always been so good about packing picnic lunches or snacks - you know, how your family did growing up and don't go out to eat.  They actually use rest stops.  I had actually kind of forgotten about rest stops until Erin re-introduced me about 3 years ago.  I grew up going to rest stops - my family loved and I mean loved road trips - from Mexico to Utah.  That is not a short road trip!  All that to say that Erin suggested that we pack a lunch and blankets and have a picnic after the zoo.  I did just that - pb & js all around with some fruit on the side.  My husband and Isa think that pb&j's are a complete treat and love them.  Me, I'll eat them, but don't exactly get all excited about them.  

Once we arrived at the zoo and stood in line forever to renew the zoo membership (if you need to do so, make sure you get the Apache 10% discount they're currently having), we were able to join the Buntings to see the meerkats, bears, elephants, lions, monkeys and most exciting of all - a baby giraffe.  A baby giraffe that was born YESTERDAY.  And it is walking.  The animal kingdom is amazing.  Here I am still toting sweet Diego in a stroller or in my arms because the child won't even stand on his own and this baby giraffe is walking and he's not even 24 hours old!!  Amazing!!!

Ella and Isa had a blast playing and seeing the animals together.  After the zoo, Bret left to go in to work while the Buntings, the kiddos and I stayed on to have a picnic beneath a shady tree.  We stayed there for hours!  And I mean hours.  We did not leave until almost 3pm and had been there since before 11am.  What a fun day.  The girls just played and played running around, chasing squirrels, telling them, "shoo squirrel, shoo!", and pretend feeding Ross who was a very hungry giraffe.  What a great day!

Dos Manos

Ayer cuando hibamos al club, Isabella me pregunto, "Donde viven los cocodrilos?"  Le dije que en el agua.  Y luego me dijo que tambien viven donde vive Peter Pan y que se comieron la mano del Capitan Garfio.  Y le dije si, el Capitan nada mas tiene una mano a lo cual Isa me respondio - pues el Capitan va a tener que comprar otra mano por que se necesitan dos manos.  Y continuo a decirme que en las tiendas venden manos asi que el Capitan va a ir a la tienda a comprar otra mano.  

Learning Through Osmosis

Heavy Sleeper

Isabella has been a great sleeper since she was born.  She was sleeping "through the night" starting at about 7 weeks old and has never really stopped.  It is awesome.  She is such a heavy sleeper that recently Bret and I assembled her entire bedroom furniture complete with hammering and loud voices while she was sleeping.  She barely even stirred.  She is also the funniest sleeper.  We bought her a lovely bedroom set which she was initially very excited about and quickly assigned the other bed to her good friend, Macy.  You'd think since she was so excited about her new beds, that she would use them.  Nope, she prefers to sleep on the floor - usually on her nap mat, but sometimes just straight up on the wood floor.  Comfy, huh?  Who needs beds when you've got solid wood underneath ya?  Isa frequently reads to herself before going to sleep.  We often find her with a book in mid page on top of her face.  I guess she thinks that she will continue absorbing her story if she doesn't let go of her book.  Sweet girl.