Memorial Day Weekend

We did something!! Yay!

My friend, Tara and her Husband, Kyle invited me and Dustin to San Carlos Lake Memorial weekend for camping and water fun. Stacey, Brandon and Family came as well and it was a Blast!! The John's have jet skis, boats...the works! The Jet skis were the best because it didn't take too much talent to operate them. I tried my hardest to water ski, but I couldn't get myself up...I thought I was going to tear my body apart before I was finished. I'd think "ok, after this try I'm done," then I'd almost get up and have to try again. Finally I got too tired and gave up. Dustin tried to water ski as well but without success. I told Kyle he had to go easy on him to protect the family jewels (we have no kids yet after all. I have to play it safe just in case I decide I want one ;)) I am also proud to say I didn't even get sunburned. That's a first for me! Now I want to buy a boat...but shhhh...don't tell Dustin. He'd be all over that.

Just us before we were getting ready to clean up and go home.

Brandon was the only one to get up on the skis...aside from Tara and Kyle

What a dork!! Isn't he cute!?!

Where Dustin belongs...in the kids section :)

Dustin Floatin' in the water waiting for the rope.

T.H.S. Class of 1998

Hello my friends of THS Class of 98. Troy Lundell made a group on Facebook for our class and he wants to get everyone he can on there. So I've decided to spread the word any way I can. If you have a facebook account then find Troy and he'll get you added. If not, Make one! I think he's talkin' class reunion....

Dustin and Baseball (imagine that!)

So everything I post is about me! How selfish huh? Well really it's because I scramble to find anything to put on here because really, we don't do much. Anyways, so I decided to post something about Dustin, and I'm sure he'll be thrilled.

He has been the pitching coach for SHS Baseball for a few years now. Well this year they  barely made it to state (Ranked 14.) So last weekend we headed up to Surprise for the Friday night game. I was certain they were going to lose and I was looking forward to a Saturday full of shopping. They were #14, playing #2 from the north. Well I was wrong. They won. Next game was the next day, Saturday. At this point I wasn't sure if they'd win, I had no clue, what I did know was at 1 in the afternoon the mall was way more appealing then a baseball field (and I really like baseball) Anyways, well again, they won. So this weekend we made another trip to Surprise on Friday for a chance at the state championship game. Sure enough, they won Friday and were in the Championship Saturday night and ended up winning it by the 10 run rule in the 5th inning. 0-10. All because of a wonderful pitching coach. Well that's what I say at least...but I might be partial :) Here are some pics I took for fun because I just can't help but love Dustin in uniform...always have.

I LOVE my friends

So Luckily for me, I have stayed in touch with my friends from High School. We don't get together a lot, but when we do it's so much fun!! So Luci is moving to Freakin' Canada so she came down last week to visit. Jenni, Annie, Luci, Betsy, Katie and I all went to El Charro for dinner. It was the funnest! After dinner we stayed outside and talked forever. We kept saying that we could go to someone's house, but then those with small children would say, "oh i shouldn't, i should go home" but still...we stayed out and talked. It was the best. I love getting together with friends! 

We were pigs and all got our own fried ice cream. But that's ok, I can eat like a pig...I work out...Right?!  (haha, that's what I keep tellin myself :p) 

Me and Luci! She's so cute! (and was the ONLY one who would get a picture with me!) Why she has to move to freakin' Canada!? I don't know. Either way I am so going to visit!!!

P.S. Those in town...we should do this more often really...

The Workout...

So my wonderful Friend Betsy Spackman (James) just moved back to Thatcher. Yay!! I like to have friends in town! 

We've started working out together...at 5:30 a.m.!! I am so not a morning person, but I still go. I call her my personal trainer and so far she has kicked my butt. Yesterday I could barely raise my arms to wash my hair. (I'm the biggest wimp I know.) Right now I'm so sore, but I love it! I'm having lots of fun. This morning we could hardly do whatever it was we were doing (i'm really clueless) because we were too busy laughing. I love friends!

My Pops Flight on a World War II jet...

For Christmas my brother, sisters and mom chipped in to get my dad a flight on a World Word II jet. We all went to Tucson to watch last Friday. He got to fly the plane and do some acrobat stuff. He was really excited.

Before Take off....

Rollin' out

Off He Goes!

Safe on land again!

We had nothing to do but wait while he was gone...here are some pics while we sat around for an hour.

Liv and Dustin...how cute!

Rhettly Boy (Stacey's Baby)

Dustin, Josh & Jace. 

Dustin told Jace that Grandpa few away and we'd never see him again. Jace was really worried about that for a long time, until Dustin offered to be his new grandpa. After that everything was ok. He even called me Grandma. Funny boy!!

Before the flight we all went to the zoo. I LOVE A ZOO!!

Look at that tongue!

AzPPA Convention 2008

So again another Arizona Professional Photographers Association (AzPPA) Convention comes and goes. This is the one I've been waiting a year for. This past year I served as President of the AzPPA and Convention meant the end of my term. I was really honored to serve as president and it was a great experience for me. Our studio is now the only studio in AZ to have had 3 people serve a term as president. 

I also entered Print Competition again and did good! Our system is set up of a score from 0-100. If your print scores and 80 or above it receives a merit and of course the higher the score the better.

I scored 4 for 4 and was in the top 10. I really was happy with the results. All except one of my images were regular everyday studio sessions I did for clients. Nothing was shot for competition (lots of photographers take images with the intent on entering Comp) Also I was pleased that those 3 portraits scored. It is really hard to score a studio lit portrait and I got 3! Here are the images I entered...

"Winter Beauty" Scored an 84

"Eye Contact" Scored an 81

"Orange Blossom Special" Scored an 83 and received a Judges Choice award

"Rough Rider Rookie" Scored an 80 (Barely made it!)

My Parents also entered and did better then me! Jerks!! haha. They were also in the top 10. It as cool to have 3 top 10 trophies come home with us. Here are our pictures getting our awards! I had to hand them out since I was Pres and Print Chair.

Tom Cheswick gave me mine since I couldn't give it to myself.

Me giving my pops his.

The photographer must have missed the pic of me and my mom so hers is a solo shot!

I also got my Artisan Award this year. This is an award that is giving for dedicated service. So basically all the monthly trips to Phoenix, added stress, money spent and time spent on AzPPA...I get this little plaque!! haha. but that's ok! It's worth it for the learning and experience I receive. I wouldn't take any of it back. Here Tom Cheswick and Kay Eskridge presented it to me.

My last award received. My plaque for serving as President. YAY! Kay and Tom gave it to me again. Love those guys!!