Sunshine Sentiments: August 2018

Friday, August 24, 2018

FORTY SIX

Some people don't like to make a big deal about their birthdays. They lead quiet lives and love to "fly under the radar" on their special days. I do NOT understand those people. Today is MY 46th BIRTHDAY! And I love being remembered, celebrated and spoiled
I woke up to this sight in my front room, before I left for work:

I couldn't stop grinning!

My husband is so thoughtful!

I LOVE yellow!

The school I photographed today was a wonderful school, with great smiles and a great group of kids... But the highlight of working (and of my birthday presents) was a sweet text from my Idaho kids: I'm going to be a grandma! I screamed out loud and told everyone who would listen. I'm sure they thought that I was a crazy picture lady!

This is an estimated guess...

She'll see the doctor sometime next week.

When I got home from work, I got flowers from Kiara and Cody, a balloon and chocolate from my dear friend, Sheila, and homemade bread and honey butter from another dear friend, Sheba! Talk about spoiled!
When Katia and Scott got home they took me to dinner at Claudia Sanders. I LOVE Claudia Sanders. And it was delicious!

I love this restaurant!

Then they whisked me away for a "surprise." Thirty minutes later, Katia got us tickets to see Dinesh D'Souza's newest movie Death of a Nation. I have been really wanting to see it. And I'm glad we did. He teaches so well. And I feel like not only are his movies entertaining, but they are "dead on" with his history and analysis.

Great movie!

I can't believe how spoiled I have been! And I've loved all the well wishes on FB and text messages! I truly feel loved! I really am looking forward to year 46!
Oh! And look who we got to go to dinner with last week:

Me - Katia - Scott - Teresa - Tony - Mike

Sheila - Amy - Mark - Spencer - Asher

We love our "tribe" of people!

Thursday, August 23, 2018

JEALOUS

Last weekend my mom and sister got to go to Idaho to see my daughter, my son, my nephew and two nieces! I'm so jealous! They all looked so happy! And I'm grateful for family who looks out for each other. I'm also grateful for my sweet nieces who remember to take pictures and send them to me! I can sorta live vicariously through these fun images!

GJ - Cody - Gary - Mariah

Kiara - Shanae

Mil

Idaho Grandkids

Photo Shoot by Shanae - at the Gardens

My extremely handsome nephew!

Isn't he a catch?

If you know any amazing young women, I'll set them up! ;-)

These two are definitely still in love!

I love having a daughter AND son!

Shanae is so pretty - inside and out!

Eskimo Kisses are best!

My gorgeous mother!

I hope I can grow up to be just like her!

GJ and Mariah

Two of my favorite people ever!

I'm PROUD to be related to them!

GJ also took them all out to lunch. So much fun!

Being silly at the restaurant...

Cute

OK - careful with the PDA! (Just kidding!)

I just finished reading an amazing memoir. I was inspired. I was entertained. And I learned a lot from William Kamkwamba's thirst for knowledge and his struggle to better himself and his family. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a book I will recommend to anyone who will listen. While reading this book, I thought to myself, "How spoiled am I?" William struggled to afford school. They suffered famine. They had no energy for lights or water or any of the things I take for granted.
He was an amazing young man. He worked hard. He did hard things. He endured. He studied on his own. He worked hard. He was kind.
I'm surprised how much I enjoyed reading and learning from this book. It was what I needed to read right now. I feel like I will never complain again. - of course - after a few days, this feeling will probably recede to the far corners of my mind... but if I can remember William's story and his qualities, perhaps I can make the world a little better for the people around me also.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

WORK LIKE YOU DON'T NEED THE $$$

I LOVE my job! And I LOVE some of the beautiful locations I get to take pictures! And I LOVE the people I work with! The season started again....

This was our crew on Tuesday...

We decided to get pizza afterwards together.

Usually I only work with one or two of them at a time.

It's fun times to work with these characters!

Shout outs to Edie, Heather, Penny and Will - whom I have worked with for 3 years!

They rock!

PSYCH PARTY

Katia and Amy decided we needed a Psych Party! And we did NEED it! We ate all the foods mentioned in the show (which was delicious - but an odd pairing of foods). We watched our favorite episodes. We played Psych Bingo with prizes. And Katia made us each our own individual shirts with personalized quotes from the show.

Ready to celebrate!

Me - Katia chose my quote!

I do look good in jeans... ha ha ha!

Scott loves all the "Gus don't be a...." quotes!

Mark - We've always suspected he might have super powers - or super senses?!

Amy loves teaching math!

This quote perfectly describes my baby girl!

Juice is very humble!

Nuts of often referred to as "son!"

Marmalade loves the most famous quote from the show!

Juice wants to be an astronomer when he grows up.

His reaction to his quote was to laugh and say "perfect!"

Jelly Bean got to watch one episode....

And Raisin wanted her picture taken too!

Tacos, Pizza, Pineapple, Doritos, Chinese food, quatro quesos dos fritos, and pancakes

Scott made the quatro quesos dos fritos. YUM!

We also ate powdered donuts, and Twinkies, and Skittles, etc.

I definitely went into a food coma - glad we don't do this every day.

These two were excited to share a BIT of the party...

Spending time with dear friends and watching a fun show is the perfect party!
Thanks, Amy and Katia!

Scott enjoyed the evening so much that he channeled Tim Currey's character the next morning, after our Psych and sugar coma: "I feel like an angel baby swaddled in a cocoon of cloud candy!"