Random outings

For Christmas, I got Tyler tickets to the King Tut. We decided to try to make a trip to San Francisco to it by leaving early (right after church) and trying to hang out a bit at Golden Gate Park...HOWEVER, we were in so much traffic, instead we decided to enjoy the scenery from the freeway because instead of having a few hours to hang before our time to enter the exhibit, we got there oh about 20 minutes before it started (can you say far too much traffic?!)

check out this crazy raffle!

...and Dennis makes uniforms :)

almost missed it but this was a random statue made of like nails, chains and whatnots that we drove by.
and Tyler, super excited about everything he had just seen.

It was so neat to look through all the artifacts they had, and to read through all the information. It was also interesting to see a timeline that included Xerxes and Nebuchadnezzar - doing the Esther and Daniel studies really allowed me to get a better appreciation for what I was seeing (instead of just being there because it was something Tyler wanted to do :) )...

And then there was prom. Two of our friends own a dance studio and long story short...several of their seniors missed prom to be in a competition, so they decided to throw them one. They asked Tyler if he'd take pictures of the evening.

And my awesome husband knows how much I loved high school, and all the dances...and that I get sad for him that he missed out on proms! He asked me if I'd go to prom with him - and I said absolutely!!

They set up a full on backdrop for everyone to take traditional prom pics. Here are our prom pose pics :)

This one is: we're pregnant at prom.

This is Hollie and I. Hollie is one of the studio owners.

And here are both Hollie & Heather (the sisters that own the studio), and their dad :)

We had such a blast that night...stayed out late and all :) Ahhhh...good times!!

Today's thoughts...

...ahh...8 days work free (including the weekend!). How does it feel?

WELL...I was complaining earlier today and had a mini-start-of-a-meltdown.

WHY? I had been setting myself up mentally for some brain dead time. I wanted to just sit and think about and do NOTHING. It was the plan since December, when this no work thing became a path we were going down. I had 1 day. I didn't get out of bed except for a few times last Tuesday. But every other day has been so full of doing this and that and trying to hurry to get things done.

Today I had to take the car in to get the air conditioning checked out. I planned a day with my mom and sister so we'd stay in Modesto until it was done, then we'd all be on our merry way. Well, the moment I got in my sister's car she asked 'where's your stuff?'. She was asking about some returns that I had at the mall - and out comes my mini-meltdown (because I feel unorganized, I can't remember things, I have so much going on and so much to do - poor me, poor be, blah, blah, blah).

I tried to not be a party pooper, even though there are things that I have to get done before tonight that are a bit time consuming. I was reminding myself that part of this 'no work' thing is to spend time with family - and that's just what I was going to do today.

Blah, blah, blah...we go to the mall and I see things I'd like to purchase. On a normal day, if I was still working, I would have given in and done a little shopping. Throw in a few things for Tyler and I won't feel so bad for spending what should be going in to our savings :)

Then I remember: 'on a normal day, if I was still working' first off - I'd be at work. Having the two incomes would allow for me to shop, but I wouldn't have or make the time to do it. It (the job and finances) has allowed us to do some traveling and daydream about splurging on even more traveling yet it did not allow for us to do most of the traveling we'd like to do, or be home enough to justify some of the purchases we'd like to make.

So, as I come home with 3 $5 items and 1 free one (yay, bargain shopping!) I am content with the opportunity to be able to let go of the finances, the job and the stress and commitment that came along with it...AND will remind myself that I don't 'need' anymore clothes to feel like I'm wearing the pregnancy well.

I will enjoy this opportunity that the Lord has handed to me and feel blessed and loved with all that I have, and all I 'have to do'.

...and that's what's on my mind :)

Quinceanera

At the end of March, we had a quinceanera in the family. It's actually my sister Diana's husband's family. They got all dressed up, and Tyler and I (well, mainly Tyler) were in charge of making a slide show for the birthday girl so we were just there to play it and make sure that it was all good in the technical aspects...and enjoy the party as well, of course :)

Here are a few pics of the fam on that day!

Chris is getting so big! This year he's gone through a change in 'look'...not sure how I feel about it, but I guess there's not much I can do about it :)

This is Chico (our brother-in-law) with his brothers and sister. - His sister's daughter was the bday girl.

Diana and Chico posing by the car that drove Aliyia around.

The cousins posing together.

Here's the actual bday girl! She's so photogenic :)

Diana & Chico had me take some pics of them, taking advantage of the fact that they were dressed up...
Alex, Crystal just before she had the baby and the rest of the clan.
Lita was definitely in to the champagne this day (I don't think I have ever seen her drink before)...so my mom, Tia Amparo and Lita were toasting amongst themselves.
...and this little girl...she was at the table next to us, and all of a sudden Tyler says to me, "This is what I think you looked like when you were little"...

So many family gatherings this year - love it! :) ...more catch up to come!