BEWARE: THIS BLOG CONTAINS PHOTO OVERLOAD!
WHEW! I feel like I finally have the time to catch up on a few things. This summer we have been busy with family and friends, vacations, a new job for Todd, photography classes, and life being parents. Todd got a new job with a company called CA (computer associates). He is a senior manager there and he manages IHC hospitals and clinics. It has been a welcome change and he is very, very happy. Part of the week he gets to work from home so we get to see a little bit more than we did and so Gabbie and I are also happy!
One of the biggest highlights of our summer was going to Lake Tahoe, California. My family has been going there every summer since I was a kid and to me, Lake Tahoe is heaven. For any of you who have not been there, I HIGHLY recommend it. It is the most beautiful, crystal clear lake I have ever seen and I love to float around on a raft relaxing everytime we go there. My brother and sister in law have a time share there and graciously allowed us to use it for a week. Because Todd had just started his new job, he unfortunately was unable to go so me, Gabbie, my mom, Kelly, Callie and Tessa went for the ultimate girls getaway to our favorite place in the world.
One of the hard things about being the one with the camera is that I hardly get to be in pictures. I wanted at least a few of me at my most favorite place in the world so THANK YOU KELLY!
Tessa kind of lost it so I had to get a picture of just Callie and Kelly
I'm not sure what these two were talking about but every time I look at this picture I giggle. 
Majestic Lake Tahoe. I know what you are thinking and the answer is yes, this place is REALLY as pretty as it is in the picture. SIGH! Just thinking about it makes me feel relaxed and in heaven!
Gabbie and Tessa are looking through the window at a toy store . Cute huh? 
Kelly and I really wanted to go to this pier near a place we used to stay every summer but unfortunately Tessa would not cooperate. You can't see it very well in this picture because blogger is not very compatible or up to par with great resolution in pictures but the sign by Tessa's head says, "Happy Memories with Fred." If these are what happy memories with Fred are like then keep me away from Fred as far as possible!
We've also been busy visiting my biological dad in Arizona. He had never met Gabbie and so he offered to fly us down so he could meet his only granddaughter. I think my father was very touched with Gabbie and he had a good time. While we were down in Arizona, I also had the opportunity to visit one of my best buddies since elementary school. She had just had a baby boy and so I went to visit her and she let me take some pictures of her gorgeous son.
I don't know what these flowers are called but my dad had a ton of them in his yard and I thought they were beautiful. If you look close enough you can see a bee right in the middle.
They meet at last! I call my dad "Moki" and Gabbie thought he was absolutely hilarious! 
This is my dad's front yard. I thought it was gorgeous and all Gabbie wanted to do was run around and explore. She liked it until the temperature got up to 110 and then she was red in the face and parched.
My beautiful buddy, Annalise, and her adorable baby boy Gabe.
I love how tender men can be around babies. Annalise's husband, Andrew, works for border patrol in Arizona and so he is a pretty tough, macho, there-aint-anything-feminine-about me kind of guy but I love this picture because Andrew is totally head over heels for his baby boy.
I have been trying hard all summer to learn photoshop and get better at photography. I recently took a class on natural lighting and I had to complete some assignments on window lighting, silhouetting, rim lighting, and morning/evening lighting. I am having a great time and I am in love with photography! When I first bought my camera I was really anxious to get started right away and start a business but after having my camera for a while I realized that there is quite a learning curve and so I want to take my time learning and getting very good before I start a little side business. I've met too many people who have as little experience as I do or less and have jumped butt first into the business and it shows in their work. I just want to become really good and know what I am doing before I get into this career. I want to take this seriously and not just be some MWAC (mom with a camera) who thinks they she can take great pics when in fact I have a lot to learn. In the meantime, I am enjoying my journey and loving every minute of it! Here are some of the pictures I've had to take for my class this summer.
Little Miss Gabbie and I have tried staying busy during the summer by getting out and going places. We've spent a lot of time at the pool, park, playing with Callie and Tessa, going to the zoo and aquarium and taking advantage of $2 Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point. We recently went with some friends to the gardens at Thanksgiving Point and I was completely blown away! They are incredible and I was in heaven. Gabbie and her friend Ian also really enjoyed it because there was tons of room to run around and explore. If you haven't been to the gardens, I would highly recommend it!
Besides our activities during this busy summer, we have been enjoying each other, spending a lot of time with Kelly and her girls and trying to cool off from the hot weather. This time of year, every year, I get so sick of the heat and I am completely ready for fall. I welcome the cooler temperatures with welcome arms and I get excited for the holidays up ahead. WHEW! Anyways, this was an especially long post because I have not written in a long, long time but now I hope life has calmed down somewhat so I have time to blog more often. Until then, stay posted! :)
The only way we could get these two to pose in a picture together was if we gave them pretzels to eat. 
Seriously, what bride would not die to have her pictures or wedding here? I was blown away!
My eyes ARE open you just can't tell! 