That is where my husband is tonight. He had a last minute trip this week to deliver a MD-11 to it's new owners. If you ask my son about Taipei, he can tell you that it is home to the world's tallest building. I spoke to Sam for a brief minute tonight and he said his hotel is across the street from Taipei 101 (the building's name) and was able to get some shots of it with his camera. He'll hopefully be heading home tomorrow!
While putting my kindergartner to sleep tonight, she asked again where daddy was, I told her in China and that while it was bedtime for us, the sun was shining where daddy is and it is morning in China. Then with her half sleepy voice she takes her hand and points to a spot in the air (on an imaginary globe) and says "so if we are here then daddy is there" and points to a spot on the opposite side of her imaginary globe! Wow! This is my five year old! I asked her if she learned that in school (have I mentioned they are attending a great charter school?) and she says "no, I just know it"....but considering they have been studying the world and the continents, I can't help but think she did learn it at school.
Have I ever mentioned my secret crush on Adam Levine, the lead singer from Maroon 5? Probably not...that's why it was a "secret" crush. Well, a good friend of mine just had a birthday and we celebrated by hitting the Maroon 5 concert this week.
It was a great concert. We had a blast being 30-something "rock groupies". I wasn't able to bring my professional camera in (how does one go about getting a press pass anyways??) so we have to just be happy with the shots that Liz got with her point and shoot. I think the shots are pretty good, don't you?
and here's another one....enjoy...
Oh, and please don't ask me to explain this secret Adam fascination....I don't understand it any better than you do! ;)
Have you been to the Children's Museum of Phoenix yet? It is amazing! The museum is located in the old (built in 1913) Monroe School building and has been completely renovated inside using "green" construction where possible.
I was at the museum this week taking product shots of some of the green spaces/products and can't wait to head back to the museum with my children.
A few of the canvases that I've been so patiently (and not so patiently) for have arrived. They look so great that I had to snap a few shots before handing them over to their rightful owners.
Pardon the funky product photography....I am not and probably never will be a product photographer. ;) Plus, these had the plastic wrap still to protect them before they arrive to their final homes.
The first grouping is of little "E". This is made up of two different custom sizes to fit a wall space in his home. The large canvas is a 27 x 18 and the two smaller canvases are 18 x 13.5
The second gallery is of "R" and "M". They ordered a 24x30 and two 20x20's.
A recent visit to Barnes & Noble with my daughter:
O: (crumpled on the floor in front of the cashier...angry that I won't buy her something). "You don't LOVE me!"
(snickers from all the people in line behind me)
Me: Yes, I do love you.
O: Well you're a criminal! Criminals are parents who are bad to their children and you're not doing what I want. That means you're a criminal. You're going to go to jail if you don't buy me that book!"
Me: mortified and embarrassed but also trying to stifle my laughs
I'll be away from Phoenix this week at a photographer's workshop and will be unable to return calls. I will have limited internet access (at least I'm hoping!) so if you need to reach me, please send an email and I will return it as soon as possible.
Canvas
For my clients who are waiting on their fine art canvases....I am still waiting on delivery on the canvas from the printer. I've used this particular printer for close to two years now and have never had a delivery problem before this...so for those of you who "lucked" out to be in this batch, I apologize! To make up for the late orders, I will be personally delivering your canvas to you once it comes in and will slipping a little gift in for you to express my apologies. I have been told that everything shipped last week so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will have some boxes waiting for me when I return from Denver!
Little Blue-eyed Wonder
I met this little guy and his parents earlier this week. He just recently turned two years old and was just talking up a storm! He had quite the personality and we had a fun time "playing" around his home.
Being that it seems we will be staying in Phoenix for a while longer, we decided to finally transform our backyard into a little oasis for our family. We are nearing completion of the transformation and I am ready to share some before & after snapshots with all of you. Enjoy!
Before:
(the view from the pool)
After:
(the view from the pool area)
After:
(the view towards the pool)
Before:
(the side yard & pool equipment)
After:
(the side yard & pool equipment)
We are loving the "new" backyard! And I'm sure will be making lots of use out of it, especially once the weather cools down enough to light up the fire place and make some smores with the kids!
Many of you know that we have been homeschooling for the past year. It's been a wonderful year. After finding a school that we think will be a good match for our family, we recently made the decision to put them back into school. You can read more about our decision here.
Well, we did it. We got up this morning, ate breakfast, got dressed and left the house by 7:30am to be to school on time. The morning went great. Both kids got to meet their teachers and got their new school experience off to the good start.
O was so excited all morning until we got to school and she saw all the new kids on the kindergarten playground (there are probably about 60 kindergarten students in all - class sizes range from 12-17). She started to get a little clingy and the was a little shy & tearful in the class but she sat at her desk and tried to put on a good face. At one point, I heard a little voice from one of the nearby tables say "Don't cry. It will be okay". Isn't that just the sweetest? I left O with a kiss goodbye and am sure she will do fine.
H of course went off happy as a clam.
I thought I wouldn't cry. I was sure I wouldn't cry. But, once I got into the car...I cried. Alot. I know I'll get use to it. But the house is so quiet. When H went away to school, I still had O at home. But now, they are both gone. She is my baby and it's hard to let the baby go...ya know?
Oh well. I guess I'll finally be able to catch up on all that scrapbooking that I've been neglecting for the past few years. I can refine my cooking skills. Get back to crafting. Catch up on my reading. Paint my nails. Fold laundry. Pull weeds. Take the dog for a walk. Change the litterbox. Look at pictures of my babies....all grown up.... (I don't think I'll be able to handle college! Thank goodness I have a few years to work up to that one!).