Going on a Dam tour

We started the dam tour on the Arizona side

And I was photobombed by some cute kiddos

The view was beautiful but you can see how far down the water table is.

This bridge is new from the last time I was at the dam (about 30 years ago) and it is crazy HUGE and tons of cement. 

The family all went along for the dam tour

Off to Vegas Baby!

I got my mom off to Las Vegas yesterday and today the kids and I are headed there to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday.

Joy.... in the simple things

Joy.... in the simple things, a photo by sometimes suzie on Flickr.

How was I to know when I named this photo how true the sentence would be.

So after more than a year of not posting photos to Flickr I have made an effort to pick up my camera, take photos and post. I have enjoyed the creativity.

So, going back to when I posted every day, I would look to see if by chance one of my photos happened to just maybe get "Explored".
What dose it mean to be Explored? Well, the people of flicker call whatever it is that picks the top 500 most interesting photos "the donkey". We are never sure other than if a photo gets a bunch of likes and or comments on it might make it on the list but really it is a mystery.
If your photos makes the top 10 photos of the 500 it is referred to as "front page".
I have had 32 photos Explored with my first one coming a very long 6 month after I started posting on a daily basis. The Donky was very elusive to me but of this 32 photos I had one of my macro photos make the front page and I was beyond excited.
Now, back to my recent posts. I have been posting in both the Macro Monday's and We're Here! group using their themes to inspire me. I have loved having the camera in hand again. I have felt a bit rusty that is for sure and was shocked to say the least when someone commented that my "candle" photo had been explored. Huh?
Imagine my surprise when my nest photo for We're Here! was ALSO Explored. Double Huh? And then this photo, my 3rd for the group was also Explored.... and I was SHOCKED.
This photo was taken in a rush and I had to quit taking photos and go pick up the girls so I had to make due with what I found in the camera. I ended up liking this one although the focus isn't as sharp as I would like I loved the floating leaves and in the end the theme was "childhood memories" and that was playing in the leaves.
I decided to check to see if my last photo managed to get explored and to my surprise it had and while checking on it I also found that this photo has made it all the way to the 14th photo with over 22000 views.
Needles to say I am shocked and excited and I know this "explore" run will end it sure has been exciting and made picking up my camera even more fun.

It's been the "Joy in the simple things"

"There can't be good living where there is not good drinking." --Benjamin Franklin

Happy 15th Birthday Ian

Today you are 15.... I know it is cliché to say that the years have flown by but they have. It seems like just last year that I was walking you into Kindergarten and now you are a Freshman. I am so very proud of the young man you have become and I have great faith in the man you will be. 

When you were younger I tried to write you a letter and answer the same questions every year and although I have slacked off {missing the last few years} I am going to attempt to write it for this year.

So here goes it.........

Dear Ian,

You are now 15 years old and I am blown away at how quickly the years have passed. Over the last few months I have been showing you how to drive. I started off scooting over in the truck and having you drive but being "right there" in case the truck got away from you. It has been fun and hysterical doing this with you. 

You spend much of your time playing some kind of video game...... Xbox, computer or otherwise. If it has a screen you are playing it. You also play Yugio and have just started playing Magic cards. You are good, though about managing your time and getting your work done as well as reading and doing your chores {mowing the lawn} so I try not to be too worried about your screen time. We have fun together usually by goofing around and being silly.

Your favorite thing to eat hands down is Pizza, however, your taste buds have evolved and you have a few other favorite things. You love, love, love Five Guys burgers, Mexican food {especially tacos}, and then PIZZA! You're such a big kid now you don't say the cute and silly things like you used to but I do enjoy talking to you about books you read and other things.

I am always shocked by how grown up you are getting when I see what a caring heart you have and your empathy towards others not to mention even your sisters once in a while.

You don't really get in to trouble these days, which is a good thing but you recently scratched Dad's really really nice {and expensive} sports car by being careless when putting the mower away. Lucky for you Dad realizes it is a "thing" and didn't even yell at you.

We haven't had the opportunity in a very long time to turn into couch potatoes but I do love watching a movie with you now and then. 

Your bedroom isn't really decorated so to speak but it is blue and orange and masculine. You did get a new bed this last year and it is a "loft" type bed with a desk under it and you defiantly prefer to do your homework up stairs in your own space now. 

Your bed time doesn't really include me these days, unless I am asking what time you plan on going to bed or telling you not to stay up too late. We have moved to that time in our lives when you often stay up later than I do and have become a "night owl" instead of a 6 or 7 am riser. I didn't see that one coming. 

Your best characteristic is your kind heart. You're a great big brother {most of the time} and I love the way you look out for your sisters. You make me proud to be your mom!

I love you to the MOON Handsome Man!

Love, 

Mom

Beach Family Photo Shoot

I had planned on taking photos of the family while we were at the beach and managed to forget my nice camera. I was very disappointed but decided I would still go ahead and give it my "best shot" using my iPhone and I think they turned out ok.

Nathan, Mikayla, Zachary

The Stern Kids

The Stern Family

My Kiddos
Sarah, Ian, Emily

Zach and his girlfriend Brie

Mick & Geneva

Grandma

Mick & Kayla

We Are Family!

4 generations of 21 and 3/4 people, 5 dogs, and a tortuous..... All in one house in Manzanita. And it was fantastic!  We played cards, ate, played on the beach, ate, talked and talked, ate, played crainiam..... Oh and we ate!