california trip.

 

 

A whirlwind trip! My sister and I flew down to shoot our cousin Kambria's wedding. So good to see family I haven't seen in years... I especially enjoyed the long, early morning runs with my cousins.. (I've discovered that I actually like those VERY rare, early mornings before the sun rises!) These are mostly random iPhone shots, but they'll do. One day I'll crack my camera out for real life photos again.

name that iconic tower....

sweet cousins.

arah doing a little genealogy on an early morning stroll through he cemetery.

do these pants make my butt look big? yes...? that's what i thought too after seeing this photo.

...the one and only golden gate..

...beautiful oakland temple grounds.

..the cute bride and groom illegally hanging out on an off duty trolley.

..my darla.

..& aunt julia:

(8 of my dads 9 living siblings in one spot!)

..sweet cousin raquel..

..a small portion of my many, many girl cousins!

 

grumps.

 

some things have been really bugging the crap out of me lately...so when i start feeling negative... concentrate on the positive... like sweet lola and her nectarine.

grandma esther ball mcbroom.

seriously....genealogy matters!!

grandma mcbroom lived from 1916-2007.

before my grandma died, i was smart enough to collect a few short stories from her.. in high school, i was assigned a report on the dustbowl/great depression... i interviewed grandma esther.. the stories were mind blowing...growing up with literally nothing,  picking cotton in arkansas.. finishing school at 8th grade..  getting married so young.....transitioning from arkansas to california!  .....i dearly love this woman and her stories...what she persevered growing up still amazes.

the last few years she was alive, she lived with my parents. i spent many, many, many hours listening to her stories of her life (..and  listened to her chastise my life and the bad decisions i was making at the time.. she was not bashful about it and  i deserverd EVERY ounce.. i only wish i had recorded it all....)

too many personal stories to share....but i remember a good one: she bought a pair of old, holey levi's off of me in place of good  $$$ to buy another pair... i was sneaky.. dug them out of the trash after she had paid me for them....gma saw those nasty jeans on me again and ripped them right off me  and sliced the leg right off while i stood there in my unders in the dining room. ....she was SO angry.

the woman had morals in life and was never afraid to share them. ;)

First day of spring...

Training for my first full marathon. It's been a little rough! But I really want to do it. Mostly because it is such a huge test of my motivation/will-power/conviction... and I really need a lot of help in that department right now....:/

lola joon turns 4.

a few weeks late.. but heartfelt none the less...happy 4th birthday lola joon!

you have taught me a lot about patience and love and that times goes by quickly. that many things i spend time worrying about don't matter much... that a spontaneous adventure is still ALWAYS a good idea... that barbies are always fun to dress up and play with...that it's ok to wear fancy church dresses every day if the mood strikes you...that i will never know all the answers to your million questions.. or be able to keep up with your embellished story telling...that animals are very special to you and that you have a soft spot for unicorns and the dog we babysat for 6 weeks- toby (you ask me on a regular basis if he can come back)..

we couldn't imagine life without you! you are sassy and sweet. you have your daddy wrapped around your finger- he will still sleep in your bed every night you ask him until you fall asleep....you usually reply with an enthusiastic, "sure!!", to anything we ask you to do. you love to eat chocolate milk, fried eggs, malt o meal, tomato soup with grilled cheese, french fries, oranges & never pass up a trip to get a treat.

a few photos from lola's hearts&valentines themed birthday party: