The ridiculous.

So, my big brother has started a blog.  I have no doubt what-so-ever that he will have entertaining and interesting things to share - along with the ridiculous.  Though he has said he plans on his blog being better than mine.  WHAT????  I don't think so.  He is, of course, welcome to try.  :)  Drop off a hello for him, won't you?

www.stephendenton.blogspot.com

ALSO... exciting news!!!  I have a NEW LOGO and will be starting spring specials soon!!!  Keep an eye out!

More than just photos...

Weeks ago I had decided that I wanted to be more consistent with my blog and post more often and about more then just my photos.  Well, surprise!  It hasn't happened!  lol  I just get busy and caught up in everyday life.  So, I'm starting now.  I've decided to share a couple of things that have been on my mind lately.  Don't get too excited now, I did say *MY* mind - never anything too exciting going on in there!!

First, I have decided that I have become way too much of a frumpy mom!!!  This point was proven to me just yesterday when my youngest came home from preschool.  As I was giving her a welcome home hug, she looked at me and said, "Mom, where did you go today?"  I thought, how does she know I didn't stay home?  I told her I went to a neighbors house.   Then asked her, "How did you know I went somewhere?"  She smiled and said, "Because, you have make-up and earrings!"  Point taken.  Today, I will be putting on make-up AND earrings... as soon as I get my shower... which will hopefully be before my husband gets home this afternoon.

Second.  Those who know me, know I enjoy a few TV shows.  I used to watch WAY too much TV!!!  Impossible, you say???  Not Mary!!!  Yes, yes, it is the sad, sad truth.  So, I have had to discipline myself and now there is no more Today show or Oprah or anything during the day (unless one of the kids is watching a movie and I catch some of it, of course).  But, I do enjoy an occasional American Idol (I know - there are many of you who hate this show, but I just can't help myself!!!) and Biggest Loser (the people on this show are so inspirational, if a bit scheming at times).  Well, this year on AI, there has been this 17 yr old from Utah that I have just keep thinking I had seen before.  Well, I finally discovered that I HAD seen him before.  On Star Search years ago.  Check him out...

I have to admit that I am a big fan.  He seems like a good kid with an even better voice.  Plus, (so sorry, D but it's the truth) he looks quite a bit like my brother-in-law!  My kids even said it before I voiced the opinion outloud.  My bil likes to deny this, but he might as well just be happy that he doesn't look like some of the other contestants!!  ;)  Ha Ha!

Here's my favorite he has sung so far.  OH, and if for some reason I die in the near future, ask him to come sing For Good at my funeral, won't you?  (check it out on you tube)

(NOW... what to do about too much computer time...????)

ALOHA!!!!!

My dad surprised me about a month ago and asked me to go to Hawaii with him for a week.  He needed a little getaway and thought I would be right companion.  Hopefully, I didn't disappoint him!!  We had fun walking along Waikiki beach, hiking up Diamond Head, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, going to the Polynesian Cultural Center, and going to the North Shore (mostly Pipeline Beach) to take photos of the surfers.  Thanks Dad for the fun trip!!!

(PS - click on photos to see them larger!)

from the top of Diamond Head...

Here's us!!

Me at the International Market Place - check out those goldfish!!!

the view from the balcony on the floor of our hotel (our room window had an ocean view)

my feet!

some cool building...

ALOHA!! (continued)

These next few photos are from the Polynesian Cultural Center.  They don't allow flash photography so I had my shutter speeds soooooo slow (sometimes 1/8th of second)!!!  Needless to say, I had to hold very still.  These are the ones that turned out the best.  The PCC rocked!!!

Now on to the surfing.  They certainly start young and impressive as illustrated in these first two photos.  The first four photos are from the first day we went to watch and I thought the squalls were decent sized.  The rest of the photos are from the day we left to head home and a professional photographer I chatted with told me the day was one of only three really good days of the season.  So, the squalls were HUGE.  I'm not even sure if I captured the biggest ones.

I was playing around in photoshop with this one.  It's a little different.

No one fell off of their board in any of the following photos.  :)

Poor guy broke his board!

Don't know if you can tell, but here's a photo of a bunch of surfers waiting for the waves to come.  Wish I knew the correct terminology.  Click on it to see it larger.