Sweet

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My friend asked me to take head shots of her daughter who competes in the Cinderella pagents locally. She didn't need anything fancy, just something to include in the program. So, Tori and I had fun at my house for about an hour. I like the way they turned out. She is a sweetie...

Happy Twenty10

While I said goodbye to not just another year, but a decade, I had to reflect on whether it was a good 10 years. Here is my top 10 assessment in no particular order:

1. Besides the last 6 months, I have been healthy
2. My beautiful girls have grown to young ladies who drive me nuts, but who are also healthy
3. My husband puts up with me and is also healthy
4. We have only lost four pets (1 dog, 1 cat and 2 turtles), if you don't count fish
5. I have lost 3 relatives
6. I am employed in this struggling economy
7. I have some great friends who have stuck with me through thick & thin
8. I have been able to get out of NM more and explore the country
10.I have more house, more cars, more clothes and more shoes than I could ever use.

Not too bad of a list. I just know that life is pretty good at our little house.

Good morning twenty10 sunrise.

Where will the road take me in the next 10 years?

1. I hope to be back on my bike and riding 2 centuries a year
2. Successfully graduate my kids so they can be productive in society
3. Become a missionary for 1 year in Mexico with Frank (he doesn't know yet)
4. Successfully retire my husband (only 4 years to go)
5. Ride through Italy on my bike
6. Take lots of pictures wherever I go
7. Convince my husband that I really do NEED that $$$$ camera
8. Continue to foster good relationships with my peeps
9. Become a foster parent
   
10. Continue to know that I can not take anything with me when I die, money, cars, houses, shoes. Except one thing... my kids. So they know to stay close to God so I will see them again heaven. (sorry, kind of morbid).
    

Here are some pictures of one of my favorite animals. The girls and I love to go horseback riding, and in the summer I'm sure they will back with their lessons.






I am not a good new year's resolution maker. I gave up making lists a long time ago. This year as we were saying goodbye to 2009, we went around the room and everyone toasted something from the past and something to look forward to for the new year. The girls were very silly as they were thinking of what they wanted to accomplish for twenty10. Out of 10 of us sitting around, only one made me cry...Frank. He sure does know how to get deep inside me. Brat

"The best things in life aren't things." This is one of my favorite quotes.

I used to be more of a "stuff or things" person. I wanted all the good "stuff". The better car, the better house, the better furniture. Until I saw a person with lots of "stuff". It was too much and I started judging them for having "stuff" they don't use. They had "stuff" new in boxes they didn't even know they had. I think I realized that its just "stuff", and "stuff" is replaceable. It does not replace relationships. Don't get me wrong... I still like "stuff", I just don't need "stuff". Upon my new revelation, me and the girls cleaned our rooms. I had 2 big bags of trash, 3 bags of clothes (that I will get into one day) and 25 pair of shoes. The girls were similar in their purging. Bailey still is the hoarder in our family.

I am rambling. Twenty10 has started out well. I wish the new year and decade is a wonderful journey for you. Thanks for the well wishes on my knee surgery. It went fine. I just want to get back on my bike and ride and ride and ride...

Merry Christmas to all...

A Christmas song for you. Click on the link.

"Sometimes Christmas Makes me Cry"

~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvWTJ44Am4g

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Christmas – that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance – a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.

Augusta E. Rundel

~

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

Agnes M. Pharo


I hope Christmas brings you love,

I hope Christmas brings you joy,

I wish lots of hugs for you this Christmas,

I wish lots of kisses for you this Christmas,

a nd

I hope you remember to BELIEVE...

in what Christmas is,

what Christmas is about.
C

New Toy :0)

I love new things... especially things I can play with like new software.

Yes, I got Photoshop Elements. I have been taking an online class and I am just loving it.

Can you see the difference betweent the two? The bottom picture is the original and the one on top the edited version.

Kind of a grunge look.

~~~~~~~~

What do these eyes see?

~~

"The eyes are the windows to your soul." Who said that?

When I meet people, the first thing I usually notice about them are their

EYES.

I envy those who have colored eyes. Mine are boring brown.

Sometimes they are really dark

BROWN.

The eyes below... yes, they belong to my daughter.

They are beautiful Green, Blue and Hazel.

"Where does she get them?" is the the most common question I get. Her sister has beautiful Sky Blue eyes. Yes, I envy both of my girls eyes.

Well, their dad has Green eyes and all of his maternal side has Blue eyes. On my side (complicated story), my biological father has Bright Blue eyes. Apparently, I have an ancestor from the Mescalero Apache Indian Tribe who had blue eyes. Who knew? Yet, my eyes are still boring Brown.

Bailey loves hats. So, we went outside and took some pictures of her and her hats. I just love this one. She is a soulful person. Loving, caring, thoughtful, bratty (11 years old), giving and very warm. Her long black eyelashes accent those pretty eyes. I'm glad she has them.

~

click on the image to see her pretty eyes up close

Do you like the color of your eyes?

XO

A Magical Time

~~~

Even though I live in New Mexico, I never seem to tire of traditions/events that happen at the same time every year. Like Balloon Fiesta. There is something magical about the balloons when you are walking out on the field. Time seems to stand still for a few moments and every where you look, people are happy. It does not matter if you go for balloon glows or get up at the crack of dawn to watch them inflate and launch above you...the magic is there. I hope if you have never experienced it first hand, you will make it an item on your bucket list. There is nothing like being here in person to experience it first hand.

Our tradition is camping at the balloon park rv camp with thousands of others from around the world. Some of our friends and family think we are nuts to camp 10 miles from home, but for us it is three days of fun. The buses come around and drive us to the entrance and take us back when we are done. Or, we just wake up, grab a good warm cup of coffee and sit with a blanket as the balloons float over us. This year about 10 friends camped with us. Some of the faithfuls that come every year, and some new friends who are now hooked on this tradition.



My favorite balloon is Darth Vader. While I have never seen any of the new Star Wars movies and probably could not tell you anything about the originals way back when, Darth always seems to call my name.

~~~~~~~~~~

Come and join us next year. Our house is always open.

XOXO

~~

Starts & Finishes

"The way to get started is to stop talking and start doing."

Walt Disney (1901–1966)

Lots of things to get started as fall approaches, and lots of things to finish.
Most of the time when I get home from work, all I want to do is sit around and relax.
~
But... children bring me back to reality.
~
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the changing colors and fresh air that blows in the house. I love all the leaves falling in my yard. I love sleeping with the window open as the cool air comes into my room forcing me to get another blanket or snuggle up to someone a little more to stay warm. And, this is about the only time I like to bake. Somehow baking is easier when it is cooler. So, Bailey and I will start baking. MacKenzie only likes to eat.
~
~ Happy Fall ~