Blog Addiction?

58%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

I found this site through another blog today, and I'm happy to say that I didn't even pass this test. But maybe some of you will realize an addiction, so check it out. Fun & funny.

It's Been Too Long!

I'm SO sorry my friends and family, things are insane. My daughter started school, I started a new job - and I finally had some time to get out and enjoy a few new things. Very lucky me, and now that I can finally tell you about some of these things....very lucky YOU!

Ok, firstly - I see my last post was Thursday and it's now Sunday. Mia did fantastic in school for her first few days. I know only what she tells me, but I gather she's having fun, loves riding the bus, and is maybe even learning something new. (It HAS only been three days.)

Friday afternoon I met with my new - uh - fellow job people. I know Serena hates "boss" - hehe. We worked out contract stuff and schedule stuff, and I got very happy and excited. We ALSO saw the new blog & website - the blog can be found at http://serenanicolestudios.typepad.com/thestudiobyserenanicole/
Eventually you'll also get to see the website, but I think you'll finally get the idea - and why it was so important that I keep things on the down-low. A very sweet bit is written by Serena on her blog at http://serenanicolestudios.typepad.com/serena_nicole_studios/ regarding the birth of THE Studio. Needless to say, we're all very excited. Saturday morning we all headed out to a beautiful garden to take some pictures of ourselves for the new website & such. Tough to be the subject, I'll tell you! Though it was hot, the garden was so lovely and the kids (who were all with us) were a blast. They loved it too.

Here are a few shots of ours from the garden:

Craig took these first 2 (don't you love the turtle looking up at her?):


I snapped Mia against this interesting wall:

I really wanted Mia to stand next to this guy making the same pose, but she was way too hot and too interested in playing in the waterfall.

Today (a very wet Sunday) we shot our first two sessions as training, with Serena & her assistant in close contact and thankfully, full of advice and help and suggestions. They were fantastic about giving all the info we needed while leaving enough room to let our creativity and ideas flow. I'm confident we'll be fabulous when on our own - and I'm also thrilled to have the team we do!

Lastly, we went to OKINAPA on Friday night for our first DATE night since we got here! Kelly, our sponsor's 23-year-old math teacher trainee daughter babysat Mia as we tasted wine and ate fantastic foods. (beef wellington, oysters, cheeses, pastries, pastas, etc.) Fabulous night, hundreds of wines from all over the world, and great prices. We bought 6 bottles, two of which were this delicious Bordeaux centered in the picture:


I can't wait to enjoy it with my hubby. And we got out of there for $79 for six GREAT bottles! That Okinapa deal goes down every six months - you can be sure we'll be there again in the spring! Ok, off to watch a movie - it's STILL pouring outside.

Zakimi Castle Ruins

At several locations on the island, there are castles and castle ruins. After visiting Zakimi, a smaller and less exciting one than others, by the way - we're definitely going to hit all of them! What a beautiful (hot) place, Mia even got into the photog game because we gave her a camera to play with! (You will see in the photos.)

Just lovely - and about 15 minutes from our house, so when the weather breaks, we'll go back and explore further.

All of the photos are here.

Here are some of the goodies.

Uh oh - someone has caught the shutter bug. She's so cute, when she takes a picture, she looks at it on the screen and says, "oh yeah - that's a good one!"
Headed toward the entrance:

I like this one, you just see her looking out from the shadow.
It's no perfect macro shot, but this butterfly was SO pretty and was fluttering so fast - I'm happy I even got a decent shot.

Great Day!

New stereo sounds fabulous (especially after changing the AWFUL blown-out speakers) - thank you, hubby. Finally my TUNES!

The kid had a fabulous first day of school, she said "nothing was bad...everything was.. GREAT!" I guess the bus ride in particular was fantastic, as was music class.

We didn't get many more details, but she could've given a full account of every second and we wouldn't have been satisfied. So - that's done! One more "first" is out of the way.

All the pictures from this morning can be seen here.

First Day of Kindergarten

There were tears - they were all MY tears, but that's ok. She was so excited.

The bus monitor was so sweet - he personally escorted each kindergartener on the bus first. Mia did great, she supported me the way I needed to be supported. Here are the last moments - now I'm off to get my new car stereo put in.


The movie was filmed in HD, that's why it looks "skinny" - sorry about that.

Here she is walking toward the stop from our house:

With our neighbor's daughter, Zoe (also in kindergarten, different teacher):

Backpacks!

Showing the monitor her bus pass (LOOK at all these kids! I swear, they filled the whole bus!):

See ya!

Fun Evening at American Village

We've been enjoying the new camera this weekend. Here are some highlights from yesterday. (full album of the princess pictures & the pictures from American Village can be found here.)

Craig snapped this one after I told her to jump in the air. I like it in black & white - and I don't really care that her head is cut off, it's interesting. Good job, honey.

Mia sitting by a little koi pond in front of a restaurant. I snapped this.

The wood boardwalk-esque boards by the shops make for a full background since they're so huge.
The ferris wheel - in Japanese, "kan-dan-cha" (one of the first words we learned, so we call this one kandancha in conversations all the time!) - it wasn't to hot, so we got on after I snapped this. It's REALLLY SLOOOWWWW - took 15 minutes to go once around. But the view is cool - it was fun! Pictures from above are in the Kodak album.

After dinner I shot this. The lights change & rotate, it's pretty fun.


On that big wood panel area this Japanese pop band, thirstyroad, was playing in the evening. (sounded like nice Disney music or Phil Collins in Japanese) Mia was entranced - she sat in front of them and swayed & clapped with the locals. During the break, Craig gave her 500¥ for a single, and she walked with me and bought it, thanking them in Japanese, "Arigato gozai mas!" They signed it for her, then posed for this shot. How cute!
Side note - I didn't take a picture in the dark of night, but while Mia watched thirstyroad, there were these Japanese guys rolling around on what I thought were skateboards. But they weren't - they were square skateboards, about 8"x8" square, with 2 skateboard wheels on the bottom of them. And they were GOOD! I saw an American go over there and try it, it definitely wasn't that easy. I had a hard time Googling it, but found them finally. They're called "Freeline Skates" - here's a site and it has video of people using them. Has this hit California yet? I'd never seen them, but I am by NO means into the skating scene. (really not cool, I know...)

My Gift

The true gift is my husband, but he just purchased the new 40D for me. Some celebratory pictures I took of Mia in our living room after she decided it was dress-up time.

This was taken with the 85mm lens.

Then I went & got our 17-35 so I could get her whole body down to those great princess shoes!

My favorite - this shot is priceless!

So jealous of my daughter's hair....