ALOHA!!!

here are my Hawaiiiii pictures
what a beautiful island! it was my first time to maui. we took the road to hana, went swimming at black sand beaches, white sand beaches, snorkeling with the sea turtles. I saw an octopus too, and of course the most incredible assortment of colorful fish in the world. i could snorkel all day long!!!
we went to the "bamboo forrest' and hiked, and swam in pools beneath huge waterfalls, in freshwater caves, and... wow.. it was truly incredible. OH! and i saw my first whale ever. It jumped so high out of the water. it was breathtaking. literally! It TOOK MY BREATH AWAY! I climbed a huge banyon tree.stood up in the back of a jeep on a bumping twisting toad looking out at the ocean and orange flowers adorning the canopy of trees along the way.
With the wedding planning and all, we really only had one day to pack it all in.. and we sure did.
I didnt lay on the beach once single time. my towel didnt even make it out of my bag. There was just too much to see and do.
and there was no way i was going to waste a single minute of it !
i felt like a little kid, scurrying from rock to rock, and diving in deep cold pools of water, and scaring myself to death swimming into dark nooks of caves.
i didnt have to worry about putting sunblock on my "three" children (brandon always forgets too!!) or worry about anyone drowning in the ocean if i turned my back. and i of course got to spend time with my girlfriends that i havent had a real uninterupted conversation in years with.
i could stop and listen to the bamboo swaying in the wind, clanking together like wooden wind chimes (honestly this was a spiritual expreience) . I could do whatever the hell i wanted and not worry about anything with only a camera stuffed into my bathing suit. i finally left my towel behind.. the weather was so warm. i didnt care to dry off.
i missed my family of course, but i needed that date with nature. it rejuvinated my soul. thats for sure.
although, all the while... every spot i went, i kept saying outload, "i cant wait to take my babies here someday"



and of course the wedding was beautiful...

the last couple weeks...

Thank you to everyone who made my bday weekend so memorable. and...im uploading some pretty awesome pictures right now..in the mean time...
blog catch up.. .



The guppies are happy as all hell. they are breeding like crazy! even the african frog and bumble bee gobies cant keep up with eating all the little offspring..






and... my pammy was in town.. thank god for year round school down in so cal, cause id die if pammy only came home in the summer..



New york.... new york.....


birthday parties...






chloes boyfriend...


happy bday to my dear friend reina. i love you!



happy bday chase!


nice winter evenings with good friends and good beer.





and.... berkeley at sunset... after a trip to the east bay vivarium. ummmmmmm AWESOMENESSSSS


OK>>> my hubby misses me now. and we have a date with thirty rock on netflix online. peace .

this next year is gonna fly....

yesterday i turned 29.

today we have a new president!

my new pea puffers are living harmoniously with my old spotted puffers.

the cats new "invisible fence' seems to be working.

I had the best weekend ever.

my daughter is reading.

I had a meeting and booked a wedding this evening.

Im going to hawaii in a week.

my house is clean

i went running tonight

we are patiently watching newt eggs for movement.

the weather is beautiful.

im drinking korbel and looking at red roses from my bday.

im overdrawn , and i dont care. life is good.

time to go read bedtime stories. =)

The tooth fairy was here last night...

i might just have to buy this for myself ....

Bird dress
..but ive never spend that much on any article of clothing...

my babies!

So, ive had this lovely break from work, no pics, no (mandatory)computer time. its been greeeaaaattt . so ,yesterday I figured id take some actual portraits of MY kids for a change! i mean, that is, how this whole photo thing started in the first place....
its been gorgeous out. as you can see...










I have a feeling this will be the last picture with all her baby teeth. the bottom left one was dangling pretty good this morning.

Ive had visions of her all day walking out the door from school with a plastic baggy in her hand. with that little baby tooth. I swear, it was just yesterday i was rubbing my fingers across her slippery little gums feeling the little tiny ridges of her first tooth beneath the surface.

**sigh





afterwards, we hit up the dairy for THE BEST ICE CREAM IN THE WORLD!! They were so patient at the "shoot".

new web page!

im so excited!!!
my new web page is up and running! what do you think?
xoxoox
(imagesbylori.com)

mt tam!

Celebrated new years with the fam yesterday. met up with uncles aunties cousins on Mount Tamalpias. If you have never been up there.. you should go! its beautiful.