The Tides, They are A Changin'

As many of you know, the economic downturn has hit Oregon and our family particularly hard. At this point in time, the chances of landing even a mediocre job here is about equal to the chances of winning the PowerBall. So, it is with great excitement that I can announce that I have actually landed a job in a very cool little place called Newspace Center for Photography. The people who work there are  wonderful and the work shown in the gallery is continually fresh and dynamic.

I feel energized being back in my photographic element. I am truly fortunate....and heading out to buy a lottery ticket.

Here's a link; check it!!

www.newspacephoto.org

I Made It Through Spring Break and All They Gave Me is This Lousy Blog Post

So there's a lot happening in our family right now; plenty to blog about, like a new job (!!) and our family's dancing debut in Les Ruses D'Amour (If it goes well, I'm thinking we're takin' it on the road), but for now, I wanted to share some photos from Spring Break just to prove that we made it through without any serious catastrophe.

Now, there was a time when I could never have imagined the word "catastrophe" and "Spring Break" in the same sentence. "Mexico" and "Spring Break," sure. "Bikini," "sunshine" and "margarita," with "Spring Break,"  bring it! Even, "sunburn" and "hung over" with "Spring Break," I have a small place in my heart for. Ah, the good 'ole days (*sniff*). No, the whole Spring Break paradigm shifted for me when my children took over my much beloved holiday and claimed it as their own. Goodbye Mexico, bikini and margaritas. Hello, countless hours of board games and play dates, boredom induced meltdowns and my own frayed nerves.  I'll try not to be bitter.

All kidding aside and much to my delight, the 9 days that we had together were pleasant, especially given the fact that, up until that point, Sydney and Alex seem to be steadily working toward their Professional-Sibling-Rivalry certificates. (Apparently, the curriculum includes wrestling moves that would rattle even the most hardened men in the WWF and a good dose of ear splitting shrieking beginning with the word "Mooooommmm!...." added in for extra credit ). But, we made it! We did it! And it was, shall I say, enjoyable!
Well, OK.  It didn't hurt that we spent some of our time here:

Cullen + Angie

Here you go, Wisconsin! Here are a few more photos that I took at Cullen and Angie's wedding. Tim will post his soonly.

 

 

Love, Sweet Love

   I love a good wedding. I love the coming together in the spirit of devotion and hope, the cake, the cheer, or, if for no other reason, to witness which crazy relative comes out of the family closet and wreaks havoc in some unsuspecting way (I'm lookin' at you, my sweet brother Dan).
  The only thing I love more than a good wedding, is a good surprise wedding. After 8+ years, Tim's cousin Cullen and his lovely girlfriend, Angela decided to make honest people out of each other. They got the judge on Monday, called us Tuesday, and had the wedding on Wednesday. Quick and dirty and sooooo much fun!
  For all of the family in Wisconsin, bare with me; I'm working on all of the images from the wedding and I'll post more in the next couple of days. Until then, congratulations, Cullen and Angie! We loved being part of your special day!

Whatever Gets You Through the Night

I have to hand it to Alex, he tries. He really does.

Case in point: 
  Alex finds himself blessed and cursed by attending a Mandarin Immersion Program for school. He gets a kick out of learning a  language that no one else in the family comprehends and he finds it especially delightful when he gets to "teach" me Chinese (I use the word "teach" loosely because the only phrase that I have managed to remember over the last three years is 'My butt is on fire,' which will obviously be loads of help to me in China).
  On the flip side, going to a school like this one requires Alex to spend a fair amount of time with his arch nemesis, otherwise known as: Homework. (Key in the sinister sounding music here.) Last year was an almost daily battle with his sworn enemy that left him frustrated and deflated and me ready to sell him and his Chinese school on Ebay.
  This year, however, he has found his balance. Besides doing his homework behind furniture or under blankets with a flashlight, he uses this little trick to mix things up. Had I any idea how much it would focus and calm things, I'd have worn it every single day for my Chemistry classes in college.

 That's my boy.

Walkin' on Sunshine

While some of you have been buried under enough snow this winter to seriously consider moving to Florida (Wait! They got snow too!), Portland has received it's own version of crazy weather. It's called "sunshine." In February. Although I can almost see the collective eye rolling, I have to tell you that this is noteworthy. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining; in fact, I have spent a lot of time reveling in it. But allergies in February are no picnic. And Portland, as my friend Chelsea so noted, may be the only place on the planet where sunshine causes traffic jams (I wish I were kidding).

At any rate, I thought I'd share a few shots that I've taken over the last few days of things awakening. But as a side note, please don't fantasize about moving here. It's pretty, but unless you're willing to swing on a pole for a living (and some of you might totally fit the bill), the finding-a-job-thing here is about as much fun as the layers of snow you are residing under.

 

  

 

A Nod to Hybernation

Gray skies and rainy days. We're making the most of it.