Spring, Where Art Thou?

Wow, I just reread my last post about our Disneyland trip, remembering all the fun we had there and cannot believe that was over 4 months ago already.  I promised to be back with a Christmas post and the past few years, haven't missed my blog Christmas letter and end of the year photo slideshow, but alas, that did not happen this year.  If you were anxiously awaiting that, I apologize.  Here is my attempt at getting caught up for the first 3 months of 2012.
In a couple weeks, it is already Spring Break, which blows my mind.  Really hoping some spring weather comes along with that spring break rather than the crazy wind, rain, snow, freezing temperatures, and some sun mixed in, that we have had lately.  Although, who am I kidding?  This is spring weather around here!

So along with January came the usual birthday craziness with Hannah and Justin's birthdays.  This year, it seemed to be especially chaotic for some reason.  I guess just because Justin's first attempt at a birthday party failed when he woke up sick that morning, and with trying to schedule around other things, it all got drug out for the entire month.  We managed to get through them though. 

For Justin's 9th birthday,we went to a trampoline place, and he had a ton of fun bouncing and flipping all over with his friends.  They barely wanted to take time out from jumping for the Despicable Me minion cupcakes that I had made.

Justin and his buds

Hannah had a little more lowkey party.  She just wanted to take some friends to a movie.  She didn't even want to have a sleepover, which surprised me.  She had some friends over for pizza and cake and ice cream, and then I took them all to see "I Bought a Zoo."  I had to sit "away" from them so as not to cramp their style.  At 11 now, she is definitely asserting more independence and wanting to do more things just with her friends sans parents.  Not sure I'm ready for the next few years to come.

In keeping with the movie theme, I made these adorable (if I do say so myself) cupcakes.  I found the idea for these, along with the minion cupcakes, on Pinterest, my new favorite, although time sucking, site. 

All in all, it was a good birthday month, although I am always glad when it was over.  Unfortunately, things did not calm down much in February.

Hannah and her peeps

February brought our annual trip to our friends' cabin in the snow up on Snoqualmie Pass--always a much anticipated event.  It was yet another year of fabulous snow sledding, game playing and cabin relaxing fun.  The kids get more and more daring every year and this year, Justin was rocking his cheap plastic snowboard.  I think we might have to find a way to get him up on a real one sometime soon. 

Here he is catching some air

And here he is landing upright and he continued down the hill in an upright state

Owen and Hannah and even the old people got in on the fun too.

Here's the whole gang on the sweet ride back to the cabin after an exhausting time of sledding.  Much to their dismay, we made them walk to the sled hill the next day--it really isn't far--and the walk there isn't bad, but it's the walk back that they weren't happy about--plus the fact that they didn't get to ride on the snowmobile.

- NEWFLASH -

Spring may have arrived!!

I started typing this blog post about a week ago when the weather was still very UN-springlike.  In fact, just yesterday, the day after the first day of spring, we woke up to quite a bit of snow on the ground and a 2-hour late start to school.  There was even enough snow to go out and make a little snowman and giant snowball and to go sledding before school, but the snow melted pretty quickly and it actually turned out to be a nice day.  Then today we woke up to bright sun and some warmth and actual springlike weather.  Let's hope that the trend continues.

Okay, back to summing up the past couple months.  After our cabin trip, I got away for almost a whole week to Las Vegas for a photography convention with Camera Art Photography.  I had never been to Vegas before, and I have to say it was quite an experience.  I don't think there is probably anywhere else on earth like the Vegas strip with all the replications of so many worldly landmarks all melded together in one place and all the lights--oh, the lights.  It's beautiful but also strange.  There were also many aspects I did not find appealing, but like I said, it was an experience.  We actually did not have a whole lot of time to sightsee with the convention taking up most of our time for over 4 days.  In the evenings, we were too tired and sore from walking those huge Vegas blocks to even consider going down the strip. 

We did take some time out before the convention got in full swing to rent a car and drive to Redrock Canyon--definitely a place I would like to go back to. Unfortunately we got there a bit late for good light, but it was still gorgeous.

The Bellagio fountain show

The convention was a great experience with so many wonderful speakers and presentations.  I learned a lot and came back really excited for this next wedding season and whatever else photography related comes my way.  We did end up having time toward the end of the convention to make our way down the strip.  We actually visited the "World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop," home of the History Channel show "Pawn Starz."  Of course, the stars of the show are not there normally--only when something show worthy comes into the store and they need to film.  Of course, they had been filming earlier in the day, so we did just miss them.  My favorite part of the strip besides just looking at all the amazing buildings was the fountain show that goes off every few minutes in front of The Bellagio.  We watched it 3 or 4 times, and I love that it's different each time and all perfectly choreoraphed to whatever song they were using that time.

The other great thing about Vegas, of course, was the weather.  Given the nasty weather we had been having back home, it was nice to enjoy some sun.  Here you can see me enjoying a beautiful night in front of the Venetian--almost like I was in Venice.  Well, not really.  I've actually been to Venice, and it really doesn't compare, but they certainly do a good job at all these hotels of replicating the feel of all these far off places.  All in all, it was a great trip and great experience to go to the convention, but it was a long time away from Dale and the kids, and despite, the return to yucky weather, I was glad to get home. 

Well, I am going to leave my sum up of January and February at that since this post has gotten long.  We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa Lough tomorrow and spendig our spring break with them, so I will be back soon with more on that.

TTFN - Ta Ta For Now