Good Bye Maya...

Satuday was a very sad day for our family. Maya, our 2 year old quaker parrot pet, passed away.
She had a very bad depression, it seems like that is very common in those birds, She used to talk a lot and be around all the house hangging out with everybody. Two weeks ago she stopped talking, she was eating good but she was very sad, she refused to come out of the cage, she barely moved.
We gave her everything we could to help her with the depression but nothing worked, she started to bite herself so she began to lose her feathers, she even injured herself bad one time.
On Friday she had a strange look in her eyes, she came out of the cage twice, one with Oscar and one with me and that was it. We covered the cage as every night and in the morning she was gone.
The kids are devastated, Ana Paula woke me up with the news, she told Maya was now in the star with Aby and Pepe (my parents) and Santiago keeps on repeating "Maya is gone".
She was a great pet and filled our family with joy for this 2 years.
We already miss you Maya. Que paso?

A little bit of this week

This week was a very busy one. I had scrapbooking classes on tuesday and thursday, ust as the old times. The tuesday class was especially hard, I had this lady that complaint about everyhting, and when I say everyhting I mean every single thing. She didn't bring a cutter or glue or anythign to class and pretended that I completed her book, of course I didn't and she starte to have a very nasty attitude... TG my dear frinds rescue me and we went to have dinner to Cafe Vialetto, I LOVED THAT PLACE! this time Lily Manash joined, Lary, Lisely Denise and me. We had a great time and I could vent, I was so frustrated... (Thanks guys, as always I had a great time with you and dinner was excellent!). On thursday Cecilia, the lady from Pery that contacted me, got here for her intensive 5 days scrapbooking training, she is very nice, she came with a friend that is taking the workshop too, so I was teaching them from 10 to 2, then I had class @ Let's Scrap again. I went to have dinner with Denise and we had a great time talking and talking and talking. I love to hang out with Denise, I can sit and talk to her for hours!
Friday my classes continued during the morning and in the afternoon I had a Maternity photo shoot. I just love the pictures I took. Marcy and Fred are really nice and we had a great time! She is really pretty and have this beautiful belly, a little bit small for photographic purposes but beautiful, and Fred is very handsome too so I am very happy with the pictures, here are some of my favorites.

Splish splash and yet more splish splash.

Finally the hot (really hot) weather is here so of course it is that time of the year when Santiago and Ana Paula only wear chancletas and want to be on a bathing suit all day. On Sunday we were planning to spend all day @ the beach so I called the Irvine's to ask them if they wanted to join, instead of that I received an invitation to come over to their home and enjoy the pool. Did I said enjoy the pool? that is exactly what the kids did, the got into the water the minute we got there around 1 and came out when we left around 8! the day was perfect and they had a blast with Madison, Gordo and Wheezy (Am I aloud to call them like that too? those are the nicknames for Cameron and Caden from aunt Nis) anyways they were really happy jumping, splashing, playing, swiming. They were out for about 10 mins. to eat a hotdog and then back to splash. Lori and George were also there and Kirsta and Rodger too. Santi received some great diving lessons from George and even could get some toys from the bottom of the pool.
As for the grown ups I had a great time watching all the old pictures Denise and Russ have, man they really had a great time when they were younger! And of course I took my camera and shoot a couple of pictures, here are some of my favorites:

Mother's Day Phto shoot

Finally I had a break from the computer, I've reviewed more than 1,500 pictures during this past 3 days. On Saturday I had my Mother's Day Photo shoot @ Let's Scrap, I loved taking all those kids photos and especially with their moms, I think that photography is great for showing people's true bonds so all this moms with their children made my day. We finish around 5 and I went straight home to work on the pictures. I had to print 6 for each person for the Mother's Day mini book class that was yeserday. Working on this project has been really hard, this is my first Mother's Day without my mom, and I feel really sad. I can't stop thinking of how lucky are all the people who have their moms and that have the chance to hug her or talk to her. I couldn't even finish my book. Anyways here are some of my favs.

Tia Ali & Ana Laura

This past weekend my aunt Alicia and my cousin Ana Laura came to visit us. They spent here just2 days on their way to NY. This was ver especial as this is the first time that some family members come to visit us (without counting my, brother, sister or Mom) in 6 years. In all my houses I always try to have an extra room if possible or if not at least be prepared to receive the visit of family or friends, that never happened until this weekend.
We had a great time, Ana Paula and Santiago really needed to feel family near, especially after my mom's passing 9 months ago.
We went shopping, we drove all the way to Miami Beach to show them Oscar's office and we spent a lot of time talking, the kids were very happy to show them their school, rooms, things, etc. Too bad it was only for 2 days!
Here is a picture of each of them with the kids @ the Rusty Pelican's Sunday brunch.
Isn't it amazing how similar my aunt and my mom were? I think they look alike a lot!

Easter egg hunt!

We went to the Miami Seaquarium to the egg hunt thing this year, we usually go to the zoo but we decided to change this year. It was great! Ana Paula was a little bit confused because after they picked all the eggs they were supposed to return them! yes you put all your eggs back in a thing and they trade them for a goodie bag with a bean bag turtle, other souvenirs and candy. I think that is a great idea as they don't get too much candy and we don't come back home with tons of plasic eggs. After the egg thing they got to go to all the rides there, and guess what... they were water rides, and guess what... mom didn't bring bathing suits or towels so they were very disapointed but I told them I didn't mind if they get wet in their clothes so they had a blast! Then we went to the face painting, the lady doing it was very good! I love what she did with them, Santi was a Shark and Ana Paula a mermaid.
Here are some pictures

Spring Break

This week as part of our spring break activities we went to the beach. The weather was perfect, sunny, not too hot and breeze, love days like that. Ana Paula and Santiago had a blast playing in the sand, running around and of course arguing a little bit. They went to the rocks to find hermit crabs but they didn't have luck, they tryed to catch a crab but they couldn't. Then they decided to catch a fish with the nets, they failed too but we had a great time.
I had time to relax a bit, listen to my ipod's recent additions, read and think, today was a decisions day, many things going on inside and I think that change is coming. It just has to. I've been thinking a lot about my mom and all the things i've learned from her, now I realized how strong she was and even though everybody say I am like her, it is only in the otside, I hope I was as strong as she was, I really need that right now.
I also had time to play with my camera, I've been experimenting a lot with it trying to get used to it. The old one had tricks I knew perfectly well so we are getting to know each other. This are some of my favorite pictures from today.
Tomorrow Tia Ali and my cousin Ana Laura arrive, they are stopping here on htier way to New York, they will be spending the weekend with us.

Happy Aniversary!!

Today is my dear friends Denise and Russ 10th. year wedding anniversary. WOW!
If you think of great relationships and a great love story they are the ones!, they are a really great couple and have a perfect realtionship.
I hope you have a great day! Enjoy!
Feliz Aniversario!
I love you guys!

BAD AND GOOD NEWS

First the bad news, Saturday while working with my kids on a photoshoot for my mother's day project, my camera died in my arms! it just wouldn't focus anything, first I thought it was the lens and changed it but nothing... I can't describe how I felt after that. I stayed all day in bed ON on sunday really depressed, my photo business is starting to be busy and now this!
I've been trying to save to get the new Nikon D200 but things home haven't been good so all the money I was making in the photo business and scrapbooking classes went straight to living budget so of course right now I can't get the camera; but that is my instrument to make money so I need it, it was not just that I wanted it but there is no way I can afford a 1,600.00 camera right now.
Now the good news!So I got a D70s, this is pretty much as the one I had, well mine had this cool things I loved but that are not indispensable ayways (I have to cheer myself ). Mine was 5 years old and technology changes a lot,so this one is "better" (I have to keep on cheering myself ) so with all the pain of my heart I had to let my old one go and say goodbye.
I am sending it for a reapair estimate but I already know it would be around the 400.00 dlls to reapair and it would take around 2 months so maybe it is not worth it.So I will spend this week (kiddos springbreak) playing with my new toy, we need some time together, we need to know each other so we can start our romance.
Gosh I really feel like I lost a good friend and a great lover!!.
This is my new baby!

I just need to vent...

I've had a terrible weekend. After a not so good week, this weekend came. I am having problems with the lab. the matte impressions are not so good and of course people keep on ordering matte... oh and with cropping too, I have to reprint some orders arghh!
and to top it all. yesterday I had everything ready for my mother's day shoot and my camera died, I am so mad and sad all at the same time. I have to send it for repair and it will last 2.5 to 3 months to be back plus the $ they are going to charge me. I was trying to save to get the new Nikon D200 but that one is more or less $1,600.00 so of course I don't have that amount right now and the way of getting it was with the pictures but now with no camera... I have a big shoot the 22nd. and I don't know what I am going to do.
I would not be able to take pictures for almost 3 months. I feel devastated. If only I win the lotto... I just want to stay in bed I am devastated.

Pirate Party!

On Monday was Santiago's b-day. He turned 4! I can't believe he is growing so fast! To celebrate his birthday we did the Nemo and Fair activities on Sunday and on Monday we had a little dinner @ home with some of his friends. They came over and they played and fight for a while! we gave Santi as a b-day present a pitching thing that he loved so he wanted it in the party but didn't wanted to share it with the other boys so we had a lot of arguing. We had pizza and the cake. Let me talk about this absolutelly gorgeous cake. He saw it @ Publix and fell in love with it (me too) so as it was a pirate ship he wanted a piate party. TG I found plates and everything with pirate theme. I got him a cute pirate hat. When we went to pick up the cake his face was too much! he couldn't believe that was his birthday cake, and all the way to the car he kept on telling everyone: it's my birthday look @ my cake! It was too cute.
Well here are some pictures of the party and of my pirate birthday boy!

AWESOME MAMI... WHAT'S NEXT!

This is the first year we get to go to the fair and we had a super great time! After Finding Nemo we ate something an headed there. Lisely is working there so we went in her car. We went to the kiddie section and Santiago and Ana Paula went to all the rides, they had a blast going up and down. Their favorites were the the flying chairs, the dragon and the tobogan. Oh! did I mention that I went with 3 kids? Oscar went to the rides too! his favorite the flying chairs, everybody was looking at the big guy sitting in the little char and having a blast! We also played some of the games, Oscar won a big ball for Santiago in the one where you have to hit the target with water and then he tried again to win something for Ana Pau but what was his surprise to find out that Ana Pau won by herself! She was so happy and proud of herself! Santiago kept on saying after each ride: "Awesome Mami, what's next?"
We also went to see the fair circus it was OK, instead of horses there were dogs in horse costumes, and that was all for the animals but we saw too acrobatic things that were excellen, one of some guys from Africa and the other ones were from Europe. Ana Paula and Santi are very happy that they finally got to see the circus, but now she keeps on asking why I hate it if it was so much fun....
The only scary part was when Santiago started to move in the gigant fortune wheel, we were stopped on the very top and he was very active up there, Oscar was really nervous and I was really scared...
I had my delicious corn dog and a cinnamon roll that was to die for and Oscar got his turkey leg and his candy covered apple. We really had a blast! too bad it is only once a year!
Thanks Lisely for getting us in and for all your attentions inside and thanks Denise and Lisely for the tickets, we had really really a fun family day! Denise you are right...
THE FAIR... BE THERE! and for sure we will be there next year.

Finding Nemo on Ice

Today we went to the Aerican Airlines Arena to see Finding Nemo on Ice, Liz, a scrapping friend works there and gave me the tickets so there we went. Santiago was thrilled as we told him this was part of his brirhtday celebration, Ana Paula loves ice skating and absolutely loves Disney so they were very happy.
The tickets were in a perfect location, really close to the ice and of course I had my camera with me so I took a few good pictures of the show.
I have to say that I've seen a lot of Disney's on ice shows but this one is excellent, the wardrobe design, the lighting, the set decoration, the fx and music everything is so well done I just have to say this is one of my favorites ever.
We had a very good time, the kids enjoyed the show a lot, they ate cotton candy like crazy, got a coloring book and a shatk hat and had fun! did I mention a little arguing and crying because Santiago wanted to buy all the toys and souvenirs?
Thanks Liz, I really appreciate this present.

@ the park!

We spent al afternoon at the park yesterday, Oscar was playing ball with the kids while I had fun taking some pictures. The Irvines got there too and we had a blast watching Russ playing with Santiago, Ana Paula had one of those hard days and she cryed for everything every 10 mins! ufff! Dona Liber, as I call her, is so dramatic. she is such a bad loser, she gets really mad when she can't catch the ball or when her dad wins, we need to work on that!
I love to see Oscar playing with the kids.
Here are some of my favorite pictures.