a week away

Over the last two years with how busy Kimco Plumbing and Fern Hollow have been, Robb and I had been unable to get away for a vacation just the two of us.  We started thinking about it this last winter and realized it had been over 13 years since Robb and I had gotten away on a trip just the two of us.  No family, no friends, no wedding, no mission trip to organize and lead, no conference to attend, just the two of us spending time away together exploring a new place.  The last trip the two of us took was in 2000 when we spent a week in San Francisco and camped along hwy 101 on our way home.  It was an amazing 10 days.  We loved being together just the two of us, exploring new things and seeing new places.

So, when we found out that we were being given an all inclusive trip to the Dominican Republic we were elated. Now, since the trip was through work there would be a couple dinners/cocktail parties we would need to attend but otherwise we would have an entire week to be just us relaxing and enjoying some time in the sun.  This last February we headed to Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana for a week of luxury. 

For those of you who are planners out there, the idea of turning over your travel itinerary to someone else...well you can understand when I say it is a little nerve wracking. Up until about 10 days before our trip, we didn't even know our flight information.  We received it though, along with our transportation info and hotel reservations and on February 17th we arrived at the airport at 8:30pm and checked in for our 10pm flight. We were embarking upon a long journey but we were excited. :)

Here is a little glimpse at our trip, from lounging at the beach, to exploring our resort and our trip to Santo Domingo to see the 1st city in New World.  It was a great trip simply because we got to spend it together. I look forward to our next adventure together...my husband truly is my favorite travel companion. :)

The beach in front of our resort was beautiful.  We spent hours lounging, reading and sipping ice tea.

The very first cathedral - built by the Spanish but uses French Gothic influences in the architecture.  It was quite an amazing site to see.

Robb loved all the history - like how Sir Francis Drake (the English Privateer...read Pirate) took over the Cathedral and slept in it in order to show that he had power and control or the people.

Quick snapshot between stops. 

Construction projects take years and years to complete.  We saw many buildings in this phase with no one working on them.

Entrance to the city for the common folk and servants.

The door into the home of the Columbus royals.

The armor brought over by Christopher Columbus that was never used because it was too hot.

As of course, because of the profession we are in, we couldn't leave without taking some photos of the plumbing in the city.  Robb especially loved the downspout line that went against gravity and traveled in an upwards direction halfway down the building. :)

Robb and the guard at the capitol building.

The lighthouse where Christopher Columbus' body is laid to rest.

An amazing trip to Santo Domingo.  There is so much history there.  We loved our day in the city.

Stephanie, our Moen rep. :)

We ended up meeting a great couple (Mat & Rita) who live in Buckley and had dinner with them a couple nights as well as spending one of our days hanging out with them at the pool. 

It really was a beautiful resort and a beautiful beach.  That said, I think the beaches in Maui were more beautiful simply because they were less populated and more serene.

  

Our last photo at the resort after enjoying a wonderful breakfast before heading to the airport.

Hubby carved our names and the date onto one of the posts at the airport. 

Goodbye to the DR!

where'd you go, bernadette by maria semple

Wow!  An emotional roller coaster of characters.  I enjoyed reading Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple.  A thoroughly humorous look at the many facets of Bernadette's life; an artistically successful architect who struggles with her own inner demons while raising her daughter in a city she very much dislikes while her husband basks in his own stardom at Microsoft.   Refreshingly written through a series of letters, emails and memos; I loved how we get to see the story from so many of the characters' points of view.

** Although I wouldn't rate this as a 'must read', it was definitely a book I would recommend.  A fun story that kept you guessing what was next. A little piece of me wants to be a little more like Bernadette.

the light between oceans by m.l. stedman

A deeply moving love story, The Light Between Oceans captures the reader.  Its vivid setting, the Janus Rock in Australia, creates a backdrop for a poignant tale where life's inevitable element of loss & despair fall upon the story's compelling characters, struggling to regain their sense of balance and contentment. 

I spent the last three chapters in tears.  I was invested in the characters' emotional survival; their loves, their losses, and their struggles.  There were many times I found myself holding my breath not sure of the outcome, hanging onto the edge of the precipice, waiting for solid footing to be secured by Tom and Isabel.

*** I would highly recommend this novel.  Very well written.  I loved the attention to detail in explaining the complexities of caring for a lighthouse, and the emotional gravity experienced during great trials no one in this live will ever completely escape.  Just don't forget your box of tissues!

eight keys by suzanne lafleur :: literature

 

 

I made a decision years ago that when my girls got to the age when they started to be assigned books in school, I would read those same books.  This way I would know what they were reading and also know that they were reading them. :)  That time has come and there have been some revisions to this plan.  Miss O and I have decided that we will share our individual thoughts with you on each of the books we read.  Know that we are not reading these together but rather taking turns each reading them.

 

This last month we have had two.  Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur is the first and we will give you our input on it in this post.  Another post will follow sharing our insights on Protecting Marie by Kevin Henkes.

 

After giving our thoughts on the book we will each rate the book on a 3 start rating.

*    poor

**  good

***amazing must read

 

Mom's Thoughts

A well written book about a young girl who is trying to find herself.  Having lost her mother at birth and her father when she was a small child, she enters middle school struggling to identify who she is and what her future holds.  Everything she has known seems wrong and she is embarrassed by the identity she feels others have given her.  It is a little sad watching her struggle as I remember having similar struggles at that age and thinking about my Miss O, similar in age.  Just as she is meeting with these challenges, however, she remembers a key she saw with her name on it and decides to investigate.  This discovery leads her on a journey of self discovery and confidence that is both hard to read but reassuring also.  She struggles as we all do in our lives, but she learns great lessons along the way.  ** I give this book 2 stars.  It was a good story including struggles and triumphs and seems like a perfect book for girls between the ages of 10-12.

 

 

Miss O's Thoughts

 This book was good.  Very inspirational.  My favorite character is Elise. I enjoyed her curiosity and how although she had a lot of difficulties, I was able to watch her overcome these. This helped me because sometimes people tease other kids because they are having their own struggles and really they just need help and a friend.  This book reminded me of that.  It was sometimes hard to read because as she was facing her struggles and trying to figure them out, she sometimes made wrong choices.  ***I give this 3 stars. I think this is a perfect read for girls or boys ages 9 and up who are looking for books that show examples of overcoming difficulties and struggles through adventure.



morse family at raspberry ridge farm :: photography

More fabulous families that I was blessed to photography this fall.  I first met the Morse family when my E and their oldest went to Poulsbo Coop Preschool years ago.  They are an absolutely fabulous family and their extended family was no different.  Raspberry Ridge Farm offered up a great place for the shoot.  Can't wait to get out there again.

 

Thank you so much Michelle for letting me capture your lovely family.  Your girls hold a special place in my heart and I love seeing the beautiful young ladies they are growing up to be.

hedgpeth family at the family tree :: photography

Being a woman, wife, mother and property owner means that I am pretty much busy all the time. All this busyness means that I don't get to see many of my friends as much as I would like.  So, when the stars align in just the right way so that I get to not only see friends but photograph their beautiful growing family, that is a GREAT day!

 

Paulene and I have known each other for over 23 years.  These days, with her living over 3 hours away and both of us having families, we rarely get to see each other.  This last weekend was a fabulous treat.  We snagged a few photos out by our property before heading out to The Family Tree to pick out a Christmas tree, visit with friends and take some more photos. 

 



Thank you for trusting me to capture such precious moments of your lives. :)

dynamic duo thowdown at kcf

For quite some time now my husband has been working out at a local Crossfit gym here in town.  Since that day in June of 2011 that he went to his first WOD at Kitsap Crossfit, he hasn't looked back.  He loves it and he loves the people he has met along the way.

This last weekend his gym, Kitsap Crossfit, hosted the Dynamic Duo Throwdown benefiting Survive & Thrive & Lauriel Luther.   He signed up during the planning phase to participate as a volunteer.  He was going to help with the judging.  As I got to thinking (I realize a sometimes dangerous endeavor) I decided it would be a lot of fun to go and take photos.  I would get to shoot something I don't normally shoot (a learning experience for me) and learn a little about Crossfit (something my husband enjoys) in the process. Boy was I in for an experience.

I could try to caption the following photos, but I don't think I could even find the words to express how completely blown away I was by so many things.  The strength of the athletes for sure but also the support and love shown for a fellow athlete who has been through so much, the friendship, and the way each athlete supported the others with a no man left behind attitude.  It was so refreshing to see someone succeed at something and then instead of prancing around with a "yeah that's right attitude" as we see so often, these athletes, even in their exhaustion, would root on those still attempting to complete the tasks set before them.  What a sight.  So, here are a few of the captures I have from Saturday. 

I have to admit, there is still a lot I don't understand but after this last weekend I can at least understand enough of the lingo that I can react accurately when Robb tells me he improved his snatch or got a pr on his clean & jerk.  I know what he is talking about when he tells me he did Fran. I have seen people do Fran and truthfully, it looked painful. But kudos to these athletes for their amazing skills and thank you to Kitsap Crossfit for letting me wander around taking photos and learning a little about what Crossfit is all about.