Currently out in Phoenix AZ inspecting a house that we are planning to purchase....more of that to come with pictures and information. My friend Linda and I hopped on a plane Thursday evening to make our way to Arizona. Of course the weekend we chose was the same weekend that Arizona was experiencing a week of rain. Not a problem except that the night we flew in TORNADOES were touching down!!! The people of Arizona were all a flutter....we folks from Indiana just took a tornado warning in stride:)
Inspected the house on Friday, picked up my son Jeffrey from ASU and then headed over to visit with a girlfriend from grade school/high school. We hadn't seen one another in over 20 years....although when we started chatting it seemed like last week. Donna and her family live in Chandler which is only a fe miles away from the home we are purchasing. Wonderful to have built in resources. On Saturday Donna invited us to hike the Superstition Mountains with her and a family friend. The scenery was absolutely incredible and we hiked for 3 1/2 hours!!!
My favorite shot of the day.....
Girlfriends never get old....just wiser:)
My baby...the bonus of a house in Arizona is that we get to see Jeffrey more often.
The hiking team...notice everyone's shoes....the recent rain left parts of the trail impassable without getting muddy! It just added to the fun!
Donna and Steve....thank you for an amazing hike through Superstition. As we make more visits to Arizona, I hope we can explore many more.
12.20.09
Girls' Getaway....Far Away:)
January 2007......I sat next to my friend Jayne, in a chilly computer lab, on a bleak January afternoon. We were entering curriculum data for the billionth time and the pile of work to do just seemed to grow. The clock on the wall was dragging its arms as it made its way closer to our finishing time. We were both overwhelmed from our current task, our classroom of students, family commitments and the bleakness that accompanies a January day. I looked at my friend and said, "Italy 2008??" She started to laugh and said, "I'm in!"
This would be our second girlfriend getaway. Our first trip started in a similar fashion....I was sitting at a computer perusing the website
Summer in Italy .....devouring every bit of eye candy the site had to offer. Villa after villa of gorgeous destinations. It didn't take me long to find 7 other girlfriends to go on the trip.
Why a Girlfriend Trip???
1. Girlfriends make you giggle.
2. They understand when you HAVE to find a restroom.
3. Girlfriends find bags of ice....when they don't know the Italian word for it...to help a friend with a migraine. ( It's ghiaccio.)
4. Gelato is ALWAYS a good idea.
5. Getting lost is an adventure.....not a curse.
6. When you are debating about buying that ceramic bowl...girlfriends don't say, "Do you really need that?"
7. Girlfriends loan one another clothes....and money....when the Italians don't take American Express travelers checques.
8. Girlfriends give big hugs when you have a flash of homesickness...
9. Girls are willing to go with the flow....a change of plans is welcomed.
10. Girlfriends will tell you if your skirt is caught in your underwear after leaving a restroom....it happened :)
Traveling with my husband and kids is my favorite thing to do.....hands down!!! Traveling with my girlfriends is a close second....or it could possibly be neck and neck:) If you have a group of girls and you would like to make this trip, I would love to be your guide. After four trips to Italy since 2000, I have enjoyed two of these trips with girlfriends. Both trips were about 14 days long and we saw so much of the country.....let me know if you have adventurous friends who would like to experience a trip of a lifetime:) Now you can play the slideshow!!!
10.27.09
Zionsivlle Family Photography :: I Love my family.....
Zionsville Family Photography
We headed out west on Friday to see our oldest kiddo this weekend at Arizona State. We left Indiana on Friday and it was cold and rainy. We arrived in Phoenix to beautiful 90 degree weather....we came home to cold and rainy weather!!! In between flights we had such a great time catching up with Jeffrey. We did all those FUN family things that you need to do....like stocking up on supplies at Wal-Mart....
Or hangin' out in your brother's dorm room trying the college thing on for size....(Adam did an official college visit at ASU this weekend as well)
Visiting a few sights in Gilbert, AZ.....
On Saturday night we headed to the Arizona State Fair. We rode rides....:) Jeffrey went faster....less body fat:(
My babies.....Can't believe it!
On Sunday we headed over Papago Park to do a bit of hiking and rock climbing....my guys on the way up.
I'm leaning over so that I can catch my breathe....I hope my trainer doesn't read this!!! Note the 20 lb. camera bag flung to the ground!!!
Perspective as to the size of the rocks....this was a LITTLE one!
If you look closely you can see the hubby at the top...trying to stand up...the boys were heckling him:)
A big rock!
Once we got down Adam thought it would be a great idea to do it again...and he wanted to be timed...7 minutes flat!!! You go BUDDY!!
Dad and son serious life conversation...or maybe he was asking for cash...HAHA!!! Only kidding, he was explaining about an internship program that he was hoping to get into.
Fianlly, me and my man. I think I might blow this puppy up. He's my hero:) We had a wonderful time with Jeffrey and I look forward to going back again since we miss his big smile and wonderful hugs!
I think this might be the Christmas card:)
06.20.09
Amici Travel Photography :: Hey, New Jersey.....
this is what BLUE SKIES look like:) Back home again in Indiana. Ahhhhhh!!!! Thank you for a fabulous trip. I had such a great time seeing my family and many old friends!!! I'll be in touch shortly with those families I photographed and have your proofs online in a week or so.
Miss you all!
And no, that is not my yard....just a shot taken out of the Jeep window while cruising home.
06.19.09
New Jersey Family Photography :: Last Day...Shoot Four...The City
Last shoot before heading home. Today I met a former neighbor at the same park from earlier in the week. Lorraine and I lived across the street from one another....sadly, she is ALOT younger that I am!!! She brought Maddie to be photographed. Another great shoot considering the threatening clouds above. I can not believe the weather on the east coast has been this WET!!!! When Lorraine arrived with Maddie she was napping in the car. It took a little bit to get her going, but eventually she warmed to the idea of being photographed:)
Does anyone else see Suri Cruise when they look at this little girl??? Maddie was absolutely precious, and I was also so happy to see Lorraine and catch up on her recent life.
After finishing with Maddie this morning, my sister-in-law and I escaped from the house to visit the city. There have been a few things I have wanted to do in the city for a while now, and have never gotten around to it. Three things really....visit the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side, have lunch at Katz's Deli...also on the Lower East Side and take few shots of the skyline from the Jersey side. Well today was my lucky day...check, check and check!!!
This shot was actually taken at the end of the day from Hoboken, NJ.
This fabulous turkey sandwich and potato knish can be acquired at Katz's Deli on Houston Street on the Lower East Side....they have great food and the people-watching is spectacular. The turkey tasted like the bird had been running around the yard hours before...it was that fresh and juicy:)
After lunch we made our way to the Tenement Museum. You can chose from six different tours in the museum that focus on a certain time period in the neighborhood. We chose the Getting By tour which focused on two families. The Gumpertz Family that lived in the tenement in 1873...and the Baldizzi Family who occupied the building in 1935. Both were intriguing stories of real families that had lived in the museum building. If you get to the city soon, stop and see it......very worthwhile!!!!
As we made our way out of the city (which took about 90 minutes....Friday evening craziness) we stopped off in Hoboken to take shots of the New York skyline. This last shot is the front of the Hoboken Train Station and the ferry docks. If you live in Northern New Jersey and work in the city this could be your mode of transportation. Up to a two hour ride on the train to Hoboken, then a ferry ride across the Hudson to the City and then a walk or subway ride to your job. And they do it EVERY day. I'm tired just thinking about it:)
On the road again tomorrow as I make my way back to the the Hoosier state and my family. The Senior Photography Season begins on Wednesday. Hello 2010!!!!
