365 Project: Walking a fallen tree

After a relatively painless family photo shoot, using my tripod and self-timer, Nora finally was unleashed to climb logs, play, and explore. I shot this when she climbed up high on a fallen tree and she flashed me her sweet smile. Love…

365 Project: Images from an 8 year-old girl’s birthday party :)

Family, friends, an American Girl theme, balloons and cake…Nora’s birthday wish came true for her 8 year-old birthday party! 🙂

The birthday girl by candlelight

Nora with her Lola Norma

Nora’s American Girl doll, Makena, is having the best birthday ever! LOL

I don’t care if this pic is a little blurry. The sentiment of these BFFs is priceless!

Slumber party!! With Paco our cozy dog 😉

365 Project – 233: Ruby Beach playdate (August 21, 2013)

Olympic National Park boasts gorgeous beaches on the northwestern coast of Washington state but, not all have sandy beaches like Ruby Beach. It’s an easy stroll from the parking lot and if you go left (south), there’s a big stretch of fine sand, as opposed to the more typical coarse sand or rocks found on many ONP beaches. Time it at low tide to enjoy tidepooling, and plan on staying late to catch a stunning sunset. Ruby Beach is a gem we often enjoy with our family and friends. 🙂

p.s. For our family, a few of our other favorite fine sandy beaches are Shi Shi Beach and Third Beach but, they’re not as accessible as Ruby Beach. In comparison, Rialto Beach is absolutely gorgeous and has amazing tidepooling and the famous “hole in the wall”, but, the beach is strewn with rocks and it’s often very windy and thus, colder. Rialto is also a favorite for our family but, if we’re in the mood for swimming and making sand castles, we opt for Ruby Beach or Third Beach. 🙂

Tidepooling before sunset

Yup, the ocean is “warm” for these Pacific Northwest girls! 🙂

365 Project – 206: Family game night – Clue (August 3, 2013)

I have the best childhood memories playing games with my family, and Clue was one of my favs!

365 Project – 114: Daddy daughter cartwheels…and using the WordPress gallery circle feature (April 24, 2013)

Here’s a sequence of three pics trying this new wordpress gallery “circle” feature for the first time…it looks kind’ve cool! I just realized when you use the gallery feature, the camera properties are listed when you click on each photo, which I appreciate!

So, this is my husband “trying” to cartwheel with my daughter. LOL Actually, he did a decent job! Grownups: if you haven’t cartwheeled in awhile, you should try it. It’s fun but, harder than it looks! 🙂

365 Project – 100: Swinging in Whistler Village amidst the Olympic rings – Whistler, B.C. (April 10, 2013)

One last photo of the girls on a swing in Whistler Village with the Olympic rings in the background. 🙂

365 Project – 99: Smiles and the Olympic Rings in Whistler Village – Whistler, B.C. (April 9, 2013)

365 Project – 46: Kealakekua Bay – Big Island, Hawaii (February 15, 2013)

It’s Friday and no Jumble because I’m travelling. I’m still going through umpteen photos from a previous trip to the Big Island. Here’s another taken during a snorkel trip to Kealakekua Bay Hawaii.  When my daughter wanted a break from snorkeling she used this boogie board with a built-in underwater viewer.  Brilliant!  Don’t you just want to dive in?  Awww…it was heaven! 🙂

365 Project – 45: Snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay – Big Island, Hawaii (February 14, 2013)

No hearts, no candles, no chocolates and no kanoodling couples. No Valentine-y pic  but, here’s a photo using my daughter’s Nikon Coolpix waterproof point and shoot, which is kind’ve sweet.  This was taken on our last snorkeling trip on the Big Island. Not bad for a basic waterproof camera. Oh, and, Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂

p.s. if you want to see some amazing underwater photos, check out this link with pics posted on the FairWind charter company,whom we used for our snorkeling trip. They’re awesome!

365 Project – 42, 43, 44: – On the Kilauea Iki Trail – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – Big Island, Hawaii (Febrary 13, 2013)

On the Kilauea Iki Trail

On the Kilauea Iki Trail…in the caldera

Life emerging through the lava