Happy Birthday, Ryan! I have a bone to pick. You turned six, even though we had a deal that you would never grow up. “What? You couldn’t help it? Baloney!” As a special birthday treat, I spiked your hair. This indulgence is typically reserved for when you get ready for school early. (Which happened three... Read More →

Tomorrow is Ryan’s birthday party. His sixth one. And the first one in three years that we won’t have the party at My Gym. I thought it would be fun to have a pool party, so that’s what we’re doing – Kung Fu Panda style. I picked up the balloons today (Hi-float is a great... Read More →

Our weekend at Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida was just the break we needed. View photos of our trip here: http://mariloujaen.smugmug.com/Family/201105-Memorial-Day-Weekend/ Read More →

This weekend I got together with some online friends. One of them really knows her antique shopping. I have much to tell about my fantastic weekend. But for now, I’ve got a whiny, crying boy on my arm that is so hungry for candy. But this weekend, I learned many things. First of them: it’s not... Read More →

If you know me, you know MAY is my month of doom. Between end of school projects, parties, awards programs and the school’s “End of Year Show,” I lose my mind. Add to that the Girl Scout bridging ceremony and a [fantastic] camp out at a the Circle F Dude Ranch, PLUS the planning of... Read More →

We got this playground set when Isabel was a baby – maybe a year old? Rene put it together {basically} himself. When we put the pool in last year, the playground got moved to the corner of the yard, behind our mango and tamarind trees. I kinda like it better that way. I think the... Read More →

Easter Sunday 2011. The Easter Bunny came early this year. I think he knew about early morning light being great for pictures. So, I had to wake the kids up early enough to beat the ants to the candy. In our house, early is 7:30. Isabel decided that the Easter Bunny we got this year... Read More →

I am so grateful to have this one. Thanks for being your goofy, inspiring, wise ol’ self. And for letting me take these pictures. You can find my buddy here: http://amberclose.com Read More →

Isabel and her buddy. October 2006, Pre-K 4 Isabel and her buddy. April 2010, Third Grade Happy Birthday! Read More →

…can you tell that makes us happy? We’ve been in the pool just about every day for the past two weeks. This week, it’s great stress relief from FCAT (Isabel is having these standardized tests all week). Read More →

After a Girl Scouts camp out at the Seaquarium, I was ready for a Lazy Sunday. And lucky for me, we had one! Here are some photos of our day. Read More →

After a fantastic week of lessons on lighting, I decided I wanted to play with light a bit. Isabel was dressed up after her Night of the Arts concert at school, so the timing was perfect. I did learn Isabel is not cut out to be a model – she lasted all of 15 shots... Read More →