Kauai - Surfing Day!

So the day my family came in was the same day my sickness came in. It was rather unpleasant and I am honestly still suffering- blogging at 10:30pm might not be helping too much but I had a restful day, okay? Any how, I felt horrible the first day they were there and basically spent the day restlessly sleeping, then loading up on Thera-flu and other lovely over the counter flu products. So by the next day I was getting kind of pissed- sick in Hawaii, HA! The one thing Timmy wanted to do while we were there is take a surfing lesson, so even though I didn't feel good enough to actually get out on the waters, I volunteered to do what I do best, take pictures! Boy, am I glad I did. There was my Aunt Nancy who pulled a hamstring right off the bat, my mom who rode each wave in on her knees on account of a recent foot breakage/surgery, Timmy who I think thought he was more coordinated then these photos prove, and Emma, sweet Emma, who was riding waves in like a pro by the end of the day.

I think this might have been when Em found out I, in fact, wouldn't be surfing. Sorry sis! A classic Emmy face, none the less.

Grandma ready to hit the beach!

The fam! Tris, Auntie Nan, Mom, Em, Me, Uncle Sean, and Grandma

Who here actually lives on the island?

Hee hee, look at moms face.

Auntie Nan heading in...are these comments annoying? With weddings I don't feel the need to say much, but this is my family. Don't they deserve introductions??? :)

So it wasn't all wipe-outs, they are just the best though, aren't they? Love Tim and Em's smiles as they plunge head first into the ocean.

Poor Timmy :) He's going to kill me, "Why didn't you post any of my catching any??? I didn't wipe out on e very one!" Well Timmy, those just aren't as funny.

Emma wins the trophy.

bit of a different approach..

Does it get any better?

One more to come... hiking day!

Kauai - Maybe the most beautiful place on earth - installment ONE

I meant it when I said I was going to stay away from all things digital, I have barely even updated a "tweet" since leaving. Finally, home and rested (sort of, read on..) I am blogging the first of a few posts documenting our trip to Kauai. We arrived last Thursday evening after a bit of a plane doozy for both Tim/I and my brother. Grabbed our weeks supply of groceries and headed out towards Hanalei! Kauai is one of those places that feels as though it could be perhaps located on another planet. The landscape is breath-taking and the vibe endlessly calming. Uncle Sean rented a house in Princeville as a Cancer-Free celebration and most of my family was convening there for some overlapping vacations. Tristan, Tim, and I were the first to arrive and did some good stuff before the rest of the family got into town on Sunday. Sadly, on Sunday I came down with what could only be described as torture. Sickness that knocked the life right out of me and made me cry- bed stricken for a day I couldn't help but think I was being punished for the pace at which I lead my life back here in Los Angeles. Perhaps it's time to stop and smell the roses a bit more often? I am on some heavy antibiotics now, having been diagnosed with a flu induced sinus infection, which then led me to a chest infection. Seriously folks, I was siiiiick. Lost my voice though, which is always kind of ... fun? :)

Here's my brother, Tristan, celebrating his 21st birthday the Hawaiian way in "downtown" Hanalei!

Everything is so colorful on the island.

Tim had never been to Hawaii before and he quickly adapted to the "hang loose" mentality. (PS Hawaiian air does marvelous things for my natural wave- no blow dryer needed!)

Tim caught this next one. I liked the crop although the focus could have been better. Great images are sometimes just "happy accidents."

Uncle Sean and the beautiful coastline. Not sure what this beach was called but it was really nice. Every time you step out onto a beach you feel like you were traipsing along in the jungle and just happened upon this beautiful span of sand. It rains everyday on Kauai and the showers that day on the beach were particularly refreshing.

On Saturday, we headed out to a waterfall just outside of Lihue. This is the brush overtaking the path to get down to the falls.

We all jumped off the 25 foot waterfall and Tim was brave enough to do the rope swing. You can see the scale here by how tiny he is! I am going to be such a nervous mother- I get so scared when people I love do things like this! Turned out okay though.. ;)

Tris dove off the waterfall- another nervous moment of mine.

Happy happy in Hawaii.

... more to come!

Off to Kauai!

Well, the day has arrived, okay not yet, I still have to make it through the night... and while the weight loss goal was never attained- I am going to be wearing a swimsuit whether I like it or not- because I am off to Kauai for a week of snorkeling, eating, laying, swimming, hiking, resting, laughing.... the list of positives just goes on and on. (Besides, I bought two killer one pieces at Anthro that will do just fine. :) ) I will be periodically checking my email and MAYBE fitting in a blog or two, but... I doubt it. I'm going to do my best to avoid anything "digital" while I am there- even, gasp, twittering! (P.S. Follow me?) (P.P.S. Since it's really easy to twitter from my phone I can't guarantee I will be totally avoiding that form of "digital" and of course I will be using my trusty Canon digital gear.)

I am leaving you with a few photos I took last time we were there! The first set is from a series I am working on about my sister, Emma, called, "She once was little and now she is big." These were on done on 120mm film in a Holga. Nothing digital done to these except scanning- I miss film sometimes. Okay a lot of the time.

Happy Birthday, E-M-M-A!

Today my baby sister is old enough to drive- legally! The big 16- we leave for Hawaii on Thursday and I will get to wish her a Happy Birthday in person but Emmy, I love you. I wish we still had the van to pass down to you as you most definitely deserve it. .... One piece of advice-avoid driving with Mom until you're like... 25.

Yeah so we're pale, it's in our genes, and as Emma says, "Pale is the new tan!"

July PUG Meeting

Last Wednesday we had an our monthly PUG (Pictage User Group) meeting here in Los Angeles, hosted by Jules Bianchi. It was really a great one- Anna and Michael Costa spoke on ways to stand out in the photography industry and had some really great things to say. They are both so personable and their work is really unique and so so creative.  Anna was trying out for American Idol this past week and I hope she did well!! or at LEAST had fun. She has a beautiful singing voice and it was a treat to hear her practice for us.

 Laura Grier, Me, and Heather Kincaid on the right of the couch there. I think this must have been during Anna's vocal performance. :) Thanks to Jules for the photo.