Happy Anniversary!

Just wanted to give my big sis and b-in-law a shout out. Happy Anniversary! What is it....18 years?? I think that's right. They got married in 1991. And it was a swanky affair, let me tell you.

Happy Anniversary guys. I hope you're able to get out and celebrate today.


I'm off to IKEA this morning with two neighbors. Sigh....my last IKEA run. Have they broken ground yet in Denver??? You Denver people will LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!! Then back to the house to finish some packing, organizing etc. Movers are showing up tomorrow am to get us packed up!

Come see me in Washington DC

Hi everyone!

If you happen to be in Washington DC, or the area, come see me! For 42 years, my aunt and uncle have hosted an open house to sell their wares. Mal is a potter and Judy does shibori silks. In recent years, they have invited other artists to join in, and I was able to participate about 5-6 years ago. Lucky for me, I get to go again this year.

I'll be selling prints and cards, and there will be other local artists there as well. Good time to Christmas shop!

So we are all driving to DC in the morning and will stay with our good friends in Frederick, MD. Wade and the kids will probably go to a couple museums on Saturday and Sunday while I'm at the show, and then back to NY on Sunday.

More from the show...

Our Day at Playland

I think I finally get it.

I remember being young and watching my Mom watching me having fun. And I would think, "Why don't you want to join in?" "Do you not like (fill in the blank).... riding roller coasters, playing in the water, making forts, riding horses, roller skating, jumping curbs on your banana seat bike, riding skateboards?"

She would just watch, but seem perfectly content doing so, and I didn't get it.

Well I think I finally get it. I think it happens when you become a parent. You find sheer contentment watching your kids have fun and would rather watch them than do the activity yourself for fear you might miss observing their excitement, reaction, laugh, or smile.

So last week while Mom and Audrey were here, we went to Playland. I live in Rye, the HOME of Playland, and this was my FIRST time!! It's kind of like the cobbler's children who have worn out shoes I guess.

I had more fun watching Ava and Tyson (and MY MOM) riding rides while laughing, spinning, twirling, tipping, rocking, and sliding. I mean, I'm pregnant, so I wasn't even allowed on the rides, but even if I could, I had more fun just watching (and taking pictures).

To start, here are a few photos to give you the feel of Playland, which had "been providing family fun since 1928"...or 1920-something.










Could my Mom BE having more fun?



Now the submarine...this was one of Tyson's favorites, and I think it was one of my Mom's favorite rides too. Check her out!



Can I just say how proud I am of Ava? She is my shy one. The one who is afraid to try to new things. The one is has to sit and observe before participating, and the participation usually involves someone holding her hand.

I think she blossomed at Playland. She went on a lot of rides BY HERSELF. BY HERSELF! That is a huge deal for her. This ride in Kiddyland is called Whip It, and I think it's been there since 1930. It was so cool. The track is oval shaped, and the little cars roll along until you get to each end, and you get whipped around the corner. Simple concept...BIG fun.




OK, now this next picture has a story. There is a kiddy roller coaster which we convinced Ava to go on by herself, because Audrey was too big, and Tyson was too small. She went on it with a little hesitation, but was excited. She sat in the last car next to a boy, and we watched the car climb up the "incline" before she disappeared from view. When the coaster came to the end, she was trying really hard not to cry, but when she saw me, she lost it.

The ride was "too jerky" and "the boy sitting next to me wouldn't hold my hand".


The spinning balloon ride. By the way, all the Kiddyland rides require you to give the operator a thumbs up before they start the ride.





More rides that my little girl rode all by herself...





This may be my favorite picture. As it was getting to be dusk, and everyone but the prego one, yours truly, went on the ferris wheel so they could see the view of Rye, Playland, and the Long Island Sound before it got dark. On one of their rotations, Mom stuck her hand out and waved to me. Love it.


More spinning. My Mom is such a trooper, isn't she?




This was one of Ava's last rides of the night. Why the sour face? Well I think she was getting tired, and when she got off, all she said was, "Mom, it wasn't fast enough." That's my girl. I'm so proud of you.




Thanks Mom for reliving your childhood and riding all the rides. I can't decide if I had more fun watching you or my own kids. It's too close to call I think.

Preview: Joanne's Future Photo Wall

So I have chosen the nine images that I did for my sister and her family!!! I am sooooo excited! I just love how this looks, and I can't wait to do this same thing for my living room wall. You can see the whole preview of their photo session here, and you can see where these photos will be in my sister's house here!!!

I think it will look so awesome in their new Phoenix pad!

By the way, EACH of these nine images will be 20x20 inches!! Waaahoo!!! I love LARGE photography. Nothing makes a bigger statement in a room that LARGE photographs. They will be framed in glass front frames with no frame per say....the images have the black "frame" around them, so no bulky frame needed.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

License Plate Magnets

Well now that the package has arrived in Phoenix to Joanne, I can post my picture!

Last summer at the Paris Street Market in Denver, I bought the numbers 9.23.00 (my wedding date), that a creative person had made into magnets from old license plates. Since I love all things metal, I couldn't resist!

When we moved to NY, I kept the Colorado license plates from our cars in hopes of cutting them up someday. So when I was thinking of a present for Joanne, I realized I had the letters and numbers to make "J * T", Joanne and Toben, "1991", the year they got married, and "Colorado", the state where they were married. Since they moved to Phoenix for Toben to work in a marriage ministry, I thought it was fitting.

Preview: The Heim Family

Back in the saddle again...I'm sure there's a song with those lyrics, but the melody is escaping me right now. Anyway, to say I've been back in the saddle again these last couple weeks in Colorado would be an understatement. My backside is sore from all the squatting I've been doing taking photos, but hey, I'm not complaining because that's a good thing, right?

Anyway, like I've said, the whole reason we came back home to Colorado for a visit was to see Joanne (aka big sister) and her family before they moved to Phoenix July 1. Well, they're gone, but before they left, I offered a complimentary photo session as a moving/early Christmas present. Plus I'm going to do a cool nine-image-20x20 inch prints-frame-display-thing for them. Don't really know what to call it, but I'll post about it when it's all done.

Anyway, so Ava and I took them to downtown Littleton for a little family fun. They all dressed in black and white, but in a non-cheesy way. Mom (aka Gran) had just purchased Ava a new black and white dress from either goodwill or a garage sale, so she came along for a couple girl cousin photos.

So what can I say about these first few?? Audrey, now 10, is definitely very cool. But she still lets out her silly side and showed me a bunch of her dance moves. Even though she is nearing the teen years, she will always be the little kid who prayed to "baby God" and mis-pronounced her middle name in the cutest way.




Emma, now 8, is growing up something fierce. She still has her "thwimple" on her nose, and her crazy curly hair is gone, but she still has the same smile she had when she was two, and I hope she never changes it. Plus, this girl can strike a pose and hold it like I've never seen before. If you ever get into a staring contest with Emma, I guarantee you would lose. Don't say I didn't warn you!





Gorgeous, gorgeous!!



And now, here's the whole Heim family. Very good looking if you ask me.



Friends may come and go, but you'll always have your sister...the second one down may possibly be my favorite image from the whole session. Toben, you better start bolting the doors, because in a few years, the boys will come a knockin!







And I love my little Ava in this one. She adores her cousins, and looks up to them (literally) so much.


Nice legs Jo. Wowza!









And lastly, Joanne needed a new head shot.


So here you go sis. Hope you enjoyed your little preview, and I'll let you know when your gallery is ready to view on my site!

I hope you have lots of sunscreen, because Weather Bug is telling me Phoenix is 105 degrees right now.