L.A. – Here We Come!

So, my Mom is doing another cake challenge. I’m not allowed to talk much about it, because she signed papers. BUT, I can tell you this. She is filming in Los Angeles this time. My AWESOME Husband, the great guy that he is, offered to drive all my Mom and her assistants’ stuff to LA for them. He left bright and early this a.m. I heard from him about an hour ago, he has stopped in Amarillo, TX for the night. I’ll be leaving in a few days. I can’t wait to get there.

Unfortunately there isn’t a studio audience this time. I’m pretty much just going for the fun of it (and to keep Ric company until he has to drive all the stuff back). I’m actually driving back with him. Three days in a car together. . .we’ll see if we make it back without annoying the crap out of each other! LOL

***AIR DATE IS SEPTEMBER 28, 2009***
(Just so happens to be my birthday – awesome!)

Anyway. . .while we’re there, Ric and I are going to do some touristy stuff. I’m sure it is going to be pretty crazy in LA while we’re there, with all the deaths. We plan on going to Hollywood, LA, tours, and HOPEFULLY Disneyland.

We made the trip there with two of our friends (Peter and Amber) in 2004. We had a great time. We started in LA, then went to San Diego, then visited Ensenada, Mexico (which kinda sucked), and then back to LA. We had a great time.

I wasn’t able to find too many of the pictures from the 2004 trip, but thought I would post the ones that I did find to reminisce a little.

(I’m bringing the “big bad” camera for this trip, so will definitely have a LOT better pictures to show off when we’re home!)

Chinese Theatre.

Ric on the streets of LA with someone’s snake on his neck. ha

Kodak Theatre

Amber and I

Good thing I took a picture of this one while we were there last time, I think it might a little pre-occupied this time.

I <3 Her!!!

Martini shades.

Ric kinda looks like an alien.

Amber and I

His Idol

Hollywood sign behind me.

Amber and I again.

Peter

Someone’s extremely large house.

Mel’s Drive In

I wish I had more for you, but could only find one of the CDs of images.

Oh, and. . .
GO MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Long Time, No Write!

Wow, it’s been a while! Last time I wrote was all about Memorial Day Weekend.

Last time I wrote I had posted about something special going on Saturday evening (5/30) but wasn’t able to elaborate more on it, because it was a surprise! My BFF’s husband and I pulled off a surpripse b-day party for her. It was a great time. We started off with dinner at her favorite restaurant, 54th Street Grill. Then we moved to our “stompin’ grounds”, Jerzey’s. We all had a great time, especially her! She had a few lot of alcoholic beverages, and just had a great time! She hadn’t been out, except for one time, in about 6 years, as she was having babies (three of the cutest kids I know), nursing babies, etc., and just got done with that on 3/30. So, it was time for her to PAR-TAY!
Here are a few pictures.
Here is the b-day girl (my BFF) and I.

Getting ready to do a shot with Katie.

Here is Robbie and I (the two planners). Our AWESOME self-portrait. ha

And here is the b-day girl and her hubby. They’re WAY too cute for words!

Brent, the awesome bartender with Colleen and I.
The obligatory Brent photo. (We have to get this before the bar gets crowded.)

LOVE his face in this one. ha

SHOOOOOOOOOO-TIME!
(This is the only “drink” I had all night.)
We did a “chocolate cake” shot. . .I don’t remember what it was, but afterwards you have to “eat” some sugar and a lemon. It tastes just like chocolate cake.
IT’S SO WEIRD!!! JUST REALLY WEEEEEEEEEEIRD!
(Right Colleen?! hehehehe)

Brent being silly.

Aimers and I.

The b-day girl and I with Shawn.

B-day girl getting down with Sis’ boyfriend. haha
(Can you believe that is the body of a woman who has had THREE babies?! I’m SOOO jealous – she is sooo skinny!)

I love the expression in this pic.

Being silly.

BFFs =D

SWITTTTCHHHHHHHH

She LOVES me!

This is Jessica. Sis used to work with her at a restaurant a few years ago, and then I ended up working with her at the law firm about a year ago. Small world. We ran into her at Jerzey’s, so we had to take a picture with her.

Colleen with Leah and Mike (kissing her eye – it looks like). ha

BFF, Sis and I

We had a GREAT time. . .and closed the bar down!! =D





The rest of that weekend was pretty relaxful. I had a photo shoot the next day (5/31). I found my new love for New Towne, St. Charles during this photo shoot!
Here are just a few photos from that.
Meet Chase. I photographed his first b-day party a few months ago.
(I also photographed him before he came into this world!)

Chase and his family.

I love these. . .just some cute pictures of the grown ups.

Cute!

Family time.






That next week started Ric’s Summer vacation. (Since he is a teacher, and gets off for close to three months for the Summer – which is awesome. And yes, I’m jealous! haha)

He sure did start the Summer vacation off with a bang!
Some friends of ours were visiting from North Dakota.
Sara, Scott, Becca and Kaige arrived 6/1.

Long story, short. . .When Ric was in the first few years of college, his parents were stationed back to VA. Instead of Ric going with them, he stayed here to finish up. While he was here he lived with a family of a friend of his. Sara’s brother was Ric’s friend, the family that he lived with, so Sara and Ric have always been like brother and Sister. She lives up in North Dakota now, so we rarely see them. The first time I met them was when Sara and Becca came down back in 2001. Sara had a family function, so Ric and I spent the entire weekend with Becca, and we had a GREAT time! She was only 2-years-old then. My has she grown since the last time we saw her!!!! I was sad that I didn’t get to spend near as much time as Ric did with them, but the time was well spent and we had a great time.

On 6/2 Ric went with them to Six Flags. They had a great time at the park, as well as the water park.

On 6/3 Ric went with them to tour the Anheiser Busch brewery, as well as go up in The Arch. That evening Becca came home with Ric and the three of us had a “slumber party.” I got home from the gym, we had dinner at Subway, and then tried to go putt-putt golfing, but it was kind of an icky evening, so they were closed. Instead we went and had some ice cream at COLDSTONE! After that we went home and watched Paul Blart: Mall Cop (which was recommended by Becca) and had a good time. After that movie I went to bed and Ric and Becca stayed up to watch Space Chimps.

On 6/4 I was able to take off work and all of us went to the St. Louis Zoo. I know I might be a little biased, but I think that we have one of the most awesomest Zoos in the US! I even think it is a little better than the San Diego Zoo (yes, I have been there). . .I think that Zoo is overrated. Plus, ours is free!!! What more could you ask for?! It was a GORGEOUS day and all the animals were out playing (especially the tigers, which I loved!)!!
Of course I have pictures!

Becca and Uncle Ricky Joe.

Kaige, Sara, Becca and Scott in front of the penguin house.

Love this.

Monkey Love

This reminds me of ET for some reason. ha

That sure is my husband. ha

Becca and I.

Have you ever seen a baby peacock? You can barely see it here, next to Momma.

Kaige, the little poser.

Becca was posing people. ha

Uncle Ricky Joe with Kaige and Becca.

This was after a little girl almost got her fingers bit off by this little creature. She put her finger out there, and the little guy nipped it. Scared her to death. So then Becca and Ric wanted to mess with it too.

It had some awesome eyes though.

Time to go watch the Tigers play.
I could have stood there all day to watch them play!

Action shot.

Bath time.

Kaige checking out the tigers.

Kinda looks like a zebra with three heads.

“Look over there Daddy.”

Lazy camels.

I could have stayed and took pictures of the Giraffes all day long too.
This is a little baby. Isn’t it cute?!

This ostrich was pestering this poor little giraffe. AWwww. . .

Giraffe Love.

Could you PLEASE let us have a moment alone lady?! ha

My kind of girl . . . picture taker.

Who needs legs when Uncle Ricky is around?!

Piggy back ride from Mommy.

SUCH a cutie!

A ride on the carousel with Uncle Ricky. He wanted to ride on the frog.

She HAD to ride on the polar bear.

The end of the day. . .time to go home.




That evening the kids went back to Gma’s to stay with her and the adults went out to dinner and to have some drinks on The Landing. We had dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory and then stopped by The Big Bang (but we weren’t too excited about paying $5.00 per beer) and Heartbreakers (I think that one might be fairly new). Then we decided to go back to IL, to Jerzey’s, since it was just a little cheaper. haha It was a late night, but we had a great time!
Us at the Big Bang.

On 6/5 Ric went with them to Grant’s Farm and then to do a little shopping at South County Mall. That evening we all met for dinner and to say good-bye. . .they were going to start their drive home that evening, after dinner.

Can’t wait until their next visit!




The next weekend, 6/6 – I second shot another wedding with Sara of SJ Macky Photo. It was a TON of fun!! Will post some of those pictures later.
On 6/7 BFF’s daughter was in the Lit.tle Miss Horse.radish contest in Collin.sville, IL
Out of 18 other adorable little girls, she got 2nd Runner Up.
I was SOOO proud of her!!!
Here she is with her trophy, her medal and her flowers.

Isn’t she GORGEOUS?!?!

This past weekend we didn’t do much. Went to my hometown’s festivities, “Schweitzerfest” with Mom and Dad on Saturday and went to the hospital to visit Grandma on Sunday. (She was back in the hospital because of a fall.)





Tonight I’m SUPER excited to be getting to go to the Muny to see 42nd Street with Angie and Randall. I miss having season tickets, but I’m just so excited that we’re getting to go to the first show. Hopefully I’ll be able to make most of the shows this year.

And just for fun, here are some pictures from when I danced to the song 42nd Street when I was a little girl. (We got many awards for this dance!)
Just one from practices.

And now in our awesome costumes.
A fuzzy picture with our dance teacher.

Memorial Day Weekend

Gosh, the week got away from me. Obviously, considering I’m just now writing about Memorial Day Weekend, which was LAST weekend.

It was a crazy busy weekend!!! But tons of fun. Started Friday night and didn’t even end until Tuesday night because of out-of-town family in town.

Friday night started with a work “party” at the Grizzlies Game. We had a ton of fun. Didn’t take too many photos that night, I was too busy socializing. Here is one that I took. Co-worker Amanda, co-worker Sara and I. We’re great co-worker/friends.

Saturday was my cousin’s wedding – all day and all night.

Sunday we spent the day at Mom and Dad’s house. My Aunt, Uncle and two cousins were in town from Colorado, as well as my big Bro. I LOVE family time! Around 4:00 Aunt, Uncle an cousins started their drive back to CO. (Bro flew back to CO on Monday morning.) The rest of Sunday evening Mom, Grandma and I took a little drive and went to get Tropical Snos. YUM! No pictures from Sunday.

Monday I was a COMPLETE bum. Switched out my Winter shoes with my Summer shoes. I will be SO glad when I have a house with a Winter and Summer closet. haha The “switching out Summer and Winter clothes every season” is “for the birds” (as Gma would say). I am not too proud to admit that I didn’t even get out of my PJs on Monday. What a great feeling!

Tuesday after work we headed to Des Peres. Ric and I LIVE for Uncle Mark’s BBQ Ribs. Since Uncle Mark and Aunt Corrie were in town for my cousin’s wedding (from Switzerland), we were invited to their house in Des Peres (yes, they have a house here and there) for some BBQ ribs and more family time! SWEET.

(Sorry for the awful point & shoot quality photos.)
Mom showed up with this. YUMMMMY!

Mom also showed up with this. I’m sure you have already met Cupcake, but if you haven’t, she is Mom and Dad’s brat dog. My “Sis”, as I like to call her.

Okaaaaaaay – I guess she’s cute!

Grandma says hi!

Here is my Aunt and Uncle’s amazing STL home!!! Isn’t it gorgeous!

They have an awesome view!

Here’s UM getting the ribs ready for us!

Mmmmm. . .look at the deliciousness!

He makes THE best BBQ ribs!

UM & AC have little “neighborhood friends”. They came out to play towards the end of the night.

And Grandma gave Cupcake some love!

The red face is a combination of being in the sun for a while that afternoon and the wine that Grandma was drinking. I wonder what the dialysis doctors thought the next day! ha

Beautiful sunset!

That night, on our way home, we had to stop and get gas. Ric has a tendency to find THE most inconvenient times to go through the car wash. 1) It was raining all day and they were calling for storms all night. 2) I was flippin’ tired from the busy weekend and just wanted to get home and get in bed. ha Oh well, at least we had a clean car for approximately 2 hours (before the storm rolled in). “But it only cost $1.00.” blah blah blah hahaha

Thankfully, this weekend we don’t have a lot going on. I’m going to be spending time photo editing (story of my life, which is okay), we have an event on Saturday evening (more on that later, can’t tell you right now), and Sunday is going to be a relaxful day at home (I hope).

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

I <3 Faces ~ Silhouettes

This week’s category over at I <3 Faces is Silhouettes.

Here is my entry.
I absolutely LOVE this photo that I took at a maternity session I did.

My GORGEOUS Cousin

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I wasn’t kidding, was I?!?!
She absolutely, positively IS gorgeous, isn’t she?! (Kinda like a Barbie doll!!!!)

Yes, I sure did take this picture!

On May 23rd my cousin got married. I was her photographer. I’m sure you have been reading about the upcoming nuptials on my blog/Facebook page or somewhere a few hundred times in the past week or so. Well, it was a success!!! The gorgeous couple married, had a great ceremony, beautiful reception and GRANDMA MADE IT!

Let me just use this photo as proof that the wedding party was absolutely crazy, though they were a TON of fun!!! I don’t know how many times I heard something to the effect of, “Wow, you did awesome today. I don’t know anyone else that could handle a wedding party like that!” It’s okay, I had a great time!!!

And, let me use this photo as proof that GRANDMA made it to the reception. AND, she didn’t even leave until about 10:45 p.m. – what a trooper!!!!! How awesome. . .what a great feeling. This picture was taken during my Uncle’s speech, after he thanked guests for coming from all over the place and then specially thanked Grandma (his Mom) for making it to the wedding as well! He said that she said (exact words), “Come Hell or high water, I WILL be there.” She was right!!!!!!!

I wish everyone had a Grandma this awesome!!!

That is all for now. Come back later for more photos.

And the fun begins. . .

Yesterday started the BUSY weekend ahead of us!
I love weekends like this, though it always makes for an exhausted week afterwards! ha

Last night we had two pre-school graduations for two of the cutest little girls on the planet. (Yes, I’m sure you have seen pictures of them a LOT on my blog or on my photo blog!) Come back for photos later!

Friday after work we have a work function. My employer is taking all its employees and their spouses/families to the Grizzlies game. I LOVE Grizzlies games. They’re almost just as fun as Cardinals games. NO, you didn’t hear me say that!

Saturday is a busy day. It starts early in the morning with a hair/make-up appointment. I’m the photographer for my cousin’s wedding. Her and I were pretty close while we were growing up because we were the closest in age between all the 15+ cousins. I can not WAIT for this wedding, I have been waiting for it since the day they got engaged (on top of a mountain in Colorado). I’m the main photographer, so there won’t be much time for hanging out with family, but I’m still excited! Maybe there will be some down time at the end of the evening.

Sunday and Monday are still both up in the air, but I’m sure it will be spent with family that is here from out of town for the wedding.

I can’t wait!

Another update: (In case you haven’t been following me on Facebook.)
My Grandma has been in this hospital for a while, it was four weeks this past Tuesday. I have been MAJORLY worried that she wouldn’t be out by the time of the wedding, so I had all intentions of kidnapping her Saturday morning for the wedding. With all that is going on, my Mom and Uncles have been talking to the doctors and made them aware of this. Just last night she was release from the hospital so that she could make it to my cousin’s wedding (her granddaughter). I was ecstatic when I found out, I literally cried tears of JOY.. ..I’m so happy that she is going to be able to make it to Courtney’s wedding (and that I don’t have to do the kidnapping). It seriously made my day/week/month/YEAR!!!! She does have two small tubes hanging out of her neck where they have been doing the dialysis (sounds painful, but she reassures me that it is not, just feels like a stiff neck) and she will have to go back to the hospital after the weekend to have a biopsy done of her kidneys as well as some other tests, but the main this is, she is OUT OF THE HOSPITAL!!!!!!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

Also, if you haven’t stopped by my other blog to see all the fun I had last weekend, you should do that here!

ABCs of Me!

I stole this from Angie. . .thanks for the entertainment Ange!

A – Age: 30
B – Bed size: Half of a Twin size, since Hubby hogs it all!! (Queen really.)
C – Chore you hate: Unloading the dishwasher – which is why I just do the dishes by hand.
D – Dog’s names: We don’t have a dog, but my doggy Sister’s name is Cupcake (Mom and Dad’s dog.)
E – Essential start your day item: Kitty kisses from Elvis.
F – Favorite color: fucshia
G – Gold or Silver: white gold
H – Height: 5′3″
I – Instruments you play: zip, zero and none
J – Job title: Call Center guru (ha)
K – Kid(s): Just Elvis
L – Living arrangements: Hubby and I live in the same apartment that we have lived in for nearly 7 years with Elvis (RIP Jesse).
M – Mom’s name: Patricia Ann
N – Nicknames: Trish, TL, Sissy Lyn, Pete, Dingleberries (from the hubby)
O – Overnight hospital stay other than birth: It was after midnight when I finally got to go home. So not technically. That was for my car accident in ‘97.
P – Pet Peeve: bad grammar (especially on-line), drivers in my way.
Please know there is a difference between your and you’re and than and then!
(Those are my two biggest ones!!)
Q – Quote from a movie: “Follow The Yellow Brick Road”
R – Right or left handed: right
S – Siblings: Adam (32) and Leah (24)
T – Time you wake up: 8:15 (or so)
U- First word that comes to your mind for “U”: unique
V – Vegetable you dislike: lima beans
W – Ways you run late: Hit snooze too many times.
X – X-rays you’ve had: Face (nose), arm, hand, knee, teeth – I think that is all.
Y – Yummy food you make: Ric says, “Trisha makes a mean bowl of cereal.” ha And definitely Mac N Cheese (from the box, duh).
Z – Zoo favorite: The whole Zoo!!! Lions and Tigers and Bears – OH MY!

37 years. . .

Today is a VERY important couple’s 37th Anniversary!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!


I think I need more pictures of Mom and Dad by theirselves!!! I don’t have too many.

Family!

Picture taken on their cruise ~ Dec. ‘08

Some of the BEST parents in the world!!

Sad News

Monsignor Father Voss, the Pastor who married Ric and I, passed away this morning.

What a sweet man he was!! When we had to meet with him the few times before our wedding, he would always make us laugh. He was just a great guy. The whole afternoon of the wedding, he was making everyone laugh by calling Ric “Ricky” – which is what his Mom calls him. It was making us all giggle.

RIP Father Voss!!!

LAUGHTER

. . .it’s the BEST medicine!!!
I honestly believe that! I LOVE to laugh, I love to make people laugh too!

This week’s them over at I <3 Faces is “Laughter”.

My adult entry.
This is my Mom, the morning of my wedding. We were trying to get into the car when this leaf blew in her hair. It was the most HILARIOUS thing ever, in our eyes. We stood there and laughed for minutes, and just couldn’t stop!!! I LOVE this picture of Momma!!! (See my picture below. . .but we’re only able to enter one picture into the “contest.”)

My kids entry.
This is my BFF’s youngest. He is the cutest thing ever!! I just love this picture of him laughing that I captured when we were doing his 9-month-old shoot! SUCH a cutie!

See, I was laughing just as much as Mom was!