number 600

welcome to post 600! not much else to say about that...just the acknowledgement of a nice, round number.
I am currently putting off working on an orthographic of an express train. these days life for me revolves around being so so grateful to have a job, to be working doing something even REMOTELY creative...but also wishing i had some time to paint, draw, and sing and go running and see people...but that's just where things are. i know the Lord probably has all kinds of things getting ready to drop into my relatively stable existence, so for now i'll enjoy being able to pay off my student loans :)
Really, though, life outside of the studio has been pretty rad.
There has been an influx of awesome people i know moving to (or back to) the Pasadena area...i'm really enjoying even the small amount of time i get to work on my own art endeavors...and it's been raining this week so the weather outside is AMAZING. all very good things.

Jordan teaching Jeff "cribbage"...

Jordan, Evan, and Alec have a nightly push-up bonding time at 9:36. they call each other pretty much wherever they are and stop and do 2 sets of 25 pushups. last week Jordan pulled over and stopped in a gas station to do his. after Bible study last week the 3 of them and my dad ran into the Meyers' backyard and went for it...

oh yeah, and they take their shirts off.

karaoke at the Miyako hotel last Friday night...Amy is singing her every popular rendition of "My Heart Will Go On". Jeff and i make her do it almost every time we go.

i took this picture of cam, reid, mikey and ethan after church on sunday. i remember when each of these guys was a little boy. now all teenagers, it's a total trip seeing them acting more and more like young men...(some of the time)... it's amazing and scary. will i ever get used to how fast life is flying by??
do i want to?



well, i just found out that a project i spent a good half a day on last week was lost somehow...so i need to get on that. X(

Psalm 103 is amazing. i'm trying to memorize it...and it helps me fall asleep at night...running it through my mind instead of thinking about my insecurities or what i didn't get finished during the day.

~~~

some photos

There are a bunch of pictures of the day before/of the wedding and it's preparations. You can see them by clicking HERE. I posted some of my favorites further down in this post...

Karaoke with Jeff last Sunday night...
My to-do list

Celebrating Bettina's success in becoming a licensed RN

hanging out with some of my Laguna friends and saying good-bye to my friend Beau, who is moving to NY :(

Amy and GwenDay before the wedding...Amy, mom and i went to the flower mart in downtown LA

as i promised...miscellaneous pictures of the wedding preparation...which can also be seen in the facebook album.

rehearsal dinner at Il Fornaio

Chaurel

dinosaur teeth

wayward chocolate

hair and make-up at Auntie Robin's...

hurrying

taking pictures

Amaris reading the light

Robin doing some last-minute touch-ups before the big moment...

more later...


~~~~~~~~

les poissons

went to karaoke with jef and amy last night.























amy and i picked out surprise songs for each other. in the video below, you will see what i was sweet enough to choose for her.
sorry it's so dark...but the sound is all that matters, really. priceless. listen to the applause she receives at the end...
i love my cousin.



~~~~~~~

stuff and things...and Christmas too

Saturday the 23rd!
Amaris and i finished our Christmas presents for the family...


i headed to the Meyers' where David showed us all amazing pictures from his 80 days of wilderness training in the Pacific Northwest. it was beautiful...


Then there came a fierce couple of rounds of Telepictionary...probably one of the best we've ever played. Any questions about this fabulous game can be answered in this post from last year.



So much laughing...Bob started sounding like he was in pain after a while...




Christmas morning...

look, presents!


i like how Christmas morning has bscome much simpler ...just one or two gifts each. and Alec was here this year. so that was special...





Maela sat and watched the whole deal...trying so hard to figure out what was going on...


Sarah and Alec showing off their prizes. You can also see a painting i did of my grandma on the wall behind them...
and yes, Alec got Sarah a brown bathrobe. :)


i only have a few pictured from Christmas night with the whole family...plus a few more...it was a very lovely evening. it went so fast i can hardly remember it. i do remember the prime rib was amazing...
Jef, Amy, Johnny and Kyle...



yesterday there was some hang out time at the Pikes...





last night mom practiced her juggling...thanks to Alec, she is completely addicted. it's hilarious.



today my mom, aunt Wren and i went on a hike to the waterfall...it was cold and clear and lovely. i think hiking is one of my favorite things in the world.


word on the street is that there are some Pappas's coming to town...


~~~~~~