Mother's Day

Sorry I've been gone for so long! I've been taking some classes and work has been crazy, and, well, you know the story. I've just been really busy! Here are some photos from mother's day last month. The whole family got together and took my mom to lunch and spent a few hours wandering and shopping. It was a lovely day.

I know it was mother's day, but of course it is always all about the kids. They are so adorable. This is Tristan, Dale, and Elaine (Tristan and Dale are my sister's children, Elaine is my brother's girlfriend's granddaughter.)


We had lunch at Grafitti in Petaluma. Elaine wasn't feeling great so wanted my brother to hold her all the time. She is so beautiful even when she is sick!
My brother in law, James, looking dapper as usual.
After lunch we walked around downtown Petaluma, window shopping mostly. Tristan doesn't like having his picture taken, so I had to do the "make a funny face" thing to get him to submit. Grandma got in on the fun too.

Once a horse girl, always a horse girl.
Look at my sister's crazy long hair! So pretty. That's my brother Jason in the background, still holding Elaine.
Dale and Star don't mind posing for photos.

We met a puppy outside an antique store. Of course Gabe had to make friends.

And then the bassett hound inside.
Haha. Self portrait.
I love this photo of Dale in the antique store. Sooo adorable.
Then of course I spent quite a bit of time taking pictures of knick knacks in the store. I can't help myself.




What a fabulous day! I really love it when my whole family gets together. I'll post more soon. I promise.

Spring has sprung!

Every year, as soon as the magnolia trees start to bloom, I go out and take a bazillion pictures of them. I can't help it. I don't know what I will do with all of my magnolia photos, but they are so pretty I feel a compulsion to document it. This year is no different. First, a fun photo of Gabe on a swing in the park near our house:

And then the flowers. I just love them so much. I wish our yard were big enough to plant one.




And some cherry blossoms for good measure.
I hope everyone is having a good spring!

Santiago's record release!

In January Gabe's band Santiago released a new record. That's right, a record, on vinyl, again. It is a five song EP pressed on one side and silk screened on the other side with an image designed by our friend and local tattoo artist, Jared Powell. In addition, each record comes with a card good for a free download of all the songs in mp3 format from Santiago's website. As if that weren't enough, the first 50 copies have handmade covers made by a number of local artists. This is the fourth release by Santiago, and the fourth handmade record cover art show we have put together. I have to say, this was the best one yet! There were so many amazing covers, and we held it at this great, hip, hair salon downtown. It was a lot of work to put it together but in the end I really felt like we actually created something meaningful for our community. It is an incredible feeling. Anyway, I took a ton of photos of the art show and managed to select some to share. I am in the process of photographing all of the covers to be displayed on Santiago's website, so be sure to check it out in the coming weeks to see who made covers and how amazing they all turned out.


The first few people come wandering in to check out what's going on.


As you can see, it filled up pretty quick.

Tony (Santiago's bass player) shows some friends around. Those covers in the background were designed by Sara Sanger, an incredible local photographer (who, incidentally, did our wedding photos). She made all three band members' faces out of tissue paper. Tony's mom bought all three.


The opening band was Mogs. They have a recording studio in their house and recorded Santiago's record there. They of course are also a great band themselves.



Gabe had to write a list on his hand to remember who to thank when he was on stage. Glad he remembered me!
Santiago plays as people look on.









That's that! What a night. I feel so lucky to know so many creative people. Keep checking back as I'll try to post more soon.