From looking at the photograph above you can tell none of us had any fun at WPPI this year.  This is just a great time of year for meeting with other photographers and getting some great ideas and feedback. I love meeting up with new and old friends from over the years.  It is just great because we meet photographers from all over the country.  I had quite a few partners in crime this year.  One of the most fun was that my friend Tanja of Tanja Lippert Photography and I started the secret in and out hat society club.  Basically, we were just being stupid and wanted to see who would join along, plus it was meant to show honor to our shuttle driver Gus.  He wasn’t suppose to stop at In and Out because he could of lost his job, but he did anyway. There were people on the bus who had never had an in and out burger.  Shocking I know!   Very long story with all the details you’ll have to ask in person.  But somehow we ended up getting about 75 people to wear the in and out hats through out the convention one day.  We even had a secret hand shake.  In fact, we started to get in trouble by the casino because they thought we worked for in and out.  We told them we didn’t and we were just goofing around.  Not sure if they believed us.

We had the oppurtunity to go to a party thrown by Blu Domain website hosting.  The rumor was that the house they threw it at was Whoopi Goldberg’s old house.  This house was just overwhelming and cool.   I don’t think there was one plain wall or ceiling in the whole place.  It even had a bowling alley in it.  All very fun!

OK I just LOL when my girlfriend sent these pictures yesterday.  They recently moved to Minnesota and this is how their kids did the Easter egg hunt.

These are my kids and how they and their friends looked for eggs.  Sent from a friends i phone.  It was warm enough that they even swam. 

Just got back from the convention in Las Vegas and there is so much to share with you all. Some photographic and just some crazy adventures but I have to tell you about my morning yesterday because it is moments like this that I wish someone was photographing my son and I. But I had to take a mental click and store it in my mom memories. My little guy just hates me leaving. He is always great about it but when I get back the first day he never leaves my side. Touching me, telling me his stories, etc. Quietly as a 6 year old can, he crawled in to bed with me this morning trying not to wake me up. He snuggled in to me and when I opened my eyes he was laying there with his eyes closed and the most content smile on his face. I just about bawled. It was so nice to feel so loved and so missed. What a welcome home.

Of course like usual I’m leaving on a trip in less then 12 hours and I’m still packing.  I really need to invest in some of those 3oz containers because now I have to check in my one little bag.  I hope that makes anyone flying to Vegas tomorrow feel more safe. :)    I’m really looking forward to the conference and the trade show where I always find some great new product or some little tidbit that helps me or my business grow.  I’m so looking forward to sharing with you guys about the new stuff.  I’m always inspired and renewed when hanging out with my photographer friends from all over the country.  It is always a great couple of days.

Sorry this has taken me so long to get it up.  I don’t know how many of you have asked to see the pictures.  For those of you who just tuned in my husband Eric turned 40 a little over a week a go.  As you know I’m quite the practical joker and love to do fun things for my friends birthdays or just because it was time to pull a joke on them.  Well,  Eric was the one who got the payback.  ( I have to admit I’m afraid of what they will come up with for me on my 40th, but they have a few years )  Our lawn was decorated with 40 pink flamingos with a sign that said “We’re tickled pink Eric’s 40!”  It was great because the theme of pink and pink flamingos followed him all day.  Even to where we went to dinner in Mountain View.  A great little restaurant that is new called Castro Street.  It was fantastic.  We had something like a 9 course meal.  I had arranged for a Chef’s tasting.  We haven’t gone but we’ve heard they have these pre fixed wine pairingmenus on Tuesdays and Wednesday.  They are suppose to be phenominal.

 All in all it was a great day and the boys loved that dad had a pink birthday.  Eric was a great sport but wasn’t thrilled that we added such feminine touches to his manly jeep. But he drove the jeep proudly with his pink flamingo attached.

This was such a great night to the beginning of a great weekend. My husband’s best friend Tony was getting married. Many of you may recognize him since he was my assistant for many years. Tony and Jackie (his fiance) wanted to do something fun to bring her friends and his friends together since we were coming from all over the country and Mexico. We found this great private charter with the Red and White line in San Francisco. It was so much fun as 50 of us boarded for a 3 hour tour. (I’m so glad we didn’t end up like Gilligan and his crew). We cruised the bay at night which was just gorgeous. It was a fantastically (is that a word?) clear night and the views of the bridges, the city, alcatrez, and Sausalito was amazing. Going under the Golden Gate bridge at night was just a wonderful experience. Everyone on board had a great time playing roulette, blackjack, and craps with their monopoly money. We had prizes for the top five winners. For me this night had a sentimental meeting to it. On February 15th, 16 years ago I was introduced to my husband. Many of the people who were here on the boat was there with us the night we met. It was so fun. It was like being 22 again.  One of the photos you see Tony and Jackie laughing from embarassment.  In fact the hands on Tony’s ears are his sisters.  This was a moment I’ve waited over 13 years for.  The night before my wedding Tony gave Eric and I a few unmentionables that was totally embarrassing.  All I can say is backpacks are hell.  I had a lot of years to plan this. If your interested it is a great  gift for a gag for a bachelor/bacherlorette party.

This photo is fun because all of you have heard me talk about the Jill’s.  They are two of my closest friends.  One lives in Florida and the other Minnesota.  It is so fun when we get together.  In fact, the Jill’s put all there tickets together on the cruise ship to win.  We always find a way to work the system and to have a lot of fun.  Tony always use to joke around that he needed to find a Jill.  Well, he found a Jack (ie) instead and we are so glad she is one of the girls.

One of the new products this year is what we call an encaustic painting. They are truly an incredible, one of a kind, piece of art. The artist who makes them for me was selected to be on Martha Stewart to show them how she makes the pieces. I was so excited for her. What was really fun is that Martha hand selected some of her samples for the show and mine was selected. It really was an honor. I’ve posted a photo of it but you really need to see it person. Thanks to Dennis and Tess who are the couple in the photo for giving me the oppurtunity to create such a beautiful piece. Here is a photo of Julia with Martha. The show will air sometime in May.