This is what our morning looked like because the girl woke up WAY earlier than usual and I was just too tired to get out of bed.  In fact, many of our days while Daddy was gone started off like this.

Getting ready.  Here’s a sneak at my makeup essentials.  See any of your faves?

And we’re on our way.  Kaya rockin’ her new TOMS and playing with her Fisher Price iXL.  Yes, she’s still rear facing.  Safety first!

Our local contemporary art museum has an annual Art Spree, with activities and performances geared towards kids and families.  Here’s my girl after her first face painting experience!  She looks a bit skeptical but rest assured, she loved it.  She is a girly girl at heart.

Making a clay ornament.  This will be on our Christmas tree this year.

Back at home, pretending to nap.  She might have slept for 30 min.  Not good.  Naps have been a battle her entire life.  Even as a newborn she rarely napped more than 45 min.  :/

She insisted on trying on her beanie.  Even though it’s 85 degrees.

Amazing what amuses kids.  She loves sitting in boxes.

That evening we headed to one of the local botanical gardens.  They also have an annual event for families and it fell on the same day as the Art Spree this year.  Here she is waiting patiently for her balloon flower.

Latest obsession: rubber stamps.  She could sit there for hours and stamp.

Thanks for stopping by.  Next, head on over to Melinda Meredith Photography‘s blog to check out her 10 on 10 for August.

Rainier cherries.  Love.

Another beach day.  Matchy matchy toes.

Post beach bath.  In case you’re wondering about the band aid, the girl had a zit (or something) a couple months ago that she would.not.stop.picking at.  For 2 months!  It finally healed, then she picked at it again!  So we’ve resorted to putting 2 band aids on it to keep her from touching it.  So far so good.  But I’m pretty sure she’s scarred for life.

Date night view, shot with my p&s (Canon SD1100).

Bedtime ritual.

Sleepy doggie.

Thanks for stopping by.  Now go ahead and check out what’s cookin’ over at Laurie’s blog, A Favored Life.

Waiting to board the plane. Her 18th flight in 26 months!

First subway ride, ever.

Bikes for days. Dotonbori.

Pine cones in Arashiyama.

AMAZING bamboo grove in Arashiyama.

Dandelion.

Family day at Osaka Castle. Loved the taiko performance.

They have a thing for big ferris wheels in Japan. There are at least 3 within an hour of where we stayed.

Children’s day at the zoo.

On our last day we headed to Nara, where there are deer roaming free all over. So glad I got shots of Kaya feeding the deer because she got scared and wouldn’t do it again!

Thanks for stopping by! Now head on over to check out Melinda Meredith Photography‘s 10 on 10 for May.

Kaya putting on her musical bunny ears.  She only kept them on for a few seconds so I was lucky to catch her with them almost on.

Checking out what the Easter bunny brought.

The hubs and I just finished a 50 day Paleo challenge.  Paleo is a “diet” in which you cut out grains, diary and legumes, no added sugar.  So basically meat, veggies, nuts and fruits.  I didn’t lose any weight but I felt SO much better – less GI issues than before and way more energy.  We had to get creative with recipes so one of the things I attempted was sweet potato pancakes made with almond flour.  They aren’t nearly as good as real pancakes but they definitely help my starchy cravings.  (And, btw, I ate crappy for 2 days and paid dearly for it.  Major headache and nausea.  It felt like a BAD hangover.  Lesson learned.  Sugar is the devil.)

We headed to the zoo for an Easter egg scavenger hunt.  There was also an arts & crafts area set up.  Looks like someone is gonna be a lefty!

After heading home for a nap, we’re off again!

Easter party at my cousin’s house.  Here’s Kaya having a blast on the big trampoline.

Another Easter egg hunt!  Eggs in trees and bushes!

More fun with the cousins’ toys.

Kaya and my cousin’s adorable daughter.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please head on over to Laurie Vengoechea | Temecula Photographer‘s blog and see what she’s been cooking up this month!

Thanks for stopping by.  Head on over to Las Vegas Photographer Tara Romasanta‘s blog to check out her home.

Sometimes life just gets a little too crazy and busy for me to even touch my camera…

But please head on over to Las Vegas Photographer Tara Romasanta‘s blog to check out her “silly” images.

Head over to Las Vegas Photographer Tara Romasanta‘s blog to check out her take on this week’s theme.

I had visions of way more than just one photo for this week but this was the first shot I got and then she stopped cooperating.  Of course.  At least I got one!  :)

Make the rounds by heading on over to Las Vegas Photographer Tara Romasanta’s blog to see her take on this week’s theme.

I’ve been CrossFitting for almost 3 months and although I still can’t do most of the workouts as prescribed (I do a lot of things modified), I love the feeling of finishing a workout.  Especially when half way through it I think I’m going to puke or pass out. Seriously.  Most of the time I’m the weakest and the slowest.  I’m also the smallest, so I have an excuse.  :P  (Disclaimer: I only CrossFit because my cousin owns the place.  Otherwise I’d be way too intimidated to even step foot in the place because the athletes who workout at her box are extreme.  They are hardcore athletes! Look at them!)

On this day, the WOD was the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games Open Workout 12.3
As many rounds as possible in 18 minutes, of:
15 Box Jumps (24″/20″).  This means the men jump onto a box that is 24″ high, women jump onto a box that is 20″ high.
12 Push Press (115/75 lbs.).  Men do 115 lbs, women do 75 lbs.  I did 35!  HA!
9 Toes-to-bar.  You hang from the bar and touch it with your toes.  I just bring my legs up to parallel.

You’re doing this for 18 minutes nonstop.  18 minutes is an eternity when you’re working like this!  This is not like doing 18 minutes on the treadmill.  Oh, no.  I only got through 6 full rounds plus 15 box jumps but I was pretty proud of myself.  Because I finished, even though after the first couple rounds I thought I might puke.  :P

Now head on over to Las Vegas Photographer Tara Romasanta‘s blog for her take on this week’s theme.