Portraits by Sarah Goodman Photography

Geoff and I had portraits taken. Check out the slideshow, then thumb through the pics (by pushing the "grid" button on the far right of the bottom bar) and tell me your faves :)

Thanks!
photography done by sarah goodman photography

Spring Flowers in AZ

I want to accentuate another positive. This happiness came in the form of flowers this spring. These flowers were actually in _my_ front yard! Not only is our grass growing, but flowers, too! Now, I am no green thumb. I would like to get better at gardening. But, today I will celebrate the happiness of these flowers I get to enjoy.


This is lantana. It will last through the hot, hot Arizona summer.




This purple flowers has new blooms every morning. They bloom in the morning, last all day, then fall off in the evening. They aren't morning glories- unless they are some "breed" I am with which I am not familiar. What they are, I am not sure.... But, it is very fun to have a new batch of flowers every morning!
*Note: it has already gotten too hot for these little white flowers in AZ, so they are not blooming anymore. Just so we know that I did not kill them ;) They are super fragrant. Anyone know what they are?

Happy Kiwi

I like kiwi. It don't usually buy it because they are small & fiddly. By the time you get that "hairy peel" cut off, it just doesn't seem like there is much fruit flesh left to eat! Plus, they are usually a little hard and - "meh"- in the flavor department.

This week the girls saw a box of kiwi at Costco and begged to buy it. Being the push over I have been lately, I acquiesced. All the while I was thinking to myself, "We are never going to eat all of this kiwi. This is a 4 pound container of kiwi! Kiwi starts out too hard and flavorless then, *Poof!* All of a sudden-it is too mushy and grainy *sigh*. Plus- the Costco quantity... always way too much."

I was wrong about this batch. These are the best kiwi I have ever had in my life. They are big, plump kiwi (you know... big for a kiwi). They are so flavorful and juicy. Very delicious. These kiwi ended up providing a "happiness bonus". It made me happy to eat such yummy fruit. And, the bonus: I am so happy that half (or more) of it didn't go to waste- as is so often the case when buying produce from Costco!

Happy Kiwi. {triple hapiness: saying "kiwi". Pretty fun. Try it ;) }

Happiness, Continued from Tuesday

Remember my silly husband who tweets on my twitter, blurbs on my blog and posts feedback on my facebook? He puts in his 2¢ (which is usually "me" explaining the wonders of my husband!) wherever and whenever he can sneak it in- like on my Wednesday June 10th post. Anyway, I wanted to follow up that little happiness with this one.

He usually keeps his head shaved. Which is neither here nor there, but background info for this picture story. He does it himself. He has me look it over when he is done to make sure there aren't any missed hairs sticking up anywhere. This particular "shearing day", Geoff went outside to cut his hair, and came back in hobbling. You know, like with a cane. All hunched over... The girls and I were in the studio when he made his appearance in the doorway- and he asked, in a somewhat shaky voice, if his hair had turned out ok. We turned around to check out this bedraggled-sounding, hobbling scene. And we saw-




"Old Man Geoff"

My husband makes me laugh. Always a good thing. Look at this handsome guy. Love him. LOVE him!
photo by sarah goodman photography

Happiness, Even at 5:30 am

I am the "Activity Day Girls" Leader at church. This means I have an activity 2 times a month for all the girls aged 8 to 11. The activities focus on personal & spritual development- talents, goal-setting, planning... you name it, it is a topic of discovery. So, last time we met, I had them plan a "Summer Party". They planned the "dinner", took on assignments, brought the "activities"... They decided on playing in the water on the trampoline, watching a movie and doing make-overs. And, food, of course. I provided the house, TV, trampoline, water, hose... (and, filled in on the food...)

Among themselves they brought an oscillating sprinkler, "Night At The Museum" for the movie, make-up, nail polish, their own swim suit/towel, dry clothes, and "dinner". Dinner is in quotes because what ACTUALLY made it here was: Cheetos, brownies, limón potato chips, zucchini bread, chocolate covered pretzels, popcorn, fríjoles refritos (homemade refried beans- this girl pulled through!) corn chips (she brought her assignment, too!) and soda pop. Fortunately, I had planned for said eventuality and had taquitos, guacamole & salsa to supplement. Not the healthiest dinner, but it was a party, after all ;)

It all started with playing in the water.


Then, they ate. After food was (mostly) consumed, it was movie time. Which basically meant there was a movie on in the background to add to the noise and confusion whilst the girls did "make-overs". So- out came the nail polish.



It isn't long after nail polish that the make-up enters the scene. Remember, 8 to 11 year olds here. They were pretty silly with the make-up- including, but not limited to, eye shadow on cheeks, lip gloss put on "clown style"-




And, my personal favorite- dark grey eyeshadow as "armpit hair". Yes, they put it on their underarms!

Sophia wasn't the only one, mind you. She is just the only one who of whom I got a photo!

I think the highlight of their evening was doing a make-over on me. They were SO excited to do so, who was I to deny them such pleasure? I do have 3 showers in my home, after all. Between them, I was certain to be able to wash all that...crud... off! So, I got the full deal from these make-up artists. Nails, make-up and a new hairdo. Check it out:


I am not sure exactly how much gel it took to achieve that faux-hoc (fake mohac? mohawk? how do you spell it?!).. but it was stiff. Solid!

Then, of course, the evening wrapped up with the girls leaving- with much moans and groans- and the carnage left behind…


This is but a small sampling of the disorder, chaos & mess! And, of course, a few items belonging to children were left behind. No child get-together is complete without some number of items being left behind.

Now, at this point you are probably in complete puzzlement as to how this is a "happiness". It is because they had so much fun. They thought they were really "pulling one over on me" by telling me how beautiful they were making me. They did the big "reveal" to all the other girls (before I was shown to a mirror) and said, "Doesn't she look beautiful?!" And, the forthcoming laughter was simply fabulous! They were in hysterics laughing at "my look". Ah. Hope they hold on to that happy moment and remember it as they venture into the upcoming whirlwind that is puberty, middle school and teenage-dom.

Love those girls!