The Lopez Life

{Vegas Recap}

This time last week we were is Las Vegas. We met our friends, Sarah and Dustin there.  I just got around to looking at my photos tonight. I hardly took any! We were too busy having fun. Here's a few I did take.

New York New York Casino - our favorite place!

Sarah and I attempting a self portrait.

Before we saw a show at Planet Hollywood we ate at this restaurant that had a bull. We made Dave and Dustin ride it.  Dave should keep his day job. He got bucked off right away. Dustin, however, did a much better job.

We saw The "V" Variety Show. It was a great show! Wally Eastwood was hysterical!

 

Love how the ceiling looks like you are outside.

We also played a little bingo one morning. 

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March is coming up and it's always the busiest month of the year for us. Robert is about to turn 16 years old and is driving. He drives all. the. time. Also, Dave has a birthday at the end of the month. Robert is also working the Spring Training games again this season at the Peoria Sport Complex as a bat boy. He got his schedule and he's only going to have one day game this year. That's great that he'll only miss one half day of school. My aunt and uncle are also coming to visit for the month from Tennessee. Goods times! I love this time of year!

{Back from Vegas}

Dave and I had a weekend away together in Vegas. Had a great time!! It was much needed after how crazy January was. Haven't looked at any of my photos yet. Will share some soon. I do have a photo from my phone I can share. I won a little bit of money. I never win, ever! It wasn't much, but I was pretty happy with the winnings since it was my first bet at that machine and only bet $2.00. I cashed that baby out right away! I wasn't going to be like everyone else and put it back.  

Be back with more updates soon!

 

{Good-bye January}

I was going to start out by saying, "I am glad January is ending." Although January was sad, it also had lots of good. On January 16th, my dad's twin brother, Tom passed away. My Uncle Tom. 

Uncle Tom wasn't sick. He was 72. This has been so hard for all of our family. My heart aches for my dad. My heart aches for my Grandmom. She is 98 and no one should have to bury their child.  My heart aches for my Aunts. My heart aches for my cousin Tommy.

My sister and I flew back to New Jersey with our parents for my uncle's funeral. My uncle is a retired police detective. He also worked for bridge police (after retirement) and also as an EMT. He never stopped giving or helping people. His funeral was HUGE! They even closed the freeway.

This photo is when we pulled into the cemetery. They had a flag hanging from a fire truck in his honor. It was rainy and cold and had snowed two days earlier.

The Navy came and they folded the flag that was on his casket. There was a bagpipe player. Even though it was so sad it was a beautiful funeral.   One I want to remember because I never realized my uncle had made such a big difference in so many people's lives. He was so loved and never asked for anything in return. 

So the reason I am not happy to see January go, even though it was a tough month.... I got to see this lady smile.

 

My Grandmom. She's 98. She's seen a lot in this world. It was hard for her, but to see her sipping her wine and reading her paper at the end of the day is a good thing.  Again.....this is why I take pictures. I took a lot on this trip. I got to meet, for the first time, 1st cousins and 2nd cousins and see relatives I have not seen in 28 years.  I won't share all the photos I took. These were just on my phone. You can read more about Uncle Tom's funeral here.

My uncle was a happy person and we laughed a lot and shed a lot of tears in January. That's the way he would of wanted it.  We will forever miss you and never forget you, Uncle Tom.

**photo taken 1-13-12
 
 

{this week flew bye fast!}

This week really flew by fast! It had it's ups and downs. I think Wednesday was the downer of the week.

Robert was ALL set to take his drivers permit test. We had all the forms filled out and all the correct documentation (or so I though). We arrived at the DMV at 1:30. His number was E337. That number was called around an hour later. He handed the lady all his information. Then she looked at me and said, "We can't accept this kind of birth certificate." Really? Turns out the state of California issued us a certified "abstract" birth certificate. We've held it in our fire proof lock box for 15 1/2 years and it's no good in the state of Arizona because the word "abstract" is on it. Dave and I felt SOOO bad for Robert. He has been so patient waiting to go take his test and he was ready. Studied soooo hard for this test and he didn't even get to take it. I guess the good part is he can look back and say... I didn't fail my test.....I couldn't even take it! So we came home and got right on the phone to CA and after a chunk of change later we have one coming  ASAP hopefully by the end of next week. They have assured me that the word abstract will not be on it. Good thing is Robert got over it fast. He had a few choice words he let out in the car on the way home and moved on.

Today we are going to go see "The Devil Inside". I'm scared to death to see it at the movies. I like watching them at home where I can pause and get up if I am scared. I'm gonna be screaming at the movies! This movie poster is just freaky!

ETA: This movie was horrible!! Not scary at all and if you get motion sick easily...don't even go see it.

{Life right now.......}

Robert is studying for his pemit test. We have been reviewing this book like crazy. Even I am learning things. Dave and I are taking him tomorrow to take the test.

{Happy New Year!!}

Welcome 2012!

We had a great New Year's Day yesterday. My sister and her fam hosted a luncheon party. It was a gorgeous 76 degrees yesterday.

Here's a bunch of pictures from the day.

There was about 50 people that came. A lot we hadn't seen in ages. Good food, good company and a great way to start the New Year!!

Happy New Year!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{2011 in review}

I cannot believe this year is over already! Here's a little review of this year from our family.

We skyped with my 97 year old grandmom. She's the hippest grandma ever!

We had the best crop of oranges we have ever had from our trees.

I had a serious addiction to this game. Glad that addiction is over.

 We had a new roof put on our house.

Started hanging out at Salt Senorita's on Tuesday nights with friends in the Spring. 

Robert turned 15.

Robert got to work the Spring training games again at the Peoria Sports Conmplex.

I think the TV screen says it all.

 Spring football.

The boys did a lot of night fishing.

Arizona leagalized fireworks. We had a lot of fun on the 4th of July!

Friends visited from Iowa.

 Robert went to football camp for a week in Southern California.

 The 2011 tailgate kick off party for football.

Jamie came out to surpirse Robert for the weekend and was able to see his first football game of the season.

Dave started a new job and LOVES it!!

Robert got his barces off.

 Had Thanksgiving with great friends.

2011 was a good year. Looking forward to 2012 being just as good!

Happy New Year!

 

{A long learning process}

I had my camera set on ALL the wrong settings last night. Learned a ton today and hopefully my photos can only get better! My camera is set in RAW and I now know which ISO number I should use and also how to change my WB (white balance).

I'm just using the photo editing software that came with my camera. I want and will learn Photoshop. Now I just need some people to photograph. I'm going to have Mandy be my test subjust on New Year's Day.  

{Glendale Glitters}

Last night we went to Glendale Glitters. We went out to dinner while we were there. Then the sun went down and we walked around and enjoyed all the lights on the trees.

Took some pictures of Mandy. This girl has the most amazing lips and lashes!

Matt was in his usual clown mode!

 

 

{Shooting in RAW}

I'm slowly learning my camera. I've been reading up on the settings and asking a lot of questions. Praticed shooting in Raw today and did a little bit of editing on these photos.

Our lemons are starting to come in.

Ok nothing spectacular. I am still learning. It's fun to see how much the photo can change by shooting in Raw.

We are off to Glendale Glitters tonight. Hoping that my night time photos turn out.