I couldn’t be anymore excited, giddy, ecstatic...

I got it! Greg is such a wonderful supporter of my new found love of taking pictures that he spoiled me (Big time) by getting me the Nikon D80!

I am feeling...

A) SO excited that I don't have to use our little mini Kodak camera anymore (I was so devastated when hardly any of our pictures from Stew's games in WI at the World Series turned out)

B) Even MORE excited to learn all about my new camera, and continue to soak up as much about photography as I can!

C) Feeling SUPER blessed that I have such a supportive husband that is almost as excited as I am about this new found "hobby" and MUCH needed "creative outlet"

This comes at a great time too! This weekend is our Annual Girls Weekend! We are going to be headed to Poulsbo, WA to a bed and breakfast for a weekend full of fun, bonding, catching up, laughing (sometimes crying) and just plain enjoying each other! I hope to have some smashing pictures from the weekend to post next week!

Stew at College World Series and Lambeau Field in Wisconson, Baby!

So last weekend Greg and I found ourselves traveling again, or as Sadie calls us "The Weekend Jet-setters". My cousin Stew made it to the Baseball College World Series in Appleton, WI and we decided we couldn't miss it! Greg and I flew out Saturday morning to Milwaukee and drove about 2 hours North to Appleton. We caught all of the Saturday night game, thanks to the games running late for the day. The game started at 9pm. Although Linfield lost against Trinity (undefeated on the season going into the game) we were SO proud of Stew! I caught one of his screamin' hits on video, but can't seem upload it correctly. :(

Sunday morning Greg and I met Aunt Nancy and Uncle Kenny for breakfast in Green Bay, WI. After breakfast, Greg and I headed to ...



We checked out their Hall of Fame, and took the tour of the Field..




Lambeau was pretty amazing. I totally get the whole Green Bay Packers followers and fans now. The history and tradition there in Green Bay does Football proud! It was a pretty amazing experience.

After Lambeau, we headed back to Appleton for the 3:30 pm game. Linfield fought hard, but ended up loosing which ended their season. Stew went 3 for 4 for the game. I can't say this enough, but we are SO PROUD of you Stew! You are an amazing player and leader, and your love and drive and hard work are inspiring, buddy! You gotta lead them to the World Series next year, cause we will be there again to see you lead your team to take it all!

We love you buddy! Thanks for doing us all proud!

Reading with Greyson and Levi...

I think he is going to make a wonderful daddy someday, don't you? :) It melts my little heart seeing how wonderful he is with Levi and Greyson!

I got Tagged...

Just kidding...the Blogging kind of Tag :)

This is my first time getting "Tagged" so here is goes...

Five things on my to-do list today
1. Prepare for 11am meeting
2. Cash checks at bank on lunch break
3. Finish up my homework after work from 4:30-6pm
4. Go to my "Issues in Management" class from 6pm-10pm
5. Go home after class and relax with my hubby for at least a half hour before bed time (and maybe watch the "Top Chef" episode that I DVR'd last night that I am willing to sacrifice quality sleep time to watch)

Snacks I enjoy
1. Whole wheat tortilla with peanut butter, sliced banana, a little drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon! Yum Yum!
2. Sugar Free Jell-O cups (only 10 calories....seriously!!!)
3. The new Deli Dill Pickle Speers from Costco (only 5 calories!!)
4. Buttered Popcorn rice cake with a laughing cow cheese wedge spread on top
5. Greg's homemade stovetop popcorn

Things I would do if I were a millionaire
1. QUIT MY J.O.B., finish my degree and pay off college myself!
2. Buy a house (something bigger than our 692 SQ FT Condo) that includes guest rooms, office, laundry room, theater room and maybe a photography studio
3. Give more!
4. Always fly first class for our weekend jet-setting trips
5. Start a family ASAP, as long as #1 and #2 has been completed! :)

Places I have lived
1. Spokane, WA
2. McMinnville, OR
3. Coeur'd Alene, ID
4. Moses Lake, WA
5. Olathe, KS

Bad habits I have
1. Blog-hopping during class, and sometimes at work
2. Coffee! (I wish I didn’t depend on it as much as I do)
3. Not putting my Debit Card back in my wallet, and temporarily "misplacing" it :) (Drives my hubby nuts)
4. Begging my hubby to hit the snooze button "just one more time"
5. Putting homework off (also drives my hubby nuts!)

Jobs I have held
1. Barista
2. Sales Rep at GNC
3. Server at multiple restaurants
4. Receptionist at Dentist Office (Yes, Sadie, Tooth Acres) as well as being the "custodian", "floor waxing service" and "laundry girl"...oh the poor, single life :) SO thankful those days are over with!!!!
5. Admissions Office Coordinator at NU

I now tag...Alicia, Paula, Kayla, Nicole and Lori-girl! Have fun ladies! :)

The Happiest Place on Earth...

Greg and I had the opportunity to go to the "Happiest Place on Earth" last weekend! Yep, we decided to be kids for the weekend and go to Disneyland. Greg's parents, cousin Todd, and his wife and 3 boys were down in the area for a Church conference and decided to go to Disney while they were there. Lori decided to join in on the fun for the day, which provided an opportunity for Greg and I to fly with her for free (and in first class!) So off we went...to sunny California...

Thanks for the tickets Lori-girl!

We got up at 3:30 am for our flight there, and arrived in CA at about 9:30 am. We rented a convertible and headed right for Disney...
The ride there...


The "group" in line to ride Space Mountain!

A picture of the picture of us on Space Mountain...

Jared eating his Smoked Turkey leg...

Greg with the Turkey Leg...

Right next to Disney is the California Adventure Park...

This was one of the roller coasters at California Adventure...

We also did the "Tower of Terror" - Awesome!

The last ride of the day was Splash Mountain...(picture of the picture)

We all got quite wet on the ride...(soaked is a better word)

It was a blast! We were exhausted at the end of the day after walking around all day in the 102 degree heat. We all slept quite well that night!
Thanks Hicks fam for the fun-filled day at Disneyland!!!

Sad but True...

My Last Photography Assignment

My very last assignment was People in Context. I got to go over to the Arnold's house to snap some shots of Levi playing in the back yard, and Greyson eating some dinner on the patio...
This first one is my favorite...





I had an absolute blast in my "Into to Photography" class! Even though I was carrying just about the craziest schedule I have ever attempted, I STILL had a blast! They need to rename this Summer class "We are going to tease you with a few really cool parts of Digital Photography, so much that you are left begging for more!" :) Okay, so that would not fit into an academic catalogue very well, but that is what I am left feeling. Even though I was going into work at 6:30 am, skipping lunch time and working Saturdays to make taking this class possible, I am still left wanting so much more of it. There is SO much to learn! I still have another 6 elective credits to fulfill before I finally graduate so I hope to find more Photography Classes to take, even if it means taking them somewhere other than NU.
Who knows what is to come...all I know is I want more! :)

Assignment: "Floral"

Only one more day of class...
I am a little sad.

Assignment: Still Life

Today's assignment was still life...



It is funny how my favorites change from before class, to after class. Sometimes they don't change, but today it did. My favorite of the three was the middle, of the French Press, coffee mug and beans. However, after class my favorite was the first one...of the black shoes. The professor and my class mates comment on all our photos. Today, the professor told me how everything about the first photo, of the black shoes was "right".
I would like to think that I am not influenced easily, but not today...the black shoes are now my favorite. (big smile)
Now onto "Floral" for tomorrows assignment....not my favorite thing...I have a few "outside the box" ideas...any one have suggestions???
-Kara

Assignment: Portraits

Over the weekend, my assignment in Photography class was Portraits...
Let me know what you think!