Moving

Not physically, just digitally. As much as I love to post on this blog I find I don't have the time anymore. That doesn't mean I'm not blogging though. I'm just combining my personal blog with my photo blog. So if you want to check out our little family still please visit:

http://amberweimerphotography.blogspot.com

Thanks! xoxo

Back to stay

So, I know I've been gone for a very very long time(thanks to my last year of school,) but now I'm back. Here are some things that happened during my blogger vacation:

1. I graduated from UVU with a B.S. in Photography in April. I got a custom designed website so check that out www.amberweimerphotography.com


2. We celebrated our 4th anniversary in April.


3. I got knocked up. On purpose.


4. We find out on Monday what we're having.
5. I suppose I'll write again on Monday.

Big Changes

Just a couple things:

First, I've changed my website quite a bit. The pricing and info is completely different. Hopefully it'll be a lot better.

Second, my website will be off the web at the end of June(this month) in preparation for my new site! The new one will be completely different and hip(the pricing and packages will remain the same.) I'm super excited about it. One thing I'll be doing differently is no printing(except for montages.) Each package(excludes Fine Art) comes with a high res cd of all images. AND, here's the biggest change, each cd includes all images in color, bw, and sepia tone, and 2 custom made photo montages. Isn't that exciting?! Breath. It's for real. Here are a couple examples of montages you can expect:



If you know anyone(including yourself) who would like their pics done please refer me. I would be super grateful. As an incentive to get more business I am offering 30% off any package to friends and family.

Love you guys!!!

www.amberweimerphotography.com

Attack of the GEODUCKS!!!! Blah!

So on our little jaunt over to Dash Point, we made a disgusting discovery (how's that for alliteration? nice right?) We noticed these nasty little blobs sticking out of the sand that would go down every time we got close. Not only that, but they would squirt water as they slunk down below the sand. The boys tried to dig a little to unearth one(as did Brucey, after being squirted by one), but gave up as no one wanted to touch the globby creatures. Luckily we asked a passer- by if he knew what they were, and he did. "Geoducks," (gooey ducks) he told us. When we got home we looked them up and this is what they really look like: Prepare yourself!





(This photo is not mine, but I picked it because it's so ridiculously funny. Her nails are all painted nice and she's holding it like she's shooting a comercial. Ha! Classic.)
Is that not the grossest thing you've ever seen in your life?! Apparently, they are native to the Puget Sound in Washington(where we live,) and we just happened to run across them. What are the odds?! I know you're curious so here are some fun facts about the geoducks:
-The name geoduck has a native American origin, meaning "dig deep"
-The Chinese call the geoduck the "elephant trunk clam." They actually eat these! It's a Chinese delicacy(I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.)


-Oldest Recorded Age: 146 to 168 years
-The neck of a geoduck can stretch to 1 meter, from the body and shell of this clam
-A developing geoduck will burrow into sediment at an approximate rate of 1 foot per year. After digging about 3 feet deep, the adult geoduck settles in for 100 years or more.
-The average size of 2.2 pounds is reached in five to six years. The maximum documented weight: 7.15 kgs. That's 15.76 lbs!
http://www.manandmollusc.net/geoduck.html

What is this strange place I've moved to?!

Dash Point at low tide

We went to this cool place called Dash Point Beach. It was extreme low tide so we got to see a ton of crazy things. There were lots and lots of starfish, thousands of live sand dollars, different kinds of crabs, a nudibranch, and geoducks(gooey-ducks. I will do another post about them because they're so bizarre, and disgusting!)

One cool thing we discovered was water pockets in the sand. It was so odd. We kept seeing random bursts of water spring up here and there and wondered what the heck was going on. We realized they were coming from little sand mounds that, when disturbed, shoot water 6 feet into the air. It was so fun to find sections with tons of the mounds because we could spray each other(and ourselves.) Brucey sprayed himself many times. It was hilarious.

We've made many good guy friends up here. I get to cook for them or make brownies whenever they have days off, and we get together and play games for hours and hours. It's been great. I get sad when they have to go because I know I won't see them again for a week. I'm trying to keep myself busy while they are away. I miss Brandon so much when he leaves. I couldn't help but shed a few tears when they left yesterday morning (for 2 weeks.) At least I have Brucey to keep me company.

sand dollars

Hadley, Jon, and Brandon looking for critters

Brandon holding a mini starfish

One of the many starfish left by the receding tide

Hadley trying to get the crab to grab his hat

Hadley

Brandon and a big critter

Brandon, Jon, Hadley, and Joey

Cute little crab. Looked like a leaf. Love him.

Joey with the dead "octopus", which was actually a giant many legged starfish.

Wet and Wild

Brandon's office met a goal for Memorial Day so we got a party for it. We went, not knowing what it was at all, and found this blow up slip and slide. After running back to our apartment for a swimsuit Brandon was able to have lots of fun with the guys. It was soooooo hot. I, on the other hand roasted my butt off while watching. I know this is totally lame, but I didn't want to get my face wet. Washington has been pretty great except that ever since we got here, my face has been so disgusting! No matter what I do, it just keeps breaking out. I don't know what to do. It's never been this bad in my life. I just keep having to wear more and more makeup to cover it up which, in turn, makes my face even worse. It's a vicious cycle. I was able to play some ultimate frisbee at the party so it turned out okay. The stupid thing is, I'm sure know one would even care if my face was all zitty, but seriously, if my face keeps breaking out, I'm going to have a nervous breakdown!!!!

Washington in a whirlwind

more photos below

So I'm really glad my mom drove up with me and stayed for a few days. For those of you who don't know my momma, she's a traveler. Period. I don't know how else to say it other than we usually need vacations from our vacations. We like to see as many things as possible as fast as we can. Don't misunderstand me, this is not a bad thing. I love it. Because of her, I've been able to see so many things and experience so much.

So on our drive up, I was disappointed for most of the journey. I was expecting a lot more green and started to get discouraged. Then all of a sudden, it was like we'd driven into Twilight. For reals! We were magically surrounded by vast foggy forests and it started to rain. That's when things got exciting.

While my mom was here we went to: Gig Harbor, Point Defiance, Tacoma(Glass Museum), Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park(where we saw a bear 20 feet away from the road ancd nearly hit a number of deer,) Marymere Falls, Forks(yes really, read more below,) Hoh Rain Forest, Ruby Beach, and Seattle(Aquarium, Space Needle, Pike Place Market.)


All that occurred in 4 days.

The majority of those happened on one day. The grand near-impossible adventure around the Olympic Peninsula. I didn't think it was physically possible to see everything we did and drive that far in one day, but as I mentioned before, I was with my mom. That was 463 miles on a one lane slow highway (25 mph through towns.) Just the driving time for all the places we went that day, not including the time we spent at each location, was... ready for this... 11 hours 25 minutes!

Yes. It was a very long, very successful day.

We didn't even plan on going to Forks, but it just happens to be on the highway along with Port Angeles and La Push. It's so weird! One cool thing happened while we were in Forks. We had stopped for lunch and shopping there briefly and were on our way out of town when my mom got a call. Since it's illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving in Washington we pulled over immediately. While my mom chatted I looked over to my left, and there, down the road, was Forks High School! We of course had to drive over and take about 20 pictures before I was satisfied.
p.s. one more fun fact about Forks, they do Twilight tours! The Twilight tour bus driver honked and waved at me while I was taking pictures of the "Welcome to Forks" sign. They go to Port Angeles, Forks, and La Push. Isn't that funny?

Everything is green and gushy here! Hoh rain forest phone booth

Pike Place Market

Ruby Beach

Hoh Rain Forest




Bear! On the way up to Hurricane Ridge. I got a little nervous and didn't stay long...

Pt. Defiance beach walk

Pt. Defiance

Tacoma Glass Bridge

Washington's been super so far, accept... I've seen Brandon for about 48 hours total since I got here. He had to work all week while my mom was here and could only go to Seattle with us. And even worse, he's had to stay in Yakima(a city 2 1/2 hours away) for the past 2 weeks. And even more worse, he'll probably be gone all of next week too! Come on!!!!! Serioulsy?!!!!!! I'm basically going crazy now.

I have posted many more images on Facebook if you want to check 'em out.

And that brings us to now.