Moving

Wow. I've really neglected this blog. The good news is I'm still posting on my other blog. After some thought, I've decided to only post on the new one. Even though it's technically a photography blog, most of it is personal. Farewell! It's been a really fun journey....I appreciate each and every one of the comments you all have left me:)

A Weekend Snapshot

I took my SAT test today. It was boring, important, and hard. This sometimes seems to be the worst combination. If a test is boring, unimportant and easy you can twiddle your thumbs and explore the contents of your purse after you finish answering all the questions. If a test is boring, important and hard you can twiddle your thumbs all you want, but you can't get into your purse, read a book, or even leave your chair if you have any spare time before a section ends. If you're like me, you're lucky to have any time left over during a hard test anyway, so that information is really pointless. You are told that calculators are "only to be used for mathematical purposes."
You can't talk in the halls. You really can't talk anywhere. If you want to eat during the breaks, you have to quietly exit the highschool classroom and eat like a squirrel in the hallway. But altogether, it was fun. Fun because I was able to finish something I will probably never have to face it again.

I can't believe that summer is almost here. (Just one more week of concerts and math finals and I will be done until next year!) Now we just need some good weather here in the pacific northwest. I'm terribly conflicted about this. On the one hand, dry weather is undoubtedly a lovely thing. On the other hand, grass pollen likes to attack my face on sunny June days. I like to see my enemy.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Beach Day

This summer I plan to print out the photos I take and put them in an album. I have thousands of images on my computer that are only- well, on my computer. I miss tangible prints.

A Photo Blog...

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not deleting this blog. I just needed a new space to blog the photoshoots I do with people. An "official" link to give inquisitive people who want to see the portraits I take. (Ok, nevermind. That was just an excuse to start a fresh blog...)

So head over to check out my latest shoot at.....

nataliebrookephotography.blogspot.com

Hello, blogworld! It's been a bit since I've written about life in general. During the past few weeks I've been working on an end of year essay, attending classes, and planning things for the following months.

I got a new camera (Nikon D90 FTW!!) and finally finished The City of God. I scrambled around trying to memorize Chopin for my piano syllabus test scheduled for this Sunday, and blatantly ignored my SAT prep book.
I'm really excited about the weeks ahead. Two photoshoots with families from school, choir concerts, government testing, SAT, online Summer Shakespeare course, and GB3 summer homework. (Not to mention photography business stuff...) It's going to be fun!
And did I mention that three of my cousins are staying for a week starting Wednesday? I'm very excited. Nine children. Evening Pop-Tart fests. We might even make a movie!
(I know this seems like a kind of hyperactive post....but it's really all I have to say.)

Hope you all enjoy your week!

Camping

My dad camped somewhat frequently as a child, so my family tries to venture out into the "wilderness" at least once a year. I love camping. I attribute this love, however- to my Oregonian background, rather than that intrinsic passion which so many "outdoorsy people" exhibit. I don't like bugs. I don't like smelling like smoke. But I love hiking- rain or shine. I love sitting around a campfire listening to my brothers educate me on the 50+ ways to roast a marshmallow. (Actually they roast anything they can get their hands on.)

While we were cooking dinner Friday night, Jerome disappeared inside the car and somehow got his sweatshirt hooked on Gabe's fishing line. Have you ever tried to unhook a two-year-old from a line? It's nearly impossible.

We actually camped beyond the lake, right in front of a dam that keeps countless tons of water from flooding the valley. Andre and I spent a lot of time speculating how quickly our campsite would be washed away if the dam broke. That's us, always thinking of the worse case scenario;)

While Susanna and the boys chucked rocks in the lake, I read a book and took pictures.

I'm going to say loud and clear so there will be no doubts: we are hilariously inept campers.
Years ago, one of my brothers (who shall remain anonymous) only brought one pair of pants and ended up in my sister's pink leggings on the way home.
A few years ago a couple raccoons decided to investigate the back of our suburban. THEY TRIED TO EAT MY BAGELS. NOT OK.
Then there was the time we forgot a sleeping bag. Or the time the handle to our frying pan malfunctioned and next thing we knew we were looking at the contents of the pan lying in a miserable little heap covered in dust.


This picture of my sister makes me smile. Susanna loves camping, as long as no fire ant hills are involved. She is petrified of fire ants. And frankly, I don't blame her.

Hike Up The Butte

Last Sunday we went on a short hike. Susanna reminds me of Heidi in these pictures. It's not every day you see a girl climb up a hill wearing her church clothes.
We had had blue skies all morning, but by the time Jerome woke up from his nap and we all piled into the car it was at least 4:00, and the clouds had returned. Still a great afternoon for a walk.

To me this seems like a lovely place to study. Except that on nice days there can be as many as fifteen people at the top just hanging around eating sandwiches, etc. As you can imagine, that would be very distracting. Going up, I overheard a guy mutter something about a "super highway."

Lucy made quite the effort to get to the top. Lucy is basically the definition of a couch potato. Or a "floor potato" as my mom says, seeing how Lucy is never allowed on our couches. (I resent having to share a seat with an animal.)

Jerome's a trooper. He walked halfway up all by himself, refusing to be carried. I mean, if your three brothers were far ahead of you blazing new trails, would you want to be carried to the top? That's just not cool.