Olympics!

Images from London 2012:

here we are in front of the new, iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit, designed by Anish Kapoor. A vanity project (cost £19 million, 'only' £3 million of which came from British taxpayers) or a worthwhile blend of art and architecture?

Executive in repose at the newly opened Dorset Square Hotel. Loved it. Our entire room was done up in men's suiting material.

This is Wenlock. He's the mascot of the 2012 Olympics. Several Wenlocks are sprinkled throughout London. The man in the background testament to the amazing amount of street cleaning we witnessed. London was shining like a new penny.

I have a thing for fruit stands. This one had to be captured.

The plates were commissioned by London pottery artists. They are meant to evoke the Thames.

It was a spectacular show. This part was very beautiful.

This was the moment when the blossom of flames rose completely up in full glory.

This was the moment when team GB was announced as they entered the parade of nations. The place was electric!

The stadium.

I received a little feedback that the mosaic format isn't so user-friendly, so I have reverted the blog style to the old format. Hope it helps the enjoyment factor. Today we enjoyed a radiant day in Bonita at a horse show. Graham wowed us all by taking home the blue ribbon in his first class of the day! All our riders went home with well-earned ribbons and satisfied faces.

Diamond Jubilee

I love to play a good supporting role. This past weekend I played like GUMBY and spread myself between being Horse Show Mommy and Oilpatch Wifey. It was fun, but last night I went to bed at 9 pm! Today back to the norm: Bill-Payer-in-Chief, Executive-Laundry-Doer. Here are some images I snapped at the show in San Juan Capistrano. A photog got one pic of Al and me jitterbugging at the other event, so I will try to edit it in here someday if I can get a copy.

Windows to Paradise: Past and Present

Eight years ago, Graham sat on the swim up bar counter:

Now:
Evelyn and her little British friend:

Some crazy people on the beach:

A portrait of his wife by Al:

After dinner under the stars, Paige lounges on the terrace:

Evelyn rarely misses a photo op:

Glowing with our babes on the beach at sunset 8 years ago:

Kids basking in the glow today:

The family in the hammock 8 years ago:



The family in the hammock today:

Ev and her adoring Daddy-O:

An Evelyn outtake (we waited a looooong time for her to snap the pic):

An Evelyn success (we waited a reaaaalllly loooooooong time for her to snap the pic, but didn't mind):
[this is exactly where we were married 10 5/6 years ago]

Again, success taken by wee Ev (she may have a future in photography, eh?):

The kids posed themselves by the welcoming tree, dripping with blown-glass hearts:

This ain't our first rodeo

We managed to squeeze in a day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this month. It was fantastic. In addition to ordering a new pair of boots from Leddy's (will not be mine until October, they estimate), I made out like a bandit with belts, buckles and finally got my new chaps from Pinto Ranch. Not to be outdone, the trio found themselves some fine little buckaroo chinks and hatbands. We enjoyed chatting up some FFA/4H kids about their heifers and met up with a friend of Al's from NC and his sons. Then we all took in the rodeo and concert with my parents, niece and nephew.





One of my favorite moments in this year's rodeo was when we were watching the bull riders, and Paige turned around to me with a satisfied grin and said, "You know, Mommy, like 'I'll be lookin' for eight when they pull that gate...'" So proud of my girl quotin' Strait!

Cabo, a favorite retreat

Lucky for us, we were able to sneak down to Cabo for some R&R for a few days. It was shear bliss. The private beach at Palmilla felt so surreal we thought we were on a movie set. Then Gwynn joined us for a couple of days and we had even more blissful moments back where Al & I were married almost 11 years ago.

Here's Graham, catching up with his friend Berkley on the beach:


Expert tidepool explorers:


Breakfast on the terrace. Divine!


We dig the rocky seashore


BroBro is a trusty big brother


It's me, so here's the obligatory food shot!


Time to bury people in the deliciously warm dry sand



Ooooh, the parentals going out!


Some portraits of my girls. LOVE!!!!!



From now on all pictures of me in swimsuits shall be taken underwater (and by Paige). Love the anti-gravity effects of agua.


A break from the strong sun