Welcome to my first blog post!  So I'm starting this new thing as an attempt to share some of my thoughts, which I often struggle to express, and to give others a glimpse into my life for the next seven months while I travel around Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.  I am one lucky gal to "study" abroad (aka bask with marine iguanas, chase seals in circles, and perform sneak attacks on the gazillion species of birds), explore the intricate oceanic environment, and wedge myself into a local Ecuadorian/Galapagos-ian family.  In prep for that I'm digging out the ol' charade skills, gonna rely on those in the first few weeks with my new family.  Hopefully my attempts at speaking Spanish won't be too American sounding, for example:
 

Spanish word:  por favor       How Americans say it:  pour-favore

                 hola                                                      hole-la

                    los Estados Unidos                               ugh-merrrica ya'll

But until then just trying to keep up with everyone's life.  Things tend to come in three in our household and all at the same time, like when Jess studied abroad in Fiji, Ash was having her first baby, and I was valedictorian for my graduating class.  Except now I get to study abroad, Jess is hitting it large with her incredible photography skills booking weddings and engagement shoots left and right, and Ash is playing supermom with her new position as a Pirate (ECU) professor and blessing us with another baby.  To get ready for her baby shower, Jess and I made cake pops, or what Jess has come to call cake turds due to their stubborn personality.  Cake pops may look cute and fun, but after 4 trips to the grocery store, 6 cans of candied pearls, and 1+ days spent baking, these little balls are one of the most temperamental desserts to be decorated.

But after finishing these guys this morning, Jess and I stomped over to Nags Head Woods for some easy going shooting.  While I think that just about everyone of her pictures looks amazing, Jess's critical eye and perfectionism will only permit her to release a handful of pics of what she says is "OK".  To view just a couple of her amazing photos, check out

 http://jesslowcher.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/sisters-are-the-best-models/