I'm Back... with news!

    Hey there! It has been quite awhile. Wow. Didn't think I would be gone this long. But man it was nice. I don't think I was on the computer for more than 30 minutes a week! Crazy, right? Just checked email then checked off. It was kind of refreshing. Although I did miss everything I love about the Internet... blogging, blog stalking, my blog reader... Well, anything blog related really. It makes me feel connected to the world. But I have to admit that it was nice to disconnect for a couple of months. Take a deep breath and come back feeling so happy to be here.

    I thought I would wait until I had something really great for you to read. And well, this is the best that I can come up with... We are expecting baby #4 in June! We just found out that it is a little GIRL and we couldn't be more excited. I have been sure that it is a girl. I've been telling people that we weren't going in for the ultrasound to find out what it was, we were just going for confirmation. But I will admit that as we sat in the waiting room waiting for my name to be called the panic started to hit me. What if I was wrong and it was a boy? So I told Steve that if it was a boy he wasn't coming out. He had to stay in there. Steve of course just laughed and told me I would love this little baby just as much as if it were a girl. He said how could I not want another little boy like Cache who is so happy to see you when you get him out of bed and is so anxious to give you a kiss? Or a little Crew who wants you to cuddle with him before he goes to sleep? I knew he was right. Who wouldn't? But it wasn't that part that I was dreading. It was dealing with another Hemophiliac. Three in a row is more than my mind can even imagine. I just knew I couldn't do it right now. Luckily, someone else agreed with me and has sent us a healthy little girl. I am so grateful. 

    So this blessing is being greatly celebrated at our house! I almost want to have a party! (but I'm too tired) Wahooo! We'll shout for joy instead! But this little lady isn't all sunny sky's and rainbows. She has really thrown me through a loop! I have been so very sick this time around. It has been a new experience for me having to deal with this nausea and dry heaving all throughout the day for weeks on end. It was so hard trying to keep this a secret when I wanted to die most of the time. Let's not forget that I gained more weight in my first trimester than I care to divulge. Want to die kind of weight. Amounts of weight that had me asking, If I'm already this big at 10 weeks whats going to happen in the next 30??? Seriously nervous about it. Although both the sickness and the crazy weight gain has subsided in the last few weeks. Thank heavens. I am starting to feel good. Like really good. Today is even better. Most of my worry is gone and I haven't felt sick in a long while. So the happy days are ahead. Heck, we are living them!

  As for the rest of our lives we have been playing hard. Doing so many things I can't begin to list them. But I have been taking pictures of most of it so I plan to blog about it. Stay tuned. It feels good to be back! I hope there are still a few people out there who care what we are doing, if not... no big deal, it feels good to write it all down. See you soon!

Ps. Any girl name suggestions will be greatly appreciated. We are at a standstill. Unless Repunzel sounds good to everyone out there. Reagan has given her this name and I am trying to come up with something she might like better. Please help!

Signing out for a bit...

I keep thinking I am going to update this blog, I mean really update it, but it's just not happening. Each day I think today I'm going to post on the blog. But then it doesn't happen because all of my computer time is currently going to my clients.

This is always my busiest time of year with picture taking, but this year is out of the water. I have 2 to 3 sessions a week. And although that doesn't seem like much when you just think about taking their pictures, it is craziness when you realize the amount of hours I have to put in for each session behind the scenes.

I've been getting questions and hints from those who love us wanting to know what we are up to and wanting us to post on here. I know! I want to post things too! But time is not willing. The goal is to get everything updated after this busy season ends. Focus on the fam's pictures, give them my computer time. So, I hope you will all understand as you see this little blog of mine go quiet for a bit. Don't give up on me! I'll be back before you know it!

Love you all!

"Tiffany" Bridal shower for the best!

I have been waiting to throw this shower for way too long! But boy did I have a great time planning it when the time finally came along! Erin got married! It's true. And I think it was worth the wait! She found a fantastic guy who is living out their dreams with her. I am so happy to see Erin so happy. She truly deserves it and I wish them both all the best!

Here is the happy girl...

I've known Erin for a long time. We met our Sophomore year in college and it must have been meant to be because we were instant friends. In the weirdest of situations, we just clicked and have been great friends every since. Knowing Erin so well, I know that she loves things that sparkle. Erin truly has a taste for the finer things in life. So the theme of the shower was "Breakfast at Tiffany's" All things diamonds and all things sparkle! Let's not forget waffles, bacon, sausage, fruit, whipped cream, homemade syrup, milk and orange juice. It really was so much fun to put together. I had so many ideas and had to narrow it down. Luckily I thought it turned out pretty cute! Plus I think Erin liked it, which was a bonus.

We opened presents, which is always fun, especially when you have a bunch of girls who have been around the block before.

Each guest went home with their very own Tiffany Box and ring. We also enjoyed a few cake pops and cupcakes cause what is a shower without treats?

Here are the original 4! We were roommates back in the day for about 3 years. If we weren't in the same apartment we lived across the hall. Love them all. Me (please ignore my crazy pale skin), Erin, Janelle, Jessica.

I'm so happy for you Erin! Your wedding was a dream and I hope your future is too! Love you!

Bedroom Redo

This is something else we've been spending a lot of time on this summer. This is the only room in our house that we haven't touched since we moved in 6 years ago. There are rooms that I've painted 2 times, but my poor room was left alone. I think it was because I didn't know what I wanted to do there and therefore didn't do anything.

Then, for Christmas, my parents gave me this beautiful chair and I really wanted to put it in my room. My room isn't very big so the chair was a tight fit, but I love the chair and that was a place I could look at it every day without worrying if my kids were going to get it dirty. So I started plans for the bedroom redo.

I found that the colors of the chair were a really hard color pallet. I couldn't find a bedspread that I loved so time continued to pass without any changes. Then we decided to put in a new window because I knew I was done with the storm window. The chair had to be moved downstairs while the window was put in.

Well... while the chair was in my living room I found that I sat in it a lot more. I also found that my kids didn't really care about it and pretty much left it alone. I also realized that it matched my living room! I wouldn't have to change a thing! So I decided that the chair would stay there. I have loved this choice. But that left my bedroom still not finished and completely back to square one.

Steve and I looked and looked at pictures of bedrooms to decide what we wanted to do. He found a picture of the wall paneling and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that he liked it and thought we should do it! We lucked out and were able to have Steve's brother, John put up the panelling and all I had to do was the caulk and paint. The process was forever because I never seemed to have the chunk of time required to get it done. But finally I did and I love it!

I'm thinking it might be fun to try and build a padded/fabric headboard... What do you think?

Just for now...

I know there is a lot to say, but it is summer and I'm not feeling bad taking time away from my computer! But I really want to share something that I am loving right now...

CLICK HERE

...and enjoy

A little taste...

I thought I would give you a little sneak of what is happening in my life right now.

I have to wear this for a couple of hours each day along with a very heavy, very purple, very old fashioned gown, or dress? I'm not sure exactly what to call it. But it is fabulous.

My life is being swallowed, consumed, devoured by the Music Man. A name I had heard before... was it a movie? Or a play? I wasn't quite sure. Didn't know much else about it. 4 months later, I can sing you every word to every song in this musical, recite to you most every line, and maybe even through in a bit of choreography. My dreams are serenaded by 76 Trombones. Whew. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. 

Who knew something so simple could cause such chaos in our house? Admittedly, my days have mostly stayed the same. It is my nights that are now non-existent. And Steve? Who is that? OH! He's the guy who twirls me around and dances with me during that one scene, right? At least that seems to be all I have known of him for way too long.

But on the other hand... I am a part of this amazing show. This creation that has more blood, sweat and tears poured into it that it can't be anything less that amazing, and believe me it is. Not because of me (heavens, no). But because there are some incredibly talented people combining all of their knowledge to make this really awesome production. Walking into the conference center last week as we began our first rehearsals on the actual stage I was a little nervous. Were we ready for this? How is this even going to come together? But then everyone put on the costumes, did their hair and make up and stepped out onto the stage and something magical happened. I really is starting to feel like I am a part of this little town in the middle of Iowa surrounded by ornery people who let a traveling salesman come into their town and change their hearts. I felt my heart change and we haven't even done it for a real audience yet!

Starting tomorrow I have to be at the conference center with my hair and makeup done and costume on at 6:00. I will likely be there until 10:00. I will drag myself home, kiss my sleeping children on the forehead and crawl into bed. Exhausted. And I will do it all with a smile on my face. If you are coming to one of the shows, sweet! I can't wait to see you! I hope you enjoy the show as much as I know I, and everyone else involved, will putting it on for you. Come ready for a really fun time! It's going to be GREAT!

I am grateful...

I just wanted to take a minute and write down a few things that I am grateful for today...

~ My husband. For always trying to make our marriage better. For never pointing fingers and making me feel special and beautiful and totally worthwhile. For supporting me in the millions of things that I aspire to do and create. For all that he does around the house and with our family to help and aid in my many ambitions. For seeing all of my faults, flaws and weaknesses and loving me anyway.

~ My mom. For always being willing to help me out with my kids when I need to get something done. For taking the time to walk with me almost everyday so I that I can actually get some exercise (I really couldn't do it without her). For listening to me talk and ramble. It's nice to have an adult hear what I am thinking and not just children under the age of 4.

~ Chips and Salsa. Silly you say? I think not! So many diverse choices an endless pursuit to find the perfect mix! They make my mouth happy.

~ My photography. For having an outlet for my creativity. For having a way to create a small supplement to our household income. For finding something that I truly love and finding that I'm not too bad at it. For feeling that yearning to learn and grow and become better. For getting the opportunity to meet so many new people and make them smile for a little while.

~ For my Heavenly Father. For knowing that he is watching and understanding all that I am going through. For being able to pray to him and feel his comfort all around me. For the encouragement and hope that his teachings bring. For not expecting me to be perfect but hoping that I will try to be and do my best.

I am truly a lucky girl and I hope I always remember that.

1:52

One of my resolutions this year is to take one picture a week. What? You think I'm weird because I am a photographer and must take a ton of pictures a day? Why would I set a goal to take one a week? Well, I do take a LOT of pictures, but most of the time they are not for myself. I have created a bad habit of leaving my camera at home because I already take so many that I want a break when I have down time. So, I have three hopes for this goal... 1 - Each week I want to take a picture of something that represents what the week was to me and my family.2 - I hope this generates a want in me to always have my camera on me or very close by so I can have a better documentation of my daily life. 3 - I hope that by creating and capturing these pictures I find inspiriation to create new ideas for my photography.

So here is picture number 1. Can you tell what our week has been like?

I now know the nurses at the instacare by name.