The Rose

All winter long we have watched this rose hang on to it's tiny life. We watched and waited for the strong winds and gusts of frigid snow storms to blow it's petals off .. After all that mayhem it is still holding on strong. I think it may just be frozen in place and biding it's time to thaw out and fall to the ground.. What ever the case may be it has given the kids and I lots of entertainment each morning as we look out to see if "Our Rose "is still surviving this Ohio winter wonderland....

First wedding

So I accepted my first wedding job this week. I have been battling this decision with myself for a few months now . There is always a time in life that you must make that jump. That moment where you dive head first into the unknown and hope you come out alive and in a better position than when you went in. Or just a little more knowledgeable :) . And all we have is now and if you wait and put it off that moment may never come again. Weddings are once in a lifetime moment and the responsibility of capturing that moment is detrimental! I am not positive but I think all the chanting to myself about how " You can do it", " You will capture those one amazing moments ", "You will not trip and fall in front of 100+ people flat on your face " is going to help... You know like positive thinking or brainwashing...I think after several times of this my stomach will stop preparing to heave itself... Dyanna and Kevin are very fun and beautiful couple and I really am excited to take this adventure and photograph there amazing wedding . I know it will be wonderful!

Home Sweet Home

Home sweet Home! There is just something so comforting about being back in your own house... Though vacation is nice ,the cold Ohio weather has not deterred from the fact that I love being home in my own bed! The kids too have loved being back in there own rooms surrounded by what Sage says" all their old toys". We spent a few days in Alabama after spending 2 weeks in Florida and then arrived back in Ohio in time to celebrate the New Year. Since It was a little more difficult to get online on this trip to blog about our adventures I will post a few pictures we took during the trip.

While we were in Florida we took the kids to downtown Disney. It basically has tons of Disney stores and Characters that the kids can enjoy with out paying the arm and a leg it cost to go to the actual Disney park. They loved it and had no complaints that we were not got to the "real" Disney park.

The swifts

Here are a few pictures of my sister. She is 30 weeks and starting to really look pregnant. It will be so fun to seem how a little one changes their lives. Late nights and feedings, toys and food in places never imagined. Ah it will be great!

Winter Vacation

Well I am finally able to write an update about our trip. We Are now in Orlando Fl at my sisters house. Last week we spent our time in a condo in Cocoa Beach. It was so great to look out the back sliding doors and hear the ocean. The kids enjoyed playing on the beach and swimming in the warm heated pool at the resort. They were also able to go to a free wildlife show . The kids loved holding a live alligator , spiders, snakes, and a black scorpion. Toward the end of the week the temperature dropped to around 50 degrees so we spent our time inside and built a gingerbread house and played with their new Christmas toys . The leapster 2 and a DS has been a lifesaver on this trip , it keeps the kids entertained for hours.. We arrived in Orlando on Saturday night and the temperatures have not warmed up much here.. Still hanging around the 50-60 degree mark.. Though just having the sun out has been great. I recently joined a site called Care4Hire It is a babysitting site that the Dr. Phil show supports. It has been awesome in finding babysitters for me. You can do background checks and check references and email back and forth with the sitter before making a decision to hire her. I found one that lives 2 miles from my sisters house in Flordia and one that lives next to me back in Ohio. So since we have had a siter here Owen and I have been able to go out a few times. Yesterday we took the kids to downtown Disney . It is free and the kids could still see the disney characters. Sage was in such awe of the princess stuff she never spoke a word and just started hugging everything.. I really dont know where she gets her dramatics from... The boys in the meantime were enjoying a jedi sword fight with the star wars paraphernalia ... Today the sitter should be here and amanda and I are off to have a girls day since the boys are on a golf outing.. I will update more later..

My baby

Torin loves to be silly. He pouts, he smiles, he stands on his head, he dances, he jumps and dives off of couches, and he loves. My baby may be little but he is fearless and loves like none other. I can not believe my baby will be 4 years old in a few weeks. His kisses, snuggles and his silly antics to get a laugh out of you are those little moments that make me smile....

Torin

art photography

Fall pictures

My new chair

I can't explain the feeling I got when I saw you sitting by your lonesome on the side of the road.... It was love at first site!! ... Ohhhh the possibilities...... Yes. I know you have a few flaws but who doesn't in this crazy world.... It just adds to the beauty of your character!!! I knew we would be forever connected as I rescued you from destruction... Through your rough weathered marks I know life has been a journey. But our days together will only bring more joy and happiness ....

Ohhhhh how I love my new green chair!!!

Sample Pictures

So I recently purchased a computer plug-in called BlogStomp to help sharpen and put pictures on my blog . So the next few blogs will probably be some experiments I am trying on some photos.. So if you could just bear with me as I work through a few glitches , I will soon have the blog up and running again with daily entries (wishful thinking) ..ok maybe weekly entries ...... soon.. very soon...

Nephew and Niece

Illinois sunset

 

A day at the St.Louis Arch

Sunday since my brother-in-law and sister have never been up in the arch , we decided to head downtown for the day. It was an overcast day so we were not sure if we would be able to see much. Once we boarded the little capsules and headed to the top , the view was great .

What better way to show our excitement to being together and enjoying all the fun that the day has to offer..... but to do some jumping pictures......

Amanda and baby Swift were so excited about being at the arch they couldn't help but to participate in the jumping also..





After the arch Owen and I had to drive Amanda and Donny back to the airport. I have officially marked this weekend as one of the best road trips Owen and I have taken. There were so many funny moments and memories made. New Experiences.. such as the groovy time we had at the Blues and Jazz Club Sat. night. the beautiful wedding we attended and crazy animals we encountered(or Donny encountered) Though it was overcast and a little rainy at the Arch it ended up being a great day , full of laughs and fun memories... this was a great weekend to remember !