Trail Mix - and tons and tons of Trix

Neil was gone this week traveling to Atlanta, and anytime he is gone, I really don't get much accomplished, hence why I haven't posted. I've also been spending a ton of time in the car driving back and forth to town where my chiropractor is. I'm not sure how much longer I can do that because I'm spending an extra $100 a month just on gas, not to mention the actual cost of my visits. I love my doc and I love seeing Beth 2-3 times a week, but but but . . . I don't know. It's just a ton of driving.

But I'm not posting to complain but to post some happy trail mix bits about my past week. It's definitely been a good week. Let's start with last weekend . . .

It was warm. Very warm. The nicest day we had seen so far this year. (Today it snowed!) We bought a new outdoor table to go with the outdoor chairs we had purchased last year, so we set all that out while Noah "raked" the yard, as you can see here,

and the little miss was on the lookout for bugs. She's so into bugs right now!

Frankie really enjoyed the weekend, too. And aren't her pearly whites beautiful?! We had her teeth cleaned professionally a few weeks ago for the first time ever and they look so good and I know she feels sooooo much better. See how perty?

I think I have mentioned before that my parents are looking to sell their house and buy a new one. Well, they've been getting their house ready for about a year now. Suddenly a (perfect) house just came along and mom went alone to check it out. She loved it. So the kids and I went with her to see it again the first of the week. I loved it, too. The kids adored it. It seemed too perfect for them but there was a lot of "buts" and "ifs" involved. However, dad agreed to see it near the end of the week and THAT NIGHT he just threw out an offer and the people TOOK IT! Today they signed some papers and in less than 2 weeks, they can move in! I'm sooooo happy and excited for them!! I just can't explain how happy I am for them. The deserve it so so much. Congrats mom and dad!

On the way to see the new house that day I drove into this. While it didn't amount to anything bad, it sure was a pretty picture I couldn't keep from taking.
If you didn't know what Illinois looked like, well, there you have it!

Thursday the kids and I made brownies for daddy's return home. Brownies are his favorite and the kids (and myself) love licking the bowls!

Friday night we drove up to Peoria, IL to visit two pairs of great friends of ours, Kristin & Chris and Andrea & Rusty. To make a long long story short, Andrea, Rusty and their family are moving sometime soon to El Paso, TX. We don't want them to go, but well, what can we do but be super happy for them because it's a really good move for their family. So we went up to visit them just in case their move is soon and we don't see them again for a long while (*sob*). We had homemade yummy pizza, salad, dessert and wine :c) Kristin, Rusty, Neil and I went to grade school through high school together and then Rusty, Neil and I went on to college together. Rusty and Andrea started dating and she and I became super great friends. Then Rus and Andrea moved to P-town and she and Kristin got to be good friends. Anyway, it's all so very cool. It's been an incredible blessing having Andrea in my life. I can't imagine her not in it. And then Kristin, well, I think it says a lot that after what seems like a gizillion years, we're still the best of friends. So here we are, Kristin, Andrea and I.
Kristin has a boy, Jackson, who just turned a year and has another baby on the way. Andrea has a girl, Audrie, who is 3 and Anderson who is 6 months. And you all know who belongs to me! We had such a great time Friday night.

Then Saturday evening I set up my backdrop and lights for my shoot with Corie on Sunday. Well, the kids wanted to help with that. Maia put on her ballerina tutu and the kids actually wanted me to take some pictures. They didn't have to twist my arm or anything either!

So the shoot with Corie and Keith went so fabulously perfect. I've had the pleasure of taking pictures of both of them many a times, so this was just another very fun time for me with a couple of my favorite two people, plus this time, one more (!) because of the bun in her oven! :c) We had such a fun maternity session because of Keith making us constantly laugh. I've only had a couple minutes to peek at the pictures and then allow you have a peek, too. Isn't Corie beautiful!?

The ice cream pose is one of my favorite ideas ever! I wish I could patent it . . . hehe. I love how it turned out but if I were to do it again, I'd put her in a color because the white on white really fades into each other but I still really love the concept and how it turned out.

Thanks, Cor, for such a great day and for coming back up from St. Louis for ME!!

Once my lights and backdrops were put up, I helped hubby unload the groceries which he and the kids got while I did the shoot with C & K. Noah wanted the "Trix" opened, so I opened them for him. A few minutes later I hear "oh-oh" and a huge spill. I turn around and see this. It absolutely could be worse. It was a great week, spilled trix and all :c)

Snapshots of Rainy China

Guess what?! I finally have pictures to show from Neil's trip to China! He took over 100 and a big majority are from the car, but nevertheless, they ARE FROM CHINA! He caught some great stuff and I find it very interesting. I also have found myself thanking God that I live in the free and beautiful country that I live in. I had him put his pictures on flickr so he titled them and described them himself, so they're all in his words. Enjoy his view of China. (click here!)

HE IS HOME!

Neil arrived home about 30 minutes ago just as I was getting online to see if his flight had arrived in Chicago on time. :c) The kids are thrilled, and of course so am I :c)

Unfortunately, after it taking 36 hours for him to get home from China, he didn't arrive home with his luggage. It's lost. He said about 10 people that arrived in Chicago with him were also on the flight from China. All theirs is lost, too. I don't have any experience with lost luggage, and neither does he. Will it get back to us?!?! I hope so because daddy has some gifts for the kids and guess what?! He found me some Chinese ketchup!!!!! (Woot!)

I made him call his mom as soon as he got in and settled. (I'm such a good wife and daughter-in-law, teehee :c)) I knew she was a little worried whether he'd have troubles staying awake on his drive home from Chicago. But he said he slept 9 hours on the flight from China to L.A. and another 2 to Chicago. While talking to his mom, I heard some other interesting facts that he encountered while on his trek overseas.

* There is one major highway around Beijing and Shanghai (neither are anywhere near each other, but this holds true for both) so when it snows, the cities are basically shut down because they don't have snowplows. At all. Crazy, eh?!
* If a town has less than 1 million people, it's not on the map. And those towns (which would be cities to us) are called villages. Is that even more crazy?!
* If people in the country and villages weren't pleased with the way they were living, they would move to the big cities making them even more polluted and crowded than what they already are. So the government basically asks these people "What can we do to make you happy and keep you here?" and they say "air conditioners and TV's". So that's what they get and that's what makes them stay.
* Because they don't use their heating systems in buildings in the cities to conserve money and energy, instead of trying to stay as warm as possible, they open up the windows because they say if they can't be warm, they may as well enjoy fresh air. (Oh my goodness!!!!!)
* Things he ate: pigeon (twice), geo duck (a big clam), salted fish (which he said was the most disgusting thing he's ever eaten -- said it literally tasted like poop), Peking duck, chicken was served whole with the head, goat, his friend had snake, 1,000 year old egg, noodles were served for breakfast, and the list goes on.
* He visited 7 cities in 7 days, driving up to 8 hours in a day to get from place to place. (Nothing is close.)
* One of his customers gave him a Chinese foot massage for a gift.
* While on an elevator in a hotel, a Chinese boy about the age of 12, got on and stood under Neil looking up at him with his jaw opened the entire time. He said the translator said the boy was saying "so tall, so tall" over and over about 12 times. Is that not funny?!
* He said that the Chinese people were really rude. They smoked like chimneys and didn't care if it was bothersome to you and he said they butt in front of him all the time.

Oh I am so glad he is home. So glad. I feel like a part of me is back. I can tell the kids feel the same, especially Noah. He can't get enough of daddy as I type this. Happy weekend to you all!

Wow Val, VOW?!

Ok, so I just made up that title to grab your attention. I hope it worked. I'll get to the reason for the title in just a second.

Neil got to south China safe and sound today. He flew on a puddle jumper plane from where he was to an area 2 hours outside of Hong Kong. He said he was the only white guy on the plane and he got a lot of looks from Chinese people who, keep in mind, are at least a foot shorter than him. So he's not only getting looks for being caucasian but for also being 6'4" and blonde with blue eyes :c) I think it's funny.

On a different note, I'm so proud of him for traveling alone like he is in such a large country that he's getting to experience a lot of. But again, I'm glad it's him and not me :c)

He said he is so happy to be in a area that isn't so uncivilized. He said it was pretty bad where he was. I forgot to mention in my "China, oh China" post, that none of the factories or restaurants that he visited were heated. They had heating but just didn't use it because they didn't have the funds to. So he said when you're inside you're in coats and sweaters and in restaurants you are served by waitresses with sweaters and scarves on. Is that not hard to fathom?! He said he's so so happy to be in a warmer part of the country just for that reason alone. I am happy for him, too!

3 days and he will be back home!!!!!!!!

Okay, so on to my Wow Val, VOW?!

I have some of the most exciting news ever to share. This might even sit above the revamping of my website and logo. I'm so so so so so excited about this!

Last week I was contacted by an editor for a magazine who said this, "We are still accepting submissions for our upcoming Spring/Summer 2008 issue of Wedding VOW magazine in the Champaign, IL area—and I wanted to see if you had any photos you want to submit."

So I submitted a few pictures from an August wedding and a December wedding not thinking I would ever in a million years get chosen, but today I got two emails saying "I'm happy to inform you that we've selected the attached photo to be used in our 'I Do' section for our upcoming Spring/Summer 2008 issue of Wedding VOW magazine" and, "I'm happy to inform you that we have selected the wedding of Holly & Brandon to be highlighted in the 'Real Wedding' section of Wedding VOW magazine. Congratulations!"

This means, (okay, so imagine me screaming this part as you read it . . . ) I will have a photo in the "I Do" section of the magazine and also I will have the main highlighted section of the entire magazine in the "Real Weddings" section!!!!

I am so absolutely thrilled. Not so much on the publicity, because I'm not sure I want to shoot more weddings, however maybe this will give me the chance to shoot more creative ones. But mostly, I'm just really happy and proud because I never ever in a million billion trillion years thought 1) I would own a business, 2) I would be a photographer, 3) I would be the sole owner and photographer for a business for over 5 years or 4) I would actually make strides in doing all of the above. I'm just really happy and proud that things have went as they have. I didn't even try to get my name submitted. That's when you know it's God allowing you to be who you were created to be.

I'm also slightly excited because, as you'll see in the example of the current "Real weddings" section, the featured photographer is my main competitor and my former boss. I think this probably is the icing on the cake :c)

I am so so so so excited and absolutely could not keep from sharing.

:c)
This is the current "Real Wedding" feature (not mine . . . yet) :c)

China, oh China.

I have to say I'm glad it's Neil there and not me.

I love love love to travel. I haven't been anywhere out of the country but Brazil, but it was an amazingly awesome experience, that I can't wait for the day to travel like that again. But China. Not on my list.

I talked to Neil this morning at 8:30, which was 10:30 p.m. his time. He was really tired yet very chatty about China and his experiences thus far. I have to share itwith you.

I'm glad I'm hearing about it all, will get to see his pictures, yet never have visit. And here's why:

* It's crowded. Very crowded. He said what they call the "countryside" of Shanghai are houses on top of houses and you can not see any bare land. It was basically called the "countryside" because there weren't any high rises there. Wow.
* Shanghai had 20 million people. The "small town" that they went to had 11 million. (yikes.)
* Yesterday Neil was in wherever-it-was where there were 7 million people. He said there were no street names. He said nothing has an address. You get around by calling people and finding the nearest landmarks. He said it takes a "hell of a long time to get anywhere" because of it.
* He had to visit a soap-making plant (Uni-Lever) as one of his stops. They have a glycerin (his product) department there. He said it was astonishing. They had equipment and machines that made the soap but workers who put the soap into the soap boxes individually. Individually, people! That is millions of boxes by hand! Unreal.
* Speaking of these factory workers, which most people in China are either factory workers or farmers. The average person in a good factory job makes $100/month. And this is considered a really good job! Can you imagine?!
* In most factories, the workers live there. The factories are a lot of times in the bottom of high rises and the factory workers live above the factory. People pay for their own food, rent, etc., but are expected to live where they work. Could you imagine that either? Maybe that is why a lot of Chinese people here in America live at the restaurant they work at?
* It appears that the government, even though it's not communist anymore, still is very near being so. The government regulates everything so strictly still. They are in control of building homes and buildings. The economy is very wealthy and growing like crazy, but their people stay very very poor. And the roads are brand new and very nice, yet people ride bikes or walk. Not many people have cars. Just the more wealthy ones do. And he said he's seen a lot of Chinese driving Buicks!! How funny is that?!
* Also, no one gets bills, like we get our Visa bills, etc. They always have to pay in cash. Another way the government can stay in control, I guess. (Wow.)
* He said at one point he saw some high rises, which they were still building, and counted 30 of them that were exactly the same. People are moving into the cities like crazy to find better work, yet it's making these cities so populous and dirty.
* He said he's never seen such a dirty place before. When were in Brazil, we thought it was dirty. But he said this is nothing like Sao Paulo. So it's hard for me to imagine. He's seen signs all over that say "no spitting" (the Chinese spit a lot because they don't believe in swallowing their saliva?!) but he said he's actually not seen anyone spitting (maybe because the signs say to not do it? -- ha!). But he said everyone smokes. He said he couldn't see well tonight because his eyes still felt so foggy from all the smoke he sits in every day. I so can't imagine that, either. (I hope he'll be okay).

So that's some of Neil's experiences so far.

What bothers me the most when he tells me these things is then knowing what the adoption policy for international adoption is there in China. I've done so much research and now it's starting to make some sense!

Just recently a new policy has been added with a lot of regulations. They want their children going to (basically) the best-looking families in the US. You have to be of a certain weight, BMI, a certain age, have to have been married for a certain amount of time, neither parent can have had any surgery before, neither parent can be on anti-depressants, neither parent can basically have any illness to speak of. Plus a hand full of other "rules". It's just crazy, I think. The people of China have the lives like they do there, yet they feel their children can't live a good life in the US if their adoptive parents aren't perfect to their standards. It's China's way of still having control even when their babies leave. It just dismays me. I wonder if a c-section is considered a surgery to them? Probably so. Oh my goodness, it's just crazy.

So these are the kinds of things Neil is experiencing over there. I think he liked Japan a million times better. At least he's now seen both worlds. I'm happy for him. But now I'm ready for him to come home. :c)

Busy is as busy does.

It's been really nice having kept so busy the past few days. Saturday I had two shoots. One got canceled because of a sick baby. The other two went fabulously. I cannot wait to show pics from them, but first I need to get my wedding done from January and another wedding album completed. I'm never this busy in January, but I feel very blessed for being so.

Sunday we went to church with my parents at their church, went out for lunch and then hung out with them at their house all afternoon. The kids had a blast playing with grandpa. It was time to go when Maia started having one of her notorious (as of late) tantrums. Ugh. I never experienced tantrums with Noah. So these have been a wake up call. Not pleasant in the least. (Question --- for how long should I expect for these to keep going on? Actually, wait. I'm not sure I want to know.)

Yesterday I took my kids to Nikki's house and then went back to my house and painted with Leann. We only got the family room of the downstairs painted, but I love it. It's very calming and cheerful. Wait till you see the color! I haven't decided whether to tackle anymore myself yet. I may since the brushes, rollers and paint are all already out. Might as well, I guess?

Then later yesterday, Leann's 2nd youngest daughter, Alyssa, gave my dog a bath and I paid her $5. She was thrilled and so was I!!! She did it in my kids' bathroom and in just her undies. I got a picture of it. So so so very cute. (And now I also have a clean shiny dog!)

Then later in the evening I left my kids here at the house with Leann's 2nd oldest, Marissa, so I could go with Leann to see a new house that's going up across the street from her by "our" builder. He was there, so we talked. I think he's ready to do our house anytime, which thrills me, but at the same time it saddens me because we aren't ready. I told him it may be a couple years now, but he understood.

This house we saw was fabulous - great colors everywhere and I loved the cabinet colors ( dark cherry), had 9 ft ceilings, lots of crown molding, dark (wide) cherry wood floors (my fave!) and a staircase that they were staining by hand when I was there. (The spindles were a brushed copper . . . absolutely beautiful!). Such a beautiful home. Makes me want to build. Maybe in a couple years. Maybe this trip to China will get Neil the promotion so that we can? Ha. Positive thinking, though, never hurt!

Speaking of the trip. Oh my goodness. I am going to make that another post. Interesting. Very very interesting.

So, that's been my last few days. Neil will be home in about 4 days! I can't believe the 9 days is halfway over. He is soooo ready to come home and I'm so ready for him to be home. But things have been good here. We're surviving! So that's good news.

Big airplanes, bright colors, and a big country

I talked to Neil this morning 3 times. He got to Chicago and checked in at O'Hare in about 2-1/2 hours, so he had a whole 4 hours to kill! I think he was pretty bored, but being he's flying business class, he was able to sit in the Red Carpet Lounge, so he got free coffee and snacks. (Coffee and drinks is the least he should be getting with a $15,000 ticket! Not kidding on the price, either!) He then called when he had boarded the plane. He was on the top deck in the plane. I didn't even know they had such a thing in airplanes. Apparently in 757's they do! It is a straight flight from Chicago to Shanghai. He is suppose to text me on my phone when he touches ground in China around 1 a.m. our time. Hopefully once I hear from him I'll be able to sleep.

He really surprises me sometimes. In the mail today I got a card and I know it is from him. No return address, but it's his hand-writing. I haven't opened it yet because I know it will probably make me bawl. When he writes things, it's always short and sweet, but what he says in just a few words speaks volumes to me. I think I'll wait till after I put the kids to bed before I open it just in case my tear ducts explode :c)

Nothing big going on around here and I really don't have anything worthwhile to talk about which is why my topic of post is Neil's travels again. He pretty much has the most exciting life in our household! But I am kinda looking forward to this long weekend as I bought my paint for the downstairs and I cannot wait to start painting. Painting my house another bold color makes me feel like my life is semi-exciting for the moment!

This makes me giggle. I got an email from my interior designer friend named ERIN (hehe) who couldn't stand that I hadn't told publicly what colors I chose. She is so funny. I love painting and it's such relaxation for me. My neighbor volunteered to take my kids while Leann and I paint our hearts out, so Monday should be a productive day, unlike how I feel my days normally are. And hopefully very soon after Monday, I will post the colors. I can't wait to hear what you all think!

And in regards to decorating the downstairs, I got a fabulous new set of shelves for the over the weekend at IKEA which I love love love and am dying to show you, but I want to wait till the paint is on the walls and it's all how I want it. Finally finally finally my house is starting to feel like "home". Neil will be pleasantly surprised when he gets home if I get everything painted the way I have it envisioned.

8 more hours and Neil will touch down in the big ol' country of China!

Check out this map and you can see where exactly my hubby will be journeying to.

He will be flying into Shanghai, the purple and white star. He'll be there for Sat, Sun and Mon. He then drives to Huaian, the orange & purple star, and then to Nanjing, the blue & purple star, on Tuesday. On Wednesday he flies to Guangzhou, the yellow & purple star, and on Thursday he drives to Jiagmen, the pink & purple star. Finally, on Friday, he takes a ferry to Hong Kong, the green & purple star, where he will then fly to L.A. and then on to Chicago on Saturday.

Because I'm goofy like this, in lieu of Neil and his next 9 days in China, I found some Chinese proverbs I like. Here's one:

I see, I forget. I hear, I remember. I do, I understand.

Hope you all have a nice weekend. Thank you for all the support with my husband's travel and my discouragement as a mom while he's away. You all are the best blogging friends ever.

"Are we going to eat there in China?"

I reminded Noah a few minutes ago that daddy leaves for China tomorrow. This is how our conversation then went.

Noah: Are we going to eat there in China?
Mommy: We aren't going there, Noah, daddy is.
Noah: Why aren't we going to eat there, mommy?
Mommy: We aren't going there, daddy is going by himself.
Noah: Is he going to work and going to stay there at work?
Mommy: No, well, kinda. He's going to get on a plane and fly there.
Noah: An airplane is coming to his work and going to fly there?
Mommy: That's right, Noah. So it's going to just be you, me and Maia for 9 days. Will you help me take care of Maia.
Noah: Uh-huh. {Then after a long pause.} We have to go to the airport and go with him next time.
Mommy: Yeah, maybe we can go with him next time.

And then he went back to coloring.

I do think he understands he'll be gone again. I think it's going to be hardest for this person here ----- me.

I still have lots of days "open" but I have came up with some things to do. Here's my list.

* Saturday - I have 3 shoots. Twins and their brother, then a portrait session of a man with his guitar, and then a session of a 9-month old boy. O'ma is coming over to watch the kids as I work most of the day. (Thank you, O'ma.)
*Sunday - going to church with my mom and dad, then going to her house to help her with computer issues. Kids will be occupied by grandpa, hopefully!
* at some point I am going to go get new glasses and hopefully without children!
* Monday - paint our family room, play room and my office. I just bought the paint last night. What colors you ask? Secret! I'm not telling!
* Tuesday night - we are going to Heather's so Noah and Cole can play and *I* am going to relax if at all possible. Maybe order pizza.
* Wednesday morning - Heather is going to come over and we're going shopping while Noah is at school. Afterwards we're going to hang out and talk her wedding.
* Thursday night - Noah's friend, Kristin's 5th birthday. We're going to her house so the kids can play and we're eating dinner with them.
* Friday - no plans; if I can make it work, I might find someone to watch my kids while I go with Heather to talk to her florist. (I really want to go!)
*I am sure I won't get all done painting Monday, so at some point I will have to finish. That's my goal, anyway.
* Saturday late morning - Neil gets home!!! I am doing a maternity shoot when he gets home.

So things are pretty filled which is good. Good for the kids and good for my sanity.

As I wrote in the comment section of the previous China post, Neil just found out that ADM has scheduled him a private scenic tour of Shanghai, which is awesome. He also has a road journey part way along the Great Wall. That's the only thing I had asked him to do for me - get a picture of that amazing piece of architectural history. I'm excited for him to see it. Hopefully this will make his journey more exiting for him as the last few days he's told me he's been really anxious, and that's very unlike my husband.

Missy, unfortunately, Neil said that where he will be is at least 800 miles south of Beijing so there probably won't be any English signs or much of anything (if at all) in regards to the Olympics. Which stinks because after you told me that, I was really hopeful!

I do, however, think this is an incredible opportunity for him, but it's hard to be 100% excited for him when you have a family. He's traveling by himself which I think accounts for his own anxiety. Well, that and leaving the kids. Maia is more attached to him now than ever. That's got to be hard leaving your baby girl.

Anyway, we'll see. Hopefully this will be the most exciting travel he's done yet. I am quite excited that he'll get to add this one to his passport. It's something I know I'll never experience!

Thanks again for all the tremendous support. It's just nice to know you have friends who care and who are praying for the good of us all. I know this is not the hardest thing we'll ever face in life, but it's definitely not easy. Like Christy stated, he's my other half. He really does probably half of the work just here at home. But he's also my best friend and so thinking about saying goodbye to him for 9 days makes me begin to cry. I'm so blessed that I found the best husband in the world. I pray that God keeps him safe and brings him back to me. {{xo to my friends}}

Just 2-1/2 more days . . .

. . . and hubby leaves for China. {deep sigh}

I'm so nervous. Very very nervous. Don't ask me why because my answer consists of a half-dozen different reasons. (Just ask Alexis.) But I feel guilty for feeling how I feel because so many women suffer way more than I do when their husbands leave for months or years at a time. I feel extremely blessed in that way because I know that will never happen to me. But selfishly I am really nervous and scared. Scared for him, not me. I know I can handle it. It will be harder than normal and my work will have to stop for 9 days, but I know I can do it. And it's not that I don't think Neil can't handle the travel and China itself. I know he can. But I'm scared about the things not in his control, like his safety and health. I am also scared for myself in the way that I am not sure I can mentally handle my kids 24-7 for that long. Yes, I am a stay-at-home mom, but when Neil gets home in the evenings, I begin working about 6:00 and when I start working, I work. And I'm in my office. And Neil plays and takes care of the kids. It's my only break in the day. A break I need. And I'm a little afraid about how I will handle not having that break for 9 days. I love my kids more than anything in the world, but I also like to be mentally, emotionally and physically able to take care of them as I should.

Anyhow, 2-1/2 days before he leaves on an 18-hr flight to China. (Yeah, I'm counting that 1/2 day.) Please keep Neil (and selfishly, me also) in your prayers come Friday. He's going to be clear on the other side of this Earth for 9 days. When I say that, I think, "yep, it's just a dream. He's really not going." But I'm pretty sure he is.

When Neil left for Germany (for 6 days, I think it was), I shot these pictures of him and our kiddos as he was getting ready to leave the house. I love these pictures.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

I Peter 9:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Random-ness in the New Year

I'm not full of anything interesting and blog-worthy at all these days. I feel like my brain is just dead. I am also so so so so tired. I think it's the weather and the time of year and the fact that my daughter is not sleeping well these days and I am woken up 4 times a night (that may be a big part of it) so it feels like I have a newborn suddenly again. Ugh. It's so not fun. At all. So a combination of all of the above has me feeling so . . . at a loss. So here's the random things that are in my head right now and random-ity going on in my life. Not very blog-worthy, but at least it gives me something to post.

* 6-ish years ago I did yoga just about every day. At that time in my life I was in the best shape I think I had ever been in since high school weight training (I also hadn't ate meat in over 6 years so that, too, helped me out a bit, I think). The good news is, I'm back in yoga and it's nice. Really nice. I love yoga and how it makes me feel. Always have. And it's something that doesn't take much coordination like aerobics (which I don't have), but balance and a little endurance (which I do have). Neil has even been doing it with me some and the kids attempt to. It's so cute! (Maia is actually really good at it!)

* I have my first wedding of the year on Saturday. It's a big one, too. 8 attendants on each side and over 400 guests. Thankfully we're doing all the pictures beforehand, which will help A LOT and makes me feel a tiny bit less overwhelmed. The neatest thing about this wedding is that it's completely black and white. Their invitation even requested that all the guests wear either black or white (<-------yeah, that says white). It will look awesome in pictures. I really look forward to the event. Snow on top of that would be amazing, but I'm afraid it's going to be too warm for snow. Shoot.

* Neil isn't a big traveler like he use to be, but when he does travel, it's far-away places. This time, in 2 weeks, he's off for China. Yep, China. He just got his VISA back so it's pretty official. I'm not sure how long he'll be gone yet, but it will be at least a week. I'm just not use to these long travels anymore. He's had every shot in the book now to prepare for it. I think he's ready, but I'm not. I get really anxious and nervous thinking about it. Thankfully I have friends here who have already volunteered to have me live with them for a week, and even if I don't, I know they'll be stopping by every day. I just don't do well without Neil here. He's more than just the one who brings home the bacon. He is the greatest daddy in the world and is a pretty amazing Susie Homemaker. (I really am blessed and when he is gone it reminds me how blessed I am and how amazing he is.)

* I bought some new photography books last week and last night I almost finished one of them. I haven't read anything other than maybe a recipe or a Christmas newsletter (?!) in probably 6 months or more. To finally have the time to do so after about 6 months of non-stop running and working, is just so very nice and so rewarding. Hard work does pay off and there really is light (and a break) at the end of the tunnel :c)

* My cousin who will soon be 40 just announced that he is going to be a daddy again later this fall! He will be my oldest cousin with the youngest baby! I think it's kinda neat!! Congrats Clint and Stacy!! We're so happy for you!

* I bought Annie, the musical, and watched it today with my kids. Maia was mesmerized and it reminded me how mesmerized I get watching it. I love love love that movie. Probably (in my opinion) one of the best movies ever, ranking up there with The Sound of Music, The Parent Trap and The King and I. I'm such a sucker for musicals, Disney movies, Classics or all of the above. Okay, fine, a.k.a. corny movies. I love corny movies. But they sort of bring me up into the clouds into a fantasy world and I love that feeling. And there's something about catchy songs like "It's a Hard Knock Life" or "My Favorite Things" that just really make you happy (even if they aren't the happiest of songs like the Hard Knock Life). My husband thinks I am the queen of dorks with the love I have for these movies and I don't deny that! :c)

Speaking of "happy" . . . Happy New Year! Hope it's a really really great year for all of us.

Foto Friday ~ Neil's journey to Germany

www.flickr.com

Click on this picture badge above to see all of Neil's pictures. And if you take a peak, be so kind and leave a blab . . . he would appreciate it! :c)

He is home!

Neil made it home late late Thursday night. He went in to work Friday morning (*groan*) but came back around lunch. It was then that the kids got to see their daddy and boy were they excited! So was I . . . :)

He said things were really expensive in Germany. But he did still did manage to bring home a couple of gifties. I took pictures of all of them, but some are on one camera and others on another and I just don't have time to download it all, so for now you just get to peak at a couple o' things.

He knows how I like to journal, so he brought me back a really nicely bound red journal with a church symbol on the front of it which is the symbol for Hamburg (speaking of, I had no idea that Hamburg was it's own state, did you? Same with Berlin! You learn something new every day!) And then he also got me . . . drumroll . . . why of course, ketchup! It is room service size because he just couldn't find a regular one in the market (granted, he only tried one store, but at least he did try.) It says Heinz on the front, but everything else is written in German. It's very ketchup cute.

He also brought me back some chocolates which are chocolate covered marsipan. I didn't know people actually chose to eat marsipan . . . I thought it was more for looks? It tastes ok. To be honest, I have had better, but then again, I've never had marsipan, so no, I haven't had better! (*rolling my eyes at myself*) The texture is just kinda weird. But the chocolate part is quite yum. Notice the missing piece?

Daddy brought back Noah a "foot ball" as they call it in Europe, but to us it's a soccer ball. He loves it. What boy wouldn't love a ball?!

For Maia he got her a Steiff animal. No, not a bear (I wish!!!), but it's a donkey (or a horse, maybe??? See for yourself!) and sooooo cute! The Steiff bears started at $125, and that was for a 3 inch size! Luckily the one he chose was just $35 and that was the least expensive animals. Wowzers! I knew they were pricey but not THAT pricey. I told him thank you for not buying her one of those! It's just fun, though, to now have something with the Steiff button on it! (And we even got a cool little Steiff box to boot!) See . . . isn't he cute? We call him Mr. Donkey. Original, eh?
Luckily, I made Neil take the camera. He got only 40 pictures and 5 of them are of the same pose, with Neil standing in front of an old church in Hamburg taken by his German friend/co-worker who wouldn't stop snapping the shutter. But hey, at least he got some of my hubby in Germany! When Neil went to Japan he had one picture taken of himself and that was standing in front of an upscale store (Louis Vuitton or something?). It could have been shot in New York City or Chicago! (ha!) So at least he does have some of himself with surroundings that look like he could be in Germany :c)I'll share more of his pictures later, again, when I have time. Since he has been back, I've burried myself in my work. My list is an 8x10 page long of orders and work to-do's. It's pretty overwhelming, but at least I do have work. I'm thankful for that. Now if I could just make time stop for a day or two or three, then I'd be doing good. But since that's not possible, you probably won't see me much this week. Noah also starts school this week and well, there's just a lot going on. So hold the blogging fort down for me and I'll be back soon.

P.S. We found a new church that we LOVE. We fit in the moment we walked in and Noah did as well. At our old church Noah would never leave our side. Here, he wanted to go with the rest of the kids to Sunday school. I'm already signing myself up for Bible studies and small groups. Woo-hooo! I'm just really excited. This is a huge burden lifted off of us. Phew.

P.P.S. Lots and lots of new stuff at my VWC blog. Probably a lot more to come this week. I'm also going to stop sending out emails to clients and will be posting my specials and such at this blog. So, if you're interested, visit the site frequently. And here's an example of what you see at that blog if you've never been . . . . . . weddings, bellies, and children, oh my!

Thanks, . . . . and toodles!

Today's jabber

I'm really not even sure what to talk about today. Maybe I will just share the nonsense in my head? Oh what fun, eh? Oh well, bear with me.

First, something exciting . . . sorta. Neil, get this, stayed in the same hotel for two days as THE ROLLING STONES! As of yesterday when I talked to him, Neil hadn't seen any of them, but his boss did!! He saw them driving away in a Mercedes with people and paparazzi chasing the car with cameras! How insanely crazy is that?! I think it's pretty cool minus the fact that Mick Jagger could be my grandpa, but who knows how I would act if I actually saw them in person, because my excitement level sure rose when I met Willie Nelson, and of course now, he is my all-time favorite. (*giggle*) They preformed in concert in Hamburg and I looked up tickets on ebay . . . the starting price was $300 a pop. Um, no thank you. Dad, how bout you?

Exciting news here in Illinois, well, for our family, that is. Hubby comes home tonight!! He just called and he's boarding the plane in London. I can't wait to see him. Maia and Noah talked to daddy yesterday on the speaker phone and they both were really excited. Maia's answers to all of Neil's questions were "yesh", "yesh", so Neil said "is your tongue purple?" and she answered "yesh". He said, "I knew you'd answer with that". :c)

The week actually hasn't been that bad. It helps when you fill your week up with a busy schedule. Yesterday we took the kids to a new aquatic center nearby and that was really fun. Noah had a blast yelling constantly, "look at me! Look at me!" I got some pictures but they are on Leann's camera, which I hope to get tonight to start downloading. But then we headed over to my good friend, Mike Judge's, studio. I got to see his new kick-butt place (they just redid the entire place) and visit with him and Nora. Noah hung out with Tyler, their grandson. It was so nice to see them.

Not big news to you, but to me . . . We had about 50 broken down cardboard boxes just laying outside my back door. We had been taking a handful to set with the garbage each week. It would have taken us months to get rid of all of them, so my friend, Leann, came over and we carried all of them to the curbside and the garbage TOOK ALL OF THEM! You know how nice that feeling is to get rid of garbage that has just been laying around?! It was like a huge weight lifted off of me. That was worth noting, right?

I'm not usually a Kohl's fan for clothes or shoes, but I was there earlier in the week looking for towels and wandered into the shoes, and found some really cute Adidas running shoes I liked. So I bought them, for, get this, $34.99! Is that not a great deal for these?Sunday we are trying out a new church. They are suppose to have an amazing children's program, which as we all know, is a must. A great church overall from what I have heard. Very similar to the one we left. I already know a few girls that go there. I'm excited to find a place to call "home", to make a network of friends in a church, and a network for my children, so I hope this is the one. I'll be updating Monday!

I have so many pictures I need to update ya'll with. I also have tons and tons of work to do since I haven't done a single thing all week (well, really for 2 weeks now that he's been gone for about that long total), but I am going to try really really hard to get both my work and play photos done this weekend. Wish me luck. Send some positive *get-your-work-done-Val* vibes.

My weekend starts today since Neil is not going into work tomorrow, so happy weekend, dear ones!

Read to me, Daddy.

So far, in my 4 years of being a mother, my favorite thing ever, is to see Neil read to the kids. And, being that he's a world away right now, and we're missing him so, I thought these pictures would suit well to be shown right now. Every night before we put the kids to bed, one of us or both of us, read to them in our bed. They look forward to it, and so do we. Come Friday night, he'll get to read to them again. . . and that time just can't come quickly enough. I'm just now going to bed and he's probably just getting up. That's just so . . . weird to me. I could never be a military mommy. Kudos again, to those who are. You rate high on my list of admiration.P.S. That's a sticker on Maia's chest :c)

This, that and a new telly?

I talked to my far-and-away husband this morning. Man, he sounded tired! He's been sight-seeing today in order to stay awake. He said he and another guy visited a church built in 1420 (!!!). For $10 they could walk to the top of the church and see the city. So they did it. All 160 steps. And he said when they got to the top, you could see the sky, and that's just about it, because there were 30 ft walls around the top!! Why in the world they didn't tell them that before he went is beyond me, unless they did tell them that in German and Neil responded with a "I-have-no-idea-what-you're-saying" smile, which is most likely what happened. (Love ya, honey!) I made him take the small digi cam with him, so I'm hoping he got some cool photos of an old German church wall! (At least he can say he did it!)

(Check out the churches, I found pictures of them!)

Tonight mom and dad invited us over for dinner, so we're heading over there after Maia gets up from her nappie. Mom made hamburger stew (mmmmm...one of my old childhood faves!). Noah is very much looking forward to spending time with grandpa. They wrestle and play basketball and climb rock piles, all things mommy doesn't do so well, so he's really looking forward to that. (I'm refering to dad when I say "he" -- ha!)

Tomorrow we're going to Leann's to play at the park in the morning before it gets too darn awful hot outside (it's suppose to be 100 here all week). Then Wednesday she and I are taking all 6 kids to a water park, which you could call me a little kid because I am so excited about it!!

One evening I am meeting with a client in another town so she can put in her order and then another night I'm meeting with a different client for the same reason. And then Thursday mom is coming over here an we're going to our local Farmer's Market which is from 3-6 in the evening. I love our downtown here, so I'm looking forward to that, too, if the heat doesn't bite us in the butt.

Quickly the week might be over and then Friday I see my hubby again, and hopefully bearing chocolate, wine and ketchup in a tube. :c) Yippee-yay! (And check this out, it's a tube of ketchup and mayo mixed in a tube! I hope he can find this one for me, but he'll have to get two because I will have to try it, too!)

Ok, so I am looking at getting something electronic for our kitchen. We don't have a single TV or radio in our entire upstairs. Our upstairs consists of all the bedrooms, 2 bath rooms, the living room, dining room and kitchen. And no TV. TV really isn't a necessity for me, except for when American Idol begins again or my favorites, Gray's Anatomy, LOST and The Office. So . . . I have some time to find a TV or something of some sort.

We considered an under-the-cabinet TV/radio for the kitchen. And we did buy one. But it's too big in length. It comes out about 3 inches from the edge of the cabinets making it look a little weird and making it very awkward to work around. So we're taking that back. I'm sure they make them smaller . . . maybe?

I also thought about buying an iHome. Anyone have one? They have them at Target this week for $88! That is a steal! Even if we didn't put it in the kitchen, I would probably put it in our bedroom. So having that would make us a little more technologically savvy, and something I could hook my ipod up to. I still want a TV. Even if it's 7" (which they do make). I just can't decide what makes the most sense.

We don't have a whole lot of extra space in our kitchen. For once we have counter space and I don't want to take it all up with big "things". Already my mixer takes up a whole lot of room, and I'm even contemplating putting that somewhere in storage because I only use it once a year (at Christmas for my cookie-making extravaganza). So what to do, what to do? Do you have a TV in the kitchen? If so, how big/small? What kind? Do you like it? Any recommendations for me? It is another thing on my to-do list for the week but I have no idea where to even start.

Off to Germany . . . with random pictures . . .

I think Neil was home 36 hours before he had to leave again this morning for, this time, Germany. The thought makes me want to cry.

It was hard for him to leave us, especially since his babies were crawling all over him and asking where he was going and if they could go with him. It's hard for him to say "not this time". Especially when he just did it earlier in the week last week. We'll see him again Friday morning or late late Thursday night.

I'm trying to think of things for us to do. I'd really like to get out of the house this evening, but I'm not sure where to? It seems like the only options with this almost-100 degree heat, is to go shopping or out to eat. Not that I want to pass those options up, but (to be truthful) I don't need anymore restaurant food for a while (I ate way too much already over the weekend and last week) and I don't need to shop anymore because Lord knows I've already spent too much in the past few weeks on the house.

Since I don't really have anything to talk about but to whine about Neil being gone again, I'll share a couple pictures, how's that?

So about a week ago, our good friends, Randy, Vickie and Chloe visited us at our new pad. We got this darn cute picture of Noah (a baby doll), Maia and their good friend, Chloe.
Then, as you know, I shot a wedding last weekend. Heather caught a couple pictures of me "in action" at the wedding. So here they are, for your enjoyment ;c)I'm playing with my camera's adjustments. Oh the joy of a digital camera. I actually loooove having options although they can get overwhelming at times!
And this is me talking to the groom. Sojin is yelling for a family member to come up to the front. That is Sojin's mother in the beautiful pink dress. She and Paul's mother wore the most amazing gowns (click on the picture and you can see it better). Everything about this wedding, down to the beauty of these unique dresses, made that wedding one of my best.
And then Heather and I at the wedding (between the wedding and the reception outside while we're waiting on the bride and groom to exit). We seem to take a lot of self-portraits of ourselves (no we aren't vain, just bored!). . . we sometimes have lots of down time to play, and whether it's quickly stopping at McD's for a double cheese, putting our feet up with an H2O in the car or just taking random pictures, we always find ways to make our down time enjoyable!

That's it folks! I hope to start getting to more of my house and moving pictures up this week when I have time during Maia's naps or in the evenings when the kiddos go to bed. Happy week to all. Wish me luck in making it through. I just keep thinking of all the military moms out there who do it for months or years at a time. I can't imagine, but when I do try to, it puts it all into perspective and I just sit back with thankfulness knowing that he's only going to be gone 5 days. That's nothing compared to what it could be. (God bless those mammas!)

P.S. I did send Neil to Germany with a camera and 3 orders. To bring me back German ketchup (if there is such a thing, and most likely, there is!), German chocolate and German wine. Isn't it funny how it's always something EDIBLE?! Ah well. The enjoyments of life. Gotta milk'em for all they are worth, right?!

Loving my bed, but missing him.

The two only reasons why I like it when Neil is gone out of town on business.

1) I can lay in bed with my laptop, type as loud as I want, and not bother anyone (him).

2) I can sleep sprawled out in bed and sleep like a baby. (Well, unless my babies don't wake me up in the middle of the night, and that most likely never happens. But I will still get to hog the bed and I sure savor these hogging moments!)

Yeah, Neil is gone again. This time to Salt Lake City. I'm excited for him however, because he's never been there before and he says it's pretty (of course he didn't use that term, but anyway . . . ), and also because he is eating good food (I'm jealous!) and meeting some nifty people.

I guess he met with a big technology developer today for dinner in SLC. This guy had to push back his dinner meeting with Neil because he had a long lunch meeting with Rudy Giuliani. Neil said this developer guy, whose name I have no idea of, is one of Rudy's biggest financial donors from Utah. I thought that was kinda cool. This guy thinks Rudy is definitely going to win the Republican vote, but of course he is giving Rudy millions of his moolah, so why would he think he's going to lose?

I do really like having an entire bed to myself. But I don't like it empty for a really really long time.

Once he gets back from Utah, he then turns around and leaves for Germany on Sunday morning. *sob* I really hate when he travels, but I know it's for the good and I do love having all that room to take over the bed. But, it does get lonely.

I wouldn't mind if he'd ask me to just hop on the plane with him when he goes to Germany, but then would the kids fit in the overhead compartment? Probably not. We can't really justify spending the money for them to fly at their age and for the short amount of time Neil will actually be gone (4 days for an overseas trip really isn't that long when you're talking jet lag). And I'm not sure we can even really justify spending that much on a ticket for me either, unless we planned to stay over a week. Maybe one day that will happen.

My point. I love a bed to myself, but will really miss my dear hubby. Please, friends, keep me company while he's gone. You know how I get with needing adult conversation!

I'm so ready for vacation.

I don't really even want to talk about yesterday, but I guess I will.

We get to Springfield all prepared with snacks for Maia to keep her busy during x-rays, and a baby doll, and then go up to Dr. G's office and tell them who we are. The receptionist cannot find our paperwork. She looks in the computer and says "your appointment was the 12th". I said, "seriously?!". She said "yes, it was". I could not help myself and I bursted into tears. Thank goodness there was no one else in the waiting room because I would have really been embarrassed. I already was embarrassed, but you know how when you just start crying uncontrollably and just cannot stop the tears no matter how hard you try to because you really really want to stop? Well, that's exactly how I felt.

I still can hardly believe it. My date book said Friday the 15th and I remember very well the phone call. It was my pediatrician that set it up, they called Dr. G and then my pedi called me. So somewhere in that office-to-office communication, a date was said wrong and then said wrong to me. I guess.

I know I could have made the mistake, but you know how when you schedule something and usually they will tell you the appt date and then confirm it before hanging up? Well, I remember quite well my pedi's office saying the date. I had my date book open during the phone call and wrote it down as they said it. I really think it was their fault, and I say that because Dr. G doesn't even have clinic on Fridays which is why no one else was in the waiting room when we arrived. *sob*

But then what perturbs me is that Dr. G's office never called ME this week to confirm anything. Shouldn't a doctor that you have to wait months and months to get into call to confirm?? I think so, but perhaps I'm wrong.

So, yeah, I cried, and cried, and I couldn't even look the lady in the eye. She said let's reschedule now, and I said you'll have to talk to Neil. And then there is Maia playing with the toys in the waiting room totally oblivious to everything.

I think getting so upset reinforced my feelings of anxiety that I had with this appointment, and probably also showed me how stressed out I am with all this house stuff, with Maia's appt, with my work, etc., and I didn't really even realize it.

So with tears that I still can't get rid of, we walk out and Neil says "let's go eat" so we went to Chili's. No one was there because it was almost 2:00 and Maia was a princess while there and she had already missed her only nap of the day at noon. So after an enjoyable lunch we went to the mall and I got Maia a bathing suit for our trip and bought Neil some new shirts for Father's Day (I let him pick them out and he really enjoyed that) and I bought a couple items on sale (note to file, Gap is having their "Really Big Sale" right now). It was fun. Then off we went home to see Noah and O'ma who was watching him. (He was also at Jamie's earlier in the day. We learned he is terrified of horses - a story for later).

Then on the way home, Neil announces to me, that when we get back from vacation on Saturday, that he leaves again on Monday for GERMANY with work. Um, what?!?! Tears again. We have to start PACKING! There is no time for a week long work trip to Germany! We move in just 3 weeks from NOW!

So yeah, that's how my day went.

Sorry that was so long, but you know me. And I appreciate you making it down here to the bottom.

If I don't talk to you before we take off tomorrow morning, adios, my friends! I can't wait to feel the sand between my toes . . .

Foto Friday

Yesterday here I am (excitedly, and who knows why? Maybe it's just hope?) on our land which will one day . . . someday . . . have our house on it. Two of the lots on our cul-de-sac have broken ground. One has it's foundation poured. Our builder has also bought 2 other lots out there. He's getting busier and busier. I hope once it's our turn, he'll have time for us . . .

And I'm happy to say . . . hubby made it home late last night! He was exhausted after visiting 3 clients in 3 states in basically 3 days (he traveled the other days). One customer he visited was Hershey and so he brought home a big bag of chocolate, two t-shirts for the kids and this very kick-butt mug for me -- isn't it neat? It's officially now my favorite mug. (You know, little things excite me.) Welcome home, Neil!

Random thoughts and . . . wine.

I hope the wine part of my title pulled you in to read this. And really, I will eventually talk wine, but first you have to hear me "whine" a tiny bit . . . sorta. Yes, fine, it's whining.

It's always a huge feeling of accomplishment for me as a mommy when I make it through an entire day without Neil without any discouragement in myself as a mother. Neil just does so much for me as a husband and father to my children. And it takes a lot, most days, for me to not get discouraged as a mommy. But today was a pretty non-discourageful day - yay!

When Neil comes home from work, many a times he will make dinner so I can start right away on my photography work, then he'll bathe the kids and get them ready for bed. I'm not totally settled on this routine but we do it when I am in desperate need of time to work, and lately that's 4 out of 5 nights because I'm so backlogged with orders (good thing, yes). But (bad thing is) this is what we have to do for now until I can work at home during the day, which will most likely be when the kiddos are in school. (*gulp* I know this will be sooner than later and the thought of them being school is just . . . not something I want to think about.)

So, if you can't tell, kids are in bed (early - yay!) and I am in need of some adult conversation. I hate the phone (really seriously hate), so this blog will have to do. Hooray for blogging for stay at home moms (like me) whose husbands travel (like mine) and who feel the need to say more than what a conversation entails with a 3 year and 18 month old (like with mine). I just need to talk! So, feel free to leave me a comment (actually, I'm begging you to - you know how they make my day, right?!) . . . even if it's just to tell me what kind of wine you you prefer.

See, I told you wine.


I love wine and just over the weekend I discovered a new one that I wanted to share with all of my wine-loving friends. It's called Polkadot, a Reisling from Germany and it's nice . . . quite tasty . . . I really liked it and it's officially my new favorite of the moment! Please do try it. Sweet, but not overly sweet, and just hits the taste buds perfectly. It's more than worth it at just $8.99 a bottle! And just look at that bottle . . . it's blue and gorgeous! I'm keeping mine to use as a vase for a flower! :c) (Hey, any reason to keep something pretty!)

If you've made it this far . . . woo-hoo! You rock! And here are two pics from Mother's Day when we had a picnic at the park. One favorite and then a self-portrait of Neil and I. I think it's kinda cute. As hubby stated "we're hot" in his silly Neil way. :c)



Here's to another good day tomorrow!