Mish Mash

Where are my commenters? I know, I have nothing exciting to say. Sorry. My life really isn't all that boring right now. I swear. It's pretty un-boring, actually. Today Noah, Maia and I began making a gingerbread house. I forgot how long it takes because if you don't follow the instructions and let the icing/glue dry, well, it will fall apart. Lesson learned. So we'll finish decorating it later.

I've been spending so much time on work, like every waking hour it seems, that this week I'm trying my hardest every day to make quality special time with my kiddos. Just me and them. And it's been such fun. I love my babies. (Even though yesterday, on the way home from school, Noah informed me again that he's not my "baby" but my "big kid". *sob*)

Yesterday, Maia and I made a quick trip to D-town to buy a giftie for one of my blogging pals and new shoes for the wedding I'm shooting Saturday. Maia was such a good girl. She got so many compliments on how well-behaved she was. What can I say, she is never imperfect. (Hahahahaaaaa!!)

So yes, I have my last wedding of the year on Saturday, and so I finally get to wear THE dress. (I'm not so sure how sexy I feel right now after still feeling bloated and slightly frumpy from Thanksgiving and all the leftovers.) And, I did find some kick-booty shoes to go with the dress, so I think the outfit is finally complete. Nothing like waiting last minute. That's how I work if you forgot. ;c)

I think the shoes are very simple, yet hot :c) And they are quite comfortable. A must when you're on your feet for 10 hours. They're by Joan & David if anyone cares.

I'm quite excited for this wedding Saturday because I get to see my love, Johanna. I can't wait to hang out (during any possible "down" time) with her. But I'm hoping (and praying) that Saturday is a nice day weather-wise . . . at least no snow or rain . . . please?!! . . . so I can stay busy with my cool photo ideas. Brandon and Holly (my couple) are the cutest, prettiest couple. I can't wait to catch them radiating on film (I mean, compact flash).

This coming week, drumroll . . . Alexis is coming "home". So it's not really "home" to her anymore since she's been in NC for over a year now, but to Jamie and I, we say "home" because we hope it'll always be a "home" for her. I might not see her much till Wednesday, but that's okay. She's going to the Christmas walk with mom, Heather and I, downtown. And then Thursday I get to take her to the airport. We're leaving early and mom's watching the kids so that we can do what we do best . . . talk, shop and drink coffee. I'm really excited for our time, even though it'll be short and sweet, it's absolutely better than not seeing her at all. What a great Christmas gift I'm getting.

Sad news. We aren't going to Oklahoma for Christmas. :( After tossing and turning over what we should do, Neil and I decided together that we couldn't go. We still have not sold our lot. It sits there, sadly. I wish we could keep it, but having to be making (in a way) two mortgages, is hard. Very hard for us. We are barely scraping by. (Thank GOD for my business lately!) We just can't afford the trip this time. We hope by the time baby A.C. is born in Feb, that we can go to OK to meet her. So, now we're staying home for Christmas, but that's exciting for me because it's our first Christmas here in our new home with the kids. It should be a really fun Christmas. Neil and I decided that we aren't doing anything at all that day but having a family day, just the 4 of us, in our jammies. And I can't wait. We're going to really miss doing this with our bro, sis, Ella & O'ma, but thankfully they understand 110%.

So, the next few days I won't be posting much as I finish up on some major orders, deliver 2 wedding albums, shoot a wedding and proof a wedding. Monday I think we're going to take a family day and finally put out our Christmas decorations and go get our tree. So I end with this . . . from keri @ flickr . . . I love her stuff.

Never forget that there is no day but today.

Off to decorate the gingerbread house!

With love, in the Spirit of Christmas,

~ me, Val ~

P.S. Neil's cousin just found out she is having a baby boy in April. Congrats, Kara and Josh!

Thumbs up, thumbs down?

Help me justify something.

I bought a dress and it's beautiful. It was 1/2 price and calling out my name. But it better fit, that's all I've got to say.

I have 3 weddings this winter, and that's how *I* justify the purchase. Last year I was a bit bigger. I hadn't lost all my pregnancy weight, but this year I'm back to my size (I still don't feel back to "me" yet, but my goal, by the first wedding, is to feel like a hot mama again ;))

The first wedding is my sister-in-law, Michelle's, brother's wedding (Andy). Missy, who is in my sidebar. She is marrying Andy. I'm going to have this really cool extended family now. (Not that I already didn't call him/her/them family, but now I guess it will be even more official!) Missy is the best!

Anyhow, so I have their wedding to attend (my niece is the flower girl!), then I am shooting a wedding the first weekend in December (in which I'm also invited to as a guest) and in which my very good friend, Johanna, will be attending (it's her brother-in-law's wedding) and she and I both decided we have to look hot, so we'll look hot together. (Tee hee) And then I am shooting another wedding the first weekend of January. It's a huge wedding, 8 attendants each, Neil and I will know probably a 1/3 of the people there and and it's an all black and white wedding (isn't that cool?!) So my dress isn't black and white, but it's still pretty subdued, and sometimes it's fun to stand out a little bit when I have my camera in my hand ;)

So this is what I bought. And all I keep telling myself is, I got a great deal on it. And I'll wear it a lot. And I'm never going to be pregnant again, so I will (hopefully) be able to wear it for many more fall and winters to come. I'm right, right?? Right??

Tell me it's hot. Tell me I'll look hot and that it will be worth it. It's gonna fit, it's gonna fit, it's gonna fit.
But isn't it pretty? (Jo, I hope you don't have your dress yet. We have to coordinate, ya know?)

P.S. I'm not telling the price.