First wedding of 2008!

There is nothing more wonderful for a wedding photographer than a bride and groom and entire wedding party who are on time, ready and cooperative. Of course it helps to be friends with the bride, but I didn't know any of the others prior to yesterday. They were a piece of cake, and how nice that was to start off 2008! Heather and I agreed that we've never had such a good day with formals and they had a wedding party of 24!! (Holy cow!)

Unfortunately, even though it was above freezing outside, we still were not able to shoot any outdoor shots except for one or two (assuming they even came out -- the lighting was really overcast and dark even at 3:00) because it was hazy and raining all day long. But you kind of expect that going into a wedding in January in Illinois.

We started the day at 10:00 and walked back in my door last night at midnight. It was a 12-hour day for Heather and I, and I am really feeling it today! My legs, arms and feet really ache. That's kinda what you get when you wear heels, so I think I probably asked for sore feet, but on the positive side of soreness, I love having a 10-lb camera to lug around all day long because it really gives me nice work out resulting in toneage :c) (Is toneage/tonage even a word?)

Katheryne, the bride, works with my husband. She's went on 7-hour car trips having plenty of heart-to-hearts with him (heart-to-hearts?! Neil?? Yeah right!). Of course, Neil knows most of the people in her "group" at ADM and so I knew a big handful of them.

My good friend, Heidi, is also a friend of Katheryne, so she and Jase were there. Katheryne sat Heather and I at one of the the "ADM" tables, so that was really nice getting to not just shoot a wedding but enjoy the reception with good friends and drinky-drinks. It's usually Heather and I sitting at a table alone or with people who don't speak 2 words to us. (Which actually can be nice because it means we get to converse with each other all night and we don't have to make small-talk with people we'll never see again!)

The reception was tight . . . 400 guests! . . . but it was one of the best receptions I've ever been a part of. The people were genuinely happy and excited for Katheryne and Aaron. Their love just radiates for one another and so does the love that their friends and family have for them. The party was STILL going on strong when we left at 11:30, but we were exhausted and had to leave. It was a really fantastic wedding and it makes me really excited for the dozen I have this year.

Here's a few pictures from last night . . .

Heidi and Jase look over pictures on their cam
(How totally retro does Heidi look?! Stunning, I know!)

The cute couple, Heidi and Jase
(he rarely ever smiles for the camera showing teeth -- it's usually look-at-me-I-was-on-Big-Brother head shots -- which he would totally agree w/ me on! :c) but Val tends to have magical power with people and got the whites to show :c) hehe)

Heather and Heidi take on the dance floor!

Me and Heids

And, last but not least, the beautiful couple, Katheryne and Aaron
during their 1st dance.

Breakin' news

Not really. Just thought that was a cute little title for today. You'll see.

I had another morning the same as Friday with Noah. He didn't want to go, he pleaded with me to go home. His excuses were "I'm sooooo tired, mommy", or "it's so cold", and I responded, "it will be warm inside your school" and of course when we set foot in the door he said "it's coooooold in here, too" in a whiney tone. (ugh.)

I said a little prayer as I walked out the door this morning. And guess what? I was only in the school 2 minutes sitting on the floor trying to get Noah to play with one of his really good buddies, Brevin, and in walks my saint (hehe), Leann, who is normally not on schedule but running a tad bit late (love ya, Leann!), but not today!

I said, "today is going to be another day like Friday", and she said, "no it's not, I'm here." So, somehow I snuck out while Leann stayed on the floor with Noah trying to get him to play with Brevin and her daughter, Kristin. I got in the car and what a relief I felt come over me. The fact that I was able to leave without hearing screams as I stood outside the school door was amazingly peaceful. Now, I know Leann may not be there every day, but I really think she was my angel in disguise today.

I had a really great weekend and I hope you did also.

Originally we were going to go to Chuck-E-Cheese on Saturday with my friends, Heather, Lee and Cole, but, well, that didn't work out with the behavior I encountered on Friday (I'm a mother who is following through with discipline -- yay me). So, instead we all went to an estate auction of my adopted grandma's, Marie.

Marie passed away in May. I had known her all my life. I posted about her death a while back. Her estate auction was finally on Saturday.

I wanted really badly to get some things of hers. (Well, some I already did get . . . one very important thing which she had "left" for just for me. I'll post about that later -- it's so incredibly special!). And two of those things were an old (old) chair that I had always grown up sitting in, and an old Brownie camera. But while there, I got way way way into being the cool passive bidder (ha ha, yeah right. I was the one waving my number way up high in the air for all to see. How inconspicious I was ---- not!) and bid on a lot of things.

I'd see things that I remembered . . . and you know how I am with memories. So I bid on them. Or I'd see things I didn't know she had and felt the urge to have myself -- usually old vintage things -- and then I'd bid on those, too. So I walked away with a lot. And I was happy. Very happy. Still am.

People rarely bid against me and I think it's because I was a young female (I'm still young, right?) bidding against tons and tons of old farmer men and perhaps I made them feel insecure or maybe they were just shocked? I doubt it, really. I'm sure they were just being incredibly nice. That's just how farmers are. So I had a really really great time.

And then I walked through Marie's house one last time. Talk about memories. I stood in the living room and could vividly picture all her furniture in it, my brother and I sitting on the floor playing, and Marie sitting in "her" la-z-boy chair watching us and watching us when suddenly she would blurt out something that was on her mind and usually it was something sarcastic that I just didn't "get". But as I grew older, I did learn what a funny, very blunt, yet very loving and caring woman she was. It was great going down memory lane. I miss her.

Oh! So what I won! The two biggest things ----- my camera (for $3!, no kidding!), which I'm guessing is probably from the 1930's or 40's. And then MY CHAIR! So I'll post pics one day when I actually take them. I got some other really cool finds which my vintage-loving friends will really adore.

So my breakin' news is this. I need to take another break. I must. I spend way too many mornings and afternoons on my computer on the internet and not in photoshop like I should be doing. I would be ahead, instead of behind, if I'd just attribute those hours to my work. So that's what I'm doing again. I have to get caught up because in just a few weeks I'm having my Halloween party, which as of now, I'm totally not prepared for AT ALL. When are we ever prepared, really? But this is a big party . . . and it keeps getting bigger . . . so I need, no MUST, work a little bit harder or I will never ever be caught up.

I leave you with a picture of the honeysuckle that has (over) grown on our deck. Isn't it pretty? Once the blooms are gone, I'm cutting it all down. It's way too overtaken. But it's quite beautiful.
Have a great week, my friends!

My weekend . . . in pictures.

So I know we are already to Hump Day, so also almost to the next weekend. But let's just pretend for a minute that I'm on top of things and that this is Monday, k? Just humor me :c) I'm not even doing WW today. But wait, it's not Wednesday, it's Monday! (wink) So that means I am on top of things. Way to go, Val!

Last weekend . . . a great weekend . . . and one of my less stressed and hurried weekends in a long time, and I know in a long time to come as well! So I thought I'd post pictures since I kinda photo-journalized my days anyhow.

Erin had asked what books I bought while at B&N last week. Here they are. One is country, which if you know me, I don't scream "country", however I have a strong love of vintage style, and this book had quite a bit of it, hence, why I bought it! The other one is totally me. In-style, but in a less expensive type of way!

Saturday morning my mom and I did Race for the Cure. We walked in honor of my Grandma Libby, mom's mother. I had done the Race before, mom had not. She was so glad she had that opportunity. We had over 4100 in our race here in town. It was empowering, yet so very emotional. Here we are in pictures after the race. I forgot my camera, so these were taken when we got back to my house. And the one picture on the top right is our bag of yummies. I love freebies!

Then I drove to Springfield to meet up with Jen. Jen use to live on my block. We became the best of friends. I know God put her on my street for such a short amount of time so that we would meet and be friends forever. She and her family now live in Hattiesburg, MS. I haven't seen her in almost 1 year. And I've missed her. A lot. This is me on my way to visit Jen. I had NO KIDS IN THE CAR (Amen to that!) and I got to listen to my music (Regina Spektor) and I got to think quietly in peace. It was heavenly.

Here is Jenny-Jen and myself! We had to get coffee (why of course!) and we also hit the stores (um, hello, duh!). Jen had to get a dress for a wedding she was going to that evening. This picture here is of one she bought. She bought two and she called me later saying this was the one she wore (it was my fave!). And, as you can see, I had such fun with the 3-way mirrors! It was so great seeing her. Time was way way way too short, though. We're planning on getting together again late summer or early fall.

Then I hurried home to freshen up for dinner with Mandy & Heather. When I walked into my house, I saw this. I guess this pile of newspapers kept the kids occupied while Neil packed some boxes. Whatever it takes, I guess? I was just glad I could turn around and leave again!

Dinner was great. I know both Mandy and Heather from grade school . . . kindergarten through our senior year of high school, actually! Wow, that is a lot of years. Mandy is now in Cincinnati, and she came "home" for the weekend. So we all got together for Mexican food and 'ritas and had an absolutely wonderful girly-girl time! So up above are some fun pics of my girl, Heather. And the one on the bottom right is a picture I took of a picture on her camera of her at her zoo taking care of her Cheetahs. Yep, those are hers!

Halfway through our 4-1/2 hours at the restaurant, we called my best boy friends, Jeff and Brian, to see if they'd join us. Of course they did! We had such a great time, too. Jeff and Mandy got into some heated - yet friendly - arguments over evolution and Christianity. Jeff, a Christian, tried his best to give his argument and she tried her best to give hers on evolution. Mandy is going for her doctrine and her study is in evolution. It's really really hard to get her to understand how we believe that God is the creator of all things and that once we die, we will forever live again. But, then I understand that it's hard for her to believe it when she has had such in-depth study of evolution, and have been taught by professors who are not Christians. I cannot judge her or what she believes, and I won't. Jeff didn't either. He just tried to help her believe. (That's what we are suppose to do.) I love Mandy so much. I just pray she will one day change from Agnostic/Atheist to becoming a Christian. I pray very hard for this, actually. My heart aches that she feels she is going to hell and laughs about it. I so badly want to change that. But I know it's out of my hands.

On a lighter note, we had lots of margaritas. Lots. We had a wonderful time and I look forward to more to come. We're trying to talk Mandy to moving back home! (Hint, hint if you read this, Mandeline!)

Then Sunday we got to get back into our very-soon-to-be house to try and decide on colors for the house. In the kitchen we were trying to match up light yellows to paint over the mustard-y color. And then I found some master bathroom decor which I just stumbled upon (the best kind of buys!) which were way on clearance at Bergner's and are the perfect match to the color we are painting the master bedroom! I love good buys and pretty things!

Happy 4th of July to my readers! Friday we close on the new house! I am so so so excited! Offer still stands for the weekend painting fun! My mom is making Italian Beef and I'm bringing other food and of course, drinks! We may even be without kids thanks to O'ma! Let's kick some wall-painting booty! :c)

Oh, and I got my computer back with a new hard drive. I have yet to turn the darn thing on. The thought stresses me out.

Weekend Comings

Come visit me as I start uploading some pics over at Visions from Sea Island! There's some neat-o ones! I just did a few. More to come this weekend I hope.

This morning mom and I did Race for the Cure in lieu of Grandma Libby. We had a great time and I'll post a couple pics later. (We love you, grandma!)

I'm off in a bit to see Jenny-Jen and I absolutely cannot wait! It's been almost a year . . . wow. We're going to shop shop shop without kids kids kids! Barnes & Noble, World Market, Macy's here we come! (Yay!)

Tonight I meet up with two friends, Heather and Mandy. Mandy is visiting from Cincinati. We are looking forward to chips, 'ritas and catching up. We all need the 'ritas pretty darn badly. It'll be so fun!

Tomorrow we get to get into our new house to see it empty and figure out how much paint we'll need when we start buying paint for it this week. I love painting! I cannot wait to start. Oh, and the offer to come help me is still up. I swear you won't regret it. I always offer coffee, treats and wine! :c)

Tomorrow night I decided to go ahead and start packing up my office. The work I still have to do I can do with most everything packed up. I might as well put a dent in it. It's going to be a lot of work!

Neil is spending the day with the kids. Actually, I think a nap for all is in the very near hours. Both kids were up at 5 this morning. No idea why?! So, he's hoping to take a nap when they do. I hope he can, too, because he didn't get to have a Father's Day like I had wanted him to (we were flying 2 hours and driving in a car for 5 hours). I think just a nap would make him quite happy!

Going to paint my nails, put on makeup and then head out the door. I'm not thinking about my computer at all today. Nope I'm not (except for now, ha!). I'm bound and determined to make this a stress free, wonderfully fantastic day. Hoping it is for you, too!

Oh! And I guess I'm Rockin?! Jen from New Zealand nominated me for another award. You guys are all way too sweet and rewarding to me. Thank you, Jen. Thank you everyone for loving my blogs . . . and me!

Toodles!