So We're Home

Alabama was great.  Our family reunion was great.  I enjoyed it all.
We left on Thursday and hung out that night at my aunt and uncle's house.  We gave birthday presents to my younger cousin.  She turned 5 on the 6th.

Isn't she a cutie? 

Then Friday we spent the day at my other aunt's house on the river!
 
After we played on the boat, jetski, and all in the water we decided to play pool.

Here's J playing my uncle.  You could have sworn that it was for a championship or something!

Then Saturday we headed to Loxley, AL for our family reunion.  It was great to see everyone together!  We learned a lot about our family history this year too!

{This is Gram...she was being silly}

{Uncle Allan, Mom, Gram, Aunt Shelley, Uncle Phil}


{Michelle, Emma, Brooke, Phil}

 
{Two grandparents, twins, and all their families}

Then Saturday night we watched the fireworks and fishes off the pier at the house.
  
{Horrible picture, but you get it.  I didn't have my tripod and the wind was blowing!}

 

Sunday we came home but not before stopping to take a picture of this great magnolia tree!
My great grandfather planted this tree in 1933 and it was the same exact height as he was 6'6".  Now, it's way more than that and it's very pretty!

Happy Father's Day

Growing up there was always times that we didn't get along.  Times I did things to make him mad, times that he did things to make me mad too!  Both hardheaded, very opinionated, and we both speak our minds.  But I've learned that he only wanted (and still does) the best for me.  Since I've gotten married and moved out, I've realized how much more I enjoy Dad.  He is the funniest person I've ever meet.  Most probably because he speaks freely and without a filter.  He might seem hard but he has a HUGE heart and is a great man.  My dad has been through so much in his life and it all has only made him stronger, which in turn has made me stronger.  Together he and Mom have raised me with a good head on my shoulders.  Sorry we didn't get to spend time together today, I love you Dad!  Happy Father's Day!

 
{Above: My Wedding Day: Picture by Azar Kayal}

{Below: Thanksgiving 2008.  Dad, Mom, Me, James, Walt (brother), Carly, and Brennan}

It's his birthday!

I worked all night, slept a little, and picked up some groceries. 

I've wrapped J's presents (ryobi battery charger, screwdrivers, new cap, and some fancy extension cord thing).

It's all nicely wrapped and placed on the table waiting for him to come home.  I got him some beer and already made some tomato salad...(tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, feta, and mozzarella cheese all mixed together).  I'm cooking baked pork chops and some other stuff later!

Now for a little nap!!! And a little picture from our birthdays 2 years ago in Japan!

I Want to Know the Plans

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."              ~Jeremiah 29:11

This is us.  Point Loma, California before we were married so I'm guessing this is Spring of 2005.

This is us..June 30, 2006 (almost 3 years ago).  We were starting this new and wonderful life.

Years later...Summer 2007 in Japan.  Married for a year already and living on opposite sides of the world. 

Wow, 2008, new house (minus some shutters...stupid hurricanes). 

And this is us now....

Questioning jobs, futures, and plans that we've made.  J wants to go back to school and I think he should.  He served his time and he should use that part of his contract to get his degree.  Plus its in the same field he is already in and then he wants to have his own business one day!  That's fine with me.  While he is in school he is going to work (he goes for about 4 hours a day to school).  So now he is trying to find a job...not so easy right now.

I'm trying to get into vet school.  Trying to be a full time employee at the vet school...right now I'm only part time because of school.  But I hope that my photography business will take off even more!  That would be awesome!

Right now, there is so much uncertainty and I'm not liking it.  J is ok, he doesn't worry.  I always worry about things.  But HE won't give me anything that we can't handle, correct?

{Also..wow, those photos like that show my weight gain....Soon they will show some weight loss though!}

Wedding Filled Weekend

So Friday we rushed to the rehearsal (J got off work late).  Rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, beer pong with the guys, very little sleep.

Saturday: Pick up cake, help with hall, get ready, take over 350 pictures!

The above is my favorite picture.  [I think]

I was so nervous...I was hot, overwhelmed, and nervous!  I wanted great shots but wasn't getting them.  The lighting was horrible!  Everything was an orangish/yellowish color.  Honestly, I was in the choir loft trying to get a great shot...(shown below) I was listening to Father talk and I was over whelmed.  I had a little meltdown moment because I was afraid my shots weren't great. 

I got a ton of shots and on the way to our second wedding J started looking at the camera.  He was reassuring me that my shots didn't suck and that they would like them.  [What a nice husband, but he does tell me the truth!]

The second wedding was great....more food, more drinks, more dancing...and I wasn't taking pictures!  And LOTS of friends!

The groom has an older sister who isn't married yet so she had to dance with a broom.  And it was to the swiffer commercial song "Baby Come Back".  She was a good sport and it was hilarious!

So we finally drove to my parents' house and CRASHED.  This morning we got up to cook dinners at the church and I donated blood! {No wonder I'm so tired}

All this and we got 2 pictures of us...both look HORRIBLE but I'll share anyway...

J just can't take a normal picture and I look like I'm much chunkier than I really am.  Oh well...we got out picture at my first wedding shoot!  Too bad he had already taken off his tux!

Getting Fit and Slimming Down

I'm determined to loose some weight.  I hate a new season when you can't fit into something that was your favorite to wear.  With school and work, I have gained some weight.  Looking at some old pictures the other day made me realize how different I look. 
The good thing about summer, is when I'm hot and busy I eat less and drink more.

So my new plan...

• Eat smaller portions
• NO fast food
• Drink more water, lemonade, and tea....less soda
• Jogging daily
• Use WiiFit for workouts
• Use exercise equipment (balance ball, free weights, resistance band)
• Ballet stretching

So hopefully in the next few weeks I'll see some results!!!!

A Happy Day!

So today was not only Mother's Day, but my birthday!

Mom and I decided that we would spend the day together since I was born on Mom's Day a few years back...

We spent the day in Washington, Louisiana at the Old School house Antique Mall....We didn't find anything that we just HAD to have but we did have a great time together!

I sure do have a great mom.  Happy Mother's Day!

The Wee Hours of the Morning

I've already done laundry, made more sweet tea, packed my bags, and wrote in Mom's mother's day card.

And it's only 3:30am!

Why am I awake?  Well I've been awake since about 1:50am.  I decided at around 2:30 that I would just give up on trying to get more sleep and get my stuff going.  I was just laying there thinking of all the stuff I could be doing.

I was hoping to sleep in today since my finals were over yesterday and I am off of work.  I'm going "home" (to my parents' house today and getting a hair cut!

J's breaks were giving him trouble yesterday so he's taking my car to work.  Now I'm riding with Dad home from work at 4am. 

I'm pretty excited about this weekend because....IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!  I'm hoping I got some good camera stuff.  My mom's the greatest present getter but I'm just excited to spend the day with her.  I was born on Mom's Day and now they fall on the same day again!  J said he was ok with doing something for my birthday Sunday night or whenever. 

Well I guess I should get my computer packed up now.  Good morning to everyone else!  Have a great weekend!

Weekend Wrap up...

First we got to spend the weekend with our lovely cute little niece!

Then we went to the wedding of J's cousin and had a great time!

 

  The groom's cake!

Things I'm Loving

So today I'm loving a lot of things...

• My dad--Today he turns 50! I love Mom too!
• Sam's Club!--J and I stocked up the house today!
• Shaving Sassy (I didn't get to do her underside but she loves it and I think it's already cut down on the pet hair tumble weeds)
• My husband--Last night I had to go to a musical performance for school and he came with!  It was a great performance but it was nice that he came also.
• My garden of blooming flowers.  I love all of them.  Some plants my grandmother gave me so I wasn't sure what they would look like and it's a great surprise to see them!
• Cleaning--I've made a list for spring cleaning, I've made a list for things I'd like to do to our house.  And today...I'm cleaning!
• Donating--I'm going through our closet.  It's a horrible process (mostly because I can't fit in a lot of the clothes and I'm just giving them to others)  But they need it.  We're donating to the church so that makes me feel better.
• Getting rid of things--Today I went through the buffet drawers.  It's really a dresser but I refinished it....I went through all 6 drawers and cleaned a lot of stuff out.  I'm working my way around the house!
• Organizing--I started with the freezer, then fridge, then pantry.  Kitchen is done!  Dining room...done!  Living room...done!  Guest bedroom...done!
• Master bath...done but want to add a shelf
• Hall bath--done organizing but want to paint and hang new shower curtain
• Office---It gets done and then I have a project.  I'm determined though.
• Master bedroom---why do I put this off?  Is it because no one sees it?  I don't know but it's the next project!

Wow....a post of nothing, of everything, of me rambling on and on and on some more!

Have a great weekend!

Another Thursday

Right now isn't the best of times since my neighbor has a friend blaring from a running truck outside of our window.  Ugh!  I just wanted to take a nap because I've been so busy lately.

I do have a lot for school to do..

• Research paper
• Questions
• Extra points paper
• Final Comp Project

This weekend I had some home projects but it's supposed to rain so now I don't know what I'm going to get to finish

Outside...

• Paint rocking chairs
• Re-paint flower pots
• Water flowers on porch
• Plant veggies

Inside...

• Order curtains
• Go through closet
• Donate clothes to church
• Organize closet
• Go through dressers
• Organize cabinet under bedroom tv
• Laundry
• Grocery shopping
• Organize office

So I guess I have a lot to do.  Wow!  Last night I cooked roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls, and apple dessert! We invited another couple over to eat. 
I took the advice of Katie from HyperHomemaker and made sure everything was picked up before we went to bed.  This morning it was so nice to wake up and just get ready and leave.  I've been trying to keep our house ready for drop in guests also!  It's so nice!

It's Been A Few Days

This past weekend was busy and full of family, love, and laughter. It was great to have a 3-day weekend and see everyone and enjoy not being on the run all the time.

Now it's back to real life.  It has been for a few days now.  Luckily, I got out of class early last night and got a lot of things done.

• Baked 2 batches of cookies (peanut butter and sugar)
• Swiffered
• Laundry
• Dishes
• Cooked supper
• Started supper for tonight...(pot roast in crock pot)

Then this morning I was supposed to get up and get groceries but that didn't really work out.  I had to do some photography work stuff and now I'm going to take a shower, get ready for school, and we have a field trip this afternoon.

Tonight we're having another couple come over for dinner.  I'm excited because it's 2 of my closest friends from school and we enjoy hanging out!

It's Been A Nice Weekend (This will be Long) Sorry!

       So Friday I packed myself up (and left J at home) and headed to Alabama to visit with family.  It's about a 3-4 hour drive and I made it in about 3.5 hours (stupid traffic).  I was very tired Friday when I arrived but everyone hung out and I ended up taking pictures of my younger cousins.
  

Then we decided that we would go to the Explorium in Mobile, Al.  It was pretty cool!  I did a virtual heart surgery and played with some hands on science stuff.  (I know, I'm a nerd!)

Then I took pictures of my cousin and his girlfriend!  They came out so good! (I think so!) The rest of them can be seen at Photos by Lace (my photo blog).

So then today I got to go to Old Time Pottery!  I got some cool stuff for our house at a very low cost!!  I'm excited to put everything together.  I didn't get to see everyone in my family but that's ok.  I had a good time while I could.

Here's just a few random pics...

They are so cute and soo sweet!!!