Finally...

A road trip. We'll be gone for almost a week. :o) In case anyone decides they care ;)

Somedays just make you wanna grin...

Today just happened to be one of those days. We went to drop cub1&2 off at cheerleading and I have been meaning to bring my camera with me and take cub3&4 to the park for some pics. Today just happened to be the right day. Hubby was with us and it was a lot of fun. I got some decent shots and hubby was busy shooting away as well. For some dumb reason though, his camera was set to shoot with no cf card on it ARG! All those pics and he was just shooting for no reason. How sucky. I think I was just as upset, if not more than he was when we found that out. Anyway... it didn't ruin the day, only made me want to go play around with the camera a little more.

Just a couple thoughts...

No picture to share this time around. Just a few thoughts. Hubby and I have been working our tails off to make sure our biz is working properly and even pursuing another huge project. It was going pretty well. Today was the day he brought it to the contact. Seemed like it was going well, seemed like it was ours. Later that day he had to go back and talk to another department and ran into the guys' assistant. BLAH! She asked if he wanted his paper back... wtf. I have been working my fingers and my mind just constantly and she wants to give it back. Well apparently we have the answer. We're too expensive. Did they honestly think they were going to get it for free??? Please! I have put in many hours just for the proposal only to have their cheap execs shoot it down in less than a few hours.

I do understand cost is an issue, but ya know they approached us. This wasn't our idea. We didn't set out to "take them" or anything. I just can't help but think they were just wanting handouts. I can't for the life of me figure out why this bugs me so much. I guess I had too much invested. Time, not money but still isn't time money?

Anyway, Cub 1 & 2 are headed to cheer camp at the end of the week. It seems like that time has come so quickly. I know it will pass just as quickly as it came, so I'm not concerned. They are both super excited. We still need to find another suitcase. Wouldn't you know the suitcase we find is pink with yellow flowers. I was kinda hoping we could use it as a family suitcase. We already have one black one, is it too much to ask for another? I suppose I could buy the pink one, but I really don't feel like carrying pink luggage if I ever take off again. LOL

AUGUST 15th officially I begin eating like a healthy human being again. Please hold me to it somebody. Give me the strength, the will power and enough guilt to keep me in line. I have ate horribly in the past 3 months and get this. 20 lbs. I have refused to step on the scale and now I know why. How freakin' scary is that? So I need to hop back to it. That is far too much. I was thinking 10 lbs tops, nope double. No more fast food crap, no more restaurant eating, no more krispy kremes, no more, no more, no more. The one thing I have kept up on is my water. Even on my worst days I still had good water intake. YAHOO me! Gotta get the praise in somewhere or I'll feel like a total loser.

One last thing. This is just a random thought with absolutely no bearing on anything. A long time ago, I wanted to get an awesome 35mm film camera. I still to this day never got that camera. When it came time to get a camera I bought a super duper crappy digital camera. I can't even remember the name. What I do remember is that the salesman swore to me it was an up and coming company which was frontline digital technology at the time. This was 2002. It was a crappy 2.1 mp Yippee, right??? Well anyhow, I loved that thing, I loved the instant gratification, heck I even printed these crappy pictures on my inkjet printer. Woohoo styling now. This kept me content for about 2 months. After that, I wanted more. I wanted faster, I wanted clearer pics, I wanted colorful pics. I bought a kodak 3.2 mp 3 months after my first purchase. Oh wow was I impressed. The pictures were so clear, so vibrant, so awesome. NOT!

When on earth did we become so used to getting things right now that we give up quality. Is it really that important for us to be instanty pacified by these ridiculously poor images? It's funny at the time, I thought the pics were great. Looking back, I'm so embarassed. From there I went to a Canon Digital Rebel (300d, not 350d) it was the best out there my money could buy at the time. It seemed so fast, it seemed so clear, it seemed so color perfect. I still have that camera, but use it hardly ever. I used that until I read about the 20d and I just HAD to have it. Again, oh how fast, oh how clear, oh how color perfect.

Finally, TODAY... I am content for now but I know technology is growing at such a rapid pace they will eventually get back to the quality which was once expected in just your average 35mm camera. It's just a matter of time. Until then we just use what is made available by all the companies and wait for the next big whoopity doo camera. It keeps us wanting more, that's for sure. *sigh* I just need to win the lotto. Too bad I don't play.

Gotta love it...

The game went pretty well. I'm loving the "suite" treatment. Too bad you can't do that everytime LOL I won the tickets in a drawing, I just wonder how you can do that again without having to pay out the ass!

Mariners lost by one. It was a really good game though. At one point they were down by 3? They closed in to one away with people still on base and the batter got out. Ah well. An entertaining game on a gorgeous day with all the crappy food you could ever want to eat, what more could you ask for??

This pic just cracked me up. I'm still not sure what the deal was with why this coach was mad, but I do know it was a pretty funny play. The guy slid into 2nd base and knocked the 2nd baseman over? So the guy was out. Why was he pissed? Not a clue.

You're Almost there...

That's what my fortune cookie said today. Exactly where, I have no clue. It's a good feeling though. Life has been hectic, but all in all a good hectic. I'm busy with business crap. That has to be good, right???

No, this was not a posed shot. This is how I found the poor stuffed animal in my carport. No, I didn't save him. He's on his own, because dangit, I'm almost there *wink* I'll let you know when I get there.


Yet another year. Yahoo! 31

Your Birthdate: August 6

You tend to be a the rock in relationships - people depend on you. Thoughtful and caring, you often put others needs first. You aren't content to help those you know... you want to give to the world. An idealist, you strive for positive change and dream about how much better things could be. Your strength: Your intuition Your weakness: You put yourself last Your power color: Rose Your power symbol: Cloud Your power month: June

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Life's a funny thing...

I can't believe it. Tomorrow officially marks my 31st birthday. How can that be? I don't feel 31. Of course then that makes me wonder, how does a 31 year old feel? Does anyone ever "feel" 31 or their age for that matter?

I have four cubs. They depend on me for everyday living. Who left me in charge? When are they getting picked up by their moms??? LOL Oh wait, that would be me and the answer is they already are home. Wow. It's just insane how that happened.

Pre-kid life to me was much different. I didn't worry much about anything. When I was hungry, I ate. When I was tired, I slept. It doesn't seem you can do that with kids. I mean you can, but they tend to let you know when they are hungry and when they are tired. Then the most amazing thing... you have to do something about it. It's not a bad gig. It's actually quite fun and I wonder most times whether it is because of them I feel young or maybe just in spite.

We went to the drive-in to watch Ant Bully and Monster House, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and wondered whether I was really just that tired to find it humorous. I was a little embarassed to even say how much I enjoyed them both. Before I could contemplate anymore in my head about saying something or not, my husband exclaimed how much he liked them both too. WHEW! I'm not that bad LOL

Oh but anyway, I was just sharing a pic I took in the backyard of our little visitor bee. Isn't he pretty?? :O)

On top of the world...

Really need to get back in the habit...

It's been awhile, I'm not even sure what to even update on. I know I've been really busy with editing the wedding pics (*which she loved*) I went to Vegas and wowza was that fun. I'm so going back LOL The very first time I flew on my own. Well obviously there were other passengers, but all of them total strangers. I feel so grown up haha.

Anyhow, Here's a shot from the plane.

1,2,3... JUMP!

Awww... cute, but what you don't know is he's about to throw all those pretty rocks they spent so much time and money putting in place. Ah well. This was taken just outside of the art show hubby was at. It all went well. Woohoo. They are trying to make it an annual show. That would be a good thing I think. Next one August 15th??

Hopefully, we won't have to be working our butts off until 4 or 5 in the morning to finish his prints ~arg! He swears that's the last time, we'll see LOL yeah, I'm sure we'll be right on top of it next time :oP One can only hope, I guess.

Officially 12...

Cub1 is now officially 12. It's amazing how quickly she has grown and how much closer she is to adulthood *faint* We are literally raising little adults here. Who said we could do that???

Cub1 is either really lucky to have her birthday around one of the busiest times of our year or really unlucky. I'm thinking it's lucky, really but she may disagree later. We celebrated right at midnight by going to Applebee's on the way home. The rest of the day she worked her butt off at the stand until her Grandpa decided to take her to a movie. (save the day LOL)

Anyway Wednesday night, the family got together to celebrate her birthday again and light off fireworks. A day late on the fireworks but it works! Before that my sister and I took her, cub2 and my niece to see The Devil wears Prada. It was a pretty decent flick. I'm not about to rush out and go see it again or anything, but it was good :o)

Happy birthday Cub1, you are turning out to be such a good and just plain fun person :)

Busy with...

Wedding went well... but now I'm up to my neck in fireworks!

Been awhile but getting a little anxious...

What better way to say... it's almost time to shoot another wedding. This cake shot is from my sister's wedding almost a year ago~ WOW! It's been that long already??? EEK, how time flies. Anyway, Saturday is the day. I'm shooting my third wedding at that point. I'm honestly excited about this one. I am a little freaked because I didn't get the lens I wanted. So I will have to either rent the one I have on hold for me, or do with what I have. I do have a sigma lens that would work, but I'm really not comfortable using that for the group shots. I'm not super impressed with the output of the lens. I wanted to go strictly canon and the lens I wanted was an L lens so maybe, just maybe I'm being a brat, but so be it! It will be mine forever if I purchase it LOL. We're waiting on a check for a printing job we did and it doesn't look promising. The latest I can order that lens is tomorrow before noon. Well, literally 9 hours and 10 minutes from now. It's not looking promising like I said.

Anyway, we went and checked out the place the day before yesterday and it is simply gorgeous there! This will be so much fun, I'm just having fun envisioning the shots I'll get. :o)

Hubby is officially out of school YAY! The girls have 5 more days now. Time is just a flying, I tell ya!!!! Fireworks is starting here in a week or so. Really, we can sell anytime, but we haven't even thought of moving our stand yet though. This should be a good year, there are about 15 less stands again this year. Let's see anything else going on??? nope, not really. I guess I'll head off to bed. Hubby has a early morning meeting to discuss a possible printing contract with photog op for me :O) I, may also be called upon to take pics for the ground breaking of the casino's new golf course too. (heard it through the grapevine anyway.) Who knows if it will come to pass. I should be rested in any case :O) Gnite!

Happy Birthday Cub3!!!

Right about now, I was headed to the hospital to have cub3. My water broke a little after 11pm and it took me awhile to get the other cubs ready and to my Grandma's house. Hubby worked about an hour and a half away from our house at that time and as slow as I was, he made it to the hospital only minutes after I did. I know he was probably driving fast as can be so that has something to do with his time, I'm sure.

It's just amazing to me how time is flying. My baby boy is 4. Happy Birthday!!!!

4 until 4...

Cub3 is only 4 days shy. That's amazing!!! Most people get sad about their babies growing up. I honestly welcome it. I am so much enjoying my cubs as interactive, independent beings. They are just so much fun to hang with, it's great! Sure, there are times I just feel the need to get away, but for the most part they are one of the most enjoyable parts of my day.

The happenings around here. Today was Cub1's all star tryouts she has made up her mind she wants to do it if they choose her. I honestly don't know how we can work it, I hope we can, but I really don't know. The time they are asking of her is just too much during this busy time of year. With fireworks coming up and her joining cheerleading, who knows how this will pan out? I shouldn't jump to conclusions yet, she hasn't even been asked yet, but it still worries me. I like to allow my cubs every opportunity available to them, I just don't know how I can make this "available." We'll see.

Baseball tournament starts today (I'm typing this at 1am and should be sleeping, but hey.) So 9am we will be at the fields cheering for our girls. Cub1 is also supposed to be marching in the parade for band. I emailed her teacher saying it was merely impossible for her to make it, and it won't count against her grade, but it still bums me out. Those would have been good pics. I don't know if I'd want her leaving the first game of the tournament though.

The first day of cheerleading practice is today too. Cub1 is already excused for her baseball tournament, but Cub2 will go. Cheerleading is her thing while Cub1's is baseball, so it only made sense. That's part of the reason it's such a big deal for her being in baseball all stars. She was the only girl out of a majorly "boy" league, that's amazing. She rocks!

Cub2 received an award that stated she was the top 5% of her class. I didn't even know they made those. She's always been given the top 10%, but never the 5%. That's simply amazing to me as well, there are only 24 children in her class. So 5% of that, she's basically the top "1" student. How cool is that??? She tested last week for a "gifted" class, she is already in that program, but this is a whole separate class. We knew she was going to try for it when her time came and since she's in 3rd now, it's her time. She will find out the results next week sometime, hopefully. That's super exciting for her and she makes me ever so proud to even think of the possibilities that she will come across in her lifetime. This will be such a headstart in her academic career :O)

Anyway, I really should jump off of here and catch some z's. That's us though!

Quick PIc...

Here's a pic of Cub2 and my littlest sister (age 12) and her dog Toby. Who knows what they are talking about, but it's gotta be something entertaining~ right? LOL

The happenings around the Cub House... Cub1 was invited to try out for All Stars in Baseball :o) She's one out of 20 in the entire league!! They will have a team of 12, so 8 will not make it. I'm so proud of her!!! She's on a boys baseball league and there is only 4 other girls in the entire league, tops. Go Cub1! She can hang with the guys, no prob.

Of course, here's where the problem lies, she joined cheerleading this year. They are real hard asses on practices and such, they basically said if you miss two practices, you're out. So she's faced with a choice. She still will try out for baseball all stars and if she doesn't make it there's no harm done, of course if she does make it, she's gotta choose. I'm thinking baseball will win out on that one, afterall she is far from a girly-girl. (cub2 in above pic is my girly-girl) Cub1 is just soooo not. I love how different they are though, it makes life interesting.

No reason for blogging really...

Other than the fact I haven't for 3 days. Here is one of the very first pics I took with my 20d last year. It's been almost a year since I upgraded from my old rebel.

This past weekend was not as relaxing as I had hoped. We did catch a few movies (DaVinci Code *thumb up, MI3 *thumb half up LOL) Seriously, it wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be. I never even watched the second one, nor do I remember the first! haha. No biggie though. I've been busy digitizing images for our biz, and haven't had nearly enough time to work on our website. (still a work in progress, but I'm happy for the break.)

The girls really enjoyed their weekend off and yes, I loved having them home. I can't wait until summer now!!! It's great having them to play with the boys and just having them around to chat with :O)

I did wind up having a weird dream though the night before last. It kept me thinking throughout the day about how hubby and I have changed throughout the years. We have grown up. Who would have thought? LOL I'm not saying I'm completely grown up yet, but that is also a work in progress ;)

3-day Weekend...

Some say this is the official start of summer. Who knows it may very well be. I do know that we have absolutely nothing special planned. Those are the weekends I live for. Sure it's nice knowing what's on the agenda sometimes, but there is something to say about those weekends where anything can happen. So far I think we've decided we're still working LOL but that's okay. It pays the bills ;)

I love having the kids home with me and honestly by this time of the year I'm usually on the countdown with them saying there's only 12 more days of school left or what not. I do know my hubby only has 6 days of class left though!!! Yippee!! That's the one I'm super excited about! (for now) After that I will countdown cub1 &2's days.

I took the final pics for the casino and am just in the editing portion of the project. There was an older man who won a boat. It was awesome!!! The next giveaway is going to be a Lexus! I couldn't even imagine.

Anyhow, the cubs are getting restless and we're headed off to go get some grub. :o)

Sometimes...

you just need to take the time to check out the little things you run into in life. I took this pic a few days ago of cub4. He simply amazes me. Ahhhh to see the world through his eyes. :o)

A little anxious...

I'm not quite sure about what....
It could be because it's been nearly 80 degrees the past couple days.
It could be because there is only a few weeks of school left for hubby and the cubs.
It could be because it i nearly fireworks season again.
It could be because cub3's birthday is days away and I am reminded daily.
It could be because we are nearing the completion of our 1st of the 5 prints we were contracted to do.
It could be because my friend's wedding is about a month away and I am the only photograher for the big day.
It could be that cheerleading is winding down only too start right back up in a week or so.
It could be the fact I will have to go to the banquet with cub2's old squad on Monday.
It could be I'm just happy to be done with them and starting fresh with this next group.
It could be the fact they are already asking for deposit money to guarantee our low price for Nationals in March '07.
It could be that cub1 is trying out this year for cheerleading.
It could be that she is missing a baseball game to do it.
It could be that she will be marching in the parade this year for band.
It could be the fact cub4 has shots in less than 12 hours.
It could be a lot of things, but honestly I think it's all of the above.
Off to try and sneak in some z's :o)

Happy Mother's Day...

Well, it's also my younger brother's 21st birthday. What a day to turn 21. He's not all into partying or anything so I guess he's not really missing out having to spend the day at home with his MOMMY... lol He's majorly into video games, always has been though so it's no big surprise. He never wants to go too far from his game so he won't mind spending the day at home ;) HappyBirthday Baby Brother :) Enjoy adulthood ~ woohoo!