My cousin Heather had a baby boy *B* on July 9th.

Heather has had a rough few years – this baby is God’s way of giving her a second chance.

I happened to be in town on the 10th – with my camera – and stopped by to see her and the sweet babe.

He is so cute and tiny and sweet – such a blessing for Heather and her boyfriend!

Thanks for having me over for a few hours!

I have been thinking about getting purple in my hair – I know I know – I’m so edgy!

*J* – a senior at NCA – wanted some in her hair too – so we went together on Saturday to Magic Touch.

Liz V is a new stylist at Magic Touch – if you would like to contact her for your styling needs – give her a call at 662.2347!

It isn’t too bold but just enough!

I also put on the birdcage veil to show off the style – it’s a little haphazard but you get the idea!

Can’t wait till Saturday when I can try it out for real at KT’s wedding!

Ella & Krista spent the night Tuesday the 7th – for a girls night!

We made necklaces and cards and watched Disney movies.

On the way to our house Ella was describing dinner and said – “dinner was so wonderful – let me tell you – it was a feast!”

I laughed and laughed – she was describing turkey sandwiches.

When we were making necklaces I was using the hay type stuff that I used for the wedding jewelry and Ella asked if it would start to smell in a week – cus it looked like hay to her!

She was such a trooper around Schrute – she was a little scared at first cus he was SO excited to see her – and thinks kids his height are either other dogs or play things. She fed him some treats once he sat and gave her a high five.

Once bedtime rolled around I laid upstairs with her till she fell asleep. Krista and Ella stayed in the “extra room” which has baby clothes and shoes and lamps and some other items that my mom and I had bought. Ella noticed the Pooh lamp and asked if the lamp was for my baby. She wanted to know if I missed my baby. She wanted to know why God decided to take my baby from me. I told her that I didn’t know. She told me that she thought God took my baby because it was an angel. Humans can’t have angel babies and God can’t have human babies – so He needed to take mine.

So sweet!

I am obsessed with weddings. I love everything about them. I love the dress – the rings – the flowers – the veil – the newness – the love – I love it all.

I am currently in love with vintage – especially birdcage veils.

KT is getting married on the 18th and she is totally up for anything and everything. She bought some AWESOME props herself and has so many GREAT ideas! I asked her if she would wear a birdcage veil for some of her photo OF COURSE SHE WOULD!

I bought one on etsy.com not long ago and it arrived Tuesday!

I CANNOT wait for KT’s wedding on the 18th!

June 26, 2004 – Jared and I said our vows. Those vows of for better or worse – richer or poorer – in sickness and in health – little did we know EXACTLY what those words would mean. I think back and wonder how I could have said that I loved him enough to marry him. I love him so much more today than I did 5 years ago. But at that moment – I loved him as much as I could!

We have been through so much in only 5 years of marriage – it will be interesting to see what the next 5 years will bring!

I love you Jared!

My parents have an old truck in their front yard that I have posted photos of before – in fact I won a prize in the Troy Fair years ago with a photo of this truck. They want to sell it – but I told them it would have to wait till after the wedding. I CANNOT wait to get photos of the bridal party and their couple shots on this truck!

If I could – I would move it to OUR yard and use it for senior pictures!

When Samm asked me what I wanted to do for the wedding – be the photographer or the maid of honor – I told her she would have to tell me – cus I would choose photographer.

So I am her photographer – with Aunt L & Mara covering the shots I can’t get – and her maid of honor – and her wedding planner.

We went shopping last week for invitation supplies and jewelry- WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!

We are making the invites and meeting with Holly – a former barden photography bride – for the AMAZING cake next week!

We found really funky jewelry that we are going to put together for everyone!

I am getting so excited for this wedding!

The three of us are very rarely together at the same time anymore.

Samm is at my parents right now but will be moving to New Jersey after the wedding in September – and when she is home – she works at Chili’s as a waitress and then at Elderwood as a nursing assistant from 11 PM to 7 AM. Xavier lives in NJ now and doesn’t get to come to Athens often since their schedules don’t mesh well.

Derek just graduated from Indiana Wesleyan with a degree in Christian Ministries. He is going to Seminary in Kentucky in the fall with his wife Jessica getting a nursing job there.

The six of us – we will all be together again for Samm & Xavier’s wedding in September.

I am the oldest – Samm is 15 months younger than me and Derek is 2 1/2 years younger than her.

I love them dearly!

Last night I took Schrute out for his nightly “going out” when he spotted a rabbit and there I was being pulled across the lawn. The pulling stopped quite abruptly when I went into a split. I hurt my ankle and REALLY REALLY pulled my quad! I went down to Amy’s so she could “doctor” me up – she says it is going to get worse before it gets better – luckily the only thing that really hurts is flexing that muscle. OUCH!

On a happier note – here are some photos of Schrute while we were at my parents at the beginning of the month.

He didn’t know what to think of my brother – he LOVED playing with him but wasn’t up for cuddling.

Derek was the best man in the *R* wedding and I was the photographer – so we all had to leave Schrute for about 4 hours. The crate wouldn’t fit in the car so we had to put him in the bathroom at my parents house. They are starting to remodel the bathroom and the kitchen. Schrute must have overheard them talking about it – ‘cus he gave them an early start.

Schrute loves hanging his head out of the sunroof in the car – usually I am driving when he does it – so
I was excited to capture these photos.

I keep watching out for the new litter from his breeders – they are due June 26th!

The turkey won.

I had a wedding in Troy on Saturday and then a wedding in Ridgebury on Sunday so I figured it would make more sense to stay at my parents Saturday night. I left the wedding at about 7 on Saturday and headed “home”. About 2 miles from my parents house – a turkey FLEW out of the bushes and right into the grill of the Jeep. I saw a cloud of feathers and heard the THUMP.

WONDERFUL – I thought! C’mon life – give me a break somewhere …

I got to my parents house and noticed that the turkey did more damage than I thought a turkey could do!

The paint is all chipped off now – Jared was very sad!

I have an appt. to get an estimate tomorrow – when will it end?

My friend Mike Murray is an AMAZING artist!

I took a photo of Ella nearly two years ago that I adore – and wanted Mike to create a painting of the photo. We talked about it and he wanted to try a fabric canvas instead of a traditional painting. He was – and is – busy with Chiropractic school and didn’t have time to devote to the project immediately – I told him I didn’t have a deadline.

He dropped off his creation this weekend – about a year and a few months after we first talked – and it was WELL WORTH THE WAIT!

The photo of Ella on the L and the wonderful “painting” on the R.

I took it down to show Amy and Jim – and Ella had to get her picture with it!

*A* is on the L with “her Ella and *M* on the R with “her” Ella!

Thanks again Mike – it is AMAZING and completely blew past my expectations!