My parents are starting a new business soon – Top O’ the Hill Farms – I think that is the name anyway …
They have joined with their friend Melody to raise Dexter cows – a smaller, bettter quality cow that produces milk for the lactose intolerant.
I went down to see a few of the calves – Mom said they were TINY – smaller than Schrute – but I didn’t believe her!
I should have – they are TEENY TINY!
THANK YOU to our church family for the BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS and prayers you sent our way …
We are blessed with great family members that love us!
Tuesday morning I got a phone call from the florist asking if we would be home to accept a delivery …
They were from upper management at Phoenix – the business I work for. It was such a nice gesture – and quite the surprise!
Yesterday after the doctor called – Jared took the afternoon off to spend some time with Schrute and think and pray and let the news settle in. He called to let me know that we had gotten another flower delivery.
My cousin Jake and his wife Julie send us this arrangement – such a touching surprise. The card says – when you lose someone you love – you gain an angel you know – it meant so much to us!
Thank you again Phoenix and Jake and Julie!
The general public likes to make us afraid of mother-in-laws – whether we are the man or the woman in the relationship!
By the grace of God – I have great in-laws!
My mother-in-law is an amazingly sweet woman.
Jared is an only child – and I still have an amazing MIL.
We live right next door to his parents – and I still have an amazing MIL.
I am pregnant with her first grandbaby – and I still have an amazing MIL.
Jared’s mom has been ready for a grandbaby 9 months after our wedding – she has waited patiently – not without some sighing comments of … when I have a grandchild.
When we told his parents that we were expecting – they were shocked – a little more shocked than we expected them to be – excited but so shocked. I think they still might be a little bit in shock – I know that she has wanted this for so long – and it seems too good to be true!
She has been so helpful! From the moment we got Schrute she has been involved with helping us out – the first few days she kept him at their house and would go over and check on him when he was at our house. Those first few weeks when he was messing all over – she tried her best to deal with my outbursts and frustrations – helping all the way.
Earlier this week I went home to find that his mess at lunch – that I cannot clean up anymore – was all cleaned up and our dishes were done! OUR DISHES! What kind of woman does that? She does. She wants to bless us in any way that she can – even when it is something as simple as doing your dishes.
We had to live with them for a few months when Jared lost his job – and it worked out great! We have gone on vacation with them for the past two summers and it has been a blast!
We can talk about anything – and I know that I can come to her for advice or help anytime.
Living right next door to them is great. We have dinner with them on Thursday nights, they watch Schrute on Wednesday nights while we are at church, and usually sit near them in church on Sundays.
Having a baby with them right next door will be AWESOME! My family jokes that she will either A) build a tunnel underground connecting our houses so she can be there at a moment’s notice or B) have an insane 6th sense when it comes to the baby – she will be at the door the second before the baby cries – already knowing what is needed. I feel comfortable with her and have no doubt that she will be very involved with our child’s life. We moved in with my Gramma Trout when I was about 9 – now she lives in an addition off my parent’s house – I LOVE HAVING GRANDPARENTS NEARBY!
I want her there with me for that first appt. – Jared is going to wait and take the time off when it gets closer to ultrasounds and what not – and since we are going to Sayre – we can make an afternoon out of it. I want her there in the room when her grandchild is born – it is her grandchild just as much as it is my mom’s.
Brenda is a strong, admirable woman of God – and someone I am very honored to call mom.
Thursday afternoon, after getting the rental car and getting all the packing ready – we headed out to Zach and Layne’s – we chilled out a bit and went over to the hotel where Zach’s sister and her family was staying. Zach and Layne were trying to get some last minute details in order – so we got pizza and wings to enjoy once everyone returned!
We crashed Thursday night and got up early Friday morning to get some other tasks done and out of the way – Jared and I took a walk on the beach – more pictures to come later – and talked about the shock of being pregnant and how excited we both were. God has such perfect timing!
We went to lunch at a BBQ joint – mmmmmmm ribs – and then I went shopping with Layne and Tiffany to get some other last minute things – final ring fitting – earrings – flowers. I made the boutonnieres while Layne and Tiffany made the bouquets for the girls.
We made it back in time to change and head to the rehearsal and dinner! The girls went out – asking me to go – but I don’t really go out anymore – if I ever really did – and I am so tired lately and can barely make it past 9 PM let alone getting ready to go out at 12. Christy and I got a hotel room for the night – right on the beach!
Layne brought her wedding dress to hang out in our room for the night – pictures to come later – and I just had to take some shots while the sun rose over the beach the next morning!
In the morning we got around and went to the nail salon – meeting Indica – the photographer for the wedding. I got short tips on my nails – even though they cut the heck out of my fingers. I haven’t had my nails done since my own wedding – so it was nice! They are still on too!
I went back to the hotel with Indica and Christy – getting another hotel room for the night – switching Layne’s dress to the reception site and grabbing some lunch.
Jared grew up with Dave, Dan, and Zach – being a really close group of friends. Christy is married to Dave – and is such a sweetheart! We had a great lunch and Indica joined us – it was so nice to sit outside and have lunch in FEBRUARY! I rode back to the reception site with Indica to grab some shots of the girls getting ready – the guys before the ceremony – then before you know it – the wedding was set to begin!
Jared took these shots with my camera while I was trying to set up the video …
Mindy is the mother-of-the-groom and a kindred spirit! I noticed that her necklace was on backwards so I was fixing it for her!
Christy and Dave …
Zach – the groom himself …
Dan and Dave …
I’ll post more about the wedding and reception once I get those pictures up!
After we took the 3rd pregnancy test on Thursday morning – we left for the airport.
On the way we noticed a crack in the windshield of the Jeep – we called the insurance company and they set up an appointment for Monday morning. We are pretty sure it started when we went to get Schrute – the weather was horrible that day and we got stuck behind so many trucks!
We got to Elmira pretty early – just to be sure – and made some more phone calls to let people know about the pregnancy tests. The flight seemed to be pretty packed with not many seats in the airport lobby. We met out traveling buddies – Zach’s parents and sister and her family – and waited in line.
I HATE FLYING – but I knew that I had to keep it together and not freak out!
Waiting to take off in Elmira …
Again – waiting for take off – I got so sick on the flight down – I didn’t eat any breakfast knowing that I would probably get sick. When we flew to Wyoming three years ago – I took Dramamine but knew that I couldn’t take it this time. I felt horrible – but usually getting it out of my system makes me feel better. We had a seat right on the wing with the emergency exits – more leg room!
It only took about 2 hours to get to Orlando-Sanford – AMAZING!
Zach’s parents got a rental car along with his sister and her family – we returned the car to the airport Sunday morning while the rest of our travel buddies went on to Disney for a few days!
Jared fell in love with this little car – a Nissan Versa!
Mindy is so excited about seeing Zach!
I also have TONS of pictures to blog about from the wedding – but I am waiting to get my NEW COMPUTER and photoshop installed to showcase them!
I think I might get some AWESOME actions that go along with PHOTOSHOP too!
Friday night we dropped off Schrute with Jared’s parents and went to the NCA basketball game before heading to my parents in Athens to stay the night. Our wake-up call was 4 AM to catch the 7.20 AM bus in Scranton heading to NYC!
We thought for sure we would sleep on the way to the bus station – but no luck. Jared, PM, my cousin Matt, my Aunt L, and I were so excited to get en route to see CHICAGO! The bus ride down was good – we watched Gran Torino – the new Clint Eastwood movie – luckily the volume was a little “wonky” during the first half so I missed out on all the swearing – good thing! It is a good movie – great message – and the best part was – it is a brand new movie and we got to see it for free – granted it was on a tiny little screen – but still!
We arrived at the bus station a little after 9 and grabbed breakfast. Then we ventured out on the streets of NYC! We hit the M & M store – where we saw every color imaginable and a $3000 diamond-encrusted jacket for the ULTIMATE M & M lover!
Aunt L met Morgan Freeman
at the wax museum …
We walked up to Central Park and got some pictures on the edge!
PM had mentioned that the APPLE store is close to Central Park – so we HAD to go in and check it out – Jared was in HEAVEN!
We saw the computer that I am going to get soon – and a new iPod – that Jared wants to get soon.
We walked through a fur protest at SAKS FIFTH AVENUE.
We managed to make it back to CHICAGO early and stand in line waiting for the doors to open – it was COLD!
Our seats were in the upper balcony – second row – in a VERY tight fit!
The show started and I was shocked that there was not much room on the stage – since they had the entire band on the stage as well. It was a good show – but not great – I was expecting something of BROADWAY proportions – and I thought that the movie version was MUCH better!
Melora Hardin – Jan on The Office – was playing the part of Roxie Hart – so that was AWESOME to see – since we had met her at The Office CONVENTION!
After the show we went to the NBC store to get a DUNDER MIFFLIN beanie and scarf but they were all sold out – so we got the next best thing – A DOG LEASH for Schrute – which is so fitting since he is named after Dwight Schrute on The Office! There were tons of great shirts too – but not for the price they wanted!
Then we went back to the train station to grab dinner and wait for the bus back to Scranton! The ride home was not non-stop so we did not have a movie waiting – which was all the better since we were all TIRED! We made it to Scranton shortly after 9.30 and then started the 2 hour ride back to my parents and then the hour ride back to Mansfield – PM dropped us off at about 12.45 AM – made for a long day – BUT A FUN DAY!
CHICAGO didn’t turn out to be the show I thought it would be – but we had great company!
Sunday after chuch we celebrated Jared’s dad’s birthday with lunch and then picked up Schrute – who was so excited to see us! Jared helped me move my office downstairs and set up a new room for Rutie.
I’ll post new pictures of my office space soon!
in 3D!
This weekend FLEW by – thanks to having Thursday off and then working on Friday. Friday night PM brought pizza and we watched movies like it was our JOB. We watched the old school BATMAN movie with Adam West and the POW! BANG! KERSPLOOSH! comments. We laughed and laughed – it was better than watching a recent comedy! Then we continued with the cheesiness theme and watched TREMORS! If you haven’t seen it – you should – it is full of cheesiness!
Then we decided to protect ourselves from a cheesiness induced coma and watch MI III – but I can no longer take Tom Cruise seriously – so more cheesiness.
Saturday we slept in a titch and watched LES MISERABLES in the morning with PM – not the musical edition – which I was a little bummed about – but it was good – I would love to see the musical now! My dad and Matt came over to journey with us and PM to Williamsport to watch BOLT in 3D! I had never seen a 3D movie – it was really cool! The glasses you had to buy were also pretty stylish!
We hit the mall and then a new 50’s style diner in Williamsport – which was really good – but way too quiet for my liking!
We came home and watched Meet the Robinsons with dad and Matt before they ventured back home.
A MOVIE MARATHON WEEKEND!
This morning I had a senior shoot in Wellsboro at the train station – in 18 degree weather – *S* was a CHAMP! The session took exactly an hour but there were no complaints about the cold whatsoever. *S* was my girl from GALETON – which is so cool that I am branched out that far – even if it is only 1 person so far!
I love doing senior sessions in the snow and am so glad that I had 2 this year!
Jared and I taught PowerKidz this morning since the other leaders were out of town – we helped them remember the 23rd Psalm – which they knew most of anyway – I was quite impressed!
Today Jared and I cleaned up around the house in preparation for SCHRUTE and I read some of my book – CHANGE OF HEART – Jodi Picoult – so far so good!
This weekend is the EXPO at the ARNOT MALL – so EXCITED and ANXIOUS! I will be going up with my dad on Thursday night to set up my booth and what not then staying with my parents Thursday and Friday night – coming back to Mansfield to stay Saturday night and then heading back up in the AM with my mom-in-law to come home later Sunday night.
MAKE SURE TO STOP IN AND SAY HELLO!
Friday 10 to 9.30
Saturday 10 to 9.30
Sunday 11 to 6
If you are a bride – I am giving away 4 free engagement sessions – so make sure you enter for those!
If you aren’t a bride – STOP IN AND SAY HELLO ANYWAY! I will have some good friends and former BARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY brides at the booth with me!
My booth will be right across from Things Remembered!
My goal for the year of 2009 was to have on average 2 weddings a month – which I figured would be about 24 for the year – right now I have 11 deposits and 1 on the way – making 12 – HALF OF WHAT I NEED! GOD IS SO GOOD!
Hope you all had a great weekend and maybe I’ll see ya at the EXPO!
