I have to admit it, planning this wedding is so much fun!! I would have liked a little more time to plan some things and to save for certain things like the reception but I am having a lot of fun. I get to do some things that I really love like create, plan , decorate, take some nice beach wedding shots. My friend Niki, the one who did Becky's wedding with me is going to take some photos with us. It is going to be a very fun time. I love watching the wedding shows on tv and then trying to find a bargain way to do everything for much less. I am on a severe budget but I am finding it really fun to be creative. I have all the things that are important to me like my family will be there, the wedding dress is awesome, the wedding chapel is beautiful like a big white dream, even the day June 6th just sounds beautiful to me. After the devestating year I had last year, I needed some relief, some happiness and some good things to happen this year. It didnt start off too good but it seems to be lightening up a little bit now. If I end up having a great summer I will owe God big time!!!

My baby is getting married June 6! It's scary, exciting , fun and sad all at the same time!! But at least there will be a reason for family pictures! May favorite thing in the world :)

Here are a few of my favorite things!!

Before picture. It was nice but all white and the grout was getting stained and cracking and some tiles were cracking.

So here it is after we started tearing off the tiles. We had holes in the wall and we had to fill them, adding a couple of days to the project.Kevin and Vern putting in the cut counter top.
Oops no one measured how wide the countertop was and now the door wont open.....back to the drawing board!!
Kevin cutting tiles. The kitties are taking notes for future projects.

Making some progress

Fresh home from one of many trips to Home Depot.

All done and pretty.



All my favorite colors!

I found a really cool online store. She has the best sales ever! She has a dollar section that has items in it that were originally up to $14.99 and I found a lot of cool current stuff for 75% off as well. This is what I got $24.98. I love the wings board book and the cupcake board book. I cut back my spending 90% from last year so it's nice to get a big box in the mail full of great deals!!

http://www.qbaroo.com/MemorableSeasons/index.cfml

I have went back and forth with myself regarding my scrapbooking hobby. I have spent a lot of time and money over the last few years buying supplies. It is something I enjoy. I love the projects I have made. I have found ways to combine my passion for photography and scrapbooking. I came to a point where none of my friends were scrapbooking anymore. I scaled back on my shopping for a little while. I have enough stuff to scrapbook for many years and still not be out of product! I have thought about it and I decided that I really love scrapbooking. I will find new scrapbooking friends and if I dont I will just scrapbook by myself and with my online friends. I will not spend the amount of money I was spending but I will occasionally buy a couple things here and there. I dont spend money on some things other people do so I am not overspending anyways. I dont drink or do drugs LOL I enjoy time alone in my scrapbook room going through my stash and looking through old photos. If that is all I ever do I will be happy with that. Im not going to let it bother me anymore :) I am what I am says Popeye!

That being said, I have to show you some things I love. Every 6 months they come out with a whole new set of stuff.

My baby playing in the snow....

Flakes, flakes all around me.... I bet you thought I mean people didnt you....

My list of things to be thankful for is far less shorter than my list of things to not be thankful for this year. I am trying to make myself believe that I will be a happier person if I concentrate on the "Be Thankful for list" Is it fair to start the list with "It could be worse but its not yet?" or would that be on the other list....

Top 5
1. I am thankful Kevin and I both have good jobs so far
2. I am thankful we have a home to live in and be warm
3. I am always grateful for my 3 grand kids that I love more than life.
4. I am thankful for my husband who is my best friend
5. I am thankful this year is almost over and I have another chance at a good one next year.

Isn't she getting big. She doesnt even have a baby face anymore :( She is growing up so fast. I remember being tickled at her talking in complete sentences and now she is writing complete sentences! When I was younger and people told me that time passes more quickly as you get older I didnt believe them but now I know its true!!

My favorite time of the year is coming up and I am just not in the spirit of any holiday. This has been a terrible year. I kept waiting for it to get better but it never did. This year Kevin and I are going to a Lions game on Thanksgiving. We have never been to the new stadium. I hope the food places are open! I told the kids I would put a ham and turkey in the oven before I left if they took it out when it was done and make all the sides and deserts. I am not sure I am getting a big tree even. I think Ariel and I are going to get a Barbie tree. I will put up the Penguin and that is about it. We already have Ariels big present and I will get her a few more things and that is it. No more 500 gifts under the tree for us. Not this year at least.

This is what halloween looks like in Calfornia where Evan and Brenden are!

Halloween pics. I know I am late in posting but life has been very busy! Ariel was a Pirate to match Brendens costume at Dance but she was a cheerleader for school and to trick or treat,

I cant believe I havent updated this thing since July. We had a great summer again with the boys and it seemed like in a blink of an eye it was over and the boys went back. Ariel started 2nd grade. She is taking ballet and tap this year at the her dance studio. We should be busy :)

I did 2 weddings in August, 3 in September and 4 in October. I have taken 5 family shots and one baby. I have 2 seniors to do next week. I wish they had called when it was a little warmer out. I am thinking about doing a promotional event to get some more business because my job is no longer stable. I cant even describe the chaos so I wont try but its a disaster. I turned down so much photography work that I wish I would have taken now.

Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye. I am not ready for that or snow!!

We hang out in abandon buildings. Took these just before we got to the carosel and boardwalk.

You have to meet and pray for these special wonderful people!!!

Do you want to meet some cool people?? I have to convince myself every day that I don't really know these people and hang out with them. I swear Tricia just came for ice cream and Nathan and I got some good shots of baby Gwyneth!! When one of them is sick, I worry all day, when one of them accomplish some medical miracle of the week, I smile all day! You gotta read this story about Nathan, Tricia and Gwyneth. They have been extremely inspirational to me in their faith to God. It really helps to put some things in prospective for me in my own new walk down the right path! Just click below on Confessions of a CF Husband.

Confessions Of A CF Husband: Fast Track (Updated 7.4.08)