I really do have other kids...

...but this is the only one that will get his picture taken. He sometimes asks for a modeling fee though. Just one from a test session today trying out my new chestnut seamless paper and fake floor...

Just a little longer, Sam...

A Great Tax Deducation...

I can't get enough of this picture! I love it so much I am having it put on a Snaptotes bag to advertise the photography business. I could not decide whether I should go with black and white for simplicity or full color for some pop, so I went with a diffused color that I think is just perfect! Now, if it would just GET HERE!!!

Busy on Cards...

Card orders have been keeping me pretty busy lately. Here are a few of the recent ones I have finished. Making these is the perfect fix I need when I start missing the craftiness of scrapbooking!






Card orders have been keeping me pretty busy lately. Here are a few of the recent ones I have finished. Making these is the perfect fix I need when I start missing the craftiness of scrapbooking!

Rainy Day Play

It was a cold, rainy day here so when S agreed to model for me while I played around with various light settings in my studio, I jumped at the chance. He lasted for about 10 pictures....so much for that!

This picture just kills me! Little B was here to get his 2 year old photos and was determined not to give us his adorable little smile, but that's ok because every look he gave was precious and true to his character! His cutie pie older sisters were more than willing to cooperate! I love working with them!

Back From Colorado

Made a quick trip to Colorado to do some pictures. The weather was so nice I almost forgot it was late fall and that I had to go back home to the cold weather that has invaded Virginia. The boys were a handful together, but I managed to get some keepers when we had them apart. Now, off to do some Thanksgiving prep!

Phew!!!

I think we finally got the last box unpacked yesterday! The weather has been rainy so we have stayed inside and forced ourselves to dig into the last of the things. Yesterday, I finally had a chance to get the rest of my Blog Togs site set up. I started this right before we found out we had orders to move so from July until now, it has been on the backburner and I am so glad to finally have some time to get the ball rolling. Be sure to check out the fun contests I have going...

Washington DC

Last Sunday we took a little day drive and ventured in to Washington DC. We did not see everything we wanted to but with all the trips we will be making with upcoming visitors, I am glad there will be lots of new things to do and see each time we go.

Blog Togs

Now that things have settled down after our move, I can work on my new hobby...custom blog design. I have been playing around with it for awhile and have done a few for friends. I don't have a picture of it but check my friend Dannie's www.steyaertpartyoffive.blogspot.com . To see the site, click HERE

Delayed!!!

Allen called yesterday morning and his flight has been delayed 24 hours! Now he won't be home until Thursday night. They sure have no problem GETTING them there when a deployment starts!!! I wish it was a priority to get them home when we are counting on it.

Almost Settled

We have been here for just a little over 2 weeks and I am relieved to say we are just about settled in. We are settled enough to live at least. There are several boxes of garage things and tools, etc that Allen gets to unpack and organize to his heart's content when he gets home but for me...I am done! I have seen my last piece of packing paper (I hope anyway). We came out 100 pounds under our weight limit but I think we had 500 lbs of paper!!! I am sure they are being on the safe side because people have probably complained in the past, but c'mon...wrapping up handfuls of crayons? wrapping a potholder? Needless to say nothing was broken. Well, a floor lamp's base was broken but I didn't like it anyway and now will get replacement cost for it.

Allen is excited to be only days away from leaving Iraq. Sadly, he only gets to stay here 1 day and then has to fly back to Ellsworth to process in from deployment. He is technically not assigned here yet, so has to do everything through Ellsworth for now. We will have to wait an additional 5 days to get him back when he goes on leave for the whole month of November.

The kids are adjusting fine to school. Jake seems to be having an "ok" time at his new school. I should be happy that he is not complaining about it, but I just want him to like it as much as he did his old school. I know he will in time. Alec (our total history buff) got to go to Jamestown and Yorktown on the his 2nd day at school for a field trip. He is still talking about it. Sam's class is goin somewhere next week but it is the same day Allen flies in so I am not sure if any of them will be going to school.

Laundry calls! Over and out!

Just an Update

Our household goods were loaded on the moving truck yesterday and will be delivered in Virginia Tuesday or Wednesday. The kids are finishing up at school and I am getting the house ready for the new occupants. We have 3 long days of driving ahead of us...not my favorite thing to do. Allen gets home in about 3 1/2 weeks...I am sure with as busy as we will be that time will go by very quickly. To say the least, this has been a very trying deployment....not for him, for me! It all started going downhill in late July. First, a rattlesnake decided to take a rest on my front steps. Had to call the police to come take care of that nasty thing. Later, I was jolted awake by excruciating pain in my abdomen. I had already had a similar attack that I just endured, but with the 2nd one, I knew something had to get taken care of. I drove myself to the emergency room at 2am. Seems to be an attack of gall stones! Now, I will need to be looking at having that removed once Allen gets home and life is settled. Next, of all things I hit a deer in the brand new car!!! This was just about a week ago! Took it to the shop to be repaired and while in the shop, the belt tensioner on my little Jeep Liberty went bad! Had to have it towed into the shop because it was not drivable. I was now out of cars and had to get a rental...this was the day before the movers started packing! Life has been crazy and I hope we are in for good luck for here on out!

What an Honor!

Allen was recently coined by General Patraeus...a military tradition in which one military member gives another a personal coin as a token of their appreciation for a particular deed or job well-done. Allen's organization works directly under Gen. Patraeus and they attended a small luncheon for him as he prepares to take a new assignment as commander of CENTCOM. He was coined at the luncheon for having served 3 deployments to Iraq.

Go Sam!

The 1st soccer game of the season was today. Sam has always played on base among teams made up of other base kids. This year he is on a city league and when we drove in to this huge complex that all of the teams play on and he saw all the kids and parents...well...he informed me he was not going to get out of the car. He did. He played. He had a great time! Unfortunately, we will be moving before the end of the season and I know he is going to miss the boys he has become friends with. I wish he knew what I already know...there are so many more friends just out there waiting for him and someday they will seem likes ones he has known forever.

Great News!

Well, we have a very good prospect with the house! We are making sure move dates will work and if they do, we could be on our way to Virginia the first week of October! Waiting to hear back from Allen's commander with some information I need. Nothing official yet, but if we can make this work on our end then it should lead to a deal. Excited! This would mean for once out of all the deployments the kids I will be there and can get to Baltimore easily to see Allen arrive back in the US! On the downside, he would have to come back here until late November and we would be there. Not the best of all worlds but if the house deal can work out, we need to take it!

We Got Our Assignment...

we were notified yesterday Allen's new assignment will be at the Pentagon! The kids are crazy excited about going! Me? Busy researching the best areas to live (i.e which are closest to the Metro stops for Allen to take work each day!)

Sneak Peek...

Here is a sneak peek for my SIL Jacque...the kids were great models...lots more pics to come!

Happy 4th of July

Another picture perfect day! This was one of very few Iowa 4th of July holidays that was not at least 95 degrees and 90% humidity! The weather was perfect and the boys spent the afternoon 4-wheeling, swimming and fishing with their cousins!