Stress,Stress,

There has been a lot of things on my mind lately. For some reason, I am running in circles, at least it feels that way. Trying to be everything to everyone is very taxing and exhausting.
I am so looking forward to my anniversary vacation with my hubby. We will be celebrating 10 years of marriage. A long time, but only when you think about all we have shared in the time we have known each other. When I first think about us, it doesn't seem like it has been very long at all. And maybe that's the secret. It still feels fresh and new. I hope we never loose that.

I have been working like crazy, on Pre-schools, Special Events, Families, and Seniors. But wedding season is quickly approaching. Which will bring on a whole new level of stress. Fun, but stress.

Travis has been super busy/gone. With work, illness, and conferences. We have hardly seen him. At least we try to make the most out of our time together. It will slow down soon, right?

Still organizing everything. It's just me. Sometimes, I think I should have been a professional organizer.... Maybe I can take that up next week! hahhah

Jamaica Beach is calling my name. I sure hope it doesn't rain all week. If it does, I really hope the tv has something on it! James and Candy are going with, so at least we will have someone to hang with for entertainment..... Let's just say I will post pictures!

School is just about over for Skye, and I am trying to keep it together, but I am so ready for summer. I have lots of fun things planned for her this summer, from camps to Vacation Bible School, and even a family vacation to the beach.

So I guess stress and being busy is worth it. So that you can have time to make special memories with your family, and after all the only two reason's to work, necessities and vacations!

Love to you all!
Deanna

April

April brings on Skye's birthday, and Easter, and Soccer, and wrapping up Dasiy's, and Lots of Photography work, and flowers, and warm weather, and window's open with a breeze.

I am loving the beginning of April. It has been spectacular. I am hoping it will hold for Easter Weekend.

Busy, busy, busy! But we are making the most of our activities. We are trying to keep things balanced with all of our commitments and still trying to keep up with friends and family.

Travis has started to get better from his stomach issues, and is on the mend.

Skye is doing wonderfully in school and showing big improvement over last season in soccer.

My business is doing well. All in all, Life is good!

March----- ahhhhh!

So it is finally here. March. The month where the cold leaves, and things start to bloom. They days are getting longer with more light. The sun shines, and it just getting warmed up for a beautiful summer.

I keep looking forward to all the wonderful vacations. Last week my family booked our beach house in Fort Morgan, Alabama. Unfortunately, Travis won't be able to go this year. We're all kinda bummed about it too.
It should still be a fun trip. My parents, brother and his boys, Skye & me, Along with my aunt and uncle, cousin and her family. Not sure if anyone else is going. But it should be fun.

Fort Morgan is located west of Gulf Shores. It is out on the end of a peninsula. Beautiful beach area. I am hoping for a relaxing week of building sand castles, boogie boarding, and laying back on the beach with a yummy beverage!

I am so pumped that March is here. I noticed in my flower beds, that the spring bulbs are emerging! It is thrilling to see that they too have survived the winter. I love my flowers. I wish I was better at gardening, but maybe that comes with age.... or not! lol

Spring always reminds me of my Grandma Osie. She had a natural "green thumb". The last of her flowers are still a blooming here at my house. And those happy little plants remind me of her. The ones I saw are the ones that she once had. I also have the seeds from the snap dragons she helped me plant 8 years ago. She told me to save the seeds each fall, and they would grow. So I guess that's why March is beautiful to me. Nothing is blooming yet, but its the promise that it is going to.

March 2010

So my brother, James, is on the mend, after long stay in the hospital for pneumonia. Glad to get him back to feeling better. Still going to be a while until he's fully normal, at least normal for him:)

We now have our vacation for May booked in payed for. We will be going to JAMAICA!

We also have my family's annual vacation booked for Fort Morgan, Alabama, for June!

So totally pumped to get away from Indiana. But before that, I have some great jobs coming up. Graduation Pic's for two of my pre-schools, and Pictures at 3rd Annual FOOLS ball. FOOLS is a firefighter organization, that holds a fundraiser where all the proceeds go to the Indiana Burn Camp. It is wonderful organization, that helps send Children with burn injuries to camp for a fun week.

Still looking for clients that are getting married. I really love weddings, and have some great new products that I think brides and grooms will love!

Bring on the happiness Spring is Coming Soon!

February 2010

So I think February is the worst month of all, at least in Indiana. We have had crappy weather, people are getting sick again, and really there just isn't much to be happy about in February.

I mean really, do we need more snow? Christmas is over. Its February. That stupid little groundhog, you think he's going to bring some kind of blessing of "Spring is Coming" but, no. He does not, shadow or no shadow. It's freaking cold here, and I don't like it.

On top of feeling down because of the cold, I think I am lacking sun exposure. I just feel like I want to rip someone's arms off and beat them with them...Different people on different days:)
But with all the bad weather, my days of freedom, have been spent entertaining Skye. Her friends help for a while, but then I'm faced with the mass of toys and junk all over her room and the house. So that's a pro and con.

Then just when I get the groove of going to gym regularly, BAM! Snow, Ice, Drifting Snow, Rain/Sleet mixture. There goes my drive to get a nice shape back... One that's not round!
So maybe it's also this "eating healthy" thing that is making me grumpy. You know what I would really like... A ding dong, not the ones they make now, but when they use to be wrapped in foil. YUM! Those were the best.

Don't even get me started about Valentines Day! UGH! Ok, so for a while I haven't gotten Travis anything for Valentine's Day. So should I? Am I supposed to? Does it really matter to him? Yet to be determined on that one...

So this time last year, I spent a week in Jamaica soaking up the sun. Drinking until I could puke. Eating the best prepared food. Snorkeling in the ocean. Sleeping in a beach chair. Just plain being happy to be away from February in Indiana....

Maybe next year, that is where I will be again in February;)

Looking into 2010

In just a few days I will be turning 30! ugh! Yes, I have been hesitant to admit that it is approaching. Honestly, I'm not sure why. I have a fear of falling apart. Suddenly unable to things I could do before. Its silly. I will come to terms with it soon.

In May, Travis and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary, which lends to 15 years of being together. We will be going to Jamaica for a vacation.

Then we are planning on taking Skye to Disney World in September.

We may do a family trip with my parents and brother's family, but we will see if that works out.

This is what we are looking forward to in 2010. I hope you are looking forward to your 2010 too!

Love to you all,
Deanna

Just a recap of what's been going on here for 2009

Where did 2009 go? It feels like we were just starting the year. So much has gone by in a blink.
This past year we did do some interesting things.

January took Deanna to Phoenix, Arizona for a photography conference. It was a really wonderful experience. Traveling buddy was Autumn, we had a lot of fun. We even had time to see some of Arizona, a really beautiful place.
In February, we went to Jamaica with Travis's cousins Shawn and Jaime. We had a wonderful time. It was a great vacation with my hubby and good friends.
March went very fast. So fast, I don't even remember anything happening! :-0

April, we celebrated Skye's 5th birthday. This year we decided do things a bit different. Instead of the giant blow-out at Mama and Papa Tom's, Skye decided on Buccaneer Bay. We had 30 people there to celebrate. It was nice, and Skye really enjoyed it. After the party, Jaylie and Alivia stayed over in the hotel with us. We swam a lot! Went out for pizza and got their faces painted.

We also began the house remodel in April. We removed all the carpet and vinyl floors and replaced them with ceramic tile and laminate hardwood, painted the entire house, changed the back slider door into a solid door with built in blinds, we also changed all the blinds. We got a new dining table, fish tank, bedroom set, and office desk. Going to hold off on the kitchen appliances, but we did replace our troubled washer and dryer.

April was also the last celebration of Easter for my family. Every year, all the family would travel home for a weekend of family fun. We would start out on Friday night, hanging out at a hotel, having pizza and letting the kids swim. Then on Saturday, we would have a big Easter Egg hunt with a carry in meal, followed by a big cookout just to party the last bit we could with the family. Sadly 2009, was the last year, do to the cost and the work involved.

May came with Skye graduating Kids Alive Pre-School. Gotta say, I miss that place. For us, who do not go to church regularly, if was a source of strength for me. I recommend Kids Alive they were a great educational foundation.

May also, was the spout of Chickens that Papa Dean had. What strange animals to have as pets. We'll call it his senior moment.
June brought beautiful days and gorgeous sunsets. We tried to grow a garden at Papa Dean and Granny's but we only managed some radishes and peppers. Not bad for our first try. Oh, and this year we found so many four leaf clovers you would have thought we were going to win the lottery! Never did win money. But everyone is healthy which has to be some luck! Skye learned how to fly a kite for the first time.
July provided us a wonderful time for family. We took a huge group to Gulf Shores, Alabama. We rented a beach house and it was wonderful. There are always minor issues when you have big groups and lots of kids. But it was a great time. I would do it again in a heart beat! One house had, Papa Dean, Granny, Travis, Deanna, Skye, James, Candy, Tyler, Keaton, Kian, Kennedy, Nolan, Aunt Crystal, Uncle Tim, Nicole and Luke, and the other house had, April, Kenny, Trevor, Kevin, Ryan, and Clayton.
August, allowed us some time to get to the Chicago Zoo. We went with Shawn, Jaime, Anna and Owen. We had a great time. I'm a sucker for zoos!



August, also brought us the first day of Kindergarten. It was a difficult day, but only for Mommy. My little girl was so ready for it all. She and her friend Jaylie made the adventure hand in hand. Then she waved goodbye to me through the window.



August also was the first try at organized sports. Skye played Soccer! She was a pretty good goalie and a great cheerleader for her team:-)
September came in with deer hunting season. Travis took Tyler out. Tyler got a buck. A proud night for Tyler and for Travis. The family also grew during this time.
Granny and Papa Dean got a new puppy, Porsche.

The dishwasher broke....Contemplating new appliances.

October came and went. I totally forgot the camera for Halloween. Skye was a beautiful Sleeping Beauty. Complete with ringlet curls everywhere.

November was hopping with photography work. But we managed to sneak away for Thanksgiving and spent it in Tennessee with family. We also got our Christmas Picture taken there for our cards.
December brought upon us a battle of real tree versus fake tree. Travis won with the real one. Just seems the same to me. It doesn't really smell anymore, it just cost us money, when we had one in the attic. We got a new dishwasher and a new microwave, the other stuff will have to wait.

December was also the breaking point for the dog hair! The dogs would not stop shedding no matter what we did. So Deanna shaved them and bought them sweaters. Not sure they are so happy about it.
We also have a new addition to the family. Travis rescued the little girl from a car. Called Deanna, one look at her cute face, how could you not fall in love. After a week, she finally got her name, Miley. She is Skye's Christmas present with responsibilities.
We are approaching the final days of 2009, looking forward to Christmas and time with family. Hope all is well for you and hope you had a wonderful 2009.

Blessings to you all,
Deanna