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

Numbers

Have you ever noticed that the world revolves around numbers. House numbers, phone numbers, numbers for you size, numbers on your weight, numbers for tv channels, numbers here and there, they are everywhere.

It's amazing how depressing a number can be and how uplifting another can be. For instance, today, I got a call from a number and I was totally excited. It was my cousin, that I will be getting to see very soon.

Tuesday, I was at the doctor's office for the yearly violation, aka physical. After seeing the number on the scale I was down. I have been working on eating much better, drinking much better, and yet the scale was the same or pretty much the same.

However on Wednesday, I went shopping for a pair of jeans, that wouldn't fall down and give that ever dreaded plumbers butt. I found a pair that fit, and it was a 6!!!! Spirits are up. Feeling good.

I guess the point is, never get too upset by a number, it is after all just a number. Stay healthy, do your best and it will be ok.

Love to all!
~Deanna

Insomnia

I was laying in bed watching tv, just about to dose off. But then another show came on that I like, I decided to watch it. About 10 minutes into it. Travis decided to peel himself off the couch that he had fallen asleep on and come to bed. At this time, he turns on our extremely sound blocking-out fan, so I have to turn up the tv just to barely hear it. So I strain to hear the show, which then perks me up from all the concentration.... Needless to say, when it was over, I laid in bed for 45 minutes, staring around the room. Completely awake. I need to be sleeping a photo session at preschool tomorrow morning. I have to be up early and get the girls on the bus.
Instead I am messing around on the computer. I did get my business registered on google. So hopefully more people will find me when the search for a photographer. hmmm....we'll see if I did it right.
We went truck shopping today for Travis. I am feeling a bit uneasy about the decision. I don't know that it's a bad decision it just seems a bit much to take in. I'll explain. We leased his truck. Nice truck, but we traded a fully paid for vehicle in on it. Well, that made our payments really cheap. $130 a month, for that monster truck... Well, the lease is up in about three months. So we are at decision time, do we turn in back in and have nothing. Buy it out for the residual price, or trade it in on another truck and either lease again or buy....
I think we are going to trade it in on another lease. But for some reason my stomach is turning with that decision. I don't know if its because I need to just accept we are going to have a bigger payment no matter what, or if its my gut trying to say. "hey stupid! don't do that!"
I don't know. I need to talk to Travis a little more, but the booger is sleeping soundly.
Side note: I have been working out with Travis as he is training for the World Police and Fire Games. He has decided he wants to swim. He was not a swimmer in high school. He was a diver. BIG difference. He is doing really well. We have been doing the practices together. Which has helped me too. I have already dropped a jean size! And the new ones I just bought are already loose. Bummer on the budget, but awesome that the butt is getting smaller! Gotta say, I like exercising with him. In the pool, we are on a level playing field. His height, his stamina, and his incredible abilities on land, are cut down to where we are pretty equal in swimming.
He is doing really well, and I think once he learns all the technique of the strokes he will be zooming passed me. But for now, it is still fun.
Business has been slowing down. Which is not good. I like having a little free time. But I would really like to pick up a few more weddings for 2010. I am willing to travel. Actually I would love to travel;-)

Well, I guess that's all that's on my mind tonight.

Blessings to you all! <3