The only way for me to dive back into this thing is to post a photo. So I'm going to start NOW. This past week we had one of my bestest friends come visit me all the way from Canada. I was a little nervous about being a hostess since we have no idea where we are going yet or how to get anywhere without using the navigational system or maps on our iphone. 
We had a great time visiting lots of places in New York City. Our main goal was to take the kids to Rockefellar Center to ice skate. Unfortunately, we spent the whole day going and going that everyone h
ad the same idea we had. We had bought tickets to see Cirque de Soleil's WINTUK. The kids loved it. At the end of the show, pounds of "snow" fell from the ceiling and the kids in the audience go wild!! I think we will be seeing a lot of shows in the future. I'd love to take Katelyn to see Mary Poppins! 
Since the day I married Josh, our life has been an adventure. We spend a lot of time apart and it's become our "normal" My friend Danielle asked me the other day for her video project to explain to her WHAT LOVE IS...
Yes...I've been slacking! I know that I have not posted in forever and I actually have had things going on that I could have written some great posts on...but I didn't. Forgive me. I have had pictures to share many a times and my daughter just turned 3 and yet ....no pictures. What is WRONG WITH ME?
We only have a few more days left so our sweet friends have called us to meet & say goodbye! I feel like I keep talking about my farewells here so I apologize. Moving is just a huge yet exciting adventure in the military and you know the day is coming eventually. Anyway, my sweet friend Anna has known me since the days we lived in Columbus, Mississippi. We were pregnant with our firsts at the same time and lived only a house down from me. We pretty much had our seconds at the same time and while Anna went on to have a third, I just never caught onto that wagon and I'm not sure that I'm going to be ever ready for another. It's hard going back. I just got out of diapers and burp cloths...and I feel like I would be a complete disaster at handling three. I don't know how my mother did four and God blessed her with way more patience than he gave me! lol. So back to my original thought....saying goodbye to both Anna & the kids was difficult. Our kids grew up together for 5 years. They play so well together and I wish we had more time to see them become the best of friends!
Not shown: Julia.
After I said my goodbyes to Anna...I had to rush off to say goodbye to my friend and business partner Jenna and her family. We decided to head out for some sushi which is Josh's new favorite! I'm not as daring as he is with the fish but we have so much fun when we go out for sushi! The kids came too and unfortunately Jenna and I looked at each other and said "Did you bring your camera?" and we both said NO! We realized her and I have no photos together. Sad.
Jenna and I are shooting a wedding in May so it didn't really seem like goodbye forever. I am very excited about our wedding in May!!! Stay tuned! If you ever get a chance to try out a great sushi restaurant in Summerville, I highly recommend Wasabi. If you aren't a huge daredevil with sushi...the Scam roll is yummy! It's one of my favorites! It's branching out from the ever so popular california roll or cucumber roll. I'm trying....
Josh is flying almost everday this week locally. It's making it very difficult to get anything done. I am probably going to have to come back out and do stuff myself or higher a contractor to help me get some of the little things that I can't get done. Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!
Josh is home! Yay! He got in last night around 7 pm and the kids were ecstatic! Happy Happy House! This just might be our last family photo in our first house!! I look exhausted, which I am, and as usual, the kids are showing no signs of going to bed anytime soon!! Josh was so happy to be home to see his munchkins that we decided to skip the Squadron Christmas party. We were really looking forward to going but it was just as nice to stay at home and get some family time. Afterall, we only have 2 more weeks of family time before he leaves AGAIN! (Enter Patience Here)
Today was a busy day! Noah was invited to 2 birthday parties!!! We ended up just attending one for his sweet friend Neva who lives next door to us. She was turning 8 years old ! Her birthday party was at the Embassy Suites in Charleston. It was an indoor pool party/sleepover and Noah was more than excited! Can you tell?
The theme was Monkey Luau! Everywhere you looked there was something monkey! I couldn't resist breaking out my camera throughout the party so I ended up looking like the party photographer. 
Since I am the photographer, it gave me an excuse to not get in a bathing suit and help Katelyn in the pool! Sorry Josh!! My body has no business being in a bathing suit right now! Josh totally enjoyed it anyway! Ha ha! And I'm going to go ahead and warn all that the following photo contains chest hair! 
Noah loved swimming in the pool in December! Swimming is definitely his thing! He took some time out from playing to help his baby sister enjoy it as well! Katelyn is SO lucky to have such a sweet soul for her brother!
Katelyn loved putting her swimsuit on as well and they even had a blow up pool just for her to enjoy while Daddy got a break from the big pool! Here she sits with the birthday girl!! I guess Neva hadn't gotten the memo yet that she's 8 years old. 
We were so excited to be here for Neva's birthday party! She was barely 3 years old when we met her and now she is 8 years old. I have grown to love this little beauty! It also reminds me that kids grow SO fast! In 5 years we may be having a birthday for Katelyn just like this and that just SCARES us to death! I do not want her growing up so quickly!! We are also not ready to throw her giant parties with boys nor with a million girls! 
*Noah and Katelyn not pictured because they thought the whirlpool was too hot. Crazy enough, not all of the kids were in this picture! Did I mention these brave parents were having a sleep over as well?? Yes, they were!!!! I hope they brought some spirits in their overnight case! ;)
Well, my photography business ceased with a great finish! I had so much fun this past year working with Jenna and I learned a lot. I definitely think my photos have improved and my goal was to shoot manually, get clear pictures, and be confident while working with clients. Working with Jenna allowed me to make mistakes, learn from them, and grow. I will be forever grateful for that time. Since I basically taught myself how to shoot manually, I know how much hard work, research, and creativity goes into a self proclaimed "photographer". Two years ago, I was throwing myself at anyone that would let me take photos for them for free! And now I am finding myself turning people away because I simply don't have the time to take photos or edit as much as I would like. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would have stumbled upon this passion, however, I tapped into the girl who use to paint murals and design t-shirts in school. I've always loved Art. This is just another form.....and I LOVE IT!
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To see more of my portfolio, you may view my stuff at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8432969@N08
OMG! It's my BIRTHDAY! I am 22! Okay maybe not really but that's what I tell my kids. Ssh! The day went by super fast! Josh was gone again for the 4th time in 5 years. It seems to be our tradition to be in different zip codes on my birthday! He actually blamed the Air Force because he says he strategically must plan around my birthday to make sure he's home for Christmas. Although it really isn't the Air Force's fault because a couple of times I've choosen to spend my birthday with a friend in a different city. Despite the fact that he was gone, I had a great morning with friends who got together to have lunch with me on my birthday. Most of us had our kids or had to rush off to get them so it was quick but it was so nice of them to come together for the birth of my ugly mug. I refused to say goodbye as my time left here in Charleston is about 10 days. How do you say goodbye to someone who was an important friend who kept you sane everyday and saw the raw images of you when you were trying to come to grips with being a new mom, no make-up, probably no shower, and the constant voice on the other end of the phone when you needed to vent about why your husband wasn't getting home on time AGAIN! There's just an undeniable bond that I will share with these girls as I witnessed them before kids, during their 2nd, and vice versa! The Air Force has a funny way of bringing you together with important friendships that you may not have found on your own....the gift of an extended family!!!
Anyway, Josh sent me some flowers and got me a much needed appointment at the day spa tomorrow that includes a mani, pedi, and massage! It was pretty super thoughtful that he called in advance and made the appointment already! Impressive! Here are some other fun things:
A super fun glass by LOLITA
www.lolitaglasses.com
Yummy cupcakes that I got to bring home!
A gift card to one of my dear friend Jessica's Swanky Boutique called Teal!
A souviner plate with all the famous sights here in Charleston!!!
We ended the night with a little music jam in Katelyns room! Noah brought out the horse! THEE Horse! Too cute!!!!
Mr. Ed is a Target Special that Josh HAD TO BUY the kids!!!!
