My Weblog

Routine Taken for Granted...

Joe and I eat lunch together A LOT. Unless I have a work lunch or some other interruption, we eat together. Since he works an early morning shift, he is off for the day by lunch...so he just swings by and picks me up. It's our time to talk grown-up stuff. We can discuss kids/family/work & not have to worry about it being repeated. Granted the conversation sometimes turns ugly...if family is the hot topic---so we try to limit those conversations.

Joe has been in Atlanta this week...he's been flying to and from...so Abbey and I have seen him every night. BUT...I haven't been able to eat lunch with him. Sure, I've gotten errands done...been able to eat lunch with others...but I miss our "alone" time. I ate alone today...I managed to read a few pages of a photography book that I bought...and I did receive a phone call from my normal lunch date...definite music to my ears that he is FINISHED and headed to the airport. I'll breathe the final sigh of relieve when his car is safely in the driveway!

Success...

I just love it when an idea "works" out...just like I had visioned it in my mind.  These two little girls were so much fun to work with.  Big sister has a very big imagination!  She took right to me...and little sister was a ham for the camera!  They both had the brightest and brown eyes that I have ever seen!  Mom wants to do another shoot at the Botanical Gardens in a couple of weeks.  I can't wait until the day that I can actually do this full time. 

After I finished the photo shoot...I called Joe to see what was on the plans for dinner.  He said that Abbey was begging for Cozumel (our local Mexican joint)...so I met them there.  While we were eating...I told him that we should have saved Cozumel for dinner on Friday night, because Kayla would probably want to eat there. He put bets that Kayla would want a "homecooked meal"---so we called her.  Guess who won the bet?  We're eating Mexican again on Friday night!  We have a full weekend of softball, but Abbey is super excited that her sister will be in the stands this weekend!

Comfort...

So after I left work yesterday, Joe let me know that dinner wasn't quite ready & suggested that I run to the grocery store before I come home. I did---and thoroughly enjoyed taking my time...knowing that dinner would be waiting on me when I got there. I opened the door, and the aroma of freshly mopped floors delighted my nose! It just "felt" so clean! It was sooooo nice! We enjoyed our spaghetti while we watched "Wheel of Fortune'...then it was bath/homework time. I reminded him that the Dallas Cowboys had a game...so we watched that, until we could no longer hold our heads up. The last thing I remember, was there was only a little over 2 minutes left in the game...and then it was 6:00 this morning & my alarm clock was going off.

During our down time last night, we had several phone calls/texts from Kayla. She has a decision to make this week...one that is her decision....one that I can't just say "do this" or "do that"...it is a decision that has to come from her heart. She is severely homesick...and that doesn't help things. She LOVES college...but she is still homesick. Us being over there all weekend long, sorta made her emotional. She called this morning, while Abbey and I were in the carpool line...and she has made "that" decision...and has a total peace about it...so I assured her that it was definitely the RIGHT decision.

My granny died 7 years ago. It is hard to believe that it has been that long ago. We were close. I shared things with her, that I would not/could not share with my mother. She was there for me and I trusted her. My relationship with my parents is better now, than it was when we moved to Birmingham, but we still don't have the greatest communication/understanding. They did not approve of my marriage & that caused a lot of tension, at what should have been one of the happiest days of my life---and it was---but it could have been a lot less stressful...if I had not been made to feel "guilty" that I going against their desire for me. Not having my daddy or my two sisters at my wedding hurt, and it still hurts to this day. I wish my granny was still around to give me advise...or to just listen to me. I have 2 treasures (well, I only have one in my possession---Kayla TOOK the other one with her to college!). My granny made quilts...nothing fancy...not a fancy pattern...just simple block quilts. Most of them where made with left-over fabric from dresses that she had. She didn't have a sewing machine...and every part of the quilt was sewn with her own fingers. I have 2 of these treasures...and they are the GREATEST comfort blankets. ANYTIME me or the girls are feeling blue, sick (yes they have been thrown up on!) or lonely, we get "Great-Granny's Blanket" and cuddle. Kayla took one with her (which I discovered AFTER she was gone!). Abbey has the other one on her bed right now...it seems to give her the comfort that she needs, now that her sister is away. The days that I have felt bad these past few weeks, I have taken the quilt off of Abbey's bed, and wrapped myself up in it on the sofa. One day, I hope that I have created something that will bring a comfort to my kids/grandkids/great grandkids. I don't think Great-Granny's quilts are going to make it to another generation...so I may just have to learn how to quilt!

Mr. Mom...

So Joe is off work today...and he's "trying" to clean the floors. In our married life, he probably hasn't (without a doubt)...mopped since I was pregnant with Abbey. This morning, he pulled out my Hoover Floormate & called me. It took 2 phone calls for me to describe how to put the water and the solution in the machine. I didn't hear from him again...so I called him. No answer. About 10 minutes later, he called me---he was completely out of breath. And then he said, "so, I'm supposed to press the trigger to release the solution, right?" God love him!!! I guess when you do it often...you know exactly what to do & don't even have to think the process through. So here's to going home to CLEAN floors...at least they were washed with hot water, if he didn't get the solution on them!!!

I got all but one load of laundry washed yesterday. It all still needs to be folded and put away. But it is all upstairs CLEAN! I'm using Kayla's empty bed as a laundry folding/hanging room. My goal this week is to tidy her room up. It still has remnants of her "moving out." I want to get it nice and clean for her next weekend @ home---even it that will be Thanksgiving :-(

Mr. Mom...

So Joe is off work today...and he's "trying" to clean the floors. In our married life, he probably hasn't (without a doubt)...mopped since I was pregnant with Abbey. This morning, he pulled out my Hoover Floormate & called me. It took 2 phone calls for me to describe how to put the water and the solution in the machine. I didn't hear from him again...so I called him. No answer. About 10 minutes later, he called me---he was completely out of breath. And then he said, "so, I'm supposed to press the trigger to release the solution, right?" God love him!!! I guess when you do it often...you know exactly what to do & don't even have to think the process through. So here's to going home to CLEAN floors...at least they were washed with hot water, if he didn't get the solution on them!!!

I got all but one load of laundry washed yesterday. It all still needs to be folded and put away. But it is all upstairs CLEAN! I'm using Kayla's empty bed as a laundry folding/hanging room. My goal this week is to tidy her room up. It still has remnants of her "moving out." I want to get it nice and clean for her next weekend @ home---even it that will be Thanksgiving :-(

Roll Tide!!

We had a FUN and EXHAUSTING weekend!  We drove over to Tuscaloosa on Friday afternoon...spent the night...and got up yesterday morning and spent the whole day just "taking it all in!"  Joe went to a Parent's Association meeting...he is possibly going to serve on the committee.  Abbey and I shopped for t-shirts...and Kayla finally joined us all.  She had a party on Friday night...and didn't want to get up early on Saturday!  We tailgated for lunch...and ran into several Pelham friends.

Kayla had tickets in the student section...so we didn't catch back up with her until after the game was over...one of her friends---had left her car parked in her parking lot & it was towed (she didn't know she was supposed to move it!)...so we ended up driving her over to the towing lot to get it.  Then @ 11:00 last night...we didn't have anything but a coke at the ballgame...so we decided to grab a burger at Five Guys, before we headed out of town.  It was well past midnight when we pulled into our driveway.  I think it was 11:15 this morning before anyone was stirring around here.

We managed to get showers---and get a pizza for lunch...and a quick stop to get laundry detergent.  Now after a short nap (told you I was exhausted!)...I am about to finish tackling the rest of the laundry/house cleaning. 

I did a mini-shoot the other day of a local teen.  I am still working on the editing...but she wanted some pictures for myspace...so I've got to get her a disk burned.

This week will be another super busy one.  I was sick on Thurday afternoon and Friday morning.  I shouldn't say sick...my face was just extremely red/swollen/GROSS.  It was so bad, that when I met a group of friends at lunch, I didn't remove my sunglasses.  Of course, they called me J-Lo!  Last night, in the stadium watching the game (and where noone knew me!) I finally put my glasses on top of my head! 

Today, the irritation has gone away...but I know that after tomorrow's medicine...it will be inflamed again.  Only 2 more weeks and hopefully everything will be GONE!

Sunset pictures...

Don't turn out unless there is a sunset!  Oh well, we will try again---but it will probably be Sunday evening before we have a chance.    I won't complain though...we still had fun goofing around!

We did our normal Wednesday night...Cozumel for dinner.  I ended up just meeting Joe and Abbey there.  We ran into some friends...and she said she's been meaning to call/email me...because she wants family portraits made...yeah!----that's the 2nd session that I booked today.  We didn't book the exact date, but we know what day of the week and will do them in the next couple of weeks.  I'm excited!

Ok---off to get things ready for tomorrow.  I volunteered to help with the Teacher's Hospitality room for tomorrow...so I have to get all my "stuff" together.

If you are reading this and you are local to the new Publix (Molly!)...they have Publix brand/2qt size/ white grape and regular grape juice in the back of the store for .50/each.  I was in there about to buy cranapple juice that was buy one get one free...and the store manager just happened to be standing there...telling me which flavor he liked.  When I mentioned what I was getting it for...and why I was getting so many...he said wait, & showed me the BARGAIN.    I left out of the store with 8 containers of juice (some for the school & some for the house).  I LOVE PUBLIX!  I doubt a Wal-mart employee would have cared to tell me about such a sale!

Anyway...tomorrow night, Abbey has a practice game against another local travel team.  Wish us well!

Happy Happy Hump Day...

The weekend is getting closer!

It is amazing how things just work themselves out. I have a diehard (well, like we aren't) Alabama fan client. It just so happens that they are going to Tuscaloosa this weekend too...so it looks like she can have her family portraits taken on the Quad. Of course, she realizes that there will probably be "other" people in the pictures. We're hoping that we can get something of "just them" in front of Denny Chimes.

Tonight, Abbey and I are going on a practice shoot. Another client has asked for "silhouette sunset" portraits. So we are going to my sunset spot...and work on my skills.

My face is feeling better. Yesterday, "the spot" had fever in it & last night it was all itchy...but not sore. I'm half way through the treatment...so I am hoping that the worst is over.

Abbey and I are having a terrible time in the mornings. She (nor I) want to get up & get going. So far we have successfully made it to the carpool in time. We're getting to bed @ a decent time, we just don't want to get up and at it! It's going to be a long school year!

Just Another Day...

I've been busy, busy, busy today. 9/30 is our fiscal year-end, so I have spent the day purging old records on the computer...stuff that I have put off...until now I don't have a choice! I have accomplished quite a bit!!---which makes me vow that I will try and keep up & do this stuff on a routine basis...instead of letting it get backed up. Wanna bet that I won't do that...and next year I'll be in the same boat?! I know myself and my intentions just a little too well!

Abbey's softball coach scheduled a practice game for Thursday night...he wanted us to play in a tournament this weekend...and thankfully Abbey wasn't the only one unable to do it.

I've had several phone calls for photo shoots...I will have an open weekend...and then boom, 3 people want the same date...but I LOVE it! One mom, asked for a "different" location...so I'm excited to do something new and refreshing...and I think it is going to be a PERFECT background!

Tonight...ball practice & laundry. It is going to be a blast...if you want to join me, just give me a call!!!

Sunday @ the Zoo...

Someone had paid me (of course they asked in advance) their sitting fee...with free passes to the zoo.  We used some of them today---and I took advantage to sharpen my photo skills & to have fun with my camera.  Of course, by the end of the trip, Abbey was tired of being my model!!---but she did give me a few good poses!

I even got a good picture of my mother-in-law (teee heee!!!)...and since it is such a good picture...I am going to share it with you!

As we were leaving the parking deck @ St. V...the sun was just starting to set...and I talked Joe (he was actually eeeewing along with me!) into pulling over, so I could get a good shot.  We both LOVE sunsets!!

For some strange reason, tyepad is not wanting to cooperate with posting pictures...and it is my bedtime & I don't have time to share with you all of the pictures that I wanted too...I know you are going to be totally grief stricken that you are unable to view them...so blame it on typepad...not me...and if you want to know the TRUTH...typepad didn't start acting up... until I posted the lovely mother-in-law picture...so she must have broken the picture loader!!

We have an exciting weekend ahead of us.  It is parent weekend @ Bama...and along with football tickets, there are a lot of fun events for us to participate in.  It all starts on Friday night...we pick up our nametags & loot---and there is a big event for us to attend...the Million Dollar Band and Big Al will be the highlights...and there is a parent BBQ for us to attend.

Saturday, we will have a big tail-gate party to attend...and they will give away a free semester of tuition...and a free semester of books away...so we will definately be present for those drawings!---and of course the football game will be the big finale!