Almost Time To Go

We are flying out in 2 weeks! 

This moving process hasn't been easy.  It's been a bit of a nightmare handling things without Trent here.  I feel like I've been running around like a crazy woman!  I've become an uncool mom, my poor kids think I'm a grumpy troll, poor things.  I've been busy trying to gather all the correct paperwork, get us doctor's appointments, extra shots for everyone, dental exams, did I mention the paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork.  I think I've spend a full 48 hours on the telephone...on hold!

Thanks to Ali watching my kids, I drove my car down to St. Louis so that it could be shipped overseas the beginning of July, and since then have been sharing my mom's van with her...thank you Mom!! 

This last week the movers came to pick up our household goods. We have 3 different shipments happening.  One is our household goods in storage in California.  After faxing all the correct information, it's on its way.  The second is an air shipment that will beat us to Spain that we can have immediately upon arrival.  The third shipment is the remainder of our household goods here in Wisconsin and they will go by land and sea, we should see them again sometime the middle of September.  They were supposed to come on separate days so it's less complicated, but they ended up coming on the same day.  So I had all our clothes and toiletries packed into our luggage.  Everything that needed to go in the air shipment was stashed on and around the couch.  And everything else was just clean and put away so it could be packed.  My friend Audra took the kids for the day, what a life saver that was!  It was really nice to have them out of the way so I could think straight and concentrate on what was being moved with what company.  Why the military doesn't use the same company is beyond me, I think they just want to make my life as complicated as possible while Trent is away!  Let me tell you, if this was their goal, they have achieved it.

I was so relieved when the paperwork was all signed and the movers drove off.  The upstairs of my parents place was empty and my footsteps echoed.  i took a deep breath and smiled thinking I'd made it.  I was done with everything.  I hadn't forgotten anything.  I was actually going to sleep.  I was free to enjoy the remainder of my summer in WI...BUT no, forgetaboutit! 

Trent sends me an email that says we need to get government no fee passports???!!!  WHAT!!!  Last year, before Trent left, we got passports for the kids (fyi, if you ever get passports for your kids, both parents have to be present) we were told to get regular tourist passports b/c the no fee govt ones were not necessary.  Well that has been the story of this year of my life.  So I was running again.  Trent was calling me and emailing me the necessary paperwork.  I was filing on this end and as of Friday I am once again...done!!

I promptly took the kids to the pool!  They deserved it.  I think I got a few cool mom points back in the process too.  Slowly as I begin to relax my grumpy troll facade is disappearing....

So to recap...my summer has been insane. 

My sister got married in Chicago. 
2 sibling's families followed us home for a visit. 
My sister and her kids stayed for 3 weeks that we packed with as much fun stuff as possible. 
I drove down to St Louis to send my car overseas (currently it is somewhere in the Atlantic, Luke and I just checked the website last night)
We have all gotten more shots than seem necessary.
Our personal effects are currently on land, on the sea and in the air.
We all are in possession of 2 different passports.
And finally, after the longest year of my life, in 2 weeks time we will all be reunited in Spain celebrating Carley's birthday!!!

Pigs in a blanket

I have another funny to share...

Yesterday I made pigs in a blanket for my kids. 
I haven't made these since luke was little.
I don't know why, I just never think to make them. 
Anyway, I served them up and luke said,
"Why are these called pigs in a blanket? 
I thought they were made out of dogs"

Family Funnies

We've had a few over the past few weeks....

Luke:

• While driving home from church I casually asked Luke what he talked about during sundae school, without looking up from his DS he said, "Jesus and the Leprechauns."  I was caught off guard by this, started laughing and repeated my question to which he replied, "you know, Jesus and the Leprechauns."  My brain was in hyperdrive, wheels ablazin' trying to figure out what he could possibly mean by this statement.  Then all at once it came to me and I said, "Oooh, you mean Jesus and the Lepers???"  He stopped playing, looked up at me and said, "Oh ya, that's it."  

• Luke is taking tennis lessons this summer.  After the second practice he said, "real tennis is a lot harder than tennis on the wii."  

Carley:

• We have reached a new level of happiness at our home.  Finally after about 2 1/2 years of begging, pleading and whining my kids have received pillow pets.  Carely is absolutely beside herself and for about 4 days after getting her beloved pillow pet she could be heard around the house hugging her unicorn, singing, "it's a pillow, it's a pet...it's a pillow pet!"  she know's the tv jingle!!   should I be worried that my kids watch too much tv or that her desire for this toy has made her insane??

• If I haven't mentioned this before, Carley likes to sing.  She randomly breaks into song all during the day.  She also enjoys singing while using the bathroom.  My Dad's office is close to the bathroom and since she rarely closes the door, he is often serenaded.  So this morning she was at my bedside (before my alarm went off) and saying:

          C-mom, mom, i made up 2 new songs
          M-oh ya, let me hear them
          C-no, they're only for when I go potty
       
          i guess grandpa will be hearing a few new tunes this week!!

Emry:

emry's 2 front teeth had been hanging by threads for a few days.  i was praying that they wouldn't fall out before maggie's wedding...and they didn't, but the very next day she pulled the first one out.  5 minutes later she chickened out and this happened...

Bryan + Maggie, June 18, 2011

I got up extra early to get myself and kids ready for the big event!!  My girlfriend Julie, who lives in Chi-town, came over to help me out for the day.  I would have been a complete disaster without her!  Thanks Jules!!  She was my plus one for the day.  She was great at helping me to calm down because my stress level was thru the roof!!  I was a complete wreck and so nervous to be taking the pictures!

When I got Carley dressed and her hair done I had her look at herself in the full length mirror.  She lifted her arms above her head and while lowering them said, "I hope Maggie will think I am so beautiful."  She was completely serious, and completely in love with her own appearance!!!  She is only 3 years old...we are in sooo much trouble.

Both she and Emry looked so pretty.  Emry said that she wants me to keep the flower girl dresses forever so that the little girls at her wedding can wear them too!  I guess it's safe to say that Maggie hit a bulls-eye with my girls and those dresses!

Because of the day's schedule, I only had 1 hour and 20 minutes to take all the photographs.  It was stressful!  I was super nervous and I got stage fright right off the bat and couldn't remember how to work my camera properly!  After I stopped and took a breath I was able to calm myself down and get to work.  Their are a few things I would change about how things went, pictures I would have taken differently....or will take differently in the future if I ever attempt another wedding, and I would allow myself more time too.  It was a little hectic getting all the group shots done and out of the way so I could have time alone with Bryan & Maggie.  But, everyone was very cooperative, and it went smoothly, which was awesome!!!

All in all, for my first time shooting a wedding I'm really pleased with my performance, the shots I got and the end product.  Hope you like 'em!!

All the flower girls went bananas for Maggie's train and bouquet!  They did not shirk their duties at all!

Bryan & Maggie with Jordan & Neenah

Maggie with my Mom & Grandma

Father of the Bride

Maggie's Bridal Portraits

When I first started getting serious about photography I said I'd never take anyone's wedding photos...well I was wrong. 

My sister asked me to take hers, and I was excited about it at first.  Then the more I thought about all that was involved and having Trent not be present to help me wrangle the kiddos, I began to panic.  Shooting someone's wedding is a huge deal!  Those pictures are forever!!  I even tried to get out of it a few times and she had to assure me over and over again that my skillz were good enough for her.

After all is said and done I am so happy I did it!  It didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped, but I made it through and I am really happy with the results!  I ended up getting a bum cf card from the camera store, and of course I didn't know it was faulty until I was in the middle of taking her bridal portraits.  I thought my brand new $$$ camera was acting up and that it was going to have to be returned.  But, after visiting a few camera stores in Chicago and a telephone pep talk from a schweet photographer friend, I got everything worked out and the rest of the weekend was smooth sailing!  (well, except for my nerves)

Here are a few of my favorite bridal portraits--

this is the real deal!  a true capture of Maggie's happiness.  i don't care that it's blurry, it reminds me of her so perfectly!