So I'm curious to know what others are doing, if anything, to prepare for this potential pandemic. Are you worried? Have you started to prepare? Do you know anyone who has been sick? It does seem to be spreading exponentially but I'm not in a panic....yet. We haven't started our food storage and now I feel overwhelmed and at a loss at where to begin so I'd love some thoughts (cough cough...Laurie) on how to begin.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Yes...still here. I checked the date that I last posted and gasped. Where in the world did the time go?? Sigh. Unfortunately, I refuse to promise that it won't be another month until the next post...things are just that hectic.
Sariah:
Made Student of the Month for February as well as made A Honor Roll. She has her first dance at the end of the year and Bill's Mom was sweet enough to buy her first party dress for her. It's so pretty and I can't wait to take photos. Sariah is sick at the moment with a fever and cough so needless to say, she's home today.
William:
Tried to say he was sick today but I knew better ;) He also made Student of the Month for February which was pretty cool to be able to see both kids in the same month at the same ceremony for the same award! He's doing super well in school. He did his very first book report (yes, in FIRST GRADE) and got 100% on it! He is still obsessed with Mario Bros but shocked us early this week by saying he wants to try soccer (like Sariah did) so he will be starting soccer in April.
Chase:
Also woke up with a fever and has had a brutal cough the past few days. He's been quite a help around the house wanting to help Pledge, vacuum and do laundry. It's amazing. He also loves to help out with Samantha and is so very protective of her. Chase isn't potty trained yet but like William, we aren't rushing it though he has to be before PRE-K next year! GASP! School for three of the four!
Samantha:
Wow...our fastest changing. She's crawling, pulling up, dancing, has 3 teeth, says "Mama", delights everyone around her! Sam is slowing weaning and loves to eat real food. Her hair curls at the ends which just adds even more cuteness. She adds such a fabulous dynamic to the family and we are blessed she is with us.
Bill:
Has been so busy at work. This is economy is hard on everyone...especially for people so closely related to the real estate market. Luckily, his company is doing ok. Not great by any means, but ok. I think that if his company stays steady in the next 6 months, jobs will be ok.
Me:
Busy busy busy. I am booked for March and April. Editing two weddings and a family session as I type. Recently placed 5th in one category in an international wedding photography contest and had some photos published in the Charleston Post & Courier Moxie section for a wedding I shot there recently. Hanging in there with the housework but barely
All in all, life is blessed and amazing and busy and crazy and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Photos to come...maybe...in another 2 months ;)
Sariah:
Made Student of the Month for February as well as made A Honor Roll. She has her first dance at the end of the year and Bill's Mom was sweet enough to buy her first party dress for her. It's so pretty and I can't wait to take photos. Sariah is sick at the moment with a fever and cough so needless to say, she's home today.
William:
Tried to say he was sick today but I knew better ;) He also made Student of the Month for February which was pretty cool to be able to see both kids in the same month at the same ceremony for the same award! He's doing super well in school. He did his very first book report (yes, in FIRST GRADE) and got 100% on it! He is still obsessed with Mario Bros but shocked us early this week by saying he wants to try soccer (like Sariah did) so he will be starting soccer in April.
Chase:
Also woke up with a fever and has had a brutal cough the past few days. He's been quite a help around the house wanting to help Pledge, vacuum and do laundry. It's amazing. He also loves to help out with Samantha and is so very protective of her. Chase isn't potty trained yet but like William, we aren't rushing it though he has to be before PRE-K next year! GASP! School for three of the four!
Samantha:
Wow...our fastest changing. She's crawling, pulling up, dancing, has 3 teeth, says "Mama", delights everyone around her! Sam is slowing weaning and loves to eat real food. Her hair curls at the ends which just adds even more cuteness. She adds such a fabulous dynamic to the family and we are blessed she is with us.
Bill:
Has been so busy at work. This is economy is hard on everyone...especially for people so closely related to the real estate market. Luckily, his company is doing ok. Not great by any means, but ok. I think that if his company stays steady in the next 6 months, jobs will be ok.
Me:
Busy busy busy. I am booked for March and April. Editing two weddings and a family session as I type. Recently placed 5th in one category in an international wedding photography contest and had some photos published in the Charleston Post & Courier Moxie section for a wedding I shot there recently. Hanging in there with the housework but barely
All in all, life is blessed and amazing and busy and crazy and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Photos to come...maybe...in another 2 months ;)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Our little baby girl came in to our lives a little over 8 months ago. Feels like just yesterday I was throwing up all day and complaining non-stop about the pregnancy (I know Laurie remembers..hahahaha). Sam had a check-up last week and is weighing in at a heft 18lbs 10z and is 28in long. No expert, but compared to William and Sariah at this age, she's a big girl! Samantha is now sitting up, scooting a little on the floor and pulling up to kneeling. She has two little front bottom teeth. Her coloring is becoming more like Bill than me...her hair is the exact color of Chase which surprises us but it's beautiful...I love the way it curls right by her ear. She seems to be gaining more and more interest in food which is great since I'm attempting to wean her. The family is in LOVE with her...the kids fight over who says good morning to her first and I've never seen a man melt so quickly at the sight of his baby's smile.
Life is good and Sam completes our family for sure.
Life is good and Sam completes our family for sure.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Just when you think you know where you are going, things change. Bill and I started making plans for our next two years...we were going to try to relocate to Maryland or Virginia to be closer to his family and I was also going to stop shooting weddings. We don't like it here in Port St Lucie and it just doesn't feel like home. Not to mention there is NOTHING to do here.
Then recently I have started getting inquiry after inquiry for weddings and such and I've been landing them which tells me maybe I shouldn't be in such a hurry to say no to weddings.
THEN we just found out that Sariah has been accepted into Lincoln Park Academy which is one of the top high schools in the nation. It's been ranked as high as 48 and I think last year it was 150 or something. Their IB program is in the top 50. We are so proud of her for getting in and feel that removing her from this opportunity would be selfish and stupid. It's time for us to settle down and stop moving her around. Let her go to high school, make friends and be somewhere for longer than 2 years.
Soooooo, with that said, it looks like we'll be here on the "Treasure Coast" of Florida for a while. God seems to be stepping in as we make our plans and telling us we aren't quite ready to leave...that there is still more in store for us here. We're now planning on purchasing a house by next year and settling in for the long haul. I know that I haven't made an effort to make friends because I didn't want to make friends. I don't WANT to like it here. I have just missed Orlando so much but maybe it's time I get out of that mindset and start getting out and doing more and meeting more folks. Maybe, just maybe, I'll end up actually liking it.
Then recently I have started getting inquiry after inquiry for weddings and such and I've been landing them which tells me maybe I shouldn't be in such a hurry to say no to weddings.
THEN we just found out that Sariah has been accepted into Lincoln Park Academy which is one of the top high schools in the nation. It's been ranked as high as 48 and I think last year it was 150 or something. Their IB program is in the top 50. We are so proud of her for getting in and feel that removing her from this opportunity would be selfish and stupid. It's time for us to settle down and stop moving her around. Let her go to high school, make friends and be somewhere for longer than 2 years.
Soooooo, with that said, it looks like we'll be here on the "Treasure Coast" of Florida for a while. God seems to be stepping in as we make our plans and telling us we aren't quite ready to leave...that there is still more in store for us here. We're now planning on purchasing a house by next year and settling in for the long haul. I know that I haven't made an effort to make friends because I didn't want to make friends. I don't WANT to like it here. I have just missed Orlando so much but maybe it's time I get out of that mindset and start getting out and doing more and meeting more folks. Maybe, just maybe, I'll end up actually liking it.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
and Merry belated Christmas. I know....you don't have to say it, I know! I suck! I'm the worst blogger ever. Sue me ;)
Too much time has passed to even try to recap the last month and a half, but we had a great Christmas and quiet new year. I'll be better in the future, I think.
Some photos of our past few weeks...
Too much time has passed to even try to recap the last month and a half, but we had a great Christmas and quiet new year. I'll be better in the future, I think.
Some photos of our past few weeks...
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
David and Bill are cousins. If you were to see the two standing side by side, you would think they were brothers as the family resemblance is uncanny! David and Bill grew up together but as time passed, literal distance separated the two and contact was lost. Our family went up to Maryland a couple of years ago for their Grandpop's funeral and Bill and David (along with a few other cousins) were reunited after not being in contact for a few years. We met David's wife, Buu, who is a fellow Vietnamese sista ;) and from there we've kept in touch, emailed and chatted. I have found a new friend in Buu and the bond between cousins has grown again and I'm happy to witness it. As you know, I think family is everything....
Anywho, Bill's cousin, David, had tickets to a Redskins/Ravens game and said if Bill could fly up there, he'd take Bill to the game...so as a birthday gift, I sent Bill packing for the weekend ;). Buu and David were gracious enough to let Bill stay with them for the weekend. Bill was able to hang out with not just David, Buu and their daughter but with almost all of that side of the family. They played poker, caught up and went to the football game. As Buu put it...years of male bonding packed into a single weekend :D. From what I gather, a wonderful time was had by all and I'm so grateful that Bill was able to go up to Maryland to enjoy time with his cousin and family.
This leaves us with the thought of wanting to be closer to family. We've been milling over the idea for some time now. Bill's Mom as well as the rest of the family, minus his father is up in that area of the country. He talks about moving back up there and being closer to to her and David and his childhood all the time....soooo......we are going to find a way to make it happen. It will be sad for me to leave Florida as I've lived here for 20 years of my life but the thought of getting to see Bill's Mom more often or hanging out with David and his family make us almost giddy. We want the kids to see snow, Bill and I want to see SEASONS again and to finally be settled as often times we have felt like gypsies (I know we don't resemble gypsies but whatever) and want to be somewhere that we feel we can finally bury our roots and let our family grow. We know for a fact that where we are living now will NOT be our last stop. This is not the area we want our kids to be raised so it's either back in Orlando or Maryland/Virginia. Pray for us as we make our plans....
Oh, some photos of Bill's weekend ;)
David, Buu and their beautiful daughter Quynh
More family
Bill at the game!
Bill and cousin Will
David...a little excited ;)
David staying warm with a beer
Two cousins together again
Anywho, Bill's cousin, David, had tickets to a Redskins/Ravens game and said if Bill could fly up there, he'd take Bill to the game...so as a birthday gift, I sent Bill packing for the weekend ;). Buu and David were gracious enough to let Bill stay with them for the weekend. Bill was able to hang out with not just David, Buu and their daughter but with almost all of that side of the family. They played poker, caught up and went to the football game. As Buu put it...years of male bonding packed into a single weekend :D. From what I gather, a wonderful time was had by all and I'm so grateful that Bill was able to go up to Maryland to enjoy time with his cousin and family.
This leaves us with the thought of wanting to be closer to family. We've been milling over the idea for some time now. Bill's Mom as well as the rest of the family, minus his father is up in that area of the country. He talks about moving back up there and being closer to to her and David and his childhood all the time....soooo......we are going to find a way to make it happen. It will be sad for me to leave Florida as I've lived here for 20 years of my life but the thought of getting to see Bill's Mom more often or hanging out with David and his family make us almost giddy. We want the kids to see snow, Bill and I want to see SEASONS again and to finally be settled as often times we have felt like gypsies (I know we don't resemble gypsies but whatever) and want to be somewhere that we feel we can finally bury our roots and let our family grow. We know for a fact that where we are living now will NOT be our last stop. This is not the area we want our kids to be raised so it's either back in Orlando or Maryland/Virginia. Pray for us as we make our plans....
Oh, some photos of Bill's weekend ;)
David, Buu and their beautiful daughter Quynh
More family
Bill at the game!
Bill and cousin Will
David...a little excited ;)
David staying warm with a beer
Two cousins together again
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
So I've been quite a slacker in my blogging, this I know. It's that time of year where things get crazy and my brain starts freaking out. Not only do I have to do Christmas shopping for a husband and four kids, but I have clients to please before the close of the year, our Christmas card photo (which hasn't been taken yet), Christmas card designing....etc. Not to mention my severely neglected house. I haven't had so much dust on stuff in a long long time. I'm lucky to get a shower as it is but might have to cut out showers soon if life keeps at it's frantic pace. You can understand that, right? :P I really feel like I have absolutely NO time for ME and guess what...my feelings are correct. I don't have any time for me but that's ok. Who needs "me" time anyway? That's for wimps.
sigh
Back to the grind.
sigh
Back to the grind.
