Update on my last post...

Thank you, friends, for your sound advice and encouragement. I have made a decision and one that I am at complete peace about (thanks Kim for the great comment...I got it ;)

I am going to finish out my school year and do sessions only on the weekends. I am going to take this year and learn all that I can learn, save LOTS and LOTS of money and take a leave of absense next year.

In my school district, you can take a leave for a year and will be guaranteed a position at your school. If you take more time than that, you lose that option. I feel really good about this decision! Sooo, that's that :)

On to bigger and better things: we have been very busy and are thoroughly enjoying the beauty that Fall is bringing with her ! I love the crisp, cool weather, changing leaves, fall decor, Halloween and all that it brings.

It looks like Miss Paige might have to get her tonsils out in the next month. She continues to get recurring strep throat and her tonsils are swollen to the point that they are "kissing" each other. She has been a trooper, but is running temps often :(

On the cat front...we have six, beautiful baby kittens. They were born on my brother's wedding night. How's that for an eventful evening. Mama cat is just a kitten herself, but is loving and caring for them just like she should. Paige and I play with them a little too much and mama cat is moving them all over the house to keep us away from them. We got the message and now only pet them when the mom is away :) I have found homes for 3 of the 6, so I still have some work to go!

I'll post some new pics soon! Have a great week :)

So much work, so very little time!!!

Sorry for the absentee-ism in bloggy land! It seems that my life has taken a very exciting, yet overwhelming turn.

Ya see, photography is a hobby that I just LOVE! I have always had a deep appreciation for the art, but never thought that I would do too much with it.

For my "REAL" job, I always knew that teaching was where I needed to be. I love children and I think educating them and being present when they get the "Aha" moment is magical.

I am in a real pickle, so to speak. My little photography business has really taken off. Thanks to Facebook (best marketing tool known to man, especially when you have over 500 friends on there :) and being a little more artsy than most local photographers, I am getting a lot of business. I am averaging two to three families a week and am now starting to have to turn people down and refer them to other photographers.

While I am over the MOON about the brief explosion of business, I am at a loss as to what to do. I love teaching, I love photography, but can't seem to do either justice, because they conflict as far as time.

I know it might sound as if I am whining, and well, maybe I am... (hey, it's my blog and I can cry if I want to :) I realize that I asked for this, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be so busy.

SO, I guess what I am wondering is...what is in store? Should I continue to teach full time and let my little hobby be just that, a hobby? Or should I go for my dreams and run with this business? My mind says, "don't leave the security of having a job with great benefits and wonderful hours". while my heart is saying, "GO FOR IT! You only live once. You can always go back to teaching!"

I'm not really looking advice, but if you have any, wouldn't turn it down :)

Hope you all have an incredible weekend!!!

A Time to Dance

Wedding Weekend...a week later :)

Well, the big wedding went off without a hitch! It was a beautiful weekend, nice friends and family and a great time. The rehearsal dinner was held at a carriage house that is just divine. It houses horse and buggy carriages that have been lent to Central Park for years. The owners are family friends of my sister-in-law and are extremely eclectic and artsy. It was a lot of fun. Here are a few of my fav. pics of the evening:


Me and my precious brother, Greg. The photographer was Paige :)


The groom and his number one fan!


One of the many old timey carriages. They were beautiful!

The wedding was very pretty. I have to be honest and tell ya I was a hot and sweaty mess, as the humidity was a bit high that day. The reception was gorgeous and the band was GREAT!! We couldn't get Paige off the dance floor all night. She was a hit :)


My sweet little family!


Laurie and Greg


The girls :)


The cake and one of the tents (this one housed the band and dance floor)


Cuties


This is one of my brother's fraternity brothers and he LOVED Paige and she LOVED him. They danced together all night. I was starting to get a little concerned about the age difference! LOL!


Paige pacing by the cake...ready for to make her sweet tooth happy :)

The newlyweds honeymooned in Barbados and just got back last night. It was a great evening and my brother is so happy. I couldn't ask for much more!

3 word Sunday!

HUSBAND AND WIFE!!!

Just call me the cat lady : P

So, on this day of 09/09/09, I became a mommy! Yes, I said a mommy.

The story goes:

Taking my first graders outside for recess. As we are crossing the parking lot and heading to the playground, I looked at the end of my line and there following us is a charcoal gray kitty. She is teee tiny, but her tummy was bulging out and she was obviously preggers.

Ya see, I have a soft spot for animals. Truth be told, I was undecided on a major in college for two years, because I couldn't decide between Teacher or Vet.

I digress...said kitty strolls in between my students, all the while purring happily and wanting a little pat on her head. I stroked her coat and felt how TRULY preggers she is and it is breaking my heart. She has been seen around our school for a week now. Today it was in the upper 80's with lots of humidity. She was panting. HARD! So, I had a fellow teacher watch my kids and I take the kitten in my room and into my bathroom and gave her a bowl of water and let her cool off. Then I went to go and get my kids. When we got back into the room and I opened the bathroom door, said kitten was sound asleep. Poor baby!

Sooo, I call my mom, seeking motherly advice. She sighed and said, "I am on my way".

I am now the mommy to a very pregnant, little, unwed girl!

Her name is Neely ( part of my school's name ).

I'll keep you updated on my grandbabies ... lol! Seriously, if anyone lives in the TN. area, you can call dibs on a precious furbaby :)

Pictures to follow after we get through this big wedding!
Heyyyyy, wait a minute, I know the PURRRRfect wedding gift!!!! :)

Did someone say P A R T Y ? ? ?

Some of the best friends a girl can ask for! Me, Kelly, Ashley, Shannon, Andrea and Carrie

LOVE U GIRLS!
Avery, Paige and Hailey doing the robot!

Celebrating 20 years of marriage this week!
Happy Anniversary Guys!

Kristy and hubby singing and dancing to a little "Summer Loving"... Grease, is THE word!

Shannon belting out some tunes. She is THE funniest person EVER!

Paige taking it old school and doing the "Can opener!"

What's sooo funny???

Acting out the Titanic while being serenaded by a little Celine...oh yeah!

The Birthday Girl and her incredibly adorable hubby!
Hailey, and the double mint twins, Paige and Hannah

Yep, I did !!! P ar tayyy! We had THE best time last night!!! It was MUCH needed. I had a previous engagement, that I was lucky enough to gracefully bow out of ( I know, I am baaaddd ), but there was somewhere that I was wanting to go with my girl.

Dance has opened up a world of opportunity for Paige, but it has also done the same for me. Paige's dance bud's moms are some of my very best friends and we have a BALL ALL the time. Do you have friends that when you are with them, you forget how old you are, or how much weight you've gained, or the fact that you have bills or a job??? I do, and I am THANKFUL for them!

Last night was Shannon's birthday. Her parents have "the party house" with a wonderful salt water (heated) pool, a firepit, tennis courts and.... built in KARAOKE system!!!

I sang a little Cher, I sang a little old school Madonna, I sang some Oak Ridge Boys, a little Celine Dion...and, oh yes, some Buffet, Jimmy that is!

I didn't get home last night until 2:30...it's been a looonggg time since I stayed out that late. I was so very tired today. It was a great day to edit pictures. I have had several photoshoots lately and am awfully behind on editing. I am finding that I take waaayyy too many pics of the families/kids and want to edit them all. That is crazy and I have got to get out of that mindset.

I had a really fun shoot yesterday with a high school friend and her family. They were a lot of fun. She has a five year old and a one year old. I definitely got my activity for the day with them.

Next weekend is my brother's wedding so I will be taking loads of pics and video. I am so excited and nervous for him. It is a very large wedding and he is nervous that he will make a mistake or pass out :) LOL! He and his groomsmen are going golfing during the day and then to get "a beer". I told him that it better only be A beer and not A FEW beers, as we want a nice evening with no problems. :) He's a good boy and he will do great.

I am very touched that in honor of my dad and Laurie's mom, they are donating $5 per guest to the American Heart Association and to the National Cancer Society. That is so thoughtful and has really made me very proud of them. I know I will be emotional next weekend and will be missing my dad dearly. Please say a little prayer for us!

Tomorrow is Labor Day and we are supposed to spend the day with Lala and family, but the weather is iffy. Paige also is feeling a bit under the weather and we have to have her at 100% for the wedding, so we shall see what the day will hold.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Labor Day!

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Wooo Saaaa!!! That has been our mantra at school for the past three weeks. You see, I have never had a classroom with over 20 students before. This year, I am blessed with 24 precious kiddos, who are full of energy and eager to learn. I adore seeing their bright and cheery faces daily, but honestly, I don't feel like I am doing them any sort of justice, as they are not getting all of my undivided attention. To make matters worse, I have coworkers who aren't getting along very well :( That added tension to a day that is already hectic, makes for some stress that I just plain don't like.

While I LOVE my job and adore kids, I sometimes don't like working with adults. Do you ever feel that way??? Why can't we all just get along?!? :)

I am so excited about the next two weekends. This Labor Day weekend we are jam packed with grill outs and swim parties and fun, Fun, FUN!!! I can't wait to have a fruity "mama drink" (as Paige refers to them) and enjoy time with family and friends.

Next weekend is THE big event. My sweet, baby brother is getting married. I just thought today, no more will he come home and visit us as just "my" brother. Now, he belongs to someone else. It's weird, as he has always been my little buddy. I hope that Laurie will love him and take care of him. If not, well, I'll cry! Ha Ha :) She's a sweet girl and is crazy about him and he is crazy about her. To be in love again! (Maybe someday :)

Can't post without a pic. Here is my latest play on textures!
Have a great remainder of your week!