Playing catch up...

I have been a bit behind recently...on blogging. Packing. Laundry. Life. So this week I am getting caught up...I hope. I mean I am.

Last week was "the last week." Of summer vacation that is. So we made the best of it. We made treats. We had sleepovers. We watched movies. We went swimming. We went bowling. We shopped for new school clothes, shoes and supplies. We did everything but pack and do laundry...which might explain why I am behind.

Despite the lack of actually placing our belongings in boxes in preparation of moving them we DID clean out a ton of junk. From crockpots too small to make a real meal in to Rock Em Sock Em Robots no one ever played with it was garage sale time. Bad timing considering 100+ temps but we made enough to cover the new rug I want to purchase for the new living room and the kids got the opportunity to have the lemonade stand they have begged for 2 summers in a row. The pictures kind of suck but it was a nice time despite the heat. It was at my bro's house with his wife, her mother, my mother and I all trying to pawn our junk off on other people!

Photography stuff is still going well. Did some really fun maternity pictures with a really great pregnant woman who was open to anything - even sitting in the water in her cute dress. You can see more on the Barefoot Summer blog.

We also started birthday celebrations early. Thursday my coworkers hung banners over my desk and brought in a delicious cookie cake. Sunday we celebrated with family and had appetizers and cupcakes at my parents. We played games and generally chilled out. While I still have this last day left in my twenties this picture is the 27th picture of Jonathan and I celebrating together.

Before I end this entirely too long post - final update. The plan on the house is still to move on September 4th...we were originally set to close this Thurs the 26th but compliments of our slow moving bank we will probably have to delay that until the 30th. I know I just said we were not planning on moving until after that but I was hoping to have the weekend to paint away the horrible mural and tear down awful wallpaper and clean before our stuff got there. Oh well plan adjusted. So will keep you updated!!

To Do

When it rains it pours is usually said in conjunction with tragedy or hardships but I believe that it applies in general. We have been so blessed and at this moment experiencing one of those times in life where things really come together. Todd's work is growing and expanding quickly. My job has given me solid hours for awhile. My photography business is gaining momentum. The kids are at this fabulous place where they are not too cool to hang out with us but old enough to really do fun things - play sports, go to theme parks, watch movies, even just chit chat! And we found the house we have been searching for....but along with most of that is this crazy to do list.

In the next 3 weeks...
- the kids start school
- we move
- fall little league starts
- having a garage sale
- 4 scheduled photography sessions
- I turn 30!

Lotsa Pictures!!!

Really enjoying the whole photography thing and business is going well. Three completed sessions this weekend, four more booked from those three, and another couple of people who have inquired about more information! Check out whats new by following at Barefoot Summer Blog

Wedding bells, umbrellas, and cardboard boxes.

Yesterday I shot my first wedding. I am a case manager in a psych ward. I should be used to pressure. I decide if people are stable enough to go home without killing themselves on a regular basis and I don't freak out. I often face violent psychotic patients with very little support at my immediate fingertips (they will come running just for the record) and still do not freak out. But yesterday I shot my first wedding. And it freaked. me. out. The idea that this is one unforgettable moment in a person's life NEVER to be repeated and you are partly responsible for preserving said memories - well Eek! The only reason I agreed at all is because A)there was another girl there hired first so the responsibility was really on her B)I warned them in advance that I had never done this, had no idea what kind of pics they would get from me, did not do indoors usually, AND did not charge them (they are former students of Todd and I's from youth group). Pics to come later...not looking at them because I have two more sessions today...well if the sky stops letting lose all this darn water...and if they are not perfect, which they won't be, it will psych me out. One...I knew I liked and was safe to look at is posted below.

Which leads to the umbrellas...so I am scheduled to take a family of fives pictures at noon today. It is pouring. Cats, dogs, gerbils and hamsters even. Really nasty. So you reschedule right? Um, first time the five have been together in 3 months and probably last time until the week of Christmas. Great. Then I have round 2 - engagement pictures at UT tonight. Please let it clear before that!!!

In other news the bank had some questions from the loan processor which I assume means that the appraisal was all good. Will confirm this because I would hate to assume something big like that and be wrong...but all is moving forward and that is a great thing. Hard to believe that August 26 (aka probably closing) is SO close. While we are not packing yet we did go through a bunch of junk and are planning a garage sale at my bro's house on the 21st. And we started collecting boxes...so no one has to stalk the nasty rear doors of Publix and Target while the house is half packed and the rest has nowhere to go! I LOVE new places - new walls to paint, new rooms to decorate, new layout, etc...but I HATE moving!

So how's your weekend going?!?

Step 2.5

Appraisal is complete but the results are not yet in. Apparently it takes 3-4 days. But at least its moving...

Finally...

took a few pics of Tristan.

Inspection

Today was inspection day on the house and yay...it passed. All is good. A little weather stripping needed here. A little bit of sealing down a paver or two there. Nothing huge at all. AND the termite inspection guy gave us a go.

So now we are awaiting appraisal and the loan...we might actually move this time.