'ello govna.

So... I got to go home for a few days next week. So refreshing. When I start feeling down all I need is to go visit family and be in my hometown for a bit. I never thought I'd get homesick, but it's easy when you move to a place crappier than your previous location.
While I was there I got to do a photoshoot with my lovely friend Gina. She's 37 weeks prego. Now I'm excited to possibly do a shoot with her new little one! It'll be my first newborn shoot, so I'm really excited.
I've been in a creative kick the past few days. I hope it lasts! I'm trying out new and experimenting with new post processing... challenging my capabilities in photoshop. So much fun. I love hearing feedback... especially positive feedback.
I think I'm going to throw some ideas around for a logo.

I should be blog slapped!

I was so proud of myself for a while... I was being so good and posting quite often... then it just died. Blah.

Hmph Hmph... this may be just a giant ramble.

My SIL and I were supposed to shoot a wedding coming up this weekend, but last week she called me to tell me they had called the wedding off. That kind of stuff just breaks my heart... no, not because I didn't get to shoot a wedding, but my heart aches for the couple.

I purched the Canon 40D just a few days ago. Love, love it. I mean... love.

I still haven't gotten to "majorly" take it out and get some great shots, but I like it so far... and that's me not taking it "far" :)

We got (another) new puppy! Her name is Roxy, she's a black lab (huge black lab) and only about 3-3.5 months old. She had to have emergency surgery less than a week after we had her. She had to have her diaphragm repaired. We're guessing the people that had her before us kicked her so hard her diaphragm sort of... burst. Ick, I know, but she's all better now. She's actually wrestling and playing with Acer as I type this. You would never know she has an icision about a foot long on her tummy right now.

Ho ho hum.

Hubby goes to the academy in January for 12 weeks. They will either send him to a place about 5-6 hours from here... in that case, I'll go back home to Missouri to stay with my family...or they'll send him to a place only a couple of hours away in which he will try to come home every night... Either way, I'm really happy for him.

Hubby just informed me that Shrek the third is on. Bye.

Hello, from the absent one.

Oh gosh, it's been awhile. I don't know if I can remember the things that are worth talking about on here... I'll try my best.
My husband and I bought a boat that we planned on taking on our one year wedding anniversary get away. We stayed at a place on the lake, but our boat didn't get done in time. (We actually go to pick it up tomorrow)
No worries, we found plenty of stuff to occupy our time while away. We went to amusement parks every day that we were away, went to a show, and visited a Titanic museum.
I missed the baby (and dog) terribly the five days we were gone.
They were both so happy to see me when I went to pick them up from my sisters.
My husband had to work on the fourth of July, so I went home to celebrate it with my family. I had a really great time. The baby did awesome with the fireworks. She sat and watched a whole hour and a half of them. She obviously doesn't have really sensitive ears like I did when I was a baby.
We went to the zoo yesterday with one of Austin's partners that he works with and his family. I got up at 6:30 in the morning and we met them at 8 to head there. We went to the mall and to some other places and made a whole day of it. They baby slept for a total of maybe 20 minutes in between stops the whole day and was absolutely exhausted we when got home... we all were.
The puppy wen to the groomer today and got his first hair cut. He looks so adorable and he can see! Woot for the ability to see!

Insomnia... totally not by choice.

My husband is working all night and part of the morning... he's not sure exactly what time he'll be getting off. He's come home twice for a break, but now I won't see him until he comes home in the am. I'm having a hard time going to bed because I'm paranoid of being here by myself. I hate it!
Ho-hum. I hate being up this late because it makes me want to eat. blahhhh. I totally thought I got on here to actually write about something... guess not.

Really I should listen, listen, listen to this.

I got this from a friend. It's refreshing. I wish I could live by every single one of these at all times.

1.. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water.. Eat blueberries, flax and other seeds, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25.Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Divine Creator heals everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35.Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often.(Or email them to death!!!) Hey I'm thinking of ya!
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Please send this to everyone you care about.

May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but happiness come through your door!

I am now a proud shih tzu owner!

We've been talking about getting a puppy for awhile now. We've been looking around and hunting for the right one. We went to a pet store and spent some time with some of their puppies to see if we liked any of the breeds. None of them seemed to fit us. Not to mention the dogs they have at the pet store were set up on a monthly payment program that was set up through three years... with interest.

I was at one of my sisters houses on Thursday and she had just bought my niece a Shih Tzu a few weeks back for her birthday. I picked her up and fell in love with her! I already knew I liked Shih Tzus because a friend of mine has two and they are incredible.

I get home yesterday and my sister calls to tell me that a lady she knows has a litter of shih tzus weaned from the momma and ready to go... get this.. for $75. That's a steal. I have the papers to go get him registered if I'd like. He's up to date on his shots except for rabies because she's not old enough yet.

He's adorable.

The baby is a bit jealous right now... she's already gotten better at being "nice" to him just the few hours he's been home. She got a little better at "petting" him and not hitting him on the head and poking him in the eye. lol

He rode on my lap the entire drive home and slept the majority of it. At one point he stood up and started backing up... before I could grab him he fell between the door and the seat... then looked at me like "why'd you let me do that?"... just too cute.

*slap*

I'm such a failure! I told myself I'd blog often and it's been forever!

I'm already done with my visit back home with my sister from Alaska. It was great. I already miss them.

My husband and I got season passes to 3 different amusement parks for the summer. We've already been twice in less than a week and plan on going when we can. We have a blast when we go!

We went out of town yesterday and did some puppy shopping.

We spent some time with a beagle, a pug and a miniature doberman pincher. I liked them all, but none of them jumped out to us and was the dog we just had to have. We're doing our absolute best research on this because it's an extension of our family so we want something we will be totally happy with.

We are purchasing a boat tomorrow and we're sooo excited. We'll probably be spending a lot of time out of the lake now. So our summer will probably be filled with roller coasters and boating.

In less than a month we will be celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's already been a year!

What an accomplishment. lol