Birthday Thoughts - and more!

My Birthday Portrait

I've never had a thought in my mind about being 25. My world kind of changed from here. At first I thought, "no big deal, 25 is just another number", but it isn't. When I really think about it, it brings me to think about the the things that I haven't done that I wanted to do by the time I was 25. That list is surprisingly long... It also makes me think of the things I have accomplished in these 25 years. I was pleased to see that the list for that is pretty long too. (phew)

One thing that I have learned over the past 7 years of working at my "other" job is that money isn't everything. I know that when youngsters think about what they want to be when they grow up they get dollar signs in their eyes. Sure, you may make a lot, but do you enjoy what you do? Will you spend more time at work making the money rather than being able to spend time with loved ones? (people don't live forever) Does the stress make Tums a new food group for you? I think it isn't worth it. I wanted to be "that" person. The power suit woman who other women hate and guys are intimidated by. Stress isn't worth it and money won't buy me happiness if I hate what I am doing to earn it. That is where photography came in. My passion. My love to make art.

So here is my wisdom passed on from me to all of the youngsters out there. Follow your dreams and don't let the green lead you the wrong way. It isn't worth it in the end.

Now! On to the good stuff - what did I do on my birthday that was fun!

My sweetheart gave me my birthday present early, yesterday, since we weren't going to get to see each other that much ON my birthday. He gave me something I have wanted for a long time, gorgeous diamond hoop earrings. So sparkly, I love them.

Adam, so kindly woke me up this morning asking if I wanted to go to breakfast. Of course I did especially since I wasn't going to see him for most of the day! =) I got up, took my shower and as I got out Adam says, "how creepy, there is a balloon in the window" I had remembered that my sister, Angie, had mentioned that she wanted to do something for my birthday so I figured that was her big "tada" NOPE! Adam looked around the rest of the house and insisted I come out and look. She and my nephew Skylar had decorated our front porch with a party. It was so funny.

Our front porch, all decorated

Once this was found and lots of pictures were taken, Adam & I decided to head out to breakfast. Where else in Midland to get a fantastic breakfast but Omelettes & More right by our studio! I took a picture of Adam in front, but he didn't realize I was taking the picture until it was too late.... for him.

Adam, victim of a photographic drive-by

Our breakfast was fantastic, I had the sunrise with two eggs, grilled red-skins (with a side of salsa) and a gigantic piece of grilled Texan toast. YUM-O

After breakfast, Adam & I headed to the mall. (Our usual hang-out) After some light shopping, Adam headed to work & I went home. Angie and her kids came over to hang out, (my mom & dad & Ray (my brother) & Sara (his girlfriend) also stopped by on the way to their motorcycle ride) It was nice, they sang Happy Birthday to me on the street. I had that same feeling you get when you are being sung to in Applebees or something.

Angie, her kids, my 4-legged kids and I all went to the dog park by the Tridge to hang out. I haven't taken the boys to the dog park in a while so I thought it would be fun to do. Afterward, we came back to our house and had pizza. All in all, a pretty good time. Here are a few pictures from there.

My nephew Justin & I

The treeclimbing nephews (Sawyer, Skylar & Justin in this one)

Justin looking creepy =)

I would have to say this was a pretty good Birthday.

It's Tuesday and it feels like Wednesday! (That makes for a long week...)

I woke up this morning and thought "oh crap, today's garbage day" (keep in mind that in the city of Midland for my area, garbage day is Wednesday) I got up and started to rush around so I would have time to drag out all of the garbage... Boy was I in for a surprise.

Once I sadly figured out it was Tuesday and not Wednesday, I pouted for a minute and thought "at least I didn't think it was Friday like that one time..." Yep, that has actually happened before. I woke up on a Tuesday and thought it was Friday. That was a super-long week.

Fun stuff though, let me tell ya.

My birthday is coming up on Sunday, September 21st. I am excited, although, there is no time to see have a family gathering in there. Friday is Adam's (my fiance) going away party; Saturday is the bachelor/bachelorette parties for Adam's cousin and Sunday Adam works all day. Sigh... maybe we can go out late one night, or for a breakfast. I am going to be 25! Can you believe it? I am the baby of all of my cousins. There is actually a 26 year age difference between me and my oldest cousin. Funny enough, I would say that she is the one that I really connect with the most too.

I am working on editing portraits and thought I would share one. Here is another adorable one of the newborn from last weekend, that little baby was just so precious!

You'd be so proud (I know I am)

Alright... so we left off last time with me painting. The painting is completed, the wood floor is down, baseboards are done, equipment is moved in... (phew) All I need to really do now is paint the baseboards now. When that is completed and we move all of the "working" stuff out and put waiting room furniture in there I will post another video tour.

(I would like to thank My Mom & Dad, Adam's Mom & Dad and my nephew, Justin for all of their help with this, you all have been really, really helpful. I would have said "screw it" before the first row of the floor went on if you all weren't there.)

I was so whipped from working on the floor and all of that jazz that my allergies started acting up. (probably from making all of the dust with the saw) Needless to say, I am still trying to recover. I tell you what though, if you haven't seen them yet Puffs has a tissue with lotion and vicks! It is a breath of heaven sniffing those things.

BUT - On to the good stuff. We had our first two appointments on 9/13. How exciting! Our first appointment was a little newborn named Jocelyn. She was the sweetest little thing ever. Her parents even had this tiny little pink bracelet on her wrist with an itsy bitsy heart on it. (Soo cute) And she had quite the head of dark brown hair.

Our afternoon appointment was a 6 month old sweetheart named Kole. He had the biggest blue eyes ever and boy did they ever sparkle. This little rolly polie sweetheart had a blast playing with the leaves and giggling away.

It's Tuesday, but feels like Monday

I am going to copy Adam's idea.... Here are my top ten songs right now:

1. "Summertime" New Kids on the Block
2. "In the ayer" Flo-rida
3. "Tears and Rain" James Blunt
4. "Paralyzer" Finger 11
5. "American Boy" Estelle & Kanye West
6. "Take a bow" Rihanna
7. "When I grow up" Pussycat Dolls
8. "One step at a time" Jordin Sparks
9. "Bat Country" Avenged Sevenfold
10. "10,000 fists" Disturbed

That was a lot harder to choose than I thought it would be... Maybe next time I should do "top 100!"

Painting the studio.

Woohoo! It is labor day and I am doing hard-ish labor. Neat. Last night we went to my parents house to visit and ended up playing hide-and-seek in the dark. Phew! Creepy at night time I tell ya. I have learned one thing though is that I stink at hiding. I was always one of the first people to be found.

Well, Adam and I need to get back to painting. I will try to remember my camera again, as Adam has been doing some work! I just need to prove it...

Stay tuned for more.