Who is this HOT guy?!?

My Buddy....

These are my buddies... Joel and TJ. They're my cousins... my friends. We've been super close since we were little, hanging out at family reunions up in Barriere and such. Most of you have heard me refer to them at some point or another.

Well, my TJ broke his ankle on Sunday sky diving. What was supposed to be a routine surgery to fix him up, resulted in an allergic reaction to the anesthetic and TJ being left in an induced coma. Luckily it seems that his organs haven't been affected and that he'll pull through this, but it's definitely a waiting game. They tried to take him off the drug that was keeping his temp down and wake him up this morning, but his temp sky rocketed again. So back under he went.

They'll try again tomorrow. I can't get my thoughts off him and his family... his wife Ashley and his two little girls Taliha and Callie. Anyways, I'm not an overly religious girl, but, if you all have prayers to spare, he and his beautiful family could use them!

Can't wait to speak to him again. Last time I saw him was a couple weeks ago at a less than happy occasion. We have lots more "Stuck In the Middle" songs to dance to... like you said at Joel's wedding party T, "We have to dance to this song till we're 80!!!"


*** UPDATE ***
He's awake!!! Kinda!! He's off the drugs, the respirator and coming to now. He's even said some words, but apparently he's struggling because of the ventilator down his throat. Docs say he's going to be fine! Apparently this happens to 1 in 60,000 people!!! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!

2009

I'm thinking 2009 already... already it's crossing my mind that 2009 is on its way. And I'm happy for that. I think that 2009 will bring great great things... and honestly, something must change because I really miss you all way too much. I must reclaim my life, family and friends back... and that's exactly what I intend to do in 2009.

I'm burnt out and tired and I need a break... bring on December!! Last January I agreed that I would do 4-6 sessions a month... well in July I did 14, in August I did 17 and in September I did 28!!! Sadly, I only posted 2 blog posts (including this one) on my family blog. And it's no one's fault but my own. And now I'm correcting it... and I've got a plan for 2009. And it's going to be good.

So hang in there (I know I'm trying to)... cause I'll be back and it's all going to get better in 2009.

Is it Christmas yet?!?!

Down By The Bay....

This weekend was much needed. We headed down to the states and got some rest and relaxation. Ted's brother owns a house on the ocean and it was just finished this summer... it's beautiful and it was so nice of them to have us stay.

Unfortunately, my Uncle Tom passed away this week. His passing will leave a huge hole in our family's heart and we'll miss him always. I can't imagine not seeing him dancing on the dance floor at every get together. His memorial was this weekend as well. Uncle Tom... You're forever in our hearts.

Well back to what I do best (and it is NOT writing, as you can tell)... pictures from the weekend!!

WoW Life is CRAZY!!!!!

And I mean, I hardly have time to breath!!! So here's a catch up post!!

Ashleigh: She starts her second year of preschool in a couple weeks! I am so excited and so is she! She misses school a lot! She was a flower girl in my cousin's wedding last weekend and just looked plain adorable!! She just stole the show as she walked down that aisle all by herself. I was also photographing the wedding and you can imagine that taking photos while blinded by tears proved to be quite tricky! LOL

Her printing skills are just excelling! I can't believe how much better her fine motor skills are getting! That was the only area last year that her teachers said she may need to focus on a little more. But I think the thing that makes me smile the most about this girl these days is her singing. I made her a cd with princess songs on it and that girl just belts it out! I love it!! And the songs she makes up herself are just so darn adorable... i wish I could capture it on film! I'll try!!

Jake: Every day this boy amazes me. He's just turned two and potty trained already (well... for the most part anyway). 6 months ago he was hardly saying a word and now he can have a full on conversation with you and compose multi word sentences... it's just crazy! The terrible twos have definitely hit but I love his passion, his drive, his determination and his spirit. I love it! Have I mentioned he's just goshdarn adorable too??

Ted: Well... what can I say about my dear husband? He is plugging along doing his best to support me while I run out of mind busy. All I can say about this man of mine, is that I consider him one of my best accomplishments... I made HIM the father of my children... and man is he a damn good daddy. Thank you hun, for supporting me through this crazy time right now! I LOVE YOU!!!

Me: It's just insane... I truly cannot express how busy my life is right now. I am so excited to say that I am going into business with a fellow photographer named Shannon Stevenson. It's going to be fantastic! Our business is called La Storia Studios and we launch January 1st, 2009 when we kick off our careers together photographing a New Year Wedding and Polar Bear swim! LOL

So between about 16-20 sessions a month, being a mommy to my kiddos, attempting to control the household, getting La Storia off the ground and TRYING to be somewhat social, I have absolutely no spare time. To give you an idea, this past weekend, I had two regular shoots, I shot a birth at Langley Memorial Hospital all night Saturday night/Sunday morning, and then shot a wedding Sunday (in the POURING rain no less!). Whew.

All I can say is thank god for family support! Our parents have soooo been there for me, taking the kids for me when I have sessions, errands, editing, packaging, or paperwork to do. My mother in law, Helen, bought me these beautiful flowers this weekend, just because "I had her grandchildren". Wow. Thank you Helen!!


So basically for any of you who are feeling ignored.. I love you! I really do!! I just can't see straight these days and I am hoping with La Storia opening in January, things are going to slow down!

Luckily, we've still had time to have some fun this summer. The kids have had fun sleepovers at the grandparents houses, we've made it down to White Rock, out camping for the weekend, up to a family reunion, had two kids' birthday parties, and worked in the yard! We're also keeping our eye out for the "perfect" home in Murrayville as we're looking to relocate there. We're in no rush, but Ash will be going to kindergarten there and it would be nice to be in the area. So we have one eye on MLS at all times! ;)

Ok, so that's all I can think of right now but thanks for reading if you've got this far! I hope to see you all soon and I also hope to post some past images from the summer that I haven't gotten up here yet!
In the words of my late Nana:
Toodle- oo!

OMG! OMG! OMG!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG! My canvases of Ash and Jake came and they are GORGEOUS!!! I am so happy with them... I just can't even express how beautiful they are!!! They are 20x30 each and I just can't stop staring at them!! Weeeee!!!!

My New Fave!!