My First Wedding

My beloved and dearly admired sister-in-law, Sarah, is a fabulous photographer and has begun training me too. A dream has come true! Some people are born with overflowing, jaw-dropping talent and others have to brainstorm for hours to think of something that maybe with lots of time and outside help and training they may be slightly successful at. I am in the later category. Not that I am completely without ability, but I am more mediocre at a lot of things rather than exceptional in a few interesting categories. Okay, moving on.....Sarah has been saying for a while that it would be helpful to have another photographer when she does weddings - especially now that Mike is out of commission as he is the watcher-of-Ethan while Sarah works. So, Sarah has lovingly, graciously, and patiently been teaching me about photography for the past 6 months.

Well, about a month ago I had a chance to put my skills to the test at my very first wedding. There were gallons of adrenaline pumping through my body. Who knew photography could be such a thrill? It was a long, exhausting day but I really really enjoyed doing it and I hope that maybe one day (after lots of practice and lessons and help) I will be able to say that I am talented at photography. For a viewing of all the pictures, Sarah's included, you can check out her website. Here are some of the pictures I took and photoshop-enhanced from that day:

(The groom is my cousin - that's why Ben and Sadie were there.)

(I think Alan/Butch/My cousin looks like Michael, but no one else does)


(This is my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Alan aka Mother and Father of the Groom)

(For some reason I love to take pictures of shoes and feet. Sarah laughs every time I do it)

The end.

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joseph, this is what Sadie is like lately.

Another New Job

No, I do not have job ADD! I am still working online for Tutor.com, but I am only able to schedule 6 - 8 hours a week and most of those are in the evenings. So, a much better opportunity came along and I jumped at the chance. I'm working online from home for Egg Systems doing search engine optimization for their website. Pretty much I'm trying to spread the word about their company and geothermal technology. I've also been writing articles, started a blog, have a twitter account, and more. It's fun so far - I do have to change up my routine to stay focused, but it hasn't been a problem. The convenience is priceless; I can work as much or little as I want and whenever I want. I try to work a couple hours before Sadie wakes up and then during her nap time. It's an answer to our prayers, really. Also, I'm learning a lot and feeling productive in life.

Ode to Lori

Whyest can I never keep the floors clean?
Yet you can always get them to beam.

And whatest is thou trick for keeping Fisher out of the ice?
Why is it that I can never work your TV device?

And how can you be so sweet
When you never have time to eat and sleep?

When do you find the time to shower
I was running around every single hour.

What dost thou do when Fisher hits the gigantic TV and climbs on the table?
You are so patient and I'm worried he messed up your cable!

You drive your kids here and there and everywhere
and yet you always have a delciousest dinner ready

Howest is it that you are skinny and buff
when there is not even time to dust?

One dayest when I am old and grayeset
I hope you will share your secrets with me!

For I could not survive -
under the conditions in which you seem to thrive!

A Small Glimpse Of The Future

I just got back from 5 days of being responsible for 4 children and 2 of them were age 1! We babysat for some family friends, the Emery's, while they were traveling and it was a whirlwind of a weekend. They have an energetic, adorable 1 year old; a brilliant, entertaining, extremely socially competent 6 year old; and a helpful, very tall and beautiful 14 year old. I'm happy to report that all children survived without any serious harm; Sadie did fall down their stairs, Fisher got sunburned, McKenzie had a bruise from accidentally kicking their cabinets, and Gabi had some type of cut - but all those things should heal with time.

Ben and I thought of it as a mini-vacation because they live in gigantic palace which happens to be close to the beach and my family. We were brave enough to take the kids to Chuck-e-cheese, the beach, in the pool 3 times, and to the farm by my parents. Kimmy came over to rescue me three of the five days and my mom came once, too. It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too!

These are the memorable events from this weekend:

• Fisher getting into the ice machine every time I turned around.
• Being late to church (which this family never is; they are the stake president's kids) and then only making it through 10 very loud minutes of sacrament meeting before we had to take both babies out! I had 100 pairs of eyes on me at all times marveling at my incompetence - very embarrassing!
• Reading books to McKenzie at night.
• Fisher sleeping with his knees bent under him and his bum up in the air.
• Having to hold Sadie the entire time otherwise Fisher would beeline it for her attach her. Boys love to wrestle!
• Cleaning up spilled soda - twice, water - once, and food off the floor - hourly.
  

Lori sent me an email the day after they got home and this is what she said, "It's nice to have someone that you can trust with your kids while you are gone. Didn't worry about them once. Only worried about you!" So true!