handyman will...

 

 

 

 

he loved playing in the backyard this morning with his dad. working away on the fence! and, ya gotta love those boots! he sure does!

kate and her dandelion

 

 

 

 

i spent this morning with the kids hanging out in the backyard. i had to leave to head back to tulsa this afternoon. i will miss them like crazy. love them so much.

Just me, myself, and I!

Fun slideshow of me.... I went to the coffeehouse with my friend Sarah. She's in the Digital 1 Photography Class with me. We have a great time and we took pictures of each other making different expressions and it was very, very fun!

Thanks, Sarah, for this slideshow.

Andrew Aaron

Here he is....Andrew! Meet my new nephew!

Big Sister and Big Brother

Kate and Will are loving their little brother.....today we went to Jump for Joy for some fun time for them!
We had a great time and I followed them around everywhere with the camera too!

 

 

 

 

Andrew has arrived...

Welcome with love, little Andrew!(My newest nephew)

 

 

 

 

Remembering my grandpa

Well, I've been in a funk today. I know it's Easter, and it should be a great day. I'm a Christian, and Easter is a wonderful time and celebration of new life. However, ever since 2005, Easter just isn't the same. I can't manage to get into the spirit of things on this day. I'm hoping it will change one day, but for now, it's just so hard.

See, my grandpa Lee passed away on Easter of 2005, and I don't remember the date, but I remember the holiday. I remember the call. I had actually just broken off an engagement and a relationship and had moved in with my mom before finding my own place. I was in a sad spot already (even though it was the best decision EVER to break up, it was still hard) and wasn't in a good mood. Then the call came....and I learned that my grandpa had died that afternoon. My dad asked me if I wanted to go up to Joplin with him to see Grandpa and to talk about arrangements. Of course, I did. It was just my dad and I. It was a quiet ride...but it was good. We talked a little more on the way back...about how grandpa was in our life, our memories, etc. How grandpa would have been so proud of my decision to "get my ducks in a row" before moving on to the next step of life. I can smile to think of that, but I'm still sad today. Here are some photograph's my dad took of me and Grandpa one Christmas...I think it was in 2001...so this is 7 years ago. Actually, I remember they had just purchased the 35mm Rebel from Canon and I thought it was super cool...but then I didn't realize how much I would later be into photography. Anyhow, these are pictures of pictures, so forgive the quality...but they make me smile on this day when I've shed some tears.



 

 

 


On another note...my family all arrived back from Europe this evening. All in one piece, pieces rather. They had a great time and brought me back a nice Prada back from Italia! (It's real ya know...hee hee!) They always support me well when I take care of the animals...and it was fun, but it's soooo nice to be home. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonight! I took a nap on my couch today to March Madness in the background...(isn't that awesome!)

Have a wonderful week...and for my own sanity, if you do read this blog.....leave me a message. I doubt anyone reads it, but I'd love to know if you do!

Em

P.S. Tomorrow I get to be an Aunt again....hooray. Andrew Aaron will probably be here by early afternoon. Can't wait to see what he looks like! Can't wait to hold him on Thursday night!

Long time no see....

I don't know that anyone ever really reads this thing, but I'd like to think so......


It's been a long two weeks. And I haven't had much time to do much of anything with my own blog. I've had internet access, but I haven't had my own computer to post my own blog...I just added some of my favorite pictures from an early morning trip to the OKC Bombing Memorial to my Photo Blog.

SO, just where has this Aunt Emily been, you may wonder? Well, I was in Oklahoma City learning how to effectively mediate and "How to get to YES!" While I was there, I got to see my lovely friend, Peter and his wife Kris....and welcome their exciting news of being expecting parents of their firstborn SON! (Aunt Emily can't wait, because she loves kids of all sorts, even if they aren't her own nephew's or nieces!) It was a needed break...work has been sooo stressful, and I can't even begin to blog the amount of stress I'm feeling, so heading over there to spend the night for two nights, dinner, wine, conversation, and a comfortable bed....just did the soul some good! Love those people!

Then...I headed back here for my Thursday night photography class with Photo Zane...and had a great one at that. He liked my morning pictures from the memorial...apparently the lighting was cool. (I was proud of myself!) It's always nice to have a compliment when you work so hard!

And then I was off to start the 10 day house sitting process for my dad and stepmom...and their three dogs, my one dog, their fish, hamster, and gerbil....(oh the fun that was to be had and I was yet aware of!). I became ill that late night and into early Friday morning.....was not fun at all, but my mom came to my rescue with Anti-Nausea medicine and I slept the rest of the little bug off. It was nice....I love the effect of anti-nausea medication. (Later did I learn that my pharmacist connection can create a compound that does this same thing!)

So....I've now been at Dad and Gayle's for a week....and I'm worn slick...I miss my bed, I miss my Zoe cat and I'm ready to stop living out a suitcase while being in the same town...I'm not even on vacation...but I think I deserve one after this!

They are due back on Sunday...2 nights to go! I came to Panera to get some wireless access on my own computer, and it's been nice!

And, for some other exciting news... my nephew Will has learned to say my name...in THREE syllables... (EMMM LLLLL EEEE) YEAH! I have been waiting for this day for over a year I think. I am SOO proud of that Will..and it's just in time for my new nephew to be born. Speaking of that, I'm going to be an Aunt again....and I think it's super cool. My nephew Andrew Aaron is coming on Monday, March 24th. Easter Monday. How appropriate and fitting.. my brother, his father, was born on Easter Sunday.... I think it's cool!

I can't WAIT for him to get here! I really can't wait to take more pictures now that I know what I'm doing... and speaking of photography...it's so my new found passion. Seriously, where has a digital SLR been my entire life? Really? Where has it been? My next big purchase will be a better camera...I've got the basic soccer mom one...but I'm gonna get the Canon 40D next...so I'm saving my pennies for that one. I think I might start babysitting more...because I've got to get one...and then I've got my wish list started too!

Alright.. I've posted a novel...I should come up with a picture to put on this....but I can't think of one. I'll take some new fun ones soon...probably of the kids. I'm going down in a week to welcome Andrew and I'm planning on shooting some of Kate and Will and of course of the baby boy too!

I'm well and I'm loving life!

Love to you all... well, to my invisible friends that I hope read this blog!

spring forward...

 

today it warmed up....flowers are coming up....and i believe the warmness is on it's way! hooray!

My baby...

Here's my baby...well, he's been around for 3 years now... and that's how old he is. From the Wal-Mart parking lot straight into my heart, here's my boy Wally! I've been busy shooting pictures outside, and I wanted to try some inside too...so I shot my baby because I don't have any kids to work on around here. :) I've got to borrow some for upcoming photography class assigments....because I have some fun ideas but my niece and nephew (and nephew on the way) are 4 hours away!!!!

Anyway, I like this set of shots... it shows his personality....and I love my dog!

Okay..so I had them up...and then they disappeared...and I tried to reupload them and blogger is being a pain..... maybe I'll try tomorrow. Wait, maybe I'll try just one of my favorites. YES....it worked!



Now I'll try one more....



Alright... I'll just end with that. I think Oprah's Big Give is coming up and then the Newleywed show is on too... so I'll watch some television and then get to bed! I've got a busy week ahead!

trying a new kind of post...

 

 

 

here are the contact sheets from my assignment for my digital 1 photo class.

In case you were wondering...

Just in case you have been reading the ridiculous claims about Obama being a muslim or are curious about his faith.

"I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. But most importantly, I believe in the example that Jesus set by feeding the hungry and healing the sick and always prioritizing the least of these over the powerful."

I think that sums it up pretty clearly. You can read the whole interview here if you're interested.

life as it is..

Well, life has been much different since the little one left the house. I don't quite know what to do with myself. Honestly, it's been quite difficult. A roller-coaster of sorts. A wild ride. Emotional. Turbulant. My friend, Sarah, who is my bestest buddy here at work with me, has been at the bitter end of my rants and raves lately. She has heard me cry, heard me get nauseaus in the car on the way to an early training, burp, you name it....scream, yell, complain about work, (you get the picture yet....).....it's been a crazy week. I've definitely gone through the gamut of emotions. I am getting better at not crying so much but I still cry a little each time her name is brought up. It's tough.

So, I'm trying to stay busy. I started my Digital 1 Photography Class last Thursday. It was wonderful. We've been busy photographing everything. We've done several shoots together, and here are a few of my favorites from this week. It's a good way to keep my mind of of stress...and I love it. Where has this been my entire life? Why did it take me so long to realize that I love taking pictures? And to shoot manually? WOW! I never knew how cool that could be?

We went to Riverside and the walking bridge the other night...turned out a North wind came right in and was about to blow us away. We got some good shots. My shutter speed was set too low the whole time and I didn't realize it until the end.. (amateur, remember)....so a good cup of hot chocolate fixed it at the Coffee Shop on Cherry Street. It was fun. (And it allowed me to get a super cool shot of it!)





Sarah and I trekked over to Oklahoma City for a training for our job....and went downtown to shoot at the memorial. I think we got some amazing pictures. And, what's really cool, we decided, was that even though we go to the same places....we never get the same shot! We both came home with different pictures! That's what's soooo cool about it!

We didn't have class this week due to some last minute stuff, but it's added on at the end of the other weeks....so it's all good. Here is just 1 of my favorite...and two other fun ones! Hope you like them too!

Our photo blog has more.

should have been a cowboy!

How 'bout them Cowboys?


Reminds me of times I was there earlier this year...when Taylor and I took little one to the OSU game and sat in the cool boxes up high! She loved it...and she thought the OSU table was the coolest thing EVAH!

It's so hard to say good bye....

It's now been about 24 hours since Violet's been gone....and it's been a rough road. We had a great last week of fun things. We had many last things do to, friends to see, family members to see, and things to do. I think it went really well, all things considered. The one thing that made it hard, was that my mom got really really sick and actually ended up in the hospital on Thursday morning, so she didn't really get to hug her good bye.

However, after talking much with Gayle, my stepmom, who also did foster care years back, I realized that we needed to make this a "see ya later" rather than a "good-bye" so that's what we did. Violet liked this idea much better, the incoming family was totally fine with it, and I liked it too. We still had our moments. Violet cried every day and I caught myself tearful (read: emotional breakdowns) at multiple times during the week, usually when someone told me what a good job I did. Which is another blog post in it's entireity.

So, with that being said, Violet moved yesterday afternoon to Wichita, Kansas. I sent her with an address book with all her friends and families addresses and phone numbers, stamps, notecards, pens, stickers, and other fun writing stuff. I do hope she calls to tell me how she's doing. If I don't hear from her within the week, I will call her. However, I'm going to guess I'll hear from her within the week.

The plan is for us to go visit her within the next 2-3 months to see her, follow up and make sure she's doing well. Her worker will keep me informed and they told me they'd let her call as much as she'd like also. I feel very relieved with this also. For having someone in your life that long, it's like losing a piece of your heart. A very hard thing to do.

I decided to get away for the weekend and come to a peaceful place for me. I'm renting a cabin at Grand Lake. I've got wi-fi, tv, warm blankets, books, food, pop, and my dog....what else could a girl want...and the best part is that I'm in a place that I spent much time growing up as a child in the summers with my grandpa.

He built this resort (Lee's Resort) so I'm feeling at home, even though it's away. I wanted to get away, spend some time in peace and quiet to center myself before getting back to work and life as it was before Violet was in my life.

I think I'll be alright, it will be quite an adjustment, but I will be doing some fun new things too. I'm starting a new photography class and I'm sooooooo excited for that. I can't wait! Speaking of that, I changed my design of my blog and put a new header picture...that was from the class on Thursday night. It isn't a big deal, but I thought it was a cool picture...so I put it up there, because that is now the focus of my life. Well, one of many. Our instructor, Zane, was great. He was young, hip, cool, and seems to know a ton about photography. I'm excited to learn basic DSLR photography and how to shoot Manually. That's our goal.

We have homework assignment and Sarah and I already have a few shooting ideas for this week. We'll post pictures on our photo blog (link on upper right side) and I'll put some here too, I'm sure)! I'm going to try to capture some tomorrow. He said he expects us to get 50-100 per assignment! What a fun class! I'm so excited.

Well, I'm off to watch the OSU/Kansas basketball game...a little anxiously I suppose, but milk and oreo's will make it better. Here's a picture of what I'm looking at the moment...which satisfies our assignment too, by the way...

ISO 100/200
WB Daylight (I didn't even adjust to cloudy)
Center the meter to 0







Thanks for reading!

Oh, and for the record....Violet will be the first and the last foster kiddo I have. I've got some other stuff on the horizon.... ;)