Sorry...

Well, I'm going to apologize right off the start. I have been so busy with stuff that I kept putting off the blog. Bad blogger!lol I will try and not dissapear like that again... And also, I'll apologize for the entry I'm about to write (I'm not in the best of moods).
As most of you may know, I'm deep into the planning of my September 27th wedding. I was just starting to feel confidant about everything too. I have the church, minister, photographer, reception, food, invites, dresses, flowers, etc all planned or reserved. My cake and DJ are both just about nailed down too. All the major stressors were pretty much out of the way(for now anyways :P) Until of course, I emailed the minister with a few little questions. That short little 3 line email has turned my whole wedding (and my world for the time being) into a stressed out mess!! The 1st question was fine; 3pm is a fine time for my wedding. Yay! now I can print my invites!! 2nd question okay; reading must be from the bible. Understandable, the wedding is being held at a church...sucks I can't use the reading I absolutly fell in love with...but theres always the reception. 3rd question is where my heart stoppped; apparently there are to be NO photos taken AT ALL during my ceremony!! My wedding cannot be captured for me to love and cherish the rest of my life!! What??!!! Back it up Reverend! No pictures at all?? Any of you who know me at all know what a big role photographs play in my life. Those who know me well understand how much they really mean to me, and how CRAZY this is making me!! I seriously started crying reading the email. This really is like the end of the world to me. And yes mom-it really IS a BIG DEAL! UGH!
Okay, okay. I've taken a few deep breaths and a nice big sip of my, ummm, coke and coke. I'm a bit calmer. But honestly, is this normal? My mom said it was like this at her wedding too. They just pose you after the fact, and photograph away. That doesn't make me feel the remotest bit better by the way, in fact, it makes me kinda mad! (another large sip) I don't want to fake my wedding pictures. That is sooo wrong to me. How do you recreate raw emotion?? I want a pic of me walking down the isle. I want Josh's expression captured the first time he sees me in my dress. You can't fake that! You can't recreate that! I want to see my real tears when I start crying like a baby on the alter (you know I will). I want to see my dad give me away. These pictures are supposed to capture my ceremony, not some creepy theatrical performance of it. (And please, don't let this offend anyone that may have, like my parents, and appaarently me, had to get their precious memories captured this way. These are my own personal feelings about my wedding....very emotional feelings right now, perhaps a teensy bit irrational. You be the judge. You have my full permission.)
I dunno ladies (or gentlemen), is this the norm? Am I doomed to "redo" my ceremony after the fact for the sake of my pictures? Do I suck it up and move on? Or do I start looking for a new minister, and new church? I do really love the church by the way. My girls were baptised there, thats the family church, and its very cute and "homey" feeling. Please help me!! Be the voice of reason....or outrage along with me ;) Thanks for listening!!

Mothers Day <3

This Mother's Day was one of my best yet! It was busy, but then, we always are! My day started late, which was much appreciated, as my girlies actually let me sleep in for once!! Happy MD to me! When I woke up, I was greeted by two smiling little faces and a couple pieces of (cold) toast that the girls buttered themselves! (thanks Josh! lol) After my breakfast in bed, Hailey brought me all the presents she had been collecting for me. I got a light up glass rose that says Best Mom on it, a beautiful handprint poem, a lovely homemade card, and a beautiful necklace that she made me at school (much nicer than the painted macaroni ones of my kindergarten days, thanks Mrs. Jenkins!!) Isabelle was up next with a very nice rose picture frame and beautiful picture she drew for me. I finally got out of bed, reluctantly, and we all got ready for a MD brunch at the inlaws. We mingled with the family, had a delicious brunch (my FIL makes the best cinnamon buns ever!) and I was surprised again by Hailey with a homemade heart shaped carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (Josh insists she made nearly the whole thing herself, to which she replies:and only 1 shell! I love my girl!!). After brunch we were off to Green Village to get the MD flowers for the Grandmothers. We stopped in at the house and I was very surprised to find a couple gerbera daisies and a card from my sweet, sneaky, wonderful friend! I was so surprised, and it completely made my day! Thanks Kelly! They look great next the the beautiful roses my sister gave me. We ended the day with a trip to my father's camp, and some take-out Diplomat chinese food (Thanks Josh!) with my parents. My cake was the perfect dessert, and it was so yummy! I couldn't have asked for a better day. Thanks to my amazing family and friends, I love you all!! xoxo

Presents, presents everywhere!

Last night we went to the inlaws for supper. Josh's mom had been away in Afganistan (on vacation, not for anything war-related) for a few weeks. One of her sisters flew their mother and the other sisters over for their mothers birthday. Well, we finally got over for a visit, and it was about time! We looked through some amazing trip photos, and I'm telling you, it looked fantastic!! Afganistan is beautiful! Someday, I wouldn't mind taking a venture over there. They all had a great time, and i'm glad. And like any good Grammy would, she brought back way too many great prezzies for the girls. They each got a beautiful throw pillow for their beds, with a camel sewn on it. They got aprons for helping in the kitchen, funny (although cute) little hats, and gorgeous hanging elephant decorations for their rooms. The girls were in their glory!! Janet didn't forget me and Josh either. I got a lovely bookmark, a keychain I adore, and a couple camel ornaments for the Christmas tree! Josh jot a really neat little vase filled with ornamental sand. Great job Janet!!
You'd thnk that would be enough excitement for one day, but a parcel had arrived from Josh's sister (who is teaching english in Korea). Aunt Amanda sent the girls each a pink tshirt with a panda bear on it. The girls went crazy! Especially Hailey, who's always had a soft spot for her Aunt Amanda. Haileys tshirt has rows of pandas doing (what looks like) dance moves. I've never seen Hailey so excited about a tshirt before. She spent most of the evening learning the "panda dance" and showing it to anyone who would look her way. I have a feeling I'm going to be seeing a lot of that shirt!