Changes in the house!

We've been preparing for baby number two!
In October my fantastic parents purchased hardwood floors for the two kids rooms.  Josh and my dad spent a few days installing it... it's finished and it looks wonderful.  My house was a disaster for several days and I had a break down one night because I couldn't see my living room.   BUT everything is back in its place and as close to "normal" as it's going to get. 

In the process we moved all of zoe's "baby" furniture to the new babies room... and put together her big girl furniture.  Her big girl room is pretty much complete.  I think Santa is going to bring her a bedspread for her bed... and a few little tweeks in there and it will be done. 
The baby's room is not complete.  The furniture is in there..but that's it.  I still need to decide on colors/theme.  I have a few ideas in my head but haven't decided anything for sure.  Boy rooms are so much harder than girl rooms.  Once I decide on colors, I need to paint and then decorate.  I'll be sure to post photos :)

Since we lost the toy room... (it became the baby's room) we had to bring all of the toys out to the living room.  It worked out pretty well.  I'm still struggling with the big pieces not having a good home, but for the most part everything is fine. 

I also painted this little weird niche wall we have in the house, with chalkboard paint.  I have a small chalkboard wall in the kitchen, but it's now home to a kitchen cart that holds our microwave...so we can't use it.  I wanted a wall that I could write on, and the kids, and that I could also display some photos and Zoe's art work on.  This one was the best solution for that.  it turned out really well.  I got some empty frames and attached some wire to the backs, so that I could hang Zoe's art work and photos in them.  They're cute!

We also made changes to the basement.  We moved my scrapbook stuff down there, it's behind a curtain in a little cut out area that's a great place for it.  Then I have all my photography props and backdrops down there.  I still need to finish somethings down there.  I want to paint one wall a fun, bright color.  I also am going to "rig up" a place on the wall to easily swap out my backdrops without using my backdrop stands!

So much to do, so little time! :)

My October and November crazy months!

I'm sure you've heard me say (or saw me say online)  October was crazy... 4 of my own weddings, one wedding to second shoot (out of state) with Sarah, 17 mini sessions, plus tons of regular sessions.  Shew!  October flew by... and now I'm in November, trying to edit all of that stuff!  I have done pretty good getting things done and out to clients as close to on time as I can.  I however have been up until midnight almost every night.  I'm exhausted.   Although I love shooting and being busy, I'm really looking forward to January when things are MUCH slower!  My DVR is filling up :)

Trick or Treat!

Mom, Sarah & I took the kids to Boo at the Zoo one Saturday night in October!  It was pretty chilly out so we bundled up and headed up there for a bit.  The kids had fun... we had to make sure we saw the snakes :)  We had the cutest firefighter and Owl at the Zoo that's for sure!

 Zoe loves riding the "horses"... I on the other hand was trying my best not to get dizzy.  I was trying to focus on one spot and not look around too much!

Quick update!

I'm still drowning in editing.... but I had to post this.

Tonight Zoe was not diggin' going to bed.  I went in there twice... the second time her music had stopped so she told me to turn it back on, I was holding her and she goes "I rock en da bebe's room mom"  :) Sweetest thing ever. 

We changed her room into her "big girl furniture" so the rocker is now in the baby's room..... I love that she knows what the room is for :)

Four years ago today...

 We said I DO! 

Happy Anniversary Honey, I love you!

imac Decals

For awhile I've wanted a decal for my imac... ya know to go at the bottom by the apple.
I made the one I had on my old laptop...and I suppose I could do that again, but I thought I'd be able to find a cute one on etsy.
NOPE this is all I could find. 
Come one now!  I don't want a Zombie one.

I guess I'll keep looking until I decide what I want then maybe I'll make it myself!

Go Bucks!

Since we've made the basement into my studio, my backdrops & lights are set up all the time... Zoe knows this and she's really been digging having her photo taken.  A week or so ago I had a session, and I told her I was getting ready to take someones pictures, and she said "me too.... my picture"  :) So, since I had some time I put her in her jersey and took her down there for some "Go Bucks" photos.... She had fun just jumping around and goofing off!

 That one (of her feet) is a new favorite of mine... I'm going to blow it up big and hang it...somewhere :)

Time really does fly!

I am fully aware that I'm a horrible blogger.  I don't know why I don't do it more...I just never make myself take the time to sit here and do it.

I really have a goal to be better.  I'm going to try harder this time :)

Zoe turns TWO!

 Can you believe that she's TWO?  Crazy how time goes by.  She's a walking--running--talking--yelling--two year old.  But she's SO much FUN!  We LOVE this age.  We talk all the time about how nice it is that she can do so much on her own, and how she enjoys it.  If I could always have a two year old, I would.
Her actual birthday fell on a Saturday this year, so we had her party on her brithday.  We decided a few months ago on a Cat in the Hat theme.  Or "AT" as she says. 
{Have you seen the Mike Meyers version?  It's adorable, and that's the one she loves.  We watch it every day.}

I tried to keep it simple this year.  I told myself I wasn't going to spend as much money as I did last year...and I don't think I succeeded.  We had the party at home this year.  There aren't any places in central Ohio that are affordable for inside parties--big group parties anyway.  I planned on doing it inside, until about a week before the party when I realized we were just going to have way to many people.  So we shifted some plans and planned it do it outside.  It was hotter than I expected it to be, but luckily we had the garage, and my dads 12x20 tent for shade.  

 I used the letters from last year, and just repainted them, then wrapped some yarn around them that I already had. 

 Yummy cookies!  A cousin of a friend made these (and the Hat cake)  They were delish!

 I made these notebooks. I Bought them each for $0.95 at Flower factory, printed the "paper" at my printer, and then cut the paper and used my circut to cut their names.

 I saw this idea online and fell in love with it.  It didn't go as well as I hoped it would...I wanted EVERYONE to sign it...like ALL over the inside of the book...but I think a lot of people missed it.

 I made the banner!  (Please excuse our garage clutter)

 I made those too.  I did them for Alyvia's birthday party back in February and people killed them...so  mom suggested I do them again.  They didn't go over quite as well, but they were still yummy!

 My Friend Missy made those cake pops.  Another YUMMY treat!

 I was worried we weren't going to have enough cake so I picked these up at Sam's Club.  We only went through 10 of them. 

 The birthday girl! :)

 LOVE her dress, right?  Isn't it adorable? :)

 AND those hairbows :)

 The HAT cake! :)

 She was NOT happy about sitting here with me.  She thought I was going to make her eat the cake.  For those of you who do not know, she repels SUGAR!  (that's an entire other post)

 She didn't even want to blow out the candles.

 She's crying :(

 yay for presents!

 She was into opening & carrying them.  It was adorable.

 Mom says this is our arranged marriage :)

 I didn't get any good photos of her.  I barley got this one!

 I hung these in the tree!  :)

 Cute right? 

 

Ready for the totals?  I'll save that for tomorrow.  If I can bring myself to post them!  eek!