Finished pictures - Tyson in the hospital

These are just some of my friend's new son!  The whole family was adorable to watch.  Especially big sister!  I think one of my favorites is the one where she's giving him love-ins.

Goldeneye

My husband surprised me with a Wii game last night.  James Bond - Goldeneye.  I must admit when Emma walked in through the garage door and announced Jake had bought something for me, I wasn't expecting a Wii game.  I couldn't believe he had remembered how much I like to play James Bond!  I was touched and surprised all at the same time!   I think he was embarrassed as he showed it to me.  It didn't help that my girls small group was sitting around the kitchen table watching.  :)

When we were first married we used to go to a friend's house and play James Bond for hours.  There were four of us and four controllers.  Looking back on it, I can't believe we played on such a small TV!  I guess for the time back then it was "big".  With what we have now, the screen seems so small!  Anywhoo....

We stayed up until ten shooting at each other.  (I know ten isn't THAT late in the adult world.  However, I am usually in bed asleep by then on a school night.)  It was so much fun!  The game was also a lot harder than I remember it.  I think I need to get used to the controllers again.  I also think I need to find someone else to play against that hasn't had military training.  During our last game, Jake parked his character on top of a roof and played the role of sniper quite well.  Hmmmm...makes me wonder if he really is just a "computer geek" for the Air Force after all.  :)

Thanksgiving thoughts

As I sit here in the bedroom, I hear my husband talking to my girls.  He is teaching them the fine art of pie crust making.  Sadly, I cannot make a pie crust.  Not for lack of trying or lack of teaching.  No, I simply cannot make a decent pie crust.

I love the conversations they are having in between the instructions.  I listen to him patiently explain why you have to add certain ingredients at certain times.  I hear their eager responses as they both want to be the one to add to the mixture.

My heart is swelling with contentment.  As the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaches I am thankful for many, many things.  I am blessed with a wonderful house, two fabulous daughters, ten chickens and two mangy mutts.  I have a job and money in the bank.  We are all healthy.  I have good friends and live in a country that allows me to be free.  My family will be together (minus the Las Vegas crew) for Thanksgiving.

As I type my thoughts are interrupted by laughter from the kitchen.  

I think most of all...this year...I am thankful for the man I married.

Maya part two

Here are some of the photos from my last photo shoot.  (I can't believe I'm typing the words photo shoot!  Whoo Hoo!!)

Maya was a lot of fun to shoot!  Her favorite word of the day:  "No".   Once she warmed up to the idea of me and the camera we had a lot of fun running around the playground!

Tidbits

Wow!  It's been a while since I last blogged...I could sit here and list the thousand and one things I had going on between now and October 11th.  Frankly...that would be rather tiresome.  And, since I'm exhausted from doing them the first time around, I'd rather not re-live them by typing them out.

And now on to other fun things...first, my husband made it home safe and sound from officer's school!  Yeah!  I'm so glad to have another adult around the house.  Being a single mom for six weeks sure makes you appreciate your spouse when they return.  Kuddos to those of you out there that single parent every week!

Second, my husband surprised me last Sunday with a most fabulous gift.  A brand new Mac Book!  I am soooo excited I can't stand it!  He also bought me Photoshop Elements to play with.  I couldn't believe it when I came home and saw the box sitting on the kitchen table.  All I could do was scream, run around the house and scream some more!   I have been hinting that I wanted one for a LONG time.  However, that was one of those hints that I knew would never be truly listened to due to lack of funding.   Apparently he got a nice check from the military and decided to spend it on me!  Have I mentioned that I love this man I'm married to?

Third and final exciting news...I have three photo shoots lined up!  I hope this is just the beginning of a long and happy time of taking photos of people and bringing a little happiness into their lives!