Guess who is back

Zippy! Ah how I love when Zippy arrives at our house. A special elf that reports back to santa every night. (Well our elf is a bit forgetful, bless his heart sometimes it is days before he make it back to the N Pole) It is just the extra motivation Johnny needs to keep his behavior in check with all the Christmas excitment.  Not to mention he LOVES to wake up and see what Zippy has gotten into!I dont want to be that person who fills up the FB newsfeed with elf pictures so instead I will share with you.

Johnny left out his Cowboys and Indians and they did not take Zippy for a friendly. They tied the poor guy up.

Day 2: Apparently Zippy was feeling a bit scruffy and needed a shave

Day 3: A hike around the candle, with his walking stick of course, later he did indeed make it to the summit where we found him meditating

And for tomorrow, we all know how Maple Syrup is a food group for elfs!

Stay tuned for more Zippy updates. The weekend ones I am sure will be good :) 

Christmas Pictures Take 1

I have been so caught up in taking everyones picture I realized I haven't done ours yet. There is a beautiful red barn that I pass every day, it is in walking distance from our house and on Dr. Bicker's property. (Our landlord from the farm days) I have wanted to take pictures there forever, but it is always over grown and may or may not be illegal. But I was so excited as I passed by it I saw a path had been cut. A perfect path from the fence right to the barn. I drove Johnny home and put some clothes on him and we jumped the fence closing my eyes so I honestly didnt see the No Trespassing sign. Yes I know, not setting the best example judge me all you want. So here we were ready to take pictures I have had in my head for the past 3 years at least, and guess who didnt want to take pictures? Seriously kid? He is always hamming it up for the camera but nooooo I got a lot of attitude and smolders but no dimple smiles or good belly laughs. Grrr and this cost me 2 bucks, dont get me wrong there are some cute ones (which I may use) but we will be back, and in the meantime I have another idea I might try this weekend.

Thanksgiving Already!

Good grief we have been busy. Rather then ramble on about what we have been doing for the past month I will just give you the cliff notes. (I always liked those better) I have been taking pictures and editing like a crazy woman ever since I came back from the beach, and John left for another job opportunity in New Jersey helping with the hurricane clean up. I dont know when he will be home and I dont fully understand what he is doing. Which leaves me and Johnny again doing what we do. Oh yea and we had thanksgiving. I will stop here as Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The holiday kicked off with a fall feast at school. The kids dressed like Indians or Pilgrims and did three songs, one guess what Johnny was. He chose the name Big Arrow and had very detailed Native American drawings on his shirt. Of course when he got up there he pulled shy guy so not much singing but I love those shy little looks..

 

 

 

 

I was really looking forward to Thanksgiving this year because all of the Wolfs were in town  and when Peggy and mom get together an amazing thing happens in the kitchen! It has been a year since I have seen the Texas Wolf pack and way too long with Nolan and Megan. I cant believe how big the twins have gotten or how old Johnny looks next to them! I know you are probably going to fall out of your seat when I say this but I didnt get too many pictures. Nolan had his fancy camera out and I was playing with it. Who knows if they came out (I had no idea what I was doing). But it was a great visit with everyone and the food was rediculious. We all truly have a lot to be thankful for. This year I am especially greatful for the small things I take for granite every day.

 

 

A break

OK I am very grateful for this little side job that has really taken off. I do love photography and I am still in shock how many people love the pictures I take. It is hard to believe Blue Prints has been in business for 1 year and I have had over 35 clients! But whew, the month of November is a little overwhelming. I usually book 4 clients a month, one a week is comfortable to me and gives me time to edit and not miss out on too much family time but November I have booked 10 sessions! 10 I tell you, it's so hard to say NO! So seeing as I am going to have my face either behind a computer or camera the entire month my mom's invitation to the beach sounded pretty good. Johnny and I went down for a quick trip to enjoy the sand, water and sun. I was really surprised how beautiful it was this late in the year. We had highs reach 80 and the lows in the 60's, now I don't remember the last time I went on vacation with just my mom, but hopefully I can do it again soon!

It was a much needed break and after pulling in my driveway on Saturday I already want to go back. LOL

 

Indiana Jones

Well I really felt the pressure of Halloween this year to try and top the Captain Jack Sparrow costume from last year. Of course part of the fun of Halloween is choosing the costume. And yes, I let Johnny pick his costume on his own (after telling him all the ninja's and masked men didn’t come in his size) he decided to be one of the men that hangs in our movie room. (Thank God it wasn’t Kramer ) He decided to be Mr. Indiana Jones. I was pleased with his choice. The costume was fairly simple to put together or so I thought. Ever notice when you are actually looking for something it is nowhere to be found? I searched high and low for dark brown slacks and a tan button down shirt. After a tank of gas and a headache I went to target and came out with cargo pants and a white button down. It was going to have to do! I purchased the whip from a Halloween store and the hat is Poppy's, which fit on Johnny's big ol head just fine. We also included the holster and pistol which Johnny already had.


We were on our way to the annual Dojo party and I just felt like something wasn’t right about the costume. He had the hat, the 5 O'clock shadow, and whip but we needed to make up for no satchel and leather jacket. Then I had the greatest idea ever - dirt, we needed dirt. There was a nearby construction site and when we pulled up there was mounds of Georgia red clay. So I told Johnny to go roll around in the dirt, get it everywhere including your face, the kid looked at me like I was crazy and did have a concern about the dirt causing pimples, LOL. But once he started rolling he got into character quickly, standing on top of the dirt mountain cracking his whip.

We went on to win second place at the Dojo costume contest. He was beat by a baby Ninja Turtle.



After Johnny fought with me for days on trick or treating I decided to go against his wishes and take him to the beach. I guess it has already happened, friends have become top priority. He didn’t want to miss out on all of the Trick or Treating with the neighborhood which I get but come on the beach is the beach! Yea, he got over that pretty quickly. It was the perfect night, in the 60's and we walked over to the village where all the shops were handing out candy. After going around the circle a few times and getting more candy then I would allow him to eat in a year we got something to eat and the night ended with fireworks! It was a really nice way to spend Halloween.

We dont get out much....

So I get pretty excited when a friend is having a birthday, or a baby shower or even better a wedding. It is a reason we have to get out and do something. (Not that John and I are hermits or anything, but after a long, busy week we usually stay close to home.) So our friend Richard was getting married in the mountains and we were getting dressed up! I had the perfect dress for the event, it is pink and sparkly not in a tacky sparkly way but a princess way. I couldn't wait to wear it. Well Gigi came to pick up Johnny and we got ready, cutting it as close as possible to the time we had to leave John and I come downstairs he in a suit and me in my beautiful dress. We looked good, as long as you didnt look down. LOL As someone that prefers to be barefoot all the time I dont put a lot of time into shoes so I had on boots and John was rolling like Phil Gold, suit n sneakers (but not like white sneakers I am talking neon green and blue). Awesome.

While we had no time to stop I decided it was worth being a few minuets late. The mall was on the way and I scored a pair of neutral pumps and John some black dress shoes for under 100.00. And the best part is we arrived right on time. The wedding was very intimate and small. It was in a beautiful cabin, and with the fall colors and mountains it was really pretty. Being on a Sunday night we didnt get to stay for too long but I am so glad we went. Here are a few pictures from our big night out. And believe it or not, I didnt take very many pictures. It was nice to just be somewhere and not have to do anything!

 

 

 

 

And the Bride and Groom