Distance.

Not sure about making the heart grow fonder but man, sure makes us miss him! The kids really miss James and so do I. Elijah about breaks my heart when he calls around "daddy, where are you?". The week has been going well though so far. God really has granted me patience because I'd think I should be pulling my hair out by now. But I'm not... Thank you God! James is in Virginia working and looking for a place for us to move. Last night he looked at a couple of houses and as I write, is looking at more. I hope, I hope! Work is going good for him but it is long days Mon-Thurs, so he is tired. It will take him time to get used to working 12 hours. Plus, he could probably use a wife to cook him healthy meals rather than eating junk to keep him going.

Elijah locked my keys in the car today--well, I did with his help. He threw a fit as I was buckling him in and grabbed at my keys in my hand...setting off the panic button. I turned off the panic button and he knocked the keys out of my hand. I shut the door to the van, not realizing he must have hit the lock button too. Door shut, kids buckled, phone, purse, and keys in the car. NOT cool. It is pretty hot too. So big ordeal with having the cops unlock the door. They couldn't open it. The other police department was on the way but would take about 15 minutes in traffic, lock people were going to be a little while, soooo the police said that they would have to break the window open if no one came soon. Ah, I was stressed because I know how hot it can get and wanted the kids out, but also didn't want my new van window broken. Grr. But animal control came! My hero! They wedged the car door open enough to stick a pole through and hit the unlock button.

I've gotten a lot packed already. I started unloading things from the studio today and that made me sad. I barely got a chance to enjoy having it. The basement is about 3/4 packed, kitchen is packed except necessities, bathroom packed, kids room mainly packed, my room packed. Garage, photo equipment, and rest of basement needs to be done. I'm going to try to get my wedding editing done this weekend but other than that, try to relax. Then I'll just have to have it go time once we find a place and plan a day to move.

News: Isadora cut a tooth! And I'm going to be an aunt again!! My brother Roger and his wife Sarah are expecting! We don't know the due date yet but sometime late Feb or March is the guess at this point.

TwentySeven!

I had a great birthday! My mom came and watched the kids for James and I to have a date day. It was really nice to spend some with James without the kids, especially since it has been 24-7 kids without a break of work or anything lately. We went to the ice skating rink by us, to the DIA, and then to eat some mexican food.


After a wonderful breakfast prepared by James, he brought out my gifts. A tri/monopod! I haven't had a tripod in a couple of years... and have been wanting one to do some long exposures.


Camera was out...so of course she had to pose. She says she learned this pose from Hannah Montana.


Eli too!


Berlin helping open my presents.


Yep, I read kid books.

woo, weird to see pictures of me without makeup on. don't worry, there aren't anymore! lol.


Here I am after my triple axel. That James just couldn't catch me in action, I'm too fast for him. :)


James

Mom, mom! Look, I'm strong!

We had a pretty long day today. I kept thinking all day of what I was going to do for my project 365 and ended up doing none of my ideas. I did try to jump out of the car to get a picture of James pumping gas...but ended up getting out too late and he just stared at me like I was an idiot. I am a little bummed because I'm finding that my focus is off again! I have had this issue several times for several different reasons...and now after a focus test AGAIN, I'm thinking that there is something up with my newest lens. It keeps front focusing so it will have to be sent in for repairs. It is my fave all around lens though so I'm not looking forward to being without it. At least it is under warranty and will be covered for repair!

Anyway, the second picture needs an explanation...or should have one. I told Berlin that if she ate all of her dinner that she could have some of my soda. I poured her some Virgil's Root Beer--but only a little bit. I explained that it was a strong pop so I wasn't giving her a whole bunch. (it is kind of like dessert in drink form with all the flavor and sugar). So she drinks it and then comes running into the living room holding Elijah's toy lawn mower over her head. "Mom, mom! Look, I'm STRONG! I had strong pop!" This girl says the funniest things all the time!

Even with the 'amanda you are an idiot' look on his face, i wish the darn picture was sharp. grr.

July in January.

Because I am that behind. I just got to putting photos on the computer from July. Things just got way too hectic with weddings, my brother's wedding, bridal showers, James' back, and my big preggo self being super tired. SO, now here are a few posts from July all in one! It is actually a little sad because I miss grass...and sunshine. But instead of being grumpy, I will rejoice in the day that the Lord has made...even if it is in Michigan and cold and snowy. :)

NANA CAMP. I didn't take many pictures. The one day I had no flash on accident and the other times, it was just too much work to keep up with Eli and take pictures. But I did get a few:


Marble painting. Berlin.


Kaylee.


Egan.


They all look so serious! Eva.


Owen and Heather.


Grace.


Pudding Painting. NOT the best idea to teach your kid to do this...because he started doing this with yogurt at lunch time. But it was fun. :)




He looks like a big ol' chunker.


ha ha. Messy BOY.

RANDOM SHOT.


Eli was quiet and I found him curled in the bitty baby crib with a baby. So cute.

4th of JULY weekend. Little Ethan was born soon after the carnival trip...who would have known?! Heather and I took Owen and Berlin to the carnival. They had a blast. The kids and I went to the 4th of July parade in Clawson and the kids came home with a whole basket of candy...which made them very happy. Eli really liked all the dogs in the parade. And Berlin was amazed by these crazy stilt jumper people (i was amazed too.). Then for the 4th, we had a picnic dinner. It technically wasn't a cookout since I cooked in...but Holly, Joel, Gabe, and Levi came over and we went to the fireworks in Clawson.


Moon Bouncing.


Happy jumping. Owen.




Playing putt putt. Which she really didn't like all that much.


Owen... definitely more into sports than Berlin.




Cheers!


Levi. 11 months old.


Kids being silly.




Gabe being cute.



James' Birthday. THIS is why I blog, I can't even remember what we did! I'll have to ask James. I know that we went to the movies and I think it was to see Harry Potter. But with his back hurting we didn't do much. Anyway, I thought these pictures were cute.


Opening gifts. Is there a resemblance? hmmm.


well, we could just pretend. :) lol. (this one we took for Holly... knowing she love Beckham hotness)

Job?

I know that a TON of people are without a job right now or things are not very secure where they are at. So because of the flood of unemployment, all these applications that James is filling out isn't going to have the impact that it would have a few years back. And really, sometimes it is just in who you know.... SO, if anyone knows of a company needing an electrician let us know! Email me: imagesbyamanda@gmail.com

He has applied several places in Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas City, D.C., Chicago, and Ohio. We would obviously prefer to stay in Michigan, so Mom... don't freak out. :)

All I want for Christmas {James and Amanda}

Sorry for waiting so long to get this up...been busy. Posting from my phone! :)

James:

iTunes gift card
Assasins Creed 2 video game. (xbox)
Left 4 Dead 2 video game ( xbox)
xbox controller- prefer colored fun, not white
Them Crooked Vultures CD
Wolfmother (cosmic egg) CD
Microsoft xbox live points card

Amanda:
beaded necklaces
victoria's secret Amber Romance perfume and lotion
Abercrombie 8 perfume
iTunes gift card
Paramore CDs: Brand New Eyes, All We Know is Falling, Riot
Sondre Lerche CD: Heartbeat Radio
good water bottle- NOT aluminum
slippers- fun monkey ones from target or pretty ones from kohls size 9
Urban Outfitters gift card
Books: Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation... By Michio Kaku
Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey.... By Michio Kaku

Thanks! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was great!

Randomness of September. Mini posts!

Random morning.

Our friends came up to visit (kevin and melanie) which was totally awesome! It stinkers that they moved so far. From our night at Kevin's dad's house.
Joel and Michael and poker.

melanie and holly

Kevin and James

James joined a group called Halo 3 in the workplace. They got VIP access to play the new Halo ODST game before everyone else. James thought it was pretty fun...and nice to see people question why they got to go ahead of everyone. They had this truck with the game inside. Pretty beefy truck!








Elijah, the cutest boy ever!

We have been trying to do projects a couple of times a week besides the regular playdoh and coloring. This day we did some stained glass painting things.

September fun!



Took these after a wedding on Sept 27th...driving the back roads of Elba.