What a Whirlwind of a Vacation!!!

I can't believe how quickly this month went by! Aidan and I have been soo busy I didn't even realize it was almost July! At the end of May, April and I shot our very first wedding as a Duo! Having her there by my side made things soo much easier to handle.


That same weekend, I sent Aidan off on another boy scout campout. This time they went up to the Smokey Mountains for a little white water rafting! He was soo excited that he was the only one that didn't fall out of the raft (besides the guide). It was probably because he was soo tiny and slipped to the center of the raft instead. I was a little jealous that he got to enjoy such a fun activity without me!!! Aidan is the little one with the yellow helmet ;)


We had a nice little visit from John's Grandparents...who we call MeeMaw and PeePaw. We explored the base, went bowling, enjoyed Jazz on the lawn, visited the Parthenon in Nashville and had ice cream on the strip! It was a very nice visit and we miss them dearly!


Next we took a 13 day trip to AZ to visit Mom and Dad. While there we visited their lake house at Lake Havasu and saw the London Bridge!


We had such a great time riding on Papa's Boat!


And it wouldn't be a trip to Sedona without visiting Slide Rock Park!


When we returned to Clarksville, the Jetta just stopped running! The mechanics said it was going to cost over $4500 to rebuild the engine. So I had to make a decision without John-o. We now own a gently used Dodge Durango!


We made a quick stop at the Fair! Aidan spent all of his money on the games and I am hoping he learned a little lesson from it...but I guess we will never know!


The Vacationing was not over! Aidan had one more boyscout campout for the summer. This time it was for a whole week! In fact he is still there now. I am headed out there for Parents day this afternoon and will be bringing him home with me. In the mean time, my friend Reisa and I decided to have a girls trip to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. We checked out Dollywood, Splash Country and Cirque de Chine! The Chinese Acrobats were amazing!!!


And finally...My first classes at the Academy of Art University began! The summer semester is very fast paced and I wonder if I can keep up! I already had 4 assignments to work on in the first week! My first one was to take a photo that showed a day in the life of my city. Of course I chose to do something military related and here is what I came up with:


Phew...what a month!!!

Business and Feelings...

Sometimes I wonder if people understand that I AM a person...with problems much like their own. Yes...I am a business owner, but at the same time...it is a very personal business. And I do have bad days. Every photo session can't go perfectly as planned. When that happens, I try my best to be accommodating and make concessions to rearrange my schedule to fit them in at a later time. We all know babies and children can be very unpredictable. If nap time didn't go well, someone is hungry, or just plain cranky... why should that be a reflection on me? I am finding it hard not to let these things get to me or to hurt my feelings when someone is upset with the way it went. But with John gone...not here by my side to comfort me when I've had a bad day...it just seems to be so much more frustrating. It can be kind of discouraging. Don't get me wrong...I love what I do. I love babies, and I love children. But I am still learning how to handle these situations...and I may not always be as composed as I wish I could be. When you're stressed out...it's not always easy to hide. I am a pretty laid back and easy going person though. Most of my clients tell me that I am very patient. So I "thought" I was doing well giving that comforting...it's OK vibe. I have come a long way since I opened my business. And I am pleased with my progress. I just wish I could make everyone happy...and when I don't, I am sad.

Sadness today...

Today I am feeling overwhelmed with sadness. There are so many little things....and also a few bigger things. I am sad for the people of TN who were affected by the flooding yesterday and today. I can't look at the news anymore. I feel extremely lucky to be looking at dry streets outside my window. But I also feel guilty that only a few streets away...there are businesses and homes overrun with river water. I've heard rumors that the water levels were only going to get higher but I can't even begin to imagine how that will affect them. I am counting my blessings for now and praying for those in need.

On a much smaller scale, I am sad for the little old man parked in front of me at Walmart today. After unloading my groceries, I noticed the man was standing at the front of his truck with the hood up. He looked confused. I approached him and asked him if he needed a jump. He graciously accepted. After several tries we decided that it just wasn't going to happen. I asked him if he wanted to use my cell phone to call someone. He said thank you but that his brother was inside making a call. I wished that there was more I could do for him. But he told me I should go. I left the parking lot thinking about that little man and hoping that his truck would start. And it made me sad to think he would be stranded there.

And finally...I am sad that there are people that don't care about others feelings. The ones that say mean things to people without stopping to think about what really is going on in that persons life. The ones that do things to openly exclude others and then make lame excuses as to why they did it. Excuses that don't even make sense. I refuse to let myself be affected by those people. This is why I try my best to distance myself from those that care only about themselves. I will continue to live my life "happily". Because the only thing that really is important is that I have 2 wonderful boys that love me. And soon we will be taking a trip back to the happiest place on earth. I can't wait! The photo below is from our last trip to Disney world and we are excited to go again!!!

My boy is a SPONGE!

Aidan has really been impressing me lately with his knowledge of interesting facts. A few weeks ago he went into detail about the highest award for animal bravery. He knew exactly how many were given to dogs, birds, and even a cat. From that moment on...I decided to actually "hear" him. I am not sure if I had been just disregarding his little thoughts in the past...and I hate to think that I was. But out of the blue he has become this interesting little person to me. Maybe it is because John is not here and he is now relaying his thoughts and opinions onto me instead.

The girls and I have decided to start going to Trivia down at the Front Page Deli (instead of Blackhorse). This will allow us to include him in on the fun. When we did it at the Blackhorse it was up in the bar, so he could not come. We went this last week and Aidan answered 3 of the questions all on his own! Seriously...I never know the answers to any of the questions. I just go to be social.

Anyways...my point is I like what he's becoming. And I am soo proud of this little boy and his sponge of a brain. Yes, there are days when he can get on my nerves and I want to just send him camping. But for the most part, he's a good kid and I am blessed that he is mine.

Flying by....

One month down!!! It has flown by soo quickly too. Now...if I'm lucky enough...the next ones will go just as fast. Aidan and I have been soo busy keeping up with our daily lives that we barely had a chance to think about it. Of course I miss him every night before I go to bed. But it is nice to have something to keep my mind off of it during the day.

Alot has happened since I last posted here. Easter was soo great! We spent the morning with some friends and took a nice little trip to this cool place called Rivermounds. See video here: Easter Video. It was soo much fun and the boys had a blast going down that slide! Then in the evening we were invited over to another friends house for Easter Dinner. She makes the best scalloped potatoes! Yummmm!

The following weekend, Aidan went on his very first campout without mom or dad! I was a little sad to see him off...but I got over it real quick! I had a nice weekend with Reisa! We stayed up till 5 in the morning and got new tattoos! Ha!!! We are soo bad! But it was soo much fun!

Since then...I've just been working like crazy. Photo sessions just about every day! I finally have a chance to sit and catch up on my processing this week (unless I get a last minute phone call).

Thats pretty much it. John called on Friday...and I need to make him a box while I have time this week. He has asked me a few times...but I just get soo caught up in work...that I lose track of time. Today it will be my number one priority. If I don't get it done this week...I will be the most horrible wife EVER! I'm sorry baby...I miss you alot and will have this package in the mail soon...I promise!

Just a Quickie...

Real quick post today. Things are "speeding" down back into normalcy this weekend. Well...as normal as you can get with this kind of lifestyle. My meltdowns have come on less frequently in the last few days. And Aidan...he's as goofy as always. But really...I can't tell you how he is handling it all. We went over to a friends house last night for a birthday get together. There was ONE man there. I didn't realize how much my little guy needed the company of other men in his life. He immediately attatched to this guy like he was his best friend. They had conversations that only men can understand. The ladies all just sat there dumbfounded by what was coming out of my 10 yr old's mouth. I could not believe the facts stored in his little head. Military facts. History facts. What?!?! I guess there comes a time when you have to let go and realize that your children are becoming young adults. But 10 yrs old? I still can't trust him to brush his teeth in the morning. John and I have always been very open and honest with Aidan. If he was curious about something...we told him the brutal truth. But does that make them grow up faster? Maybe not in maturity...but mentally. I don't know if I like it. He is too smart for his own good. Honestly...it scares the hell out of me. I wish John was here to tell me that this is natural. And that boys will be boys I guess. But I don't have to like it!

And now it begins...

I need to get this out now so that I can start the "healing process" as John calls it...

We finally got the call that John would be heading out bright and early. We kept Aidan out of school one more day to have some "family" time. It wasn't the most fun day for me... but it was time. First, I begged him to help me fold the laundry. This is an issue with wives of deployed soldiers. Folding and putting away that last load of his laundry. It's one of those things that make you break down. Because we won't be doing it again for a while. I still have a basket waiting for me, but at least the majority of it is already put away. He also cleared off his dresser top and his side of the bathroom. I don't think I could stand to look at it. There were just too many reminders. Now looking back...I kind of wish it was all still there. See...its little things that get to you.

We hit up our favorite arcade...Dave and Busters...and then drove around Nashville looking for portrait sites for April and I. John insisted on getting a box of Krispy Kremes for his breakfast the following morning. Clarksville doesn't have them...so it was a must before we left. The rest of the day is pretty much a blur because I spent it crying and begging him not to go. I know he doesn't have a choice...but I still couldn't help myself.

He set the alarm for 2am. I didn't get much sleep thinking about the dreaded next morning. And the dogs...they hogged the bed...and he wouldn't let me kick them off. It's cute how attached he is to these dogs that he is always telling me to get rid of. I wonder if they know what's going on. They keep jumping up when they hear a truck drive down the road. And when I say the word "Daddy" they cry at the door. It's sad really.

2am came real early. I quickly got myself ready because I wanted to take pictures. Lots of pictures. Then I discovered that my house was not a great place to take pictures that early in the morning. So I just watched him get ready. I watched him throw on his uniform and lace up his boots one more time. He grabbed his gear and said his goodbye's to the animals. And we were out the door.

My friend Tiffany said she wanted to come with me to support me and also to see John off. I'm extremely happy that she did...because he was leaving with another company. His had already left a few days earlier. I didn't know anyone in the hanger...so it was nice to have her there by my side. We had about an hour to hold each other and tell each other how much we'd miss the other. I tried to keep my mind off of it by snapping more pictures. It made John uncomfortable...but I needed to do it. I wanted to have those moments saved. At the end of the hour, someone came over the intercom and said a quick prayer. I watched John pray, but I had to have that saved as well...so I snapped a few more photos. If you know me...you know that pictures mean the world to me. So I just couldn't help myself! At the end of the prayer we were told to say our goodbyes and for the soldiers to get in line and gear up. Aidan and I fought for the last hug. He would hug him, and then I would hug him...and so on. Finally John said we just needed to do a family hug. It was such a good hug.

The soldiers started lining up. But there were still a few families behind the red line saying their goodbyes. It's a hard thing to watch. It hurt even more to see a family of 5 huddled around in a circle...each of them with tears streaming from their faces. Even the soldier. But they had to seperate. The hanger doors opened and behind them we saw the buses. The group was called to attention and ordered to face right. Red, white and blue came over the speakers and they filed in front of us and out to the buses. John was three rows back...but I watched him closely. When it was his turn to cross in front of us...he gave us the “I love you” sign. We watched them march through the doors and onto the buses. It was hard to tell which one he was on...but it didn't really matter because we couldn’t see them through the tinted windows. We stood outside and waved to all of them. The buses honked and then were gone. I had to catch myself from falling to the ground sobbing...but I looked over and Aidan was almost crying too. You would think after soo many times you would get used to them leaving. But you don't. Our bond has become soo much stronger every time he leaves. It just makes it that much harder to see him go.

I miss him soo much already. But the first couple of days will be the hardest. I have soo many friends to keep my spirits up. And Aidan...he is such a little character. He said he would make me a cake. I love that kid. I promised him a trip to Wal-Mart...so I guess we should get ready for that! And maybe a movie. We need a good, happy movie. Maybe Diary of a Wimpy Kid :). If I had a movie...it'd be called diary of a Wimpy Mommy! And now the happy countdown for John's homecoming is on!