Some Photos

I had a tough time getting the shots I wanted.. I got some ok shots for the paper, but other than that nothing I am printing up in excitement!

Here are a couple shots of Chris at least.. they came out OKAY.. I am very picky about my work, the first one will be going on the wall in our house, we have a Marching Band wall with all of Chris's Years on drumline, and I do the collage a certain way, and this shot was good for the small side shot photo.. Everyone who comes to my house loves the Marching Band wall in my office..

So here are the couple shots that came out ok.. it's not my best by any means, but good enough. You can CLICK on these photos to see them bigger if you want.


Chris side view full uniform on.. he went from 3rd bass to 2nd bass this year. 2nd bass is the harder one to play.



The BASSLINE (they almost go from shortest to tallest)


He always looks mad, but in real he is just focused!



This is a candid shot..


Chris with Courtney and Sarah on the line.. Everyone says chris looks just like me in this photo.. I dont see it but okay :)

Saturday.. Tired..

Hmm I dont know what happened to my other 2 blogs I posted, they dissapeared... oh well....

Today I am so tired.. I hope to get some rest this weekend, I really need it. Didn't get home till midnight last night, it was a very long day/night last night.... got some ok photos.. haven't touched any photos up yet, when I do I will post a couple.. I got a few video clips of the drumline too.

Hanging out with Amie and Traci tonight, hopefully by 8pm I am up to it, I just want to sleep! Maybe I will get a 2nd wind, we'll see.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend

My Favorite Part of The Day

lately, with going through so much there is not so much to look forward to, and the one thing that always puts a smile on my face (besides my kids loving me of course), is going to Chris's Marching Band practices a half hour before they are done, and watching them do run throughs of this years program, and seeing them do the cadence.... I still get chills watching Chris play on the drumline...

I guess no one would understand unless they were me when Chris was 8, 9 and 10 years old.... I would take Chris to the Dover marching band show EVERY year.. it was our thing. We would go in the 0 degree weather with 2 jackets on, hats and gloves and sit there and watch them compete.. we would literly freeze our butt on the concrete stairs, but Chris would sit there and watch the whole thing and his words were always "someday I want to be on the Drumline" and he said that every year we went.... I made sure to make that dream come true!

When we moved to GA he had to finish 8th grade, and sure enough at the end of the year the notice went out to all 8th graders to come to a marching band show and see what the marching band is like for their freshman year.. WOW those words couldn't come quick enough for Chris.

Going into Freshman Year we went to orientation for the Woodstock High School, and Chris took a B-LINE to the marching band director Bob Loehr.. "How and when can I join the marching band?" ... he went to try-outs his freshman year he was accepted onto the DRUMLINE 3rd Bass.. that doesn't happen often to freshmans, usually freshmans are put in PIT their first year. HOW PROUD was I? During the freshman year at every football game when he marched out with the drumline my eyes watered every time.. because I remember those feet dangling over the edge of the stairs at the age of 9 watching the drumline in Dover NH and him saying "Someday I am going to be on the Drumline" ...

Here we are 11th grade and Chris is still on the bassline and he is LEADERSHIP.. so it goes to show NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS! I still get chills watching him.. because I know that time between him and I was special.. a dream we both made happen together!

So This is my favorite part of the day... it doesn't seem like much, but it's alot to me!

My Favorite Marching Photo of Chris... he's not smiling, but then he is!

It's Monday.. What a long Weekend

it's Monday 2:30am, and I have to get up for bootcamp... can't sleep so thought I would update, haven't updated in 4 days! Sorry I haven't updated in a while.. been busy.

Chris has his first game this Friday, They have 3 more practices this week before the first game. Their first game is an away game at Kell High.. I can't believe it's football season already!

I have a couple photo shoots this weekend, a couple clients... shouldn't be that bad. I have a strict workout schedule this week.... I hope I can do it!

Womans group starts back up again this week, we are having it at my house on Thursdays from 9:30am till 11am ... we have a pretty big group this time.

have a good week

Just a Thought for Today

Never give up no matter how hard it is! If your reading this, thank you for giving me more fuel to fight with... I am going to see this as a blessing instead of a curse. If you know me, and I doubt you do, when someone says I can't, I prove them wrong, and I WILL prove you wrong.

Thats all.... I hope everyone is having a good week :)

Crazy Week Already!

This week is crazy already with all the appointments and meetings I have. I am so glad that I got a little more organized this past weekend.

The kids have open house this week... I always get a kick out of how the open house works down here.. it's like, how can you have an open house when school has only been going on for 2 weeks? what can the teacher possibly know about my child yet? Where I am from, our school systems up north, we dont have open house till the end of November, where the teachers have gotten to know the students for 2 months and have some grades to talk about, and then they would have another open house halfway in the year. This is crazy.. not even a full 2 weeks in school and my kids have open house tonight.. its just strange.

Chris's first game is next Friday! I cannot wait to get my hands into the photography for the band this year.... I missed alot last year and can't wait to start building the portraits this year for the band... the band booster board is amazing this year.. Tori you are the shit, you are making all our lives easier this year for the band. Their first game is at Kell High School!

Ross is spending the night this Friday night for MANS NIGHT... BBQ and Video Games.. HA I am going to have to buy some paper cups (inside joke) .. we will see who is a thunderstorm THEN!

Thats about it.. I gotta run, just wanted to catch up, haven't blogged in a couple days... hope everyone is having a nice week so far.

My Best Portrait this year!

I am posting this because I am just so proud of this photo! This photo here is a photo of the "Snare Line" my son is not a snare so he is not in it, but its one of the best photos I have taken in a long time.. this is going to be blown up and put in the drumroom at the highschool... I love everything about this photo.. I wish my son was in it, but Chris is a BASS drum... I get chills looking at this photo because it was the perfect capture.. my best all year, and I love to challenge myself to get a better shot that the year before.

Click on Photo to see larger, you can see the quality in this portrait

The Snare Line .. having a little fun with the camera!

The Weekend is Here

Usually I dont care for the weekends, but I think I am welcoming this weekend. last week was a weird hectic week, so I think I am looking forward to getting organized and spending time with my kids. I have a very busy week next week, VERY busy, so I really want to get organized and relax.

First off.. TIM PASSED HIS TEST! Yes! I have never seen him so excited! He has been studying for this test day after day.. it's called the "Cisco Certification".. I dont know the details of it, but it's a very important certification to get. It's a hard one I know that. This is just another thing under his belt and paper to add to the wall of many acheivments. He is so smart it makes me sick... I wish I had half his brain.

Yesterday Ryan came home all excited... his awesome old teacher from last year MR D called him into his class for a moment and said I have a math problem for you to solve over the weekend and I want to see if you can figure it out.. I think it's an 8th grade question or highschool math problem.. so Ryan tries to figure it out on the bus.. HE FIGURED IT OUT in like 20 minutes.. he comes home and tells me about it, he says "mom I have to call MR D and tell him I figured it out already" and so I call MR D and Ryan gets on the phone and I heard MR D say "GET OUT OF TOWN, GET OUT OF MY SPACE YOUR RIGHT" ... I was so proud! Ryan is in Advanced Math this year, he is very smart in math. How cool was that? I think it was an algebra question... he is going to be just like his dad!

I went out with Tracy last night... it was so fun, she is such a sweet friend. She took me to a cute place in atlanta called "cafe' Intermezzo" .. it was cute.. I love having a girls night, it regroups me.

Tonight Tim and I are going out without the kids... I am looking forward to it, it should be nice spending time with him alone...

Well thats it for now I guess.... I hope everyone else has a good weekend...

New Marching Photo of Chris!

Here are 2 new Photos of Chris from the Photoshoot I did of the band yesterday! I love these 2 photos of Chris.... I can't believe he is a JUNIOR this year and this is his 3rd marching band year! I am so proud of him! click on the photos to make them larger!

chris in his uniform

Chris looks content here... love this photo!

It's Wednesday

Wow I am so tired, but I think thats because I have been bad and staying up till 1 in the morning every night watching the olympics and then getting up at 5am for bootcamp.. yeah that might have something to do with it. I did bootcamp this morning, which was so challenging for me to get up and go, but I did it. Once you do it, you feel great, it's getting from the bed up to go! Usually Mondays are easier for me to get to bootcamp because Amie comes with me on Mondays, so I am not only responsible for myself, but I am for her because I pick her up.. but Wednesdays and Fridays are tough to get motivated to be up that early, but worth it in the end.

I have a busy couple days coming up.... I am doing a photoshoot for the marching band tomorrow, This is huge, I was asked to the take the group photo for the MEDIA GUIDE.. the marching band has never been in the media guide before, so they asked me to do the photo. We are going to do something new tomorrow and they are going to put me on a raised podium to take the shot from above... should be interesting. Then I have a meeting tomorrow night, and then another photoshoot Friday, and then finally get some free time after that.

As we get closer to the Football season, it starts getting crazy around here. Christopher's first game is August 29th, and it's an away game at Kell. I will travel to that. Chris will be practicing 3 days a week with the game on Friday and then every other saturday is home camp..

I hope everyone is having a good week, it's already halfway over.

My New Favorite Quote

I saw a fitness and weight training quote that gave me chills when I read it, and it's the best advice you can give a person who weight trains, or does resistance training. I love it and it's SO TRUE

"Your Body doesn't Know numbers, so don't count. Just go till you can't go anymore, and then do 5 More"

Okay so It's Monday

The weekend went by quick I was so busy! I did bootcamp this morning at 5:45am.. what a way to start off the day, although I am sore this morning, and I am sure I will be feeling it tomorrow morning.. alot of lunges and squats!

This morning while me and Amie were on our way back from Bootcamp around 7am, we looked over at Serene Bean and saw it wasn't open at it's usual time 7am! It was a surreal moment of realizing that it will never open again! It was sad... we were both bummed out about that... it will be harder when they take the sign down and replace it with some probably over rated store or something that will never be the same.

I have a usual busy week.. some photoshoots, some meetings for the band.. I kind of wish I was on vacation, now that would be great!

Have a good week!

Serene Bean's Last Night Open - Amazing Night!

I am still on a high from last night! Serene Bean had it's last night open, and it was so amazing to see a community of people come together. We all have busy lives, we have work, kids, school, and just alot going on, but when something as important as a place that brought alot of people together shuts down, we all came together to support the people who made this place special for each and every one of us. Every person there has their own story on how the Serene Bean has changed their life, and the people they met there. It was packed, standing room only, nothing but support for the place that made a difference to all.

Anna Kay Toms sang, lots of photos being taken, alot of love was in that place last night. I took tonz of photos of course.. I will share some of those with you guys. Everyone showed up.. Leanne, Anna, Heather, Nicole, Tracy and Brad, Amie and Ross, Ian, and many more! Anna sang, alot of people sang, even ROSS haha .. funny! I dont think I ever saw that place with so many people in it before... I think the owners Lara and Bill were touched by the support. We will miss this place, we all will! I am so sad tonight, like something has died and we all feel that way.

Check out some photos that were taken



The Bean.. alot of people left at this point, it was packed!



Yes Ross Sang, I was laughing so hard!

Amie and Ross

Me and Tracy .. My Most Sweetest wonderful friend!

Tracy and Brad.. such a cute couple!

The Infamous Sign we all love!

Lara the owner standing in front of part of the bean!


Scott, Leanne, Anna, Tim and John


Me and My Girl Leanne.. Love ya girl!

Me and Anna Kay Toms..

Heather and Lara .. im glad you came heather


Anna getting ready to sing!



Awww this place rocks!


last photo I took before leaving.. it was so sad!

It's Friday Again... and Again

it seems like the only blog I remember is the Friday one.. it always seems like it's Friday when I come here and write. I guess the rest of the week is always a blank because I am so busy all the time during the week.

The Olympics started today YAY! I love the olympics.. Gymnastics and Swimming (GO PHELPS) .. love the mens gymnastics, these guys are built like you wouldn't believe, they have amazing strength! Can't wait to start recording those and watching those this weekend! I have been waiting all year for the olympics to start.. LOVE IT!

I am still VERY saddened that the Serene Bean is closing.. I stopped in last night and got me, Ross and Amie a drink on my way to their house.. it's just so sad to see notices all around there, and the people were talking... it was packed last night, it's just so sad! Speaking of the Serene Bean, we have all made our arrangments, we are all meeting at 7pm tomorow night at the bean.. Me, Leanne, Anna Kay Toms, Amie, Ross, Tracy and Brad and a couple others.. we will take photos of course.. Anna is singing I think at 9:30.. we will be there till 11:00pm..

Well it's Friday, waiting for my kids to get off the bus and then we are heading to the Pool for the day.. it's actually nice out where you can BREATH the air and it's still warm enough to swim.. I will probably fall asleep, I have gotten very little sleep this week.

have a good weekend...

I am so sad.. The Serene Bean is closing!

I just found out today that my favorite place in the whole world to be "The Serene Bean" is closing Saturday night! They are having their last singing night, and everything! I have been so emotional to begin with the past couple weeks but this just put me into such sadness!

The Serene Bean is more than just a coffee house for me (obviously because I dont drink coffee), but this place is just where I met some of the greatest friends like Anna Kay Toms, Leanne, Heather Parks, Lara and Bill, Ian, Kate, Jonathan and MANY MANY more! This to me is such a huge loss, it's where I go to be alone with my thoughts, it's where I go to raise my spirits high when I am feeling down. I am at such a shock right now.....

Thank You Lara and Bill for providing such a wonderful HOME feeling you gave us at the Serene Bean.. it will be a huge loss to everyone and the community!

Join US this Saturday night a bunch of us are going to meet up.. it will probably be PACKED seeing it's the last night.. I just got off the phone with leanne and Anna is coming too, I hope she will be able to sing! ... I think Amie and Ross are coming too so hope to see you guys all there... we will be meeting at 7 till 11:00pm

New Photos of My Kids

I took photos of my kids at the lake Sunday evening as the sun was going down.. they came out nice.. it was different than the usual I do every year! These were fun to do.. the kids had fun doing them.... there was no one there, it was perfect.

If you click on the photo, you can see a bigger version of the photo, better quality!


My favorite Photo.. Nathan and Ryan walkingto the rocks


Nathan, Chris and Ryan on the rocks at the lake


They look like TOUGH men! haha


Ryan, he looks so much older here!



Nathan.. he looks like he is up to no good here



Chris, I think I see a small smile coming on!

The Kids are Back to School

Most parents would be elated that their kids have gone back to school, but I am actually bummed out.. I dont think the summer was long enough to be honest. Where I come from school ends for the summer the 2nd week of June, and we didn't go back till AFTER Labor Day which was like September 8th or something like that.. that was summer vacation! It's just weird down here! I feel like it went by too quick. We did alot this summer though.. I would have liked it if we made it to the ocean one more time, but maybe we can do that at the end of this month, we'll see. Of course where I come from as well the ocean is 20 minutes away, here you have to drive 5 hours to get there and take out a 2nd loan on your house to pay for the gas to get there, but it sure it pretty when you do get there.

Last night Tim took a photo of me and the kids, and I just LOVE it.. My boys.. they are getting so big. I did their photoshoot at the lake last night and they came out nice, I will share the photos with you guys this week sometime. I wish Tim was in this photo but he hates having his photo taken, but I do love it! This photo was taken when we got back from the lake!

So Darn Proud!

See now Ross you got to embarass me in church in front of hundreds of people today, now it's my turn hahahah.. no for real, this is great.. I just want to say how PROUD I am of Ross and his weight loss! Ross lost 60 POUNDS since working out and training with Debbie (now my trainer as well), and he is just kicking some MAJOR butt.. him and Jared both! I remember Ross coming up to me last year and saying I was an inspiration to his weight loss, and I cannot take any credit, he has worked his ASS off for the past YEAR... and even though he can beat me in arm wrestling, I DO have the better cut.. sorry! heheh kidding!

No seriously I am so proud of you, you have overcome what is the hardest challenge in life and that's changing yourself to be healthier.. I have seen your ups and downs, and the hard challenges you have fought through when you had the nose and throat surgery, and how tough of a road that was for you, but you got back up and fought hard.. thats awesome.. you look like a whole new you, happier you!

I saw both you and Jared up on stage at church today and I said WOW.. just amazing! We are all getting healthy and fit and under the spell of a kick ass crazy trainer hahahah.... thats all I have to say now get down and give me 50 pushups hahah.. I am saying that in my best BOSTON accent.. I dunno do you think the Boston Accent is more demanding or Debbie's NY accent?

Love Ya Ross.. your the best!

Check out Ross's Testimonial on his blog.. it's amazing!
http://www.verticaljourney.blogspot.com/

Also check out his before and after photo... YOU ROCK MAN!

It's Friday Already

Well I didn't do bootcamp this morning, I slept in, and rested! I think I needed it.. I was so tired from this hectic busy week.

last night Amie and I took the kids "school supply shopping" late at night! Amie had this coffee drink that put her on such a sugar high I was jealous.. I kept saying "where can I get some of that" hahaha.. it was fun though, got all the kids school supplies, now just have to go clothes shopping, my kids have grown out of all their old clothes, they are all getting too tall!

Tonight I am going out with my girl Tracy.. girls night .. We always have such a good time together, she is such a good friend.

Tomorrow (saturday)I am spending some time alone, and having some family time too.. I am doing the kids photoshoot this weekend.. I do a photoshoot on my kids twice a year, one in the late fall, and one at the beginning of the school year.. well it's about that time. I love taking out my big camera to take professional shots of my kids. We are thinking of taking the photos on the beach down at lake lanier tomorrow... we will see.. it has to be perfect lighting, so probably around 6:00 or 7 as the sun is starting to go down.

It will be a busy weekend, alot to do.. I can't believe it's August 1st already!