Whew Wee, crazy weeks. I have photoshoots coming out of my photoshoots.

I am shooting at Parky's farm this Saturday for a birthday party. I am a little nervous with outdoor lighting there because of the harsh sun and lack of trees around the ponies where I will be. I will have to get creative with it I suppose. I hope I don't get kicked by the horse trying to get a good shot. Wouldn't that be something?

Still no job for Steve. We are keeping our chins up about it though. We paid school off for this coming year and our van is almost paid off. I have made up for all of Steve's salary difference from unemployment with photography so far. So, we will see.

I have a friend (who has never read this blog..) who left her husband 2 weeks ago. It was tough. It was especially tough because I am friends with both of them. I was kinda relieved when he cancelled his Facebook. She sent me a text a few weeks before her baby was born saying she needed to leave him. Then, when I contacted her through IM, she said that he had gotten very verbally abusive and was now hitting her. She said it was not enough to hurt the baby but that the stress was too much for the baby. She ended up delivering early and the baby weighed 4 pounds. She is so sweet though and healthy. Then I got a text saying she was gone. I am struggling so much with how much I should help her with money. Only because I am worried also about us in the future. Obviously, a few bucks won't help her much right now. She needs full funding!! She does have others helping and she has every intention of trying to reconcile her marriage. She just needed to get out before he hurt her or the baby. It was so sad. She is such a hard working woman who just graduated college (she went back). So, I am praying about that and how I can help. She has only been married a year this past April. So, the wedding pictures haven't even all been ordered. It is sad.

I am so thankful for how much I am still learning with photography. I can see a difference with every shoot. I am always learning something new. We changed our pricing now with CC so I should feel a little less stressed. I changed how many pics I will edit. I couldn't bring myself to take less but SOMEONE very smart thought of the idea to edit less not take less. That way I still have back ups. Best advice I got. You know who you are SMARTY PANTS. So, we made several changes based on our 8 panel research group..ha. They gave me their ideas and I figured it out finally. So, thank you to all who helped. I truly believe that by the time my kids graduate from high school, I will be really great at photography to the point of being able to do only that and have vacations and stuff with my family which would be amazing. I never get time off with this job.

That is it for now!! Have a great August..almost.

Hello everyone!
We got bad news one week ago. Steve lost his job again. It was totally not his fault. He started the last part of March and within a few weeks, his boss was fired. Then, last week they announced that they were shutting down both Cincinnati warehouses and that everyone would be gone. They offered him a job in PA but of course that wouldn't work. The big guy who came in to tell them, explained that his former boss (the fired guy) didn't do things very well and they weren't even aware of all the problems. So, here we are again.
I feel pretty good about it overall. I worry of course about the long term effects. I worry about my marriage which has already become weak by the pressures of the things in life besides money. I worry about adding more work load to me when I am already overwhelmed. I worry about our children and especially their education which I could not happier with and want to afford for years to come. So, there is worry but I do feel that MOST of my choices have been with my eyes set on God and His desires so I will be okay. Steve and I talked a little bit about our issues yesterday and I feel like I know now what our big difference is. Even though I feel totally different than he does about where my energies should be focused while my babies are little, I have to start giving him more of me which is all he wants. So, I am making an effort to do it regardless of my own selfish desires. I know we can live like this for years to come as I do not believe either of us would give up on our marriage, but we don't have to. I need to give my husband more of what I give to others. It is that simple. I am starting today...or tomorrow. No, today. Well, last night at 2 flippin am...ha.
Photography is doing well and I still have not advertised in about 9 months. Even then it was once or twice on craigslist.
I have been reading blogs like mad but apparently I am the only one. You all need to update.
Well, that is all for today....thanks for reading!

Since my clients can't see this I decided to post a couple of my recent shoot pics that I like. I thought theri idea to bring a basket was a great one!

THANK YOU FRIEND: A POEM

Thank You for being my friend

Thanks for refusing to be the friend I thought I needed

The friend who always tells me Yes
The friend who "supports" every decision
The friend who is petrified to upset me

Thank you for having the courage to stand up to me FOR me

Thank you for your discernment for weapon words like "judgement" and "criticism" as ways to shut you up before you cab help

Thank you for taking the harder route, the longer route, the unpopular route so that I could truly see what was impossible for me to see alone

Thank you for suggesting other avenues instead of praising all of mine
Thank you for loving me enough to risk the very friendship that you rely upon as well

Thank you for standing strong upon your beliefs when so many friends become whomever I want them to be without an ounce of authenticity

Thank you for loving me and respecting me without changing for me
Thank you for giving me the security of knowing I can trust exactly what you say
Thank you for being a the same person every single moment of our friendship

Thank you for changing my life by being my friend in bad times and good..I love you

I want to show SOMEONE the first few finished wedding pics I have done but the couple is in Mexico and I can't share them on Fb because they are on there and I don't have their permission. I love this wedding we did. It was the easiest by far..we are just getting so much more comfortable! The pictures are great. I am so pleased with them so far. We took 1700 and I am on number 467 so I have a long week ahead.

GREAT WOLF LODGE

THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN..THANK YOU


So, here is the deal. I booked 2 rooms for 2 nights for GWL for June 4 & 5 because I was hoping Jody could come and stay the whole weekend (this was before I booked this past weekend). I found out after that Rob is graduating from college on the 5th so they couldn't come. I then decided to keep both rooms because people are always asking me to get the "deal" for them. So, I asked Kim because she was super interested in the rooms at that rate but her daughter has a softball tourney that weekend and she would be gone for all of Saturday making it not worth it. I am able to cancel just the one room and I am about to but I wanted to make sure none of you wanted the deal first. I thought of 3 of you bloggers! So, here are all the details and if you are interested, write or call me as soon as you figure out you are, please.
I will cancel the room by Friday if none of you want to rent it.

You will have a Kid Cabin Suite to yourself/family. I will be arriving at check in time (1pm) with my sons a couple of friends of theirs as a special last day of school party weekend/thing. I will pay for both rooms for both nights as it is all in my name. Once I pay for the rooms, I will get the armbands (6) for each room. You will no longer need me for anything. You would have your armbands which get you into everything including your room. They have a sensor that opens your doors. So, you would not need to hang with us or do anything with us. We will probably be side by side in our rooms but you are not obligated to do anything with us. You have everything you need until check out.

The problem lies in that if you cancel at the last minute, I am in real trouble. If you decide you want to do this, you have to take responsibility for the cost of the room even if something arises at the last minute just as you would if you had booked it.

Here is the description and price straight from the website for that weekend.

KidCabin Suite with Balcony/Patio
The KidCabin suite features an in-suite cabin-themed sleeping area for the kids with a bunk bed, a day bed and their own TV. In the main portion of the suite the adults have a queen bed, a full-size sofa-sleeper, corner gas fireplace, and another 27" TV. This suite includes a private balcony or patio.
Base Occupancy: 6
Maximum Occupancy: 7
Average Nightly Rate*:$339.99

If you chose to have more people than 6, than you have to pay another $25 for another wristband. If you are interested, please contact me and I will give you the full price I pay with taxes. We know the exact amount because we always get this room. You will just need to write me a check for the 2 nights and tax when you arrive.

The reason we feel that it is worth it for a whole weekend is that we never leave the lodge once we arrive. We check in on Friday and leave on Sunday. It feels SOOOO much like a Disney vacation or the like. You feel like you have flown or driven very far to get away. You forget you are still in Ohio.

If you need a reminder as to everything there is to do there, check out my review of the place which gives a lot of info about it. Click the here below.
HERE

So, anyway, I do not need anyone to go but I thought if someone wanted an opportunity to get this rate, they have it now. I tried my best to find this rate without going through my friend. HIGH AND LOW I checked. It just isn't out there. The best I have heard of is what Carrie got and that was for a Sunday night or week day rate. So, let me know. I have a college friend that I will email if I do not hear form any of you. Then I will just cancel the one room.

We bought the boys adult digital cameras and are strongly encouragng them to express themselves through photography. They have done really well. We want more for them than video games, the computer and movies/tv. We started teaching them to edit on photoshop as well. Samuel edits all his pictures by himself. He asked me to teach him a new tool everyday. We are working on it. We are only up to 4 or 5. I feel like this might be a good back up plan for their future. I lay and try and think of ways to possibly better their lives later when it matters even more. I thought teaching them photography might do that a little, who knows.



sraymondphotography.blogspot.com

sawyerjamesphotography.blogspot.com

We have a bunch of weekends booked for Great Wolf Lodge and I am excited about that.

I am so excited to have a day off a month. It has gone so well. I have spent so much more time in Samuel's class and I came to a big conclusion. I love that school!!!!! It took me actually being there to know it. I love the parents, the kids, the teachers...I love it. I cannot tell you how much I am sure that is where we are supposed to be. I know next year he will have a new teacher but I am hoping that we like her. I couldn't stand his teacher this year at first and the feeling was mutual. Well, on the field trip, she said in front of 3 other mothers that she wished I could just stay with her because I was so much help. WHOO WEE!! I felt awesome. I was so glad that we saw each other for what we really were/are.

I think of my homeschooling stint now and I wanna be sick. In hind sight, it was the worst move for me. I just had no idea!! There are days that I still feel like I do homeschool since I listen to or read 10 books plus a week to Samuel for school. We are talking seriously long books too. We also make him go over everything he missed on worksheets and tests from school. We review things every night. I think I might do as much as I did when I homeschooled. The best part is that he gets to go during the day and feel like he is doing things on his own. There is no doubt that, for me, homeschool hurt my son in some areas. He learned a ton, don't get me wrong, but he just needed to be social, to have a teacher and to be himself more. He just flourishes there.

Last year or the year before, I went to the public school that Samuel would have gone to. You guys probably remember. I went for a carnival. Well, for the most part I was horrified at the behavior of a lot of parents and even of the kids. I can honestly say that it is SOOOO different at St. Joes. I would say that if anything the parents appear too perfect, too put together for reality. But, I love that they are very professional around the kids. I love the kids too. There are 3-5 in Samuel's class that are outright bad. But, they are dealt with in such a professional way. I found a couple of them hard to deal with at the field trip. I was a little ill prepared for how bad this one girl could be. I was trying to deal with her when I felt something on my shoulder. It was a gorgeous momma in fancy shoes pulling me back to set that little girl straight. I laughed out loud. She has obviously had experience with this little blessing.

I love that St. Joes has only one class per grade so the children will grow up together. Samuel has made very nice friends. He was able to invite 3 to a special weekend at Great Wolf and he had a hard time picking just 3. I love the way the parents speak to the children like they know them so well. They do know them so well. It is like the parents all have such interest in all the kids.

Samuel loves that the kids love me. I am not sure why they are so into me at this point. I think it is the newness. We had to decide that I would sit alone in the bus because so many wanted to sit with me. They are so cute. It was all girls of course. They are obsessed with my breasts and ask me how I got them so big, what kind of bra holds them up that good and why my bra strap shows so much...ha. I was cracking up at them. Most of them have teeny tiny moms!!

We had considered having Samuel go in to the 4th grade next year instead of 3rd but there is no way I would now. I want him to stay with these kids. I also know that he will be challenged no matter where he is in that school. They have a woman who is in charge of that. She kinda gets on my nerves though. I asked her this simple question at open house. I said "How do you decide when a child needs to come out of their classroom during reading?" She said and no I am not kidding, "You would be surprised how many moms think their kids are the smartest alive. You might be surprised to see that a lot of St. Joes students are also smart". I swear I must have had question marks shooting out of my ears, mouth..every where. Our tour guide (also the dad of one of Smauel's friends) stepped right in and said that he didn't think I was suggesting any of that. When we walked away, he laughed and apologized for her. So, now when I see her, I always say to Samuel that I don't like her. He laughs and says that she is very nice.

I have so many things i wanna tell you but I have so little time. Remind me to tell you about 31...I can't wait.

This weekend, my bestest buddy on the planet is coming to see me. She wrote a few weeks ago that she needed to see me soon that she was getting stressed. So, we are putting her family up at the Great Wolf Lodge this weekend. We will be going there to see her tomorrow. I am so excited! Because she is a pastor, they are leaving Saturday night to drive home.

I am excited about Carrie having her baby. I am doing her infant shoot at the hospital so hopefully she will post the pics from that. Baby Stella, we are excited to meet you and kiss your little head!!!

I can't go to her shower because i have a college reunion day planned. My husband hasn't said a word yet but he has to be sick of my social life lately. Bewteen school events, HS friends getting together, college reunions, church girlfriends and photo shoots I am here less and less. I love it though. I am so happy and so thankful for my incredible life.

Well I hope this makes a certain woman happy. It is a blog post with substance isn't it???

I had a newborn shoot on Saturday and I was so excited. Steve and I shot the wedding of this couple so it was cool that we also shot their first baby pics. Both shoots, the wedding and the hospital shoots, were booked by the new mom's parents. At the wedding the bride seemed angry to have us there. We got beautiful shots but very few of her as the bride. It became a joke with the two of us that she hated me. She would barely giggle and say "nah I love your pictures". She is just not a smiley, happy person it appears.

So, when I got the call to do the hospital shoot, I asked her mom to call and ask Andrea specifically if she wanted me there. I didn't want to go if this was just for her parents. She called me back and said that Andrea wanted us there and we could go at 5.

Steve and I went in armed with my infant setup..fluffy blankets, a basket, a few lens. She hardly said a word. I asked her if I should just take the baby (his daddy had him) and she shook her head yes. So I did (and wanted to kiss him) and started shooting. I tried to stay very quiet yet be friendly. I asked if the outfit had a special meaning. She said no but that they call him MonkeyButt and the outfit had a monkey on his butt. That was a lot of personality for her. So, I took straight on shots, normal ones..everyday boring shots. Then I asked if she wanted to hold the baby, hold his hand, kiss him, hold him up for me etc. She just shrugged her shoulders! I was like ...ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? So, I went on taking the same poses being very thankful that he was awake most of the time. I left feeling unartistic, uncreative. I had such plans.

I decided right then that I won't do another one until I speak to the mom and see what she wants. I assumed many times during the shoot that she wouldn't want me to to lift him, turn him, prop him safely etc. but I really didn't know that.

Overall, the pictures were fine. I just wish I could have done all my blurry techniques etc. Oh well!

After her wedding and after the Chinese couple's wedding, both where the brides hated having their pics taken, I added a whole section to our wedding contract about it. The last couple I interviewed with laughed at the section and couldn't imagine paying all that money to refuse to smile. So, I learn more everyday about it. They signed several months ago and their wedding is May 22. So, we shall see!!

This is the class picture from Samuel's Jesus Retreat. I had 25 of them printed for the class. I can't wait to send them in. The other is a picture of Samuel with Mr. Hicks, his principal and Mrs. Baden, his teacher. This was after First Communion. I have grown to really love his teacher. It is odd how close you feel to a woman who spends so much time with your baby.

Posty Post Butty Heads

This could be 14 days long!! I have a lot going on.

So, I made a huge decision for my center and I am not sure if I posted about it or not. Anyway, I decided that even though I am always "there" for my kids, I was so disconnected to Samuel's school and I hated it. He made a few comments about me being the only mom that had not gone on a field trip etc. So, a change had to be made! I considered quitting my job..over and over again. It was pretty certain I would when Steve found a job. Then, I realized that I make very good money and that I would have to work very hard at photography to make that kind of money. This job and the money are already here.

So, I wrote the families (5) a letter explaining that I would be taking one day off every single month. Every month without fail. I would NOT charge them for this day and it would not be the same day every month. I promised a 2 week notice and more if I could. I waited to see what they would say...knowing at least one would not take it well. Oh and I also told them that on Sept 1, I would be raising my prices by $5 a week..to $130 a week. I gave them plenty of notice in case that would not work for any of them.

Most took it well. I had one mom so mad that she barely spoke to me the next morning. She was livid about the day off. So, I took a day of her silent treatment and then put in the daily report to everyone that if anyone had a problem with the change, they needed to give notice. I was spending time with my kids and I would not apologize for this move. I reminded them that I have a waiting list and would go to it if anyone could not handle the change.

Miraculously, she got over it. I was sick at first about losing $150 for one day off but I can't think of it like that. I had to think of it as a wonderful opportunity to be in the classroom, actually take my kids to their dentist's appointments, and to spend an entire week day with my children. Now, I have a hard time picking only one day.

My first day off was last week. I chose it because Samuel's class was doing an all day Jesus Retreat..kinda like VBS. We had stations all over the gym and the children came to each station. I was in charge of the bread making station because of my skills in the baking department...SM. Another mom was actually in charge, I just helped! This mom asked me to go to breakfast with her that morning because we were early. That was nice.

Halfway through the retreat, my bread making partner and breakfast buddy collapsed on the floor. Yep! So I ran over and called for help. Everyone ran over and we thought she was fine at first. They walked away and she was talking crazy while she was still on the floor. I told her I wanted to put her on her chair. I lifted her to her chair. The next day, I was in serious pain. It was intense pain from lifting her and she was a small lady. Anyway, after hearing her say things that made no sense, I asked another mom to help me. They ended up calling an ambulance and they kept her at the hospital the rest of the retreat until her blood sugar was normal. She is diabetic and has MS apparently! I saw her Friday night and Sunday at Mass and she was fine. I wanted to ask her so bad if a monkey really had stale cheese under her bed but I didn't think it was appropriate.

Last week was a huge week for the 2nd graders of SJCS..they were celebrating their first Communion. Thurs was the retreat, Friday was bread making at the teacher's house and Sunday was Communion. It was sooooooooo busy for all of us. We had to send in stuff everyday, sign permission slips...etc.etc. NUTS!!! Samuel obviously did not take first Communion but we went to support his class and take video and pics. He also had a solo.

Just going that one day has made all the kids know me. Samuel loves that they love me. He thinks that is just wonderful. The other moms are quite fashionable and mostly gorgeous. They mostly have money and mostly attended the same school when they were little. In fact, one boy is a 4th generation SJCS student. The school is 100 years old. I feel pretty comfortable. I find myself very unimpressed with fancy bags and shoes. I like women who wear them but I just do not find it impressive. At Mass, they were all wearing at least a shade of the lime green that is so popular. I decided that I was much less cool than I even thought. I was so proud and happy to have on an outfit that fit and had zero stains. I decided one day I would look up the "color" of the season and wear it just for the fun of it!! I might throw in a fancy bag too.

So, on my first day off, I spent it at school ruining bread, my back and any chance to walk the runway and then I was able to take Samuel home with me. We left with his friend Emari and went straight out to my in laws to pick Sawyer up. I spent the rest of the day playing with my boys (Emari included since he is here A LOT) and then I went to bed such a happy mommy. The money lost never crossed my mind that day.

My May day off is the 7th because Samuel has a trip to the IMAGO center. I looked it up and I think it is an environmental place. RIGHT UP MY ALLEY...just like the bread. But, I am happy to be there again. For June, my plan is to take off Samuel's last day of school so I can take them straight to Great Wolf afterwards for the weekend. I still do not know if I can get GWL that weekend though.

Steve's job is fantastic!~ Thanks for the prayers.

My dad is home again. I spoke to him a few minutes ago but he was out of it from being sleepy.

Photography is BOOMING and I am letting go of a lot this year. I am just too busy. I have every weekend booked with something through June.

I am very blessed and very happy. Have a great rest of the week.

i am perfect, totally perfect
things are perfect
i look perfect
i smell perfect
i eat perfect things
I sleep on a perfect bed
I talk on the perfect phone
and i write a perfect blog

THERE'S YOUR POST stinkers

Short Shortie

I have a summer helper so that is good.

We said no to the gorgeous, perfect space we looked at for Covert Creations Plus.

Steve hasn't found a job.

I decided not to go certified in my home center. I made all my big decisions Monday and wrote the 3 letters to the families that were affected. Two took it well, one, not so well.

We went ot Great Wolf again and I loved it. I wanna go again soon.

ey yi yi...how do you even spell that? Eye Yie Yie??

Goodness me...things are a bit crazy here. I wanna put it all on here except I have so little time.

Steve has found nothing lately in terms of a job. He had a good lead but so far he hasn't heard anything. It is getting harder for him to be here everyday. I loved the extra help at first with taking Samuel to school. But, now it is hard to be OVERLY busy and he is not.

We have so many big decisions to make. We are considering so many options right now. It is hard to figure out what we should do, ya know? Part of me believes that he lost his job so we could make our big move..like starting a business or whatever. I also feel like now is the worst time for that. We throw ideas around constantly and we are always listening to any ideas people have for us. Steve and I both agree that if the right business idea found us, we would sink half our savings into making it happen.

We have a few good ideas....based on our location (which is a great one by the way for a small business) and based on the people we have close to us that we can trust etc. My friend Kim who I talk to everyday, lives 6 blocks from us and she would help us if we needed her. She is at a point as well where she wants change. I would trust my life with her and people like that are hard to come by.

Covert Creations is still doing very well and has gotten a huge jolt since people saw spring right around the corner. If we do a brick and mortar business, it would at least be in part with photography.

Here are a few loose ideas for places near our house that we could lease:

MY FAVORITE!!! Covert Creations Photography and Creative Services:

I changed "images at the end to services". This would be a place for creativity. We would have a medium room for a photography studio, an office to meet photography clients and to organize all photography jobs. The main part would be a classroom/store. We will sell everything we could that encourages creativity...especially when it comes to children. We would sell kids craft kits...where the mom literally pulls out the supplies and helps the kids make the crafts. Those would be in just plastic bags. We would sell paint, paper, all kinds of glues. The biggest portion of the business, though would be classes, classes, classes. We would have day classes, night classes, Saturday classes. We would have birthday parties there with art classes for kids. We would do photography classes for kids, stamping classes for kids. We would do photo shop classes for adults. Whatever is popular at the time would be what we would teach. I thought a kids scrap booking class was a great idea too. We would also have all night scrap parties for adults with door prizes and demos. Classes usually cost around 10-15 dollars a person and most places book 10-12 people a class. So, that would be around $120 for an hour and a half or so. That is if we booked every class. We would also have all day photo shoots in the studio. We would do Easter Pictures with a live bunny, Santa pictures at Christmas etc.
I thought one of the things we would have is a package called something like Birthday Diva where young girls dress up for a photo shoot with different outfits etc. We could even offer a package where they bring all their girlfriends. They would get the experience and the CD with all their pictures to remember the day. We would never have to worry about having a studio space again.

The other Big idea is a doggie daycare/grooming/portrait business. We would run a doggie daycare but have services for grooming and pet portraits as well. Kim would be our expert on that since she worked in the vet field for so long. She also has great connections to vets in the area and animal services that might be a help in advertising.

But, who quits, who works? I am currently making 30K a year staying home with my kids. It is all just so much to think about. If Steve got a great job, it would work for me to do this. WHO KNOWS!!!

Another thing on my mind....

Then I have issues with not having enough space to accommodate new babies being born into my center. A family in my center wants me to take their baby being born in April but I am full. We are considering going certified and then being able to take 12 kids...with an assistant. Steve might do it but doesn't want to. I am not sure I wanna have 12 kids in my house even with a helper. If I pay someone full time, I end up making the same as now with 6 kids. UGH!!!

So, we have so much going on. My latest thing is needing a helper this summer one day a week. I called a certain blogger to ask her about it but she was NOT HOME or answering her cell. I want to offer it to moms with one child. They would come to my house every Wed (or another day we set up) and go with me to a field trip to the zoo or museum every week. She could bring her child but would need to help me totally while we were out. She also would need to drive a couple kids in her car. Then, after we got home, she would leave. It would be around 5-6 hours every Wed. I would pay her $60 for it but that would also need to go towards their gas. I would pay for parking if we had it. So, that is on my mind too. I have extra kids coming this summer and need to be able to go on field trips as promised. I also need to be able to trust the person. I am certain I can find a mom who is home for the summer who would love to make a little extra money.

Well, thanks for letting me vent all that. It is so poorly written but I don't have time to change it.
CHOW COW!