Well the beginning of 2013 was miserable to say the least. We dealt with issues that ranged from issues with our children to worrying if Steven would have a job from day to day. In Jan the shop sold and Steven did get to keep his job but put applications in elsewhere just in case. The 2nd week of Feb the world lost a great man. Mike Macleod Steven's boss for 8yrs passed away in his sleep while on vacation in Mexico with his wife and best friends. It was beyond a shock to get that news and it still doesn't feel real. We had issues with Mike, but don't you always have issues with someone you work with side by side day in day out? But when it came right down to it Mike, Deb, and the kids have been family for years and it was a terrible loss. Shortly after Mike passed away Steven was offered a job with Basin Tree Service. It was scary to jump from what he has known and done for 11 years now, but he made the jump and it's been great for our family so far. Our whole lives were rearranged and schedules changed up quite a bit as he has to get up at 4am. I am now responsible for morning routines with the kids ... I was worried it wouldn't go well, but I am actually enjoying it! I've become a better Mom. I make my man's lunch each evening and am forced to pick up slack where I was slacking before so that Steven doesn't have to deal with stuff after working a hard 10hr day. For now he's working 4 10's and we love it! He's getting to be more involved with the kids and their school activities which is awesome :) The loss of Mike and the start of a new more dangerous job pushed us to start re-evaluating our lives. We decided after a 9yr engagement and after almost 12yrs together it is time for us to take the big step to tie the knot! We are getting married June 1st. Things went from going to the courthouse alone .... to now having a wedding and reception in Heather's backyard with all our family and friends. At first I was hesitant to do any type of wedding knowing that is not what Steven wanted at all, but now I'm getting a bit excited about it ;) Steven will just have to suck it up and enjoy the wedding... it may not be HIS first wedding, but it is MY first and hopefully ONLY wedding :) The kids are excited and will all be in the wedding as our "wedding party". Last weekend my Mom came up to do wedding planning and we got lots of decorations figured out, ordered up outfits for the kids to wear Etc. Hopefully it all comes together in the next 5 or 6 weeks and all goes smooth! Let's pray for a nice day June 1st since its outside ;)
Well this has turned into one long paragraph... what terrible english skills ;) Oh well, it's my blog I'll do what I want LOL Both of my boys have started Baseball and our weeks are fully crazy and fun :) Running here there and everywhere with scouts and baseball and PTO and Photography and the list goes on.... I was relieved for Tax Season 2013 to end on Monday as it frees up some time for me and takes a little stress off. Now to get Photography Season 2013 to pick up so I can make some money and buy new stuff LOL Every penny I make right now just goes straight back into the business, but hopefully patience and perserverance will pay off!
Onto some pics to show how our year has been, and hopefully I'll keep up here just a little bit better. Heck I didn't even order my 2012 blog book like I normally do... I guess I'll just order a 2012/2013 book next Jan ;)
 |
| My punk rocker posing for me with her Joe Dirt haircut ;) |
 |
| My Loves |
 |
| I was missing doing photography so played around and snuck some shots of my little lady who was busted with Big Brothers game of Battleship. |
 |
| Couldn't resist snapping a shot of the boys playing together nicely! |
 |
| Working on Derby Cars for scouts! love this pencil Kaeden created. |
 |
| Kai wanted an Old Fashioned Car |
 |
| Just cause I like this pic |
 |
| All winter we were hit left and right with bug after bug! This was a particularly bad spell so we boiled all toothbrushes and lysol and sanitizer were our best friends. |
 |
| My sick Kai guy with his sidekick Jinxi. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Feb brought the Blue and Gold Banquet. Kaeden did the speaking :) Proud Mommy Moment. |
 |
| Tigers Skit... or should it be Tiger Dad's Skit ??? ;) |
 |
| Webelos Skit written by Bryce and performed by the webelos. |
 |
| Award time |
 |
| Awards |
 |
| Baby girl was so excited for the weather to be nice enough to play outdoors!!!! Her favorite thing is getting down and dirty. |
 |
| With Daddy's new job comes having to change our own oil! he decided it was time to teach his boys how to do this. |
 |
| bonding moments |
 |
| He felt pretty dang cool ;) |
 |
| I'm taking photos of Notaras Lodge so that we can have a room on our wedding night. Here is Kinleigh with her camera getting down to work as well ;) |
 |
| And of course she says "Mom take a picture of me!! And poses ;)" |
 |
| Easter Weekend marked the 1yr anniversary of Collin passing away. In memory of Superhero Collin all around the world people who loved him did a balloon release with balloons in his favorite colors Red and Blue for Mario. |
 |
| I think this will be a great embarassing photo to show a girlfriend someday ;) |
 |
| Steven holding the balloons with his SuperHero Collin bracelet that he NEVER takes off. |
 |
| RELEASE |
 |
| Egg Hunt in Hermiston. Kids are waiting in line very patiently to ride the horse. |
 |
| He had this happy cheesy grin the ENTIRE ride! |
 |
| So did she! Kai and Kinleigh LOVED the horse rides. Kaeden was too cool or something? |
 |
| They had petting zoos |
 |
| And carnival type games. Such a fun thing for the church to do for the community. The kids always love going to it. |
|
 |
| Egg Coloring at Uncle Jared and Aunt Tammy's house |
 |
| Kaeden was "too old" to color eggs. He did color two, one for him and one for Aaron and then went and holed back up in Aaron's room where the xbox and Call of Duty game were ;) |
 |
| Loving the post egg coloring hands! |
 |
| Cousins. I love how opposite they are, it cracks me up! They got along awesome though :D |
 |
| Doing a happy dance? No idea LOL But they had a blast hanging out together as well and that's all that matters! |
 |
| Sydney's 9th birthday photoshoot. We went out at 7am and it was COLD but she rocked it! |
 |
| Pretty much my all time favorite photo of her :D |
 |
| And Kinleigh and I embraced a rainy day and went out to get some fun pics :) I haven't edited many up yet, but here are the two I have done. |
 |
| Reminds me of Holly Hobbie ...... |
