[redhandedphotography: Father's Day Photoshoot]

I am really excited to have a few jobs lined up for the summer ... in fact, got another call yesterday morning for a wedding. BUT can't do it - already booked to attend a friend's wedding that day. Ah well, hopefully there will be more opportunities ... And just today I got an inquiry about a wedding in Arizona ... how fantastic would that be??? (Hmmm ... wait ... I HATE flying ... riiiight).

This past weekend, I had the privilege of doing a "Father's Day Photoshoot". The children were 7 and 5 years of age, the weather was glorious, and it turned out to be a really fun shoot. And, yet again, I was a bit photo-happy. Instead of the promised 25 images, I'm preparing a disk of 80+ images.

More is always better, no? *smile*

Click here to link to the shoot. Click "Featured Photoshoot", then click the photo with the children in it ... hope you like what you see *smile*!!

And as always, the website for my photography site is http://www.redhandedphotography.com/ .

[books: Five Love Languages]

**post written week of May 21st ... saved and posted during renos**

ok ... so RATHER ridiculous of me to be doing a post on a book I've never read *blush*. But, the idea of this fascinates me and I think that the concept of these five languages is brilliant. They are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.

Lately, as I've continued examining myself and all the icks and yucks that I see, certain comments in conversations have really struck me. One being a conversation I had a month or so - and the conversation was actually about raising children, not love languages. But this woman said that she's been trying to teach her child to not have high expectations on people, because it simply leads to disappointment.

She had no idea how often her words would ring in my ears for days and days afterwards.

This brings me to my love language, or rather how I personally interpret love. For me, Words of Affirmation are the ticket to my well being. I look for them, listen for them ... a "good job", or "thank you" or "I noticed ..." or whatever, breathes life into me.

And I don't REALLY like that ... because as I continue to try and grow as "me", I realize that this particular love language is pretty high maintenance and so dependant on others. Which leads me back to what my lady-friend said to me about expectations on others. I find myself in a perpetual circle of "do they like me?" or "what have I done wrong?" or some other negative mind-set. Where did this come from? Well, I recognize the event that took place in my adult life that made me question all of the friendships that I had formed throughout my life ... so, seeing that (only very recently), is going to be the first step to me feeling normal again. Normal.

So, back to my love language ... it puts unrealistic expectations on others. So that is going to have to change ... it'll take time, but I want to learn to trust friendships again, without having to be affirmed and reaffirmed every 10 seconds, and I need to take this responsibility off of those whom I care about most - especially when they don't even realize it *smile*. In the same way, I'm going to try and keep my ears closed to those moments where I feel personally attacked, and I become defensive. I need to realize that being poked fun at is ok, or taking some criticism won't kill me *smile* ... to not take it as an insult. And if those comments are meant to hurt and destroy, then I need to simply walk away, for I am not nearly as strong as I may put on ... my skin is thin. Sometimes far too thin.

On a final thought, I found it interesting that I don't GIVE Words of Affirmation easily. Strange, I know. You would think that how I receive it, is how I would give it. But that's not the case. I SO admire those people who are Gift Givers - a small card, a trinket that made them think of someone they love, remembering a birthday ... My brain doesn't work that way, sadly. I'm sure I disappoint so many who receive their love that way ...

For me, Acts of Service is how I show others that I love them. Inviting someone over, making dinner or coffee, making them welcome in our home. Also, Quality Time is something that I give to those closest to me. Time is precious to me, so when I give it - it says "I love you" all over it. If I try and get together, if I pick up the phone or write an email to you, even a note on your FB wall *smile* ... I'm screaming "I love you" - even if it doesn't get heard amongst the bustle.

Have you thought about Love Languages outside of your marriage (ie your "friends" relationships)? Are they different than what you need from your spouse? Do you find that unrealistic expectations hurt you? Do you feel like you disappoint others? Well - I stand WITH you.

And for those of you who read this and think," What? What is she talking about?" , I applaud you - sincerely. I could learn a lot from you ...

[digiscrap: Catchin' Up]

We all have some way that we like to unwind - maybe it's having a bath, looking through a magazine or talking on the phone with friends.

For me, once the kids are safely tucked into bed and my hubby and I are comfy on the couch, I like to digiscrap. Now, I haven't done anything since my hubby's injury - but over the last few nights, I've managed to actually start to catch up a bit.

I have SO many photos - and first, I back them all up, then I digiscrap them, then I delete the photos off of my computer, then I back up the digiscrap pages. It's a bit time consuming - but I find this process works well for me.

Ok ... so - here are some of the pages I've done recently ... doesn't mean that the photos are recent :-) ...

OH! And for those who may be interested in our renovations - they started TODAY. The painter-dude has started painting the mouldings in the garage, then onto Josiah's green & blue room ...

I tried to get a timeline on how long this will all take ... apparently 4-6 weeks. HA!! You might think I'm crazy - but this has become a form of "nesting" for me ... and in another 6 weeks, I'll only have a little over a month to go before our wee one arrives ... THAT'S exciting!!

Ok ... here are the pages. Enjoy.

double click images to enlarge

[renos: Cleaning Up Tijuana]

We all have a "junk drawer" ... or room, no?

Well, I call the extra room upstairs, "Tijuana". Why? Because it's where all the junk ends up ... clutter, mish-mash, extras, hostess gifts, gift wrap, card making supplies, boxes of old photos - before digi came into play, broken things, things to be mended ... you name it, you'll find it.


But now it's time to face the music - so today, I am attacking this room. I won't lie - I have a deadline of Monday to have my entire mainfloor and upstairs void of trinkets and wall hangings. So that has lit the fire under my toes.

"Tijuana" is now going to be Josiah's room, and Josiah's current room will be the new baby's ... and I'm taking a bunch of pics to get the full effect. His new room will be painted next week (fingers crossed) and his new Cars bed should be in the week following, or two.

Bah-bye Tijuana.

For the full effect, I'm going to wait to post the "pre" pics ... trust me - it's mighty embarrassing. Especially over the last 13 weeks of my hubby's injury ... EVERYthing has ended up there. With the door closed *wink*.

It reminds me of an episode of "FRIENDS". Do you remember the one where Monica has a closet where it is jam packed with stuff and Chandler finds great joy that his wife has a junk closet? Well, the "Tijuana" room is kinda like that ... except neither of us are laughing *smile*.

On another note ... the colour palette keeps adjusting. Too grey, too green, too yellow, too pink. You change one shade, and the rest follow suit. Even the trim colour of white is enough to make me go cross-eyed. I mean, HONESTLY ... 50 shades of white to chose from? *sigh*.

But I shall choose, and I shall be happy with it. Right? *GRIN*.

FINGERS CROSSED.

[vacations: Sleepy Towns]

Do you remember going to sleepy little towns, staying at the Motor 8, spending afternoons perfecting the somersault under the water? I sure do.

Some of my favourite memories growing up, are the ones where we would meet up with other families, eat a Smitty's pancake breakfast, go mini golfing & go-carting in the evening, finishing it with a small chocolate dipped cone at the DQ.

**Ahhhh** ... can't you just SMELL summer???

Well, our little family is starting to make those kinds of memories already ... I am SO nostalgic - and hoping that these little trips will be full of wonderful memories for our kids.

Usually, summer doesn't begin until after school ends - but we went early and I HIGHLY recommend it, for a couple of reasons. One, the PRICE. It's not "high" season, and you can literally get a 2 bedroom suite for less than 1/3 of what it would cost during the summer dates. Second, the calm. No one is there ... the mini golf - no line ups. The lake - bare. The restaurants - deal after deal. And honestly? Where we were, the temperature was 34degreesC. How much more SUMMER can you get??

We mainly went to go visit my hubby's family who have purchased some land and are beginning the building process. This meant a LOT of dirt for the boys to play in. They loved it.

Plus, they went ATVing, swimming, and even went fishing to the local pond with their Nonno (grandpa). It was like being in the most perfect movie ...

We were only gone for 2 nights, a bit rushed but still - really great. Hope you're able to make the most of these fantastic "summer" days!