Weighing in...................

I weighed in this morning. I've lost 4.1lbs which I'm pleased with, BUT Aunt Flo arrived today so 4.1lbs when I have had PMS is REALLY good :) so yes! I am feeling pleased with myself!

I am treating myself tonight with a big glass of wine :) And thats ok because for much of today I was too busy to eat :) maybe thats the secret of being slim.....get a job!!!! :)

I was thinking today...so few of my friends have good relationships or marriages...these days I always feel like an oddity because Lloyd and I are so close and so happy together.....but today I met a couple who just seem so happy and so in love. It was wonderfull refreshing to see :)

As of today, I am a working Mom!!!! All be it a work-at-home mom! Lloyd made a joke about being in shock because its the first day of work for me in .....many years......lol! Actually he said in 34 years!!!!! hahahahaha sooooo funny! Rolle eyes!!! Anyway I joked that as I have been working all day he should cook dinner! So he did! :)

So my first photo shoot has been done....I've learnt a few things and I've gained a lot of confidence. All the pictures are on CD ready to go to the client and I am really pleased with them :) The studio pictures especially!

All in all a very good, yet exhausting, day!!

How cute is he?????????????

This little guy has me in stitches right now!!! I am going through the pictures I took today and I can't stop laughing because in between the GORGEOUS poses like the one above are these pictures where he is pulling the funniest faces...like fish faces and grouchy faces.........

Thanks little guy, you are making this part of the job much more fun!!!!

I did it!!!

I did my first photo shoot today...for strangers............and they weren't actually that strange ;) Kyliesmom very kindly offered to lend me her family today so that I could practice on them.....I wanted a family that I hadn't met but 'kind of' knew.......

Thank you soooo much Susan for coming over.....it was so great to meet you all! I hope I have created some pictures for you to treasure.

Susan kindly said I could add a few pictures to my portfolio....and my blog!!!!! So here you are, just a few of the pictures I took this afternoon............please remember these pictures are 'as is' - I haven't edited out shadows or anything yet!

Susan is so pretty and so nice and her children......wow.....Kylie is just such a beautiful young lady....so elegant!!! And Jake :) he's such a character :) he was brilliant for the camera and I will never hear the words 'stinky cheese' again without thinking of him!

Thanks so much guys!

sunset break.........................

Last nights sunset....Laurie came and got me and told me that the sunset was stunning and I should photograph it....I love that my children appreciate such things!!!!

lighting rehearsal...............

So this morning I needed someone to help me test the lighting in the studio and CHris got the short straw.......he hadn;'t brushed his hair, refused to smile and was wearing scruffy clothes (lol) but at least he allowed me to check for shadows and everything.................

So this is my first test shot in the studio ;)

Returning home...............

There is nothing I like more than coming home.....................that feeling that I get when I get onto the highway and get out of the city............less and less buildings, more and more trees, and then when I turn into our road I am greeted at the moment by this view...this gorgeous view of the most beautiful trees and just PEACE....and I am home!

Lets Play...............

We had an absolute blast at Lets Play today................Renee had arranged for the homeschoolers to go as a group.......40 children and their parents were there...........mainly Moms but a few Dads too............

We got there around 10am and stayed until 2pm........had lunch, played Lazer tag and had so much fun.....it was such a GREAT feeling to be surrounded by people who 'get' me......people who believe in homeschooling and know its the right thing for us!

Everyone had such a great day :) they hope to make it a monthly activity!!!

hit escape............

I needed a break tonight so after supper Lloyd took me into town and we had coffee and shared a carrot cake. We grabbed a few things in Home Depot and then went to Homesense and we found some fab things for studio sets......................a little armchair for babies and toddlers to sit in, a nice highbacked formal chair for formal family portraits, and a fun big square fluffy footstool type thing that will be great for older kids fun pictures.............

The lighting doesn't arrive until tomorrow which means I only have tomorrow night to practice with the lighting effects..............I still have some fake gift boxes to wrap and some little bits and pieces to sort out..........but I think we might be ready.............

One BIG mistake though....we replaced the bulb on the stairway down to the basement. Never replace a bulb after several months!!!!.......what used to be white walls were covered in grubby little finger prints! Wow........couldn't see them with no bulb but boy are they noticeable now so I just had to wash all the walls down!

So tomorrow night I need to practice on my crew to take some pictures downstairs and see how the lighting all works and play around moving the lights and reflectors and using filters etc etc.....

I keep flitting between being extremely excited and positive and knowing this is going to be a great success, to asking myself if I am mad and telling myself this is all crazy and everyone willhate my pictures and that I should just run away!

But having a breather this evening was much needed...some time with Lloyd in this chaotic week. He is so supportive its unreal.......keeps telling me he believes in me and that it will all be great.........

I really struck lucky with him ;)

tired..............

I am drained. Just physically and emotionally drained............lack of sleep, too much on my mind, so much to do and no time to do it. Its exhausting. I will be glad when life slows down again.........Lloyd keeps telling me it will all be worth it and it will calm down once the Fall/ Christmas picture season is over....but then Christmas will be here and then our trip in January......maybe life isn't meant to slow down..............maybe I just need to get used to the rush!

Dinner tonight is an exremely lazy BOUGHT vegetable lasagna with superfries and peas for everyone else, salad for me. It was nice to literally open the oven door and just throw it in!

Next week is looking so busy...I think I am going to have to cancel a couple of plans.......the Odyssium on Monday for one..........we're there the following week anyway so I don't feel so bad about that.......

Lloyd will be arriving home in the next five minutes. Good. I need a hug!

A Doctors visit................

This morning I took DD to the Dr.s ...as we thought, she has a UTI so we got a prescription for antibiotics (I don't think she's ever had them before) and we headed to Sobeys to stock up on Cranberry Juice.......

The Dr was fab with her.....our Dr left left last year so I was a bit worried about meeting the new one. Firstly I was stunned that it has been so long since I was last at the Dr's.....th ewhole place has transformed...they've knocked into the building next door and they ahve a pharmacy now...wow has it really been that long? Then the new Doc was great...he got down on the floor and showed DD the test strip changing colour and what that meant and explained about the white blood cells, their job in the boyd and that they were a sign of infection..........when she was embarrasseed about having her pee checked he chatted to her about the fact that he spends his days checking pee...and much much worse jobs.....Susie told him that was gross and we were all laughing!

So I am finally home and I am just so tired and feeling so flat.......everything is so rushed right now to get the studio ready on time and get everything for the business sorted out.....sorting out the lighting and backdrops and insurance and website and business cards and and and......it's a good job Lloyd is a business man and knows what he's doing! I keep telling him I'm just going to run away!!!!! ;)

So in the paper today it discusses the changes to Hwy 21. I drive Hwy 21 a LOT......it is a nasty road.......speeding and overtaking but finally Sherwood Park has grown large enough and they are making it a two-lane highway.....

This is good for commuting into town BUT it has lead to devastation of trees along the whole length of highway.....it broke my heart on Tuesday to drive in and see quite that many trees just GONE.....

I wonder if that is why the big white house on Hwy 21 won't sell.....it will probably lose a lot of its land at the road side......and will be on an even more busy Hwy. They have reduced the price once already........I would NOT want to live beside Hwy 21. And that house also has a revolting cow field behind it which must smell awful in hot weather.......they should try and sell when there is snow on the ground.....I know that isn't always recommended but in this situation it would be a benefit..you can see the back of the house and the amazing walkout through the bare trees.......it looks lovely then, and the cow field will be covered in snow! And won't look boggy and nasty.......and not much road works will be happening ;)

I was thinking today........I won't be able to blog any of the portraits I take...thats going to be really hard! But the pictures belong to the client......and I wouldn't want to put someones picture online unless they were 100% comfortable and with their knowledge. So many of the pictures I take in future won't be shown here.......

But if anyone puts their pictures on their blog I will be sure to add a link so you can check out my work ;)

Tomorrow we have a homeschool get-together at Lets Play.......It will be fun and the kids will have a blast with their friends, but I could do without having to go out tomorrow.......so much to do!

And with that said, I really ahve to get back to the grind and get some work done........

At the lake............

We were hoping to see Christie and her crew today but sadly they had to cancel....so we jumped in the car and went to the lake instead. We stopped at the playground for a while first and then walked from there to the lake........the children could spend hours throwing stones into the water and making them skip.....or drawing and writing in the sand with sticks..............we also collected many gorgeous leaves for activities tomorrow......................

I took a few pictures at the playground and then my camera switched off....batteries were dead!! They don't last five minutes in my little point and shoot! ggggrrrr so the pics above are the only ones I have!

This morning we started a new timetable for computer use........9am until 10am is Susie, 10am until 11am is Chris......11am until 12pm is Laurie and from 12pm onwards is my time BUT when I am not using it someone else may, including Abigail.............that is of course only for those days when we are at home......normally three days a week................it worked well!

The children also helped me just soooooo much in the basement helping me prepare the studio...they did a lot of lifting and carrying and sorting................they worked hard so they deserved the time at the lake :)

After the lake we stopped at our local store for some surprise candy bags :) For 50c you can buy little brown bags filled with candy but you just never know what you'll get :) they love those!

I think I'm all caught up now.....well, except for the other pictures from Banff that I still have to add but never seem to find the time!

Yesterday.....

Yesterday was such a crazy day for me...I am not used to rushing about running errands but yesterday was spent doing just that! I dropped Chris at the museum for his day at work. Then I took the younger 4 to the homeschool drop-in group.

I only had 3 dozen eggs to give away but they were quickly snapped up! I'm glad everyone likes getting them!

Lorraine had a big display of books, rubberstamps, workbooks.......magazines etc that she was giving away, so we chose some wonderful things from there (Thank you Lorraine)

Nancy did yesterdays activity...she did peg dolls but they were very creative peg dolls...Abigail made a Japanese lady complete with Kimono and her hair up in a Japanese style)

I am doing next weeks activity :) for a Thanksgiving theme I am doing log home building...the children will split into teams and have to build a log home for a newly arrived Pioneer family. I am taking all the supplies necessary :)

After HS group yesterday we went to the mall, bought Laurence some new runners, had lunch...got a few groceries in Safeway............

After the mall we headed to the garden centre for some gorgeous velvet Fall leaves for photo shoots, and then to Michaels for the pumpkins they had on 50% off...again for Fall photo shoots.

Then we headed to McDonalds where I cuddled a coffee and read the newspaper while the children played...we had to fill in time until 4pm when we picked CHris up from work............

After that we rushed home, I boiled eggs and made toast for a quick supper and then we dressed the girls and I took them to dance class.................

After dance class the girls showed us their 'moves' and then it was bedtime and Lloyd and I worked on my website.......then by 9:30 we headed up to bed......DH was soon asleep and I just lay there until 2:30 am (groooooooan) I couldn't stop thinking about lighting, about poses, about set-ups, about marketing ideas, about photography, photography, photography..................

DS woke me at 4:45 and I then lay awake until 5:15.....woke up when DH left at 6:30 and then woke up at 7am by DS.....thats when I decided to give up lol!

So that was Tuesday.......................

Dinners ready..............Italian Sausage in a spicy tomato sauce on wholewheat pasta with a side salad and crusty bread mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Back to dance...............................

Last night the girls returned to their dance class.........Susie got a big hug from her teacher which was lovely. Susannah will do tap until Christmas and then Jazz through to the summer. Abigail will do ballet...her homeschooled friend N has joined her in the class this year so she was VERY happy :)

When the girls got home they showed me what they had learned already and I took these pictures....Sammy (in his pj's) wanted to join in!!!

The Translator..............

Yesterday we were at the mall and I took the girls into the bathroom. While Susannah and I were drying our hands Abigail came out of her toilet cubicle and said something to us.......because of the dryer we couldn't hear what she was saying...so we had to get her to repeat it three times. There was a lady drying her hands beside us and when we wasked Abigail the third time to repeat it, this lady kind of rolled her eyes and said 'She said she's wearing two pairs of underwear!'

Abigail just grinned and went to wash her hands and the lady kind of laughed. I laughed out loud and said 'Oh that makes a change, she doesn't normally remmeber to put any on!' She laughed and left and I just smiled at Abigail and said 'well at least you're cozy' :)

It sure comes to something when a stranger has to interpret for you!!!

First Frost......................

Today we woke to the first frost of Fall..............it was just beautiful outside...everything glistening like a portrait created with Swarovski crystals. Even though I had had only 4 hours of sleep I just HAD to throw on some warm clothes and head outside before the sun melted this precious jewel away....................

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me re. my photography business. I'm very excited. I am also very grateful to the wonderful friends in my life who have offered to advertise for me and pass the word :) Especially those of you who have amazingly cancelled your appointments with other photographers to come with me........You are true gems!!!! I can't wait to take some special pictures of you all for you to treasure!!!

So the deed is done and I have advertised in several places today........I have 7 maybe 8 shoots booked!!!! WAAAAH!!! :)

My company will be known as Beautifully Candid Photography........and the website should be up and running soon :) www.beautifullycandid.com

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

breathe Jane, breathe..................

Here we go..................

I have three photo shoots booked for the next two weeks.....maybe another two! My business cards should be here by the end of the week.....Lloyd is at Staples now for the software to create my website......and my good good friend Samantha has kindly offered to give out my business cards and flyers ....she teaches preschool, does voluntary work with many family organizations locally and generally comes into contact with endless families! She's a star!!!!! So I said as a thank you I'd do a photo shoot for her of her family............

I'm beginning to think this business could actually take off!!! I'm excited but very, very nervous.......so my Saturday family (you know who you are lol) I apologise now in case all your pictures are blurry because I'm shaking so much!! I'll be sure to use the tripod a lot ;)

So I am excited and nervous and very grateful and excited and happy and did I mention I was NERVOUS???????????????

How many is too many?????????

Sam with his new 'dodo's (soothers).......

Circle time................

I bought a pair of compasses the other day and this afternoon I showed Susannah how to use them....it takes practice to make perfect circles........Laurie spent time with thre protractor, measuring circles...............

It was nice that they had something to do beside me on the desk.....I have been stuck at the computer doing work most of the afternoon.....and Sam hasn't woken from his second nap of the day yet so we haven't made it to the lake......maybe Wednesday.............I want to do leaf rubbings and look at the chlorophyl loss in Fall leaves...........maybe bark rubbings too.........

Dog penis for dinner anyone???????????

Mmmmm yummy!

Or how about donkey.....good for the skin :) or snakes.....they have two!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/5371500.stm

What would you try?

My daughter.....the genius!!!

So last night I am telling Lloyd that Abigail 4 knows what a quartet is and that she had amazed me at the harvest gathering.........she is sat beside us and says 'yes, a quartet is 4 and a quintet is 5'

Thanks Ruby!!!! Thanks Treehouse :)

Ask a silly question..............

Abigail wanted some wordsearches to do...she loves them...so I am surfing at Enchanted Learning and I see that tomorrow is Johnny Appleseeds birthday...............

So I ask Chris who Johnny Appleseed is as I've never heard of him.........

His answer???

Granny Smiths Son..........

Grooooooooaaaaaaaannnnnn

;)

A new week.........................

Its Monday................Lloyd went back to work after his week off................so we got back into our routine...............

Today I wanted to get the house clean and tidy after our week off.............so we have dusted and vacuumed the whole house, washed the windows inside and out,washed the floors, done the laundry..........I finally unpacked the suitcase with the clean clothes................The windows were FILTHY outside because of the dogs...they get wet muddy paws and then jump up at the windows!

The children have helped, and in between I have sorted out some photo shoots, sent some emails, started a letter...............and the children have been busy doing their thang!

Susie did some of her Write Now book....then she got out a book on measurements and did a few pages.......she then made more rice krispies squares with Laurie............

Laurie worked on bridge plans for his pasta bridge...he is hoping to take part in the spaghetti bridge contest at the science Centre...............

Abigail did some worksheets, some colouring and some painting at the table.......Sam pottered about......

Chris did a report on WWE and its growth.............he wrote a first person account of D-Day, he studied the various views on animal rights.................and he reviewed some Japanese........

This afternoon if it dries up we are going to the lake for a walk and again if its dry we want to walk up into the side field and do some plaster of paris molds of some deer prints in the mud............

The house is all clean :) The fire outside is STILL burning...since yesterday morning!!! Its just smoldering really..........but it smells Fall-like....................

I've talked to Lloyd on the phone a few times...he's busy after having a week off....his team are glad to have him back so I hear :) I got an I miss u email too :)

So thats our day so far.......off to have lunch now....actually breakfast because I haven't had anything yet.....I ALWAYS have breakfast so I feel a bit guilty for missing it today.......off to have fiber 1...maybe with a bit of Vanilla Almond Special K mixed in ;)

snow is black again..........

Today I am told that snow is black again ;) and its the same person telling me :) Some people are just so funny..........................Its like they would rather say ANYTHING than actually agree with me lol.....maybe they think that if they agree with me they will spontaneously combust lol!

Or maybe its true...maybe I am just WRONG about EVERYTHING lol ;)

The man with three wives

Did anyone see this show last night???? Wow what an arrogant control freak and chauvanistic PIG!!!! I expected it to be about a religious family who chose that lifestyle because of their beliefs...but it was about a man who couldn't be monogamous so moved in a new wife....and then a girlfriend.......

Things I noticed...it was never mentioned if the women were allowed a new man to join them......he started off the show acting all sweet but a third of the way in he started to act VERY arrogant and like a total control freak.......

Those poor women aren't even happy.........and they say they wouldn't do it again if they could go back in time.......and the girlfriend said 'I have waited my whole life for someone to love me as much as I love them and now I've found him.'

UH..................NO YOU HAVEN'T....cause if he really loved you he would end it with his first wife...second wife and be with YOU.

What an awful thing to live with...the knowledge that you are 'not enough' for your husband......which isn't actually true....what is true is you married an A-hole!!!! But to go through life thinking you aren't 'enough'......................

Anyway....I thought he was an arrogant, selfish, control freak.............

Did you watch it? What were your thoughts? Feel free to totally disagree ;)

Day 4..............

I have been back on core for 4 days and so far so good :) Last night we had chicken with savoury brown rice (home made) now our trip is over and our days are falling back into a calm routine its easier to cook meals from scratch - as I much prefer! Last night I had a bad headache and felt sick...all of a sudden............no idea why. Lloyd says it may be the sugar and processed food detox ....I guess........but this morning I feel great again. Last time I didn't have any issues from detoxing from processed foods but I was also taking hemp daily so maybe thats why............

It just goes to show that processed bads aren't good for you!

I also made my Almond Joy last night for dessert....yum! Yes the powder is processed but the oats and milk are good for you :) and it helps ease the transition from lots of choccy to none :)

It seems in the last week everyone has hit the WW wagon again so there is a lot of support around....even the blogs are full of WW positiveness :) Good luck everyone!

Actually I don't truly follow Core as such...for the most part I do, but the diet I follow is more in line with Dr Phils Weight Loss Solution........but that and core are sooooo similar and are basically about healthy eating, the way we all should eat.......natural foods, cooking from scratch, avoiding processed foods and added sugar.............it makes sense to me.

Enjoying ther celebrations....................

A few more pictures of the Harvest Gathering......................
Can you spot me on the trailer????

Bobcat fans......................

The highlight of Sams visit was seeing three bobcats..............he's just like his Daddy lol! So funny...I thought the top picture was hilarious with them both stood together admiring the Bobcat ;) Do boys ever grow up?????? I think Lloyd just wanted a little boy so he could get to enjoy Mighty Machines and get excited over diggers again!

The Harvest Gathering................

This afternoon we took our younger three children to the Harvest Gathering at the local garden centre.......it is an annual event (one of the first events we went to when we arrived in Edmonton in 02) and is always in aid of A Safe Place......the local womens shelter...........)

There is corn to eat, coffee/ juice and cookies, colouring, face painting, tractor and trailer rides.....popcorn............and lovely Acapella music.....a quartet that was just wonderful!

Abigail surprised me by pointing to the singers and saying 'they're a quartet!' I would love to say she learnt this from me...her homeschooling 'teacher' but alas no......it was from Ruby......on Max and Ruby ;)