Lousy Week

Well, my gynecologist thinks that I might have polycystic ovarian syndrome. I have to go in for testing this weekend, to find out for sure. I know this isn't the end of the world, but I am pretty anxiety ridden over it. Nobody ever wants to hear that they have anything wrong with them. It's not life threatening in, and of itself, but I will have to be on birth control, (even after Jason's vasectomy) as well as, diet and exercise for the rest of my life. I guess my chances of contracting heart disease are double, and from the little I know about the syndrome, diabetes is imminent. That, alone, crushes me.

I'm just sad today.

We're having a really bad week with the loan on the house, as well. Since we applied for the loan at the end of 2011, they average out Jason's income from 2009 and 2010, when he was making CONSIDERABLY less than he is making now. I also worked at that time, but they don't use my income, because my name isn't going to be on the loan... and I don't work anymore. So, it's not income that is still coming in. So, we are still going to be able to get the loan, but not until Jason works for a few more months to a) save more b) have more proof of income for this year

My heart is sad. :(

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

I know I'm due for an update here, but I really came here just to write about something that bothers me. I don't know why it bothers me, because it really has nothing to do with me, but...

Why are so many people just standing still in life? Don't they want to accomplish NEW things in their short time on earth? I'm far from being the most ambitious person in the world, but I still feel like I'm at least jogging on the sidewalk of life. These people I'm referring to, are just standing next to the sidewalk totally confused about what it even is.

I know too many people, who are about my age, who are content just doing the same things all the time. Some of them don't have jobs, or even go to college with hopes of eventually getting a job. Some of them, live with their parents (and I'm not talking temporarily). Some of them, have been in the same relationship for years, with no plans of getting married in the near future. Some of them, (and this is the one that really gets to me for some reason) just live to party. I don't get how hanging out in the bar/club scene is fun for anyone. It's a huge waste of money. There are a bunch of guys and girls trying WAY too hard. It's fun to go out and party every once in a while... but every night/weekend? I just. don't. get. it!

I know that some people could accuse me of moving too fast in life... with marriage and kids... but those things are what give my life meaning.(along with trying to start my photography business, building our home, trying to get in shape, and dreaming about how to go on at least one vacation a year.)

Aren't these people going to look back and wonder why they were just destroying this precious time?

I will never get it. It makes me want to scream at them "GET ON THE SIDEWALK!"

What's in a name?

The women of one of the blogs I regularly follow, created a post about why she chose her children's names. One of the things she said, was that the meaning was very important to her. When I named our children, I really just wanted names that Jason and I both loved. But, I do remember looking up the meanings as well. I think both of our kids have very sweet and wonderful meanings. Here are all of our names, and their meanings:

Shannon: God is gracious, Small, Wise One

Jason: He that will cure

Allyson: Of noble birth

Evan: Young warrior, Well-born

So, pretty cool I guess. We all have nice meanings attached to our names. I like how Jason's says "He that will cure" and he's a physical therapist. He's not a doctor or anything, but he does help people. I also like that mine says I'm wise. I should remind Jason of that when we're arguing :) I hope that Evan's name doesn't mean he's going to be too much of a fighter/enlist in the military. I'm all for serving the country, but I don't ever want to lose my little boy (or my little girl for that matter). And "of noble birth" She is our princess! :)

Quick Update

Wow, I'm really behind on updating. So, here's a quick recap... We ended up moving into the house that I talked about in my previous post, and it's not so bad!! It's pretty big, and I think the kids enjoy having more room to play. The home building process is beginning, but we haven't actually signed anything yet. So far, we've just been meeting with the builders and the loan officers at a few banks. The builders that we're going with (Little Mountain Homes) have the technology to build in the winter, so they can technically start at anytime, but that leaves us less time to save. SOOO... that creates a bit of stress for us. But it will all be worth it when we are finally living in our dream home (At least I pray that it will!!)

Also, I finally started a photography business. I'm wishing I would have started it in the summer, when natural light is best. It's tough trying to get clients right now, when I have no backdrops, a crappy flash, and no indoor lighting system. I had three clients (all people I knew from work/high school) before Christmas. I think they went well... but I just don't know if my clients think so too... and that is OF COURSE what's most important. I also really want a new lens, but I just don't have the money for it. I really think I have the talent (or else I wouldn't be wasting my time trying this) but I just don't have the equipment that I want/need to be my best. I try to tell myself that working without optimal equipment will help me become a better photographer....

Well, it's bedtime. Hopefully I will do a better job at keeping up with this. I will leave you with a few photos that I took of the kids and our "chicken coop" house. The house has a chicken coop in the back, so that is how it has gotten that nickname, in case you were wondering ;)

Woolty Mantis

When I was a little girl, my family didn't have cable. I'm pretty sure I can attribute my awesome childhood, of playing outside, to this. Anyway, we had rabbit ears on top of our t.v. set, and channels 3, 5, and 8 were about all that came in. We also only owned about two or three movies on VHS. One of those movies was The Secret Garden. I remember this movie so well, because it was my favorite, and I had probably watched it about thirty-five times. Well, in that movie,there was a little girl named Mary Lennox. In the beginning of the movie, Mary is throwing a tantrum in her mother's bedroom. She ends up throwing her mother's ivory elephant on the ground, breaking the trunk. Suddenly, she hears her mother returning to her bedroom for her purse, so Mary hides underneath the bed. At this moment, an earthquake strikes, and her mother passes away. Later in the movie, Mary learns that her mother had a twin sister, who owned a matching ivory elephant. Okay, so there are many other important parts to this movie, but I am mentioning the importance of the ivory elephant, because it goes with my story. Please bear with me ;)

Fast foward several years... When I was about fifteen or so, my mom, who bought and sold antiques,ended up with an ivory elephant. It looked exactly like the one in the movie. I asked her if I could have it, and though she probably thought that was an odd thing to ask for, she gave it to me.

The little girl in me has always loved that little elephant, and when I moved into the house that we are currently living in, I placed it on top of my dresser next to my jewelry box. That is where it has remained for the past six years... that is, until a few days ago when I decided to put it on top of the box, instead of next to it. Well, Evan sleeps in our room now, and while he was in bed a few nights ago, I decided to sneak in the room to put my earrings away. in doing so, I forgot that the elephant was on top of my jewelry box, and when I opened up the lid to the box, my elephant slid off of it, and ended up smashing against the wall. The entire trunk broke off. :/

After it happened, I brought the elephant downstairs to show Jason, and told him about it with a sad voice. Ally was around, and she came running over, very concerned, when she heard the news. She knows how important the elephant is to me, because I always tell her not to play with it. So after she heard it had broke, she said, "Mama, it's okay. I'll make a new one out of clay for you."

A few days had passed, and I pretty much fogot about my broken elephant. Last night I took Evan with me to go get an oil change, and Ally stayed home with Jason. I came home from that oil change to a beautiful surprise! Ally remembred her promise, and decided (all on her own) that she wanted to make me a new elephant. So, she did, and she did it without any help from anyone. She was so proud to give that elephant to me, and I was even more proud...

For some reason, she says it's not an elephant, but a wooly mammoth. Even better, she forgets how to say wooly mammoth, so she says, "Woolty Mantis" And I just love my "Woolty Mantis." I'm pretty sure it's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. I love her sweet little soul.

Birthday Boy

My big boy is ONE!! Here are some pictures from his party, which was yesterday..


We did an Elmo theme for the party, because he's pretty into Elmo at the moment. Although, it seems to be fading. I guess he's too busy to watch TV these days.

This pic is of Evan with his Godmother, Michelle. Michelle is Jason's cousin. She's got four kids of her own, is super nice, and a perfectionist. I clean my house extra before she comes over, because I'm afraid she'll think we're gross if I don't.

Ally and Evan with their four cousins. (Michelle's kids)

Here Daddy and Evan are checking out Evan's party hat in the mirror. He loves his reflection... as he should, because he's pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself! ;)

Catching Up

It's been a LONG time since I've updated... or shared any pictures. Sometimes, I'm not quite sure why I even have this blog. I wanted to use it as a way to document my life, and share my pictures (even though I haven't shared my blog address with anyone). But I just feel like I don't have time to write eloquently or to keep up with all the pictures I take. I usually am too tired or lazy to care about my spelling, or how I've worded my sentences. It's funny, because I used to be such a grammar nazi. Now, I think I'm the queen of grammatical errors and first grade sentences. Maybe that's really a good thing though, because maybe it means I have much more important stuff going on in my life.

Which brings me back to my update! Before I share my photos from the past few weeks, I would like to share my most exciting and scary news. We found renters!! After almost three years of trying to sell, we found loopholes in our association's rules, and we decided to put the condo up for rent. Within hours of listing it on renting websites, we had dozens of interested people. We ended up finding a man and his wife who want to stay for 18 months to be closer to their son and his wife who are about to have a baby. It's great for us, but scary too... what happens if they aren't good tentants?! What happens after the 18 months are up?! Meanwhile, we are going to hopefully be building a brand new place of our own!! But while we're waiting for winter to end, so the builders can break ground on our house, we will be renting from one of Jason's cousins. I am not happy about it for several reasons. 1) It's in a semi unsafe neighborhood. 2) Jason's great aunt and great uncle both died INSIDE the home! Eeek. I'm a bit creeped out about the whole experience actually. But, it's practically free for us to rent, which means we can save the money we need for a solid down payment.

Anyway, enough about all that. Let's get to the fun stuff! PICTURES! These are going to be pretty self explanatory, but I will explain anyway (in random order) Halloween 2011, Evan is (almost) ONE!!, playing in the leaves... Are ya ready? Well, here you go: