Wednesday, August 26, 2009

We Got the Call!



Rob will be boarding a plane for an interview in Asheville on the 10th of September. I can't tell you how relieved I am that we are at the next step. You already know.
To be able to move my children over to the east coast would be an absolute dream come true.
Meeting Mike Colon was beyond amazing. He was gracious and kind. I learned so much and I feel like I have been handed a golden opportunity because of the knowledge I've learned.

The decision has been made to focus only on engagement and wedding photography. Changing my look and feel a bit. I'll take child and family shoots for friends and family but my real love is brides, and the celebration of marriage. Being able to capture that would be an immeasurable blessing.
These images were taken less than a mile from Mike Colon's house. More about the day later -- so much information and golden nuggets of wisdom to try to put it in a blog post yet.
Nighty night, all.
xoxo, Gina

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Luke's tantrums got pretty bad last week. He would scream for hours. After an emergency phone call to Dr. Jerry we put him on Motrin three times a day and a laxative to clean him out. The Motrin seemed to be working because he seemed like a different boy on Wednesday (the day after the call). It's been an easier week but then he started his tantrums up again last night. He started screaming, out of the blue, with seemingly no precursor. When he screams it's almost as if someone is scraping the inside of your skull with a fingernail file. It is jarring and loud and it is almost impossible to concentrate on anything at all when the tantrums come. One more week until school starts. After Luke took his newly messed underpants off and spread the contents the length of the living room this morning, I am wondering if we'll make it...

His grace is sufficient.
Besides, I get to spend all Tuessday at Mike Colon's workshop so what am I complaining about?

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Bernard




Bernard has been a friend of Rob's for over 20 years and a friend of mine for as long as I've known Rob.
After Rob and I were married he took me to Paris, but before we left, we stayed for a couple of nights in Bernard's flat in London. So we go way back.
Bernard lives in DC now so we get to see him a bit more often. The last time we saw him I was pregnant with Leila.

I had a beautiful time with my friend Donna on Friday as well. I am blessed and grateful for friends.
xoxo, Gina

Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday Tea Party


My sweet friend Donna brought her two lovely girls over to share the morning with us.

After they left Leila said, "I wish they could stay with us forever."
Yes, friends are priceless...

We're so blessed...
xoxo, Gina

Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Pool and My Attitude




At my place in life I've realized that there have to be some "sanity savers" firmly in place.
My faith in Christ and my complete trust in Him to answer all of life's questions in his own time is the first and most reassuring.
After that, there is this place. Our pool.
All the kids love to swim.

At the beginning of summer, Leila wasn't putting her head under water.
Now she is jumping in and going completely under.
She is reaching well and kicking and learning to hold her breath.
I'm so proud of her.


Those were a couple of miscellaneous shots of Liam in the garage...totally unrelated. I just liked his orange shirt.
So back to the pool.

This place even has a great locker room with sauna and steam room and jacuzzi and then there's the work out area and gym. Now if I could just get my keister out of bed in the mornings before the kiddos wake up to work out. I'm weird about the child care. I just can't leave them hardly anywhere for more than a few minutes.
I know I'll have to give that up at some point.

For anyone wondering, there is still no word from Asheville. We haven't heard of anyone getting the position but Rob has not been called for an interview either. There is still hope but I am praying for the right attitude. I will officially close off the possibility in my mind at the end of this month. At that point I'll change my focus back over here and do what I can to make this the best possible home for my Rob and the kids. I've got to try not to be sad.

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Happy Wedding Day, Kely and Jud!





Thursday, August 06, 2009


A new park.

Liam doesn't like to keep his hat on.

I get away with a few minutes here and there.

How did he get this big.
It makes no sense.

Seeing Leila in this hat makes me realize I am kind of a hat fanatic in hot weather.

But it's hot out there.

Monday, August 03, 2009

The OC Blogger Ball


Such fun to meet some online friends on Saturday night.
Here's Jen from Jen Johnson Photography.

And the awesome Kara Noel from Eli's Lids.

Marcy, from The Glamorous Life Association was our gracefully beautiful hostess:

Here's Carrie with the most amazing dress from the fifties and she got it from this amazing new thrift shop that I'm dying to get to. Carrie has a blog called This Mamma Makes Stuff. Everything from sewing to mountain biking. So cool.


And then there was the food. Don't get me started.

I could kiss them.

What a fun night. I love my blog buddies. Friends online are friends indeed. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

And sometimes there is fancy food involved.
Thank you Marcy, Suzanne and all my lovely OC bloggers.
xoxo Gina

Sunday, August 02, 2009





We watched Gigi for movie night on Friday.
We went to the pool today and Leila jumped off the side for the first time. And then she did it 20 times.
Only a few weeks ago she was afraid to put her head under water.

And I also went nuts and cut Leila's bangs yesterday.
I was trying to grow out her bangs and it took me over a year to realize it was too much of a pain to have her hair back in a clip each day

Rob watched the kiddos tonight from 7 on while I went to the OC Blogger Ball.
A few photies to come...