It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

Usually that is a very true statement!  We, as parents, are always happy to see the kiddos packing up and headed back to school but this year is very different for me!  It is wrought with happiness and tears!  The Moody Teen is taking that final step into adulthood in that he will turn 18 on the first day he starts his Senior year of High School!  Sniff, sniff!  Is he really that old?  Am I really that old?  The answer to both is, of course, a big old YES!!  To make matters even worse, my little Diva starts Preschool this year!  Oh my aching heart!  OK, so it is only 2 afternoons a week but still!!

I am really not sure how I am going to cope with all of this change!  This also begs the question, what will I do with two free afternoons a week?  No really, I never get time that is 100% alone, by myself with no little Diva shadowing me!!  I'm sure at first I will come home and sulk but give me a couple of weeks and I am sure that I will find some sort of trouble to get into!  I mean there is shopping and coffee shops and, well, I guess I could get some work done too!!  Hope you all enjoy this most wonderful time of the year!

From Senior to Abercrombie Model

Meet Garrett or future Abercrombie model as I like to call him!  This shoot quickly went from Senior shoot to model shoot and the suggestion was made by, none other than, his mom!!  Thanks mom!

If you want to see more less more of Garrett you can head on over to my photography blog Picture Perfect by Jo!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

Summer Fun

It has been way too long since I have had a truly positive post that shared photos of everyday life here in the middle of the cornfield!  Life took a detour and on that detour the road construction was long and bumpy and hard to deal with but it also brought a new perspective for my life and the direction I want to travel!  So, having said that, we have done some fun things this summer and now in one long post I will share with you in photos what we have been up to when life was not getting in the way!

We had an awesome time on our day trip to the Windy City!  The bus dropped us off at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the colorful steps immediately caught my eye!  Next we have the Diva wearing her new Bitty Baby from the American Girl Store and looking at the "big girl" dolls that she would like to have when she gets older!  Next is this handsome guy!  I am a sucker for a bully baby and he was so sweet that I wanted to bring him back with me!  Of course the Diva is posing with her baby who she named Gia!  Who can resist cool architecture?  Not this girl!!  LOL!

Here is the Diva with her baby!  The next photo was from a parade we saw a few weeks back but it fit so I stuck it in!  She is just so stinkin' cute!  Sorry, my humble opinion here!!  Next is the sign above the door to the store of the day and then there is the bag that I built my outfit around!  I LOVE this bag!  It hold my D700 with lens attached, a flash, extra lens, cards, batteries, my phone and my wallet so I was set for the day!!   And then we have just a few of the girls and their loot from the day!

Grandma called on Sunday to ask if we would join her for the final day of the fair!  The Diva was all to eager to oblige!  Here are the Diva and Gma together.  Next is a turtle that was up for grabs in a game!  You know those games where you can win a goldfish, well, they upped the anti with these cute little turtles!  This guy was happy to pose for me!!  LOL!  Grandma and the Diva decided to do a little shark fishing and hooked two with one cast!  Then came the gambling!  Oh yeah, the Diva loved picking numbers and putting her Grandma's quarters down and then, of course, throwing the ball into the ring was a highlight too!

This collage is full of the things I loved capturing from the fun day at the fair!!  I have always loved the Ferris Wheel but no one would ride with me!!  Chickens!!  The turtle made this one cause he was just too cute!  Then there were the ducks!  I love me some ducks!  Could have something to do with one of the Diva's nicknames, Duckie!  She got that one the day she was born when the doctor said I see duck fuzz as her head crowned!  And who can resist a girl and her Grandma having fun together?

Well, I need a nap now because this journey down memory lane has tuckered me out almost as much as the original trips did!!  I am sure there will be a few more adventures before school starts!  The Moody Teen goes back on the 16th (his 18th Birthday) and the Diva starts preschool on the 31st!  Wow, where has the time gone??