Busy as always

So long time no blog. It's been a busy few weeks, as always. Last weekend I spent the weekend at Tower Grove Park shooting my girls on Saturday and two shoots on Sunday. It was nice but a bit windy.

Here are my favorite pics of the girls:

Cianah. She doesn't look 13! Scary

Tatiana, she's the only child I have that actually resembles me. :P

And darn cute if I do say so.

Bryana, at least one of them still looks like a baby.

All the pretty ladies together.

So Karl and I are going to Cape Cod this summer for my friend Stephanie's wedding.

I am excited because I have never been to Cape Cod, but also because this is going to be a wonderful wedding.

Stephanie and I have been friends for 15 years. I know that makes me feel old. Ugh!

She has been there for me through so many things, good and bad. She is the kind of person everyone needs to have in their life. She is a friend in the truest sense of the word.

She's some one who knows me, I mean really knows me, and loves me just the same.

I'll never forget the time she called me because a friend of hers was late. This person was often late, but usually at least called to say they would be late. After a few hours with no call she began to worry. She called me to calm her fears and make her feel better and know everything was alright. She quickly realized I was the WRONG person to call. Before she got off the phone with me I had her calling all the hospitals to in the tri-state region making sure they weren't in the hospital. Ok so the person was fine. The tire on the motorcycle they were riding was flat. They had been stopping every mile or so to put more air in the tire. Not injured and safe. And she still loves me. She doesn't call me for reassurance, but she still loves me. :) I can tell this story now because it wouldn't be appropriate at the wedding in August. I've got more where that came from.

Stephanie is a person who will do anything for anyone and look for nothing in return. She doesn't do it because she wants something in return. She does things because she is a good person.

Again I say, this is why everyone needs a Stephanie in their life. That and she's an editor so before I send out any proposals or business plans, I utilize her. :) Ok so that's a bonus.

So one of the photo shoots I did last weekend was for her. She and Jon wanted some engagement photos. I'm all about it. I LOVE taking pictures.

They are a wonderful couple. Jon adores her and she him. I couldn't be happier for them. Or more honored to stand up with her this summer. I am happy that she choose me to be a part of this day.

I am disappointed that they are probably leaving me in a year or so to move across the country to Seattle. Not cool! Ok, cool for them. Not for me.

Karl and I are going alone to Cape Cod. Karl figured I'd be busy with wedding stuff and he'd be stuck with the kids. Not that he minds the kids, just didn't want to not have his room to hid away in. :P

So we are taking the kids (or at least I hope) to Florida. This has been a MAJOR ordeal. In order to afford to go, we are going with my friend Marsha. (see weeding planner blog earlier) Trying to find an affordable place for 10 people is not easy. Finding a way to get 10 people to FL is proving to be near impossible. Two cars it is.

My only conflict is this. Marsha can not go until July 14th (because her son has summer school) and I don't want to go in August because I'm going to Cape Cod. So here's the problem. The two weeks in July that are left overlap the bachlorette party in Chicago. We'd either be coming or going while the bachlorette party is happening. While I doubt even if the timing wasn't an issue I'd be able to afford to go to on 3 trips this summer, I am conflicted. Being the maid or honor I feel like I should be there. If we don't go with Marsha we are not going to be able to afford to go to Florida. What to do?

So we are planning the trip and I feel like I shouldn't. So now I feel like I need to make adjustments. I do no want to let Stephanie down. That is the last thing I want to do. Trying to get something together before summer school starts will probably not work. Karl suggests leaving in the middle of the week and coming back in the middle of the week???

Karl and I have never taken a family vacation, short of a weekend trip to Branson a few years back. Karl and I haven't been on vacation at all since 2001. The kids, well Bryana never has and Cianah was 3, Tati 21 months or so. HELP!!!

If this trip doesn't kill us, or drive me further off the deep end, I think we'll have fun. Presently I am on the verge of tears trying to work it all out.