Sunflare...

Ok...sunflare...my first real go at it (opposed to the pretend goes!!!) Not too bad - have most definitely seen better!!

13 years ago...

We got engaged 13 years ago today!! How crazy - how on earth did I know what i wanted at just 21 years of age!
We have a week of birthdays this week. MIL's today, SIL's tomorrow, Amalie's on Friday and the FIL"s on Saturday...phew...birthdays and presents galore! Oh and cakes! Although I did a Cat cake for Amalie's party I think I might do one for her for her Birthday oh and Sept. 8th is Happy Amalie Day (the day she joined our family) so I will do a cake for that too!!!


In the first shot you can see me in the reflection of my wedding band!

Scotty....

Meet Scotty...my in laws dog who once belonged to my Husband. He is old and injured at the moment so I took these cute photos of him as a reminder of just how sweet he really is.

Our new church is finally finished!

Yay!! After all this time its finally done and looks amazing. We had the official opening today and drew a crowd of at least 500!! Crazy!! I was really excited as I though "yay I can get some practice with lightening etc in the new church" Hmmmm little did I know that I would be way down the back on the floor!! Had a little play though and here are some pics

My baby girl...Amalie May

So I have been totally obsessed with another persons blog (sorry Kristin!!) I am amazed how different and intense the adoption process is for inter-country adoptions. Its not something we looked into but Greg's cousin is adopted from Russia so we new a little bit. Unfortunately New Zealand has now been declined anymore adoptions from Russia. Crazy.

So with Amalie's 3rd birthday coming up (OH MY GOODNESS SHE IS GOING TO BE 3) I have really been thinking about how our darling came into our lives.

!8th August 2006 we got rung by our Adoption worker (note I am in the staffroom for morning tea) She says there is a baby due for us but there were conditions EEEEEKKK.
Our new baby was due in 10 days and she had been exposed to "P".
I cant think what I did next apart from tell Greg and run home to ring our family Doctor " Tell me all you know about "P babies" Thankfully he had just done a paper on it and knew enough to calm my fears as Amalie's BM had only taken P once during her pregnancy in the first few weeks.

the next few days are a blur and on the 30th August our Adoption worker rung again to say she had been born on the 28th and was super healthy!!!

Ok so long story short of meeting her on the 4th September (terrible fuzzy photos posted) and then waiting not very patiently on the 8th September to bring her home.

I have just re read through her little "diary" written by her caregiver. So cute saying she was up watching the All Blacks play South Africa!!!!

She amazes me everyday - and I am excited to be planning her 3rd birthday which has a Pussy cat theme!!!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Light....I suck at it!!!

Go to take a lovely pic of Amalie and Oliver at the Cove and tada!!!!! Pure White faces!!!!

BOOKS, BLOGS AND COFFEE!!

Thats my new way of learning from now on! I have some new photography books and I am slowly getting through them. Learning so much already. I have organised a guy to come look at my computer so I can finally install my Photoshop that has been sitting on my desk for weeks now.

Just a day at home today. School went back after two weeks break and Oliver was really excited. He is a worry to me that darling boy! He is so bright yet at times lacks commen sense! Is that just a 6 year old boy thing?? Please say it is....

Amalie and I plan to do some baking today and a walk to the loacal second hand shop in search of buttons.

And a few pics as that is what I am making myself do - pics on blog! Although I have no idea how to write inbetween them!

Back from holiday with hundreds of photos...

I cant believe how many I photos I took this past week. More than normal!!! We had a lovely trip away. Caught up with close friends and took the children to Cathedral Cove. Oliver had been before - well before he knew it as "Narnia". He loved it! Amalie did well walking most of the way and carried on Gregs shoulders the rest. Its a hard walk for me let alone a nearly 3 year old. I cant believe that she is nearly 3!! Thats another post - maybe tomorrow about our darling girl! So here are a few pics. Still playing with editing and finding it hard to decide when I have added enough..who knows

forgot to add this one

Having a laugh at the family photo below...you can see me holding the remote and Ihave that funny look of "hope this works" on my face

Hello to me...

Have not been on in a while. Been busy and we are going away tomorrow - yay!! We are going home. Home? Or are we home here? I'm not sure anymore. We have been here for 7 months so this should be called home now right?? Either way we are heading to Whitianga and I cant wait - a whole week!!

So I have been playing with some software on some photos I have taken. I have trouble deciding when to stop! Like too much light or too much softness etc More is not always more!!!!

I have the coolest camera bag. I bright red Golla one!! I so want it.....