Haven't written in a LONG time!! This past year has been a busy barrage of photography, life and kids-Mikhayla has graduated high school (we had a ton of family and friends come see her and the new home for her party-it was wonderful!!) and is at the local college trying out her wings (sigh) and giving me gray hairs, she has her first set of wheels and first real job! She's a waitress (and loving it) at a local diner...college is a challenge for her, but socially she has made some new friends and enjoys a good game of Magic cards and D & D..she is more and more like my brother as time goes by!...Gianna is 4.0 stellar student and a range basketball champ. She plays in band, choir and is just a joy, my little gamer...she's struggling with normal teen stuff but I am so proud of her. She makes such wise decisions! Tabbi is the last of my kids in Elementary, and did cheerleading this fall, gets straight A's as well, is friend to all and a comedian for sure...Tabitha just got 2nd place in her 6th grade basketball frozen chosen tourneys this past weekend, followed by a frozen week off of school, they finally went back on Thursday-and while we got alot done around the house, I finally broke everyone out yesterday just to make sure the car started and to stop crawling the walls....I love my girls...I do...with every new chapter in their life it's amazing how one set of frustrations and challenges and joys is replaced by another completely different set!
Other updates; we sold our Montreal home in July (PHEW!!) and I left my STARS afterschool job after a fruitful successful summer doing pictures. I did about 15 weddings, 170 shoots in 2012. I feel like a small local celebrity, and while I am ever still critical, I feel the practice I get, the feedback I get means I am definitely doing what I was born to do...and that is a great feeling! I don't think I could have foreseen what was coming my way, and after many hard ups and downs career wise, it's a huge relief to find something that makes people happy and I enjoy! Dave's happily in his shop, yard and sauna almost nightly, loving the country and went hunting this fall with Gianna. He misses camping as well, and we definitely need a getaway!
The pugs are great, the family wonderful! Oh, my half sister Shirley became a grandma this past summer-Rudy and Sha'Tanya welcomed little adorable Jazmekah into the world, I also have plans to visit all of them and meet this adorable little one this year-it's been too long! Fargo is a long boring trip as is Hurley, we almost connected in our favorite city Minneapolis this fall-we're still trying ;)
I feel silly that I only think to blog in the winter when I am bored and have nothing better to do...but the fact I was too busy to think of it means I was working, outside and certainly not trapped here in front of my monitor..on deck for this year for our little family:
January: Pam is heading up a local fundraiser for Hurley native Alyssa Paro "Clickin for a Cure" along with being on the committee in February for her spaghetti feed.
February: The Parade of Birthdays! Lady Gaga on Feb 6th in the cities, a little visit with Pete & Sarah...swinging through Duluth to hopefully see more friends and family! Mikhayla's planning to move into a house with college friends and leave the nest (GULP)
March: Spring Break-Not sure where we'll go but we're out of here!! (Probably twin cities-hoping to see Shirley, Corey and the kids)
April: Pam's going to 2 proms!! Starting a garden :)
May 9-19, trip to England to see Anita & Dave Kettlewell for Pam & Dave's 15th anniversary
June: Pam's Dad turns 70, back to some camping!! Working on our yard some more....
July: Summer Youth Camp and more camping, maybe a family trip around the Big Lake?
August: Pam's going to Madeline Island school of arts for photography for the week
September: Gianna starts high school, Tabbi starts Junior High
October-December....I can't think that far ahead!!!
Sta Warm! (And yes to my in laws in Texas...I know you are....)
