Moving

Michael and I have moved 6 times in the past 6 years (okay...maybe 7).  Blame it on college, work, bad neighbors, a new baby....whatever the reason we have just been on the move.  Normally packing up our apartment hasn't been emotional or a nostalgic event....however this time around it's a very different story.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not rolled up in a ball crying in the corner or anything, we are moving to a single family home for the first time since we've moved out of our parents house-so naturally we're pumped about that (no more crazy neighbors leaving used swimsuits at our door for me-nuff' said).  But this time around my heart strings are pulled a little bit, because this is the first place where we walked through the door with our precious new baby.  I reckon that is a feeling you will always remember.  Bewilderment, Joy, Fear, Anxiety, Excitement, exhaustion; it was all experienced in these four walls for the first time.  (what makes it even a little more special, is this coincidentally happens to be the very apartment building my parents brought there first child home to...which was me!)  I spent countless hours sitting on this couch holding this sleeping baby, feeding this baby, playing with this baby.  I've watched her grow from a helpless newborn, where survival is her main objective- to a toddling, strong willed, funny, sweet, "almost-toddler".  Some of the best moments of my entire life were experienced in this apartment, and I'm so happy those are memories I get to take with me to where ever we call home next!  

DIY birthday onesie!

Well, what'd I say?!  I'm really getting a head start on all this birthday hoopla.  In the last three days we have made Ingrid's trial birthday cake, DIY invitations, and today we Michael finished Ingrid's birthday party onesie!  I would love to take credit for its execution, but when it comes to figuring out the button "thingy" on the sewing machine, I'm clueless!  I can only take credit for its inception! I'm thinking of pairing it with an ah-dorable lemon colored tutu....or, if I can find the time I might just make her a tu-tu (even though my husband as an alarming hatred for tulle) Anyway.....here it is! 

 Ingrid Nightingale's "1 year old" party shirt!    

DIY BIRTHDAY

Since my next 4 weeks will be filled with obsessive behavior to find boxes (good boxes, not cheap one's), packing away all our belongings in those boxes, moving them to our new house, unpacking, settling etc...SO I decided to get a head start on planning Ingrid Nightingale's 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY (what!?).  So far Michael and I made her trial birthday cake (and it is by far my very favorite cake ever....ever...ever-I will post pictures when the time comes!), and today I made her birthday invitations.  I love making cards, but whenever you do them in large volumes it becomes rather tedious.  However this time around, I enjoyed making every single card!  I thought a lot about the day Ingrid was born, and the hard and tiring weeks that followed where her first birthday seemed a lifetime away.  I love that little tike!  Here are a few pictures of my DIY birthday invitations....

Each one unique...

Okay, so I'm really not a perfectionist...

Dear Paul Bunyan...

Well......it looks like for the time being we will be staying in Minnesota.  I think I will always dream of Portland or Seattle.  Maybe someday we will end up there.  For now, I couldn't be more thrilled to have Grandparents close by....and oh yeah they make great BABYSITTERS!  We have also decided to be content with where we are. You can live whatever lifestyle you want, whether you are in Portland....or North Platte, Nebraska (anyone who knows me KNOWS I loathe that state).  So we are excited to once again start composting, gardening, and living a life of simplicity (I say that as I type on my desktop computer, listening to background noise made up of the History Channel and buzzing air conditioners...).  

I love Minnesota...and I always will.

Elissa & Marc

What'd I say?  I'm playing catch up in the blogging world!  

A few weeks ago a shot engagement pictures for my old friend (like, since diapers "old") Elissa and her fiance' Marc.  This was by far one of my favorite photo shoots!  We had so much fun being creative and enjoying the process (and can I just say...a deer tanning company is a horrible spot for a photo shoot....try to look cute with thousands of deer carcasses laying 2 feet from you)!  Marc & Elissa will be married in December, and there is no doubt they are a match made in heaven.  

Again...a few of my faves.

Eric & Beth

This past week has been crazy!  In between planning yet another move, planning my baby's 1st birthday party, and all the other little tasks that life has, I've hardly been able to update!  

This past week I "second shot" a wedding in Owatonna.  Yup, this really is something I love!  I swear my camera has become a second appendage in the past year.  

Here are a few of my faves....

Congrats Eric & Beth!

2 tiny steps for man...

For the second time in the past week, Ingrid took two of the tinniest steps known to man (which I am convinced is just her trying to catch herself from falling).  Today she did it again!!  It truly is "Independence Day".  

In my opinion...

I HATE hot summer days.  I can appreciate certain aspects of summer.  Flowers, hiking, rainstorms, outdoor grilling, picnics, walks etc...but on days like today when I can hear my skin sizzling I just miss autumn & winter.  The good thing is, with this sweltering heat I feel like doing the exact same thing that I do on freezing days.  Wear sweat pants, and lay on the couch for hours just watching movies-which is exactly what I plan to do.

4 years

raToday Michael and I are celebrating our 4 year anniversary.  With the baby close by snoozing away, we plan to enjoy pizza & a movie (which you can find us doing almost any night of the week).  Tomorrow however we plan to party it up' classy style with some bowling, mini golf, and copious amounts of arcade games.  Yes, that's right-we're 12 at heart.  In my wildest imagination I could have never even hoped for someone as wonderful as my partner.  There is no doubt he is my equal (he vacuums the kleenex box....nuff' said!).  Here are a few pictures of us through out our years together.