Christmas Cookies

Every year I start baking cookies in late November to freeze for Christmas. I have a very organized system to track my recipes, how many I make, and which ones are more popular than others. Throughout the year I test new recipes to determine if they will make it into the Christmas rotation. Last year I baked just over 50 dozen. Some may refer to me as the crazy cookie lady, but I just love to bake.

Craig took these pictures last year when I was preparing the trays that I give as gifts. Look how thin I was, this baby is wrecking me!


Anyway, I realize that it's not practical this year to bake that many cookies, even though it is one of my favorite holiday activities. Craig and Ella graciously offered to help, and so far they have made two batches. Interestingly enough, my yield per batch ratio is down. I decided to investigate and what I uncovered was that a) they roll the cookies bigger and b) they treat themselves to several samples before freezing the cookies. They are too cute.

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Christmas Tree!

Every year, on the day after Thanksgiving, we go to Hozak Farms to get our Christmas tree. It is one of my favorite family traditions. Unfortunately, I just could make it this year, so Craig and Ella took care of everything.


Ella arranged (and re-arranged) our nativity set and then insisted that I take a family portrait.


She was anxiously waiting for Daddy to tell her she could cut the twine from the tree.


This was the first year we let her climb the ladder by herself and she was thrilled!

Then Grandma and Grandpa came over to play.

I buy a Hallmark family/photo frame ornament every year, below is 2007.



Dad was busy helping.

My two favorite people in the whole world!

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Happy Thanksgiving

We headed to Saegertown (near Meadville, PA) for Thanksgiving at Aunt Lucille's. Unfortunately, I was not feeling very well, so we didn't take many images.

Thankfully, Ella has her Grandma to play with.


This is how I looked; miserable. I was in tears most of the day, it was pretty awful. Luckily, I felt better the next day, I always try to remind myself that most discomfort is temporary.

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34 Weeks

So here is what I'm dealing with. Can you imagine?


People see me and say... aww, you look so tired. I look tired because I AM TIRED. Sleeping has become very difficult, but you don't need to tell me I look tired because what I hear is, "you look terrible." Remember, pregnant women are very sensitive and sometimes a little hormonal.

Image courtesy www.babycenter.com. You can read more about what is happening at 34 weeks by clicking here.

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Baby Shower

My best friend Jody had a lovely shower for me this past Sunday, it was so exciting! Mom commissioned my designer friend Corrie to come up with something for my cake. They know that I'm not a Winnie the Pooh type person and I LOVED the design she came up with! Totally me.

Jody is the most wonderful friend EVER. We met in the summer of 1993 when I started working at ARCO Chemical in the summers. That happened to be the exact same time that I met Craig. It was a good year for me.

My girl is so sweet, and good at keeping a secret (even though I kinda knew something was going on). Anyway, she was so excited when I arrived... can you imagine a 5 year old with a secret? She wanted to burst!




Thank you to everyone for all of the gifts, Craig and I are very grateful!

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Wedding Season

Craig and I shot our last wedding of the season this past weekend and it was fabulous. You can see the images on my wedding blog. I asked Joanne to shoot this of us with all of our gear.


I'll be honest, it was a difficult year for me. I was concerned about my ability to consistently deliver the amazing images my clients deserve. Thankfully, with the support of my magnificent husband, my parents, and Joanne; I was able to not only deliver fabulous images, but take my business to the next level. I could not have done it without them and I truly appreciate their selflessness.

I feel an enormous sense of relief to have this wedding season behind me and I am thankful that I didn't suffer any complications, wasn't put on bedrest, etc.

I think there is this perception that because I work from home and only shoot on Saturday's, that I have it easy. Not the case. I have worked my ass of this year, and when you have your own business, there is way more to it than most people can even fathom. I am certain that I put in many more hours than any 9-5 office job. I am a photographer, designer, web developer, business manager, strategic planner, secretary, courier, accountant, client relations manager, marketer, etc.

I give 150% to my clients because they deserve it, but I have also managed to run myself into the ground. What I have accomplished this year in terms of my business is nothing short of a miracle considering my condition and the physical nature of my job. I believe that it is because of the grace of God that I survived.

That being said, please don't ask me for anything. LOL The time has come for me to put my feet up and take care of myself.

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Travel System

A huge thanks to Craig's mom Carolyn for sending us the travel system for the baby! Ella insisted that we put it together the moment it arrived, even though I thought we should wait for Daddy.

Several people have been asking me lately what we need for the baby and the short answer is, everything!! It's been 5 years since we had a baby, and because we were having so many problems, we weren't sure if we were going to be able to have another. As a result, we gave away most of Ella's baby paraphernalia.

Anyway, if you didn't notice in the baby post at the top of the blog, we are registered at Target.

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Maternity Pictures

My good friend Joanne stopped over on Friday to take some maternity pictures. I'll be posting more on my wedding blog by the end of the week.

Here I am at 8 months and I am exhausted. I cannot imagine how this child can grow any bigger, I already can't breathe.

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Happy Halloween!!

Ella was an angel for Halloween this year.




I love this image, she really does look like an angel! And she is!

I volunteered to help with her party at school.

This is her friend Maria.

Getting ready to go trick-or-treating, Jody and Connor.

Connor, Ella and Savannah.

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