My To-Do List

I'm sure that we, and by we I mean moms, have huge to-do lists. Dinner needs to be made, the house cleaned, laundry folded and so on and on and on. Well, my to-do list consist of work related items. I don't have laundry on my list, cleaning nor grocery shopping. When I do manage to clean, bake, cook or do laundry it's a good day. When I manage to clean, bake or do laundry AND complete some of my to-do list it's an incredible day!

Today was one of those incredible days.

I had a huge to-do list today with some projects to complete that weighed me down and filled my mind with all kinds of stress. The great news is not only did I complete those projects, but spent some time with my son and made some yummy apple/pearsauce.

Well, the quality time with the son was concentrated. He spent most of his day in bed with me watching Veggie Tales, but once an episode was over with I made sure to play with him for 15-30 min before I sat down to work and he to watch.

Tomorrow we go back to our routine of mommy and toddler time outdoors until nap time, which means I'm back to my regular working hours. Yay, me!

The funny part of to-do lists is once you cross something off that list you add 3 more things onto it. I started with 14 things in the beginning of my day. Now I have 17 with 5 things crossed off. Okay, maybe my math is off, but you get the point.

Kondratyuk's Family - Mill Creek & Seattle Family Photographer

I love it when after a photo-shoot I am going through the images to pick the ones I want for the blog and I'm taken back to the fun time I had. This photo session was that kind of session. It brings a smile to my face when I think about chasing Nathan around trying to get that ONE shot.

I seriously love my clients. They are more then just clients, but friends. It's usually the beginning of a friendship which I cherish very much.

The family I got to work with are from my side of the world and it was hard for me to focus on one language, so I jumped from one to another. They are a beautiful family and were very patience even though Nathan had a short nap. Their son Nathan reminded me so much of my son!

Here's the Sneak Peak:

Blissful Saturday

Quite... That's how I feel inside. I don't know if it because under many layers lies an overwhelming stress that I have just shut down to it and am just that... quite.

With a pile of work waiting for my attention, no begging my attention I can't help but be drawn to cooking, baking, hanging out with my family and just watching movies. It could be that I'm still on vacation mode.

Well, its time to snap out of it and act like a grown up! Can I just stomp my foot and say, "I don't wanna!" Would that be justified?

So it's 8pm, lets see how much I can do in 4 hours. Better yet I'll make it into a race. That should be more mature of me then stomping my foot and yelling.

One things for sure, it's so much easier to work when you've had a full and wonderful Saturday. The thought that I pondered all day was how happy and blessed I truly am. Things aren't always smooth, but because I've chosen to enjoy my life days like today are priceless.

California Trip - Fall 2011

Like every season we head off to California for a whole weekend of learning and fun.

This trip had been the biggest and longest trip I've been in a long time. Not only was our California trip extended because we were celebrating out anniversary a month early, but I went to a 3 day women's conference at my church called Celebrate.

With only a month an a half away from our Slovakia trip things are getting very tight around here. To make things even more overwhelming we found out we'll be making our trip to California the weekend we get back from Slovakia. Non-stop travel until the end of January!

I guess this is my new lifestyle and the faster I adjust to it the happier I shall be.

October 12-14:

I didn't take a single picture during the conference. It's not because I was lazy or I didn't want it. It was actually because I had left my camera battery charging at home. So the image that I have from the conference are what I took from my friends Facebook page.



The rest of the trip:

Anthropologie

I have to leave out of town for a week in an hour, but before I go I wanted to do a quick post. 

These past two weeks I've had the pleasure in renewing my wardrobe. That is such a refreshing feeling when I know I have some cute clothes for this new season of my life. It's been years since I've done this kind of extensive shopping. It's been so long that I promised myself I will no longer go a few weeks without purchasing something pretty for myself.

Today we went to Anthropologie I forgot how much I LOVED shopping there. 

I only walked away with a few things:

1.  Cute inspirational notebooks for my Blogging Your Way course 

2.  An adorable cup that has an A on it (off my wish list)

3.  2 Mini Latte bowls

Along with a bunch of new stuff for my Vegas trip today's shopping experience was perfect!! 

Oops! I just remembered that I haven't packed yet!

The Farm

This weekend we gave Augustin a lesson in Hillbilly and he loved it. The best place for this was only 13 miles from my house and I actually can't wait to go back again.

I would, do and will recommend The Farm to anyone who is local and wants a great fall experience on a cute farm with a great maze. I saw this place from serval blogger friends and decided it was the place where all the cool people went.

Now I am in the cool club! Finally!!

I sometimes wish, well all the time, that I could spend the day playing. It was so hard to go home! Even Augustin cried, "No go!"

One of my dreams is to be able to get up on Saturday, go out for breakfast and after breakfast go to a park. Once we are done with the park get some lunch. After lunch go shopping for whatever. Then go out for dinner followed by a movie with a walk in the park. I dream of those days that are to come.

Catchup Post

I take pictures almost everyday. Most of those images are intended for this blog, but sometimes they just never make it.

Today's post is the perfect example of some images that never make it onto the blog. A few weeks back I had taken Toddler and my mom to Duval and the following day I made taken them and my aunt out to lunch.

I took pictures and was excited to post a great blog that same night. Oh course, something happened and they never got edited, posted or even looked at. This makes me sad. So I'm posting them today. Late is better then never.

Also for those who may not know I've started pursuing food photography. I'm very much a food oriented person. When people hear that they either laugh or are surprised. I guess it's the fact that I weigh a whopping 97 lbs. If you want to make me happy or find a way to my heart, it's through food. I'm so happy that my husband has figured that out!

I've been processing a thought of starting a cookbook. It's just one more idea that I can add to my list of things I'd like to accomplish. It wouldn't be nothing fancy, but just a book of some of my favorite recipes that I personally like. It will also help me build my food photography portfolio.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy some of the moments and images I've captured some weeks back and have a great weekend!

Sneak Peak: The Prosperity Family

I've been looking forward to working with the Prosperity family for about a year and today was my chance! It almost didn't come as the skies threatened us with rain. Luckily when we got to our location we had a gorgeous sunset without any rain and even the sun peeked out!

I love everything about this family! The kids are just so obedient, fun and happy. I told them to jump and they did. I told them to run and they did! The great part? They wanted to do it all over again!

We parted with hugs as these three little ones are my new great friends. That just shows what awesome parents they have. I'm so thankful for today's opportunity in spending time with this family.

Here's their sneak peak: