Finally...Our 2008 Blog Book

In the midst of my {busy} season for photography...I somehow managed to finish our 2008 blog book (by Blurb). Only 11 months into 2009! Not too shabby! The big discount and free shipping offered at the end of November, really kicked me into gear. It also helped that I had all of you excited about it and rooting me on-Thanks!

Since I had the discount, Justin and I decided to go all out and make our books the large hardcover with image wrap. These are our family scrapbooks, and we want them to be nice. I'm so excited to think in ten years, we'll have a whole bookshelf full of them. Well, do you think we'll still be blogging in ten years?!? Anyway...we also knew that Barrett would want to look at it (which he does a lot), so we wanted it to be tough enough to handle all that lovin'. My book ended up with 228 pages! That sounds like a lot, but I know my 2009 book might be double that! I think the books can take up to 400 pages, so I might have to do some creative adjusting!!

I checked fedex.com tracking everyday after I ordered it...

Finally, on December 3rd, it came!! I think I was squealing when I saw the truck pull up out front.

Barrett probably thought I was crazy. Why is Mommy so excited about this little white box?!?!

I let him get it from the front porch, and help me open it.

He was so excited to see pictures of himself on almost every page!

I love my book!!
hardcover with image wrap and custom spine

There are tons of options for picture and post layouts. I tried several different things, and now I know which I like and don't like, for my next book. I LOVE the pages with full-bleed pictures!

Back cover

That's it!! I really do love it that our memories, my random journaling and Barrett's first year are all documented and printed out into our very own book! I love holding it in my hands and reading through the posts. Now that I know how it all works, I'm even more excited to get to work on the 2009 book. I need to be ready in case they have another big sale at blurb!!

So, anyone else out there get a Blurb book?? If you did, I want to hear about yours too! If you're not sure you want one...come over and check out mine! I love to show it off!

Strike!!!

We took Barrett bowling for the first time, a couple weeks ago. His cousin Kylie turned 11 on November 18th, and we had dinner at their house and opened presents. Then later that week, she decided she wanted to go out for dinner and bowling.

Barrett hadn't been feeling well that week, and we had stayed home from school that morning, because he was running a fever. So I wasn't sure what he would be up for. By that evening he was acting fine and was excited to go see his Mimi, Kylie and Emmy! We went out for Mexican with Todd, Kim, and the girls, and Grandma Sandy. Barrett might possibly be part Mexican, because he just loves sharing enchiladas, rice and beans with me. He ate and ate...and did a lot of chip dipping! Any toddler's favorite part!

After dinner we headed to the bowling alley. It was packed for a Friday night, so we had to wait a few minutes to get two lanes side-by-side. I could not believe they had bowling shoes little enough to fit Mr. B! They were the cutest things, and he was so excited to put them on. He had his shoes off before we even left the counter, and was wanting us to help him put on the new shoes. I was obviously excited about them too! I couldn't get enough pictures of them...

Everyone had a blast bowling. Daddy helped Barrett roll his ball down the lane, and he liked to watch it knock down the pins. He did pretty good for 22-month old. I was glad I took a bunch of pictures as soon as we got there. They were having league bowling, and apparently it was distracting them, so they ask us not to take pictures. Bah-humbug! I just wanted to document my baby boy's first time bowling. I didn't realize bowling took so much concentration. It was a Friday night with tons of families and loud kids everywhere, for pete's sake!

After bowling, Justin and I went down to the casino with his mom. We all have free money on Friday night, so we figured we'd try it out! Not much luck that night. Barrett rode back with Uncle Todd, Mimi and the girls. He cuddled up and watched movies with the girls until we came to pick him up. He didn't get to spend the night that night, but he'd stayed all night with them a few weeks back. I don't have any pictures of his first official slumber party at Mimi's, but I hear he got to watch movies in Mimi's bed, play in the bathtub and eat lots of snacks. I think he gave them an early wake-up call too! He loves hanging out with his cousins, and I'm sure they'll be many more slumber parties to come!

Still here...

It's driving me crazy that I haven't been posting much lately. I don't like to leave you all with nothing new to read/look at...and I don't like that I'm missing lots of events that belong here, in our family scrapbook!

I'm working like one of Santa's little elves, trying to finish up a big wedding invite order. I'm also trying to keep up with photo editing and client orders. I'm glad to have a little break from sessions so I can keep my head above water. My last session was Sunday, and my next is an engagement session on Saturday. Then I also have a family session on Sunday and a senior on Monday!

Since I don't have time to post much here lately, you can go visit my photo blog. I've been updating it a lot with client {sneak peeks}. I am having so much fun with my sessions, and have several recent favorites!!

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Coming soon...I have lots to post about! Barrett's first and second time bowling, Thanksgiving and my 30th birthday! I'm also expecting my Blurb Blog Book TOMORROW!! I thought it was coming today and ran to the door every time I heard the littlest noise outside. Hoping it was the FedEx man! I am so anxious, and really hope it lives up to my excitement!