Wow. Just, wow.

Apparently I decided to go on a blog-positing hiatus.

Over the past year, I've been struggling a lot with figuring out where my place is. Ever since I was a teenager, I've worked outside of the home to earn my keep. And now that I'm a stay-at-home mom its rough adjusting to no longer bringing home the bacon...but just cooking it.

So I decided to take a year off from everything and teach myself how to be the best stay-at-home mom I could possibly be. I've taught myself how to sew, paint (both home decor and walls), do construction around the home, educate our son with daily hands-on activities, grow a garden, mow the lawn while juggling a toddler outside without a fence, cook more meals from scratch, prepare our family for any emergencies with kits and food storage, walk 2 dogs with our son in-tow, and to teach our soon-to-be 2-year-old moral, values and essential life lessons (ie. tantrums don't get you anything. Sorry kiddo!). Add one-on-one time with the husband and everyday maintenance of a house in there, and I'm just beat. Staying at home IS a full-time job!

You would think that learning all of those things would come easily. After all, staying at home means no boss and getting to stay in your PJs all day, but I've learned that its rough. Although I wouldn't trade it for the world.

So I guess the blog just wasn't a priority during this year. I had much more on my plate, and I had to prioritize. But I feel like we're back in the swing of things now.

We've done quite a bit of photography since I've last posted, and I can't wait to share those events with you! But for now, I wanted to announce our newest upcoming event that we just couldn't be more excited for!

The Vandenberg Spouse's Club at the Vandenberg Air Force Base is hosting a Masquerade Auction Gala, and we've been selected as the official photographers for the event! This means all of you locals with base access or those military members stationed at VAFB or a nearby location should definitely be attending! Come for fun, auctions for items from around the Central Coast, as well as a photography booth (with select props) and candid photos.

To participate in the auction, you must purchase a ticket. Our candid photography services are free, and we will have discounted photo packages available from the photo booth.

We'll see you all at the ball!

mucho apologies!!!

alright-- so here's the crazy run-down!

we graduated
matthew commissioned in the Air Force
we celebrated our 2 year anniversary (woo hoo!) in Park City
we packed and moved everything we owned into a storage unit
we moved me into my amazing grandma's house
AND NOW we're sending Matthew off to Alabama for 6 whole weeks to train for his future career in the Air Force

All within 2 weeks.

needless to say, WE'VE BEEN BUSY! this has all been on top of photoshoots so we have SO MANY AWESOME posts coming up! next up: Caroline's bridals-- GET READY! these bridals rocked the house, even tho our lovely bride had the flu during the shoot. yes, you heard me. you're going to want to see this one.

be back soon!

we have news!...

...and the results are in!! We're moving to *drum roll please* CALIFORNIA!

Alright, alright, some of you already knew that, but we thought we would officially let everybody know now that we're almost officially moved out of our apartment. So as many of you may know, my incredible hubby commissioned in the Air Force as a second lieutenant a couple weeks ago. He's an officer! we have a four year commitment with the US Air Force. YAY! Here are some photos from the commissioning ceremony (sorry about the tacky class-room setting...just look through that :) as well as our last DET 855 ROTC Dining Out at BYU.

For all of our amazing clients out there, have no fear, I'll be here for a couple more months. Even though the Air Force is shipping us off to the exotic land of Vandenberg (Santa Barbara County), Matthew still has to do 6 weeks of training in Alabama. Therefore, I will be heading up to Ogden to bunk up with some family. Which means I'm still available until the end of June, so BOOK US WHILE YOU CAN! :)

I just wanted to thank everybody SO much for all the support you've offered us-- including our amazing clients. We have had the best year with you all, and can't wait to come back for more wonderful weddings! California isn't that far away you know :)

And for all those California photographers out there, we are SO excited to meet you and work with you! I have been following some of the most amazing talent out there, and I'm SO stoked to work side-by-side with them!

Enjoy! We love you guys! California here we come! (well, kind of... :)

First set of photos: Dining Out

Classic Matthew by the way...I'm in the long pink/black dress. My hubby is the goof next to me :) yay for goofy

The Eriksons...they're being shipped off to JAPAN!!

Love these people. The Murrays, The Porters, And us :)

I have no idea what was happening here.

this couple is GREAT! Orson and Lisa

Um, me and Lisa matched without planning to. Which means we're awesome.

Now onto the commissioning ceremony photos:

Matt and his dad (he used to be in the Air Force too!), brother (Jeremy) and other brother (Tim). We have no idea how Tim got so tall. I don't think that family joke will ever die.

Matt and all his siblings. Jeremy (has been in the Air Force for about 12 years, and has officially joined a secret government thing. I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about it, but there ya go. Jeremy swore Matt in. Yay for Air Force.

Matt and the 'rents. Both his mom and dad used to be in the Air Force! One big Air Force family.

Matt and Jeremy

Matt signing his life away for four years. I'm stoked! free medical coverage, here we come!

Matt shedding a few tears during his private ceremony. I love this man. This is only the second time I've ever seen him cry. Well worth the wait.

a typical Matthew face. always laughing. and crying in this case :)

our little nephew, Isaac, giving Uncle Matt a coin

handsome.

Jeremy had a certificate for Matt, as well as an American flag. So sweet.

Matt's dad giving him his first salute.

brotherly love.

Jeremy swearing Matt in.

good-lookin'.

the proud family.

Thanks again everyone! see you on the flip-side!

Air Force Rocks

So I am very behind on my blogging, because I honestly can't even remember when we went to dining out. But oh well, here it is nonetheless! A few weeks ago (I think....) the BYU Air Force ROTC Det 855 had their semi-annual Dining Out which we LOVE! It's just a time when you get to dress up super fancy and eat free food. You really can't beat that.

The only thing that really scares you is the grog. For those of your unfamiliar with this tradition, the grog is a form of punishment used at Dining Out for those who break rules of the mess. These infractions could consist of almost anything, such as not having a perfect uniform, putting elbows on the table, etc. etc. etc. All kinds of stuff.

Needless to say, Matthew avoided the grog one more time! He hasn't been grogged yet...it's good. Because the grog is naaaasty. It's a mixture of anything and everything (sauces galore, cottage cheese, hot sauce, whatever you can imagine) and they make you drink a whole cup of it if you make a boo-boo. AND it's served out of a toilet bowl. I have pictures below. Prepare yourself. It's heck-a nasty.

Sooooo here ya go!

Awwww us <3

Yeah, I have no idea what Matthew is doing here....hmm

Again, no idea what Matthew is doing

THE GROG! Told you! NASTY!!

Matthew thought it would be cool to make fun of me here. One of my favorite parts of receptions are the detail pics, and so he decided to try to take some detail pics of dining out with our little crappy camera. I thought it was funny :)

A blurry piece of cake...what an artistic detail pic :)