Imaging USA

I had the honor and privilege of attending Imaging USA in Atlanta this past weekend. For those of you not aware of what this is, it's a worldwide photography convention. So, basically, I was rubbing shoulders (so to speak) with some of the most famous photographers in the industry. What an experience it was! I learned I wasn't a fan of traveling alone nor was I a fan of Atlanta traffic. I also learned that ATL has a huge homeless population. Other than that I cannot begin to tell you how phenomenal the experience was. I met Amy Purdy. If you don't know who she is then Google her. Sadly, I didn't know about her until she was the keynote speaker. She has got to be one of the most positive, inspirational people I've met. I also got to get business, photography and editing tips from some of the best photographers in the world. Talk about awesome! I was sitting in one of the seminars, thinking, "I don't think I ever got this excited about teaching conferences." I wished for more photography seminars, something I've NEVER done as a teacher. That, my friends, is a sign that I'm in a career in which I'm passionate. I am excited about all I learned and how it will impact my business in the future. But for right now, enjoy some of the pictures I took while at IUSA.

  

The Start of 2016

I don't know why but I can't wrap my head around the fact that it's 2016! Not that I'm not excited for this year but 2020 no longer seems far away...a year I've never been able to fathom.
Our year is off to, well, a start. It's not busy. It's not bad. It's not crazy. It's just smooth sailing for the most part.
I can say that 2016 has started out LOUD. In my *ahem* older age I have learned that I cherish quiet. With today being the first day P is back to school all is quiet in the house...except for our obnoxiously loud washing machine. No TV blaring (Hallelujah!). No door slamming. No boys bickering. Nothing except a small little voice asking when we're picking his Bubba up from school and the belly laughs that proceed when I start tickling him, telling him "In a little while." I'm digressing so let me start at the beginning.
Speaking of noise, since moving to LA I am become a curmudgeon (Yes, I had to look up how to spell it) on New Years Eve. I can't stand the fireworks going off HOURS after the boys are in bed. So I asked Rob if we could go to deer camp, where it'd be quiet. We took a few fireworks and let them off....around 6pm....and were in bed by around 9. A perfect New Year's Eve in my opinion.
We raced home the next day to prepare for E's birthday party (and to watch the Ole Miss bowl game of course). E has never really understood birthday parties so he's never been particular about one. Until this year. All he wanted was a bounce house party and all his favorites (including his favorite friends...ha!). It was an eclectic party but he loved every minute of it! I left after the party to run a couple errands, only to come home to find him asleep in Daddy's arms. He was so worn out from all the fun!
I am prefacing this paragraph by letting you know that I am NOT a bad mom. This week concluded P's long Christmas break. I have never understood when moms have said they are excited for their kids to go back to school. But, sadly, now I kind of understand. Don't get me wrong. We had fun on his break and I missed him today. But it has also been a very productive, quiet day around the house. P likes to be entertained every waking moment, which is not hard to do....in small doses. E is fine playing along side of me while I work or clean. Occasionally we'll stop to cuddle or tickle or play. But today I didn't feel guilty about getting caught up on work or cleaning. P doesn't take naps but E still needs them. But E also loves his Bubba and has a hard time napping when P is home. I didn't have to feel guilty today when it took an hour of me lying with E to get him to fall asleep (for 30 mins). P has been making a lot of bad choices over his break and since I've been parenting alone more days than not this week the disciplining is taxing. I've lost my cool on more than one occasion. So today it was nice not to listen to bickering, refereeing arguments or having to give Time Outs/spankings for bad choices.
So there you have it. The first official week of 2016 is in the books. Only 51 more to go......