Tomorrow, our good friend Jonathan, is going back home to New Jersey after being in Vegas for about 2 years.  I am a perfectly reasonable person and completely understand the reasons for his departure, blah, blah, blah, but deep down in my heart I don’t want him to go.  You see, Jonathan is way more than a friend, he’s family, and saying goodbye to family is hard.  I’m so jealous of his friends & family in NJ who are excited for his return and are probably planning a welcome party right now.  And if they aren’t, they should be.  Because they are getting back an awesome person and a selfless friend.  We love you Jonathan and we’re all going to miss having you around

I know I am not the only one counting down till the movie premiers next week!  Who’s with me?

For those of you who haven’t read the book, it’s a must.  The Hunger Games is the first of a trilogy and once you start reading, just be prepared to keep going right into the next book and then the next.  The story is addicting!  You know, it’s the kind of story that gets you so wrapped up that you’re sad when you’ve finished reading it and you find yourself missing the characters.

I read the Hunger Game series last year and just loved it.  I recommended it to everyone I knew and then I found out they were making a movie!  EEKK!  The trailer to the movie looks awesome and I’m pretty sure the movie is going to rock!  But, of course, the book will always be better than the movie.  So, if you haven’t read the book yet, you still have time before the movie comes out on March 23rd, so get to reading!

~ “Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.”

It’s hard to believe that 7 years ago I gave birth to an incredible baby boy who would change our world forever!  Every day I look at him and I just can’t believe how much he’s grown.  Days like today, I wish we could freeze time and he could stay forever my little boy.  But, I know that life really does go by way too fast and we can’t stop time.  I can’t stop him from growing into a teenager, following his own dreams, and becoming a man.   But today, in this blog, I want to write down a few things I don’t ever want to forget about him at this age.

I never want to forget how he gives me big “Diego Hugs” before going to bed and how he still likes me to read him a bedtime story.  I don’t ever want to forget what an amazing imagination he has and how he can easily transform ordinary objects into swords and armor or how he can go from ninja to detective to dog trainer all in a matter of minutes.  How in just one blink our living room can turn into a pit of boiling lava and he’s the only one that can save us with his lava proof super hero cape.  I never want to forget his newly found love of reading and his eagerness to learn.  I want to remember his love for Star Wars.  How he sometimes tries to act older than he really is.  I don’t want to forget how he loves when Jason gives him art lessons and they sit side by side drawing and how he really enjoys going on bike rides with him.  I don’t think I can ever forget how there are days when he can talk and talk and talk and just make us dizzy from all his chatter.  I don’t want to forget how although there are days he can drive me crazy, he mostly just fills my heart with so much love.

Here are a few memorable Diego moments from the past year!  We are so proud to call him our son and feel so blessed that he’s ours!  We love you Diego Joah-Asher Emeric!

hi!  Jason and I were a bit MIA this week, but I promise it’s been for a good reason.  We’ve been at our yearly photographer’s convention, WPPI {wedding & portrait photographers international}

It’s so awesome and convenient for us that they are held here in Las Vegas every year and this is our 4th year attending the conference.  Each year, we’ve been able to learn something new and apply it to growing our business and bettering our photography.  This year was no different.  Each class we attended we were able to take at least one new concept, idea, or inspiration to apply.

A few highlights from this year’s WPPI were being able to spend time with a few local photographer friends.  We went to some classes together, walked the trade show, and had lunch together.  WPPI is so much more fun with friends   We also got to catching up with photographers from other parts of the country who we usually only connect with online!  Jason turned a WHCC tshirt into a super hero cape and won an ipad for his creativity!  Yeah, woot woot!!! Thanks, WHCC for that!   Another huge highlight for us was listening to Mary, from Justin & Mary, rock it during their platform class!  The saying “Save the best for last” was so true this week.  This was the last class we attended and also the best class of the week for us.  Mary’s words shook me to the core.  I took a ton of notes, I cried, I laughed, and then I cried some more.  Her words are so inspirational.  She filled me with hope, but not just that.  More importantly, she filled me with the courage I need to dream big and do bigger, make my dreams a reality, and dare to be audacious.

This weekend, Jason and I will be up reviewing our notes together and looking back at the goals we gave ourselves in January and see how we can make them even bigger and then put our plan together for accomplishing these goals.  We can’t wait to share some of our dreams and goals with you.  It may be a bumpy ride, but it is one ride I know I’m willing to take.  I hope you’ll join us!

xoxo,

Jessie

ps.  these were all taken with my iphone, so excuse their quality! Thanks

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