Welcome Home!

As most of you know, I am a huge supporter of our troops. So, when I found out today that an airplane of 11 soliders returning home from deployment, would be landing at Easterwood Airport, I knew I would be taking an extended lunch hour to be there. Bonus was that I knew one of the families. I have taken this family's photos for over a year now, including when daddy was home on leave. So I was super excited to be there to see their reunion. There is nothing like seeing these kids faces when daddy turns the corner....I hope they don't mind me sharing these.

I see him!

My daddy...my hero...he's HOME!

1st hugs! back in daddy's arms...
everyone is together again!

Thank you to all our men and women.

Is your child America's Cutest Kid?

JS Photography is participating in the National Charity Model Search to select “America’s Cutest Kid” and to raise funds for charity.

We’re looking for cute children ages 18 months to 14 years old to model for a portrait to be entered into the contest.

Models Search Special:
$30 entrance fee, which includes a 15 minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Anyone may vote. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from votes benefit the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. (NILMDTS.org)
Grand prize national winner will be determined from the 50 city finalists. Winners selected by photography and modeling industry experts.

If your child is selected the national winner, you’ll receive many prizes, including a $5,000 US Savings Bond and a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera.

If you’re interested in entering your child(ren), please call the studio at 979-574-9577 or email me at js-photo@hotmail.com. For more information about the contest, go online to www.sandypucmodels.com.

It's a......

GIRL! we think at least! We never got a definite shot, cause the legs were crossed at the ankles and drawn up to the chest, but the tech's best guess is a girl...so we will go with that! J is already talking about her baby sister and I am excited that they will be close in age to each other. Now, I just have to find time to plan a nursery!

Profile view...

Profile view when she was waving...

Gig 'Em!

Smile for the day...

This is my smile for the day!

what happened to this little baby?! she getting SO big, SO fast!

I'm a big Kid now!

We took J's crib down today. She has been using it in the 'toddler bed' mode for a while now, and her twin bed has been up since October, so we figured it was about time we made the switch for good. Plus, with the new baby coming, I wanted the crib to be put away for a good while so J didn't feel like she was losing her stuff to the baby. She has seemed to make the transition smoothly so far tonight....what a big girl we have!

Saturday...

This is a photo tour of JJ's day yesterday...

Daddy woke up with J so mommy could get a couple extra hours of sleep...when I woke, I found them enjoying a serious donut breakfast!





Next, was some play time with her baby dolls...



Then, Papa Bill stopped in for a few hours of playtime!


And of course, playing outside!



A nice relaxing Saturday!

SuperBowl Sunday

I have mentioned before how great our street is - The families all get along and everyone hangs out together in the evenings - kids and parents. This Sunday was no exception - we just took it a little farther than normal for the SuperBowl....

looking out our front door

there was SO much food!mmm....nachos!

jj learning ping-pong

they moved a TV into our neighbors garage for gametime...

Better late than never!

Here are some picts of JJ and her "I love Santa" outfit!

some blessings...

Lately I have felt the need to say an extra 'thanks' for the blessings in my life...

1) My Family. Geoff and our precious little girl Jerra. She is such a free spirit and independent little thing. I love watching her grow and learn everyday. From the moment her eyes open in the morning until the second she is asleep in the evening, she is just on the go, go go. She wears me out, but I LOVE every minute of my time with her. Geoff and her have such a special daddy-daughter relationship - which we know comes from him being home with her so much. She doesn't know it now, but this time together for them is going to be really important later in life. We are so blessed that we get to spend so much of our time during the day with her.

2) Our extended family....my parents, geoff's dad, brother Jeff, and sister Kristin and brother in law Tim. We don't always get to spend as much time as we would like with them, but we are so blessed to call them family.

3) Our home. We live on the BEST street - we have become good friends with our neighbors and we actually spend A LOT of time outside with them. And when I say 'a lot of time' I mean - every day that the weather is nice. The moms all sit together in a driveway and chit chat, the dads play basketball/baseball/ping pong and the kids all play together. We BBQ on the weekends and have poker parties on Saturday nights after the kids are in bed. There are 11 kids (not including Jerra) in our circle from the ages of 2-6 and they all play so well together. Jerra loves playing with the 'big' kids and especially gets a kick out of her time with the girls. A street like this is rare these days and we are so blessed to have found this one.

4) Our friends. We really have a great group of friends...the sad part is that we are all young parents and kinda spread out across Texas and the country and we don't always get to spend the time we would like to with them. But when we do get to see them, it's like no time has passed and we have a great time.

5) Our health. Geoff is healthy. Jerra is healthy. And so far, I have been having a healthy pregnancy. I pray many times every day that this remains the case.

Spend a few moments saying thanks for your blessings in your life.

Night #2....

Geoff came home around 2am from his show last night and checked on JJ.

This is what he found...

at least she was 1/2 in bed! And I did put that pillow there for a reason!

Making the move....

We have had JJ's 'big girl bed' up in her room for several months now, and she likes to play on it but has not shown much interest in moving over to it. So...we took the front rail off the crib and coverted it to a toddler bed of sorts. Last night was her first night in it and I must have checked on her every hour to make sure she hadn't rolled out! But she didn't. She went to bed right away just like every night, feel asleep and stayed in bed! Yay!

Here's to night two!


(its actually really dark in here, the flash on this camera is way bright!)

A Good Reminder...

Got this in an email....if its a true story or not, I am not sure - but nonetheless, it is a good reminder:

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back.

Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall.When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must Have stung quite a bit.

The complaint: 'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated.

The response: Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques.

Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.USAF

Happy 2nd Birthday JJ!!!

My 'baby' turned 2 on Saturday....she is such a BIG girl now!

We had a little party for her at Gattiland with her neighborhood friends. They enjoyed pizza and cake and then played and played.

Somehow, J knew the cake was coming...when she woke up that morning, I went into her room to get her and said 'Happy Birthday' and her reply: 'cake?'

Her Nemo and Dory cake

pizza is a fave!

She really liked the cake!

all her winnings! (daddy helped)

cinderella outfit! so cute!

(have to add that the adorable Nemo dress she wore was made by our friend Amber! thanks!)