Bullseye!

So after months of begging and pleading Mike figured out a way to take Bug hunting. It was Virginia's annual youth hunting day. A day when only kids can go. We have some wonderful friends who let us take her out on their farm. I have to say if you knew Sadie and knew how tender hearted she is you would be surprised to think that this child would want to go hunting. But she did..and does. It was a great day. Both her and I learned so much about the woods. I mean when you are in a tree stand 25 feet off the ground at 515 am in the morning I guess you have no choice but to figure some things out about the woods. Sadie Bug is a trooper. She dealt with constant whisper yells to "SIT STILL"!! and "PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR GUN!!" .."are you serious? you have to pee again?"
The middle of the day I figured Sadie really needed to shoot this gun so she had healthier respect for just what this weapon can do.


This was her shot from 60yards.

uummm..yea. Can you believe that?

We did a morning and evening hunt..we saw ALOT of deer. 17 in all. At days last light she had a shot on a young spike buck tramping mindlessly through the soybean field, completely oblivious to an eager 10 year old who had him in her sites.but she decided not to shoot. I was proud of her. She whispered to Mike.."I want him to get bigger".
At the end of the day she walked out of the field with only lessons learned. Which I think ,in some ways and some days, feed us more than food on the table.







And you got love a little girl that can go from blaze orange and real tree camo..to butterfly face painting and glitter. :)
Another great day.

its 3:30 am..

What have I done? Thursday evening was going like any normal thursday evening.. I took Sadie to cheer leading, watched a little bit and before I knew what I was saying I was letting the owner know I was a photographer. Some how between the beginning and ending of that single conversation I have been hired to photograph 50 sum cheerleaders in two weeks...
On another note..Ive got plenty of blogging to catch up with. I will.. :)(that is a tired stressed out smile)..i mean really all the characters I have shot in the military I can handle cheerleaders. right?..right.

Florida...

Of course we did the typical florida tour and dont get me wrong the parks were great..however I think the best parts of the trip were the times we weren't tasked to do a thing. We went down there to take Brock (Mike's son) back to Ft.lauderdale and that of course brought on some down moments. Blended families...what can you say..what can you not say. I am happy to have learned every thing you should NOT do when you are dealing with a blended family because at least that has given me a starting point on what is the right thing to do...Its HARD yes. But everyday Mike and I get it right occasionally makes me just a tad bitter for all the days some got wrong.
But about those untasked moments..after saying Bye to BrockO we just put our feet up and the only muscles moved were those needed to get the cocktail to the mouth :)

Mike and I had a couple of days to ourselves in Ft.lauderdale. I met some of his friends finally!

I was starting to think he was ashamed of me ...His friend Adam took us out on his boat. We just cruised the canals because the seas were rough...it was sooo nice. Mike is a little hot here in this picture.
After leaving Ft.lauderdale we had to pick up Sadie in orlando..we drove through Palm Beach and it was really pretty..

After we got the Bug we decided to take our time heading back to Virginia and stayed over night in New Smyrna Beach which is my new favorite beach..and in fact when we plan next years pickups and drops offs..this is where we will stay. It was a great little unassuming beach town. That thanks to the storms had a great surf!

Run BUG!!
RUN!!!

you can see the terror....



I loved that you could drive on the beach!!

And the best part of the beach..this ride was free!!

unemployment schmolyment!!

I forgot to let everyone know ..I got a job. A good one. Working back with the government again...doing the same thing I was doing in fl. See...i knew there would be a good gig around the corner. I am SUPER happy..Its a much better job. The tv biz just isnt consistent..Anyway we are down here in orlando...FUN!!! Having a blast! I post pictures soon!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Just wanted to tell everyone out there in the wide world web..or world wide web..Happy Friday. Leaving for vacation on sunday. With all this time off and all why not.Anyway I love and miss you all....

MISS AUGUST!!!!!!!!!!!

I know everyone was waiting anxiously to see just WHO would be Miss August and here she IS!! Miss Molly Elizabeth SHURTZ!!!

In my house she is known as Little Red Bird or MES. I am a little partial I must admit but seeing she is the freshest Shurtz Girl..she has earned her spot as Miss August and will forever be know as Miss August's Shurtz girl 2009!!

I love you sweet girl ;)

Canned!!!

I did some canning and went to work and gosh darn that law of attraction.. I GOT canned...but what do you do? I figure we have rations to last us through the winter..3 ducks, a rabbit and well if times get real tough....

WHAT??? in some countries its as normal as hamburger helper.
So all joking aside..I lost my job. The work ran out. I never thought in a million years I would be in this position. I have never been without a job. But I guess the day in and day out wishing I was doing something other than locking myself away in a dark office finally came true. But I am a Shurtz Girl..Shurtz woman and I will be okay. I moved here for reasons of much greater importance than employment. So with that I have no regrets leaving Florida. Sure it was a great gig..but there will be more. I have no problem getting over myself to flip burgers if that is all there is. Life is still good..I could be unemployed alone and have 11 children. Shout out to G-ma. But I'm pretty sure she never got canned ;)
So in my world..life is rough..but its always nice to look at!!


(Picture info...I made Mike dig us a fire pit on the hottest day of the summer. Oh and he was running a fever and slowly dieing from some parasite that had made itself at home in his lower intestine...)