happy mother’s day

12:21 pm at Sunday, May 11, 2008 | Posted in personal |

 

This is going to be a SUPER long blog entry as I have four ladies to cover here :)

 

Mike’s mom, Karen is the most patient woman in the world. Confession time: (I CANNOT believe I’m telling you guys this right now… but I really want to put into perspective what an awesome woman she is) As we were starting our business and gathering capital, Mikey and I moved into the basement of his parents house. When Mikey and I FIRST started talking about opening our own biz, the only way we could do it was well… living in their basement. Then, it was time to ask his parents. EEEEEKS! What did we hear from his mom? “OF COURSE YOU CAN!!!!!” HOW AWESOME ARE THEY?! One month later… the moving truck was at our house in Terre Haute to move us up to Fort Wayne. I’m not gonna lie… I was VERY nervous! I’m, as you all know… an only child so the thought of living with Mike, his mom, dad and two brothers was not something that was necessarily in my comfort zone. But, we were accepted with open arms. In that time, I became SO incredibly close to his family… ESPECIALLY his mom! When it was time for us to move on about four months later… Karen didn’t want us to go. She still talks about how much fun we all had… because we REALLY did!

That woman would drop anything and everything for us if needed… and has. She loves her boys more than anything in this world. Every single one of her boys are also crazy about her. They’re all a bunch of “momma’s boys.” (Which also makes them all potentially GREAT husbands… I know one of them already is!). How fortunate am I to have “in laws” that I adore?!

 

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My parents divorced when I was four years old. At the time of the divorce my mom and dad lived in Alaska (my dad was in the Air Force). So, after their divorce my mom and I went to live with my g-mom in Kansas City, while my dad stayed in Alaska. Though it was “joint custody” I didn’t see my dad much… it’s not like a trip to Anchorage every other weekend wasn’t really in the cards. So… it’s always been just “bomba and momba” She, along with my Aunt Karen and G-mom pretty much raised me from the age of five. So really… this post is dedicated to “my three moms”As a child, I ALWAYS looked forward to Friday’s. We called it “our night.” We were far from $ rich… so, our night usually consisted of $1.50 egg rolls from the local Chinese restaurant or if I was REALLY lucky, I got to eat hot tamales right out of the can (YUM!!!!). THEN… off to the $1 movie theater. I had the MOST perfect time EVERY time! Every week, I had a countdown to Friday. I’m smiling right now at the thought of it :)

As I already mentioned… $$$ wasn’t a big part of our life. But, that NEVER mattered!!!! I can tell you this… I NEVER did without. In the 6th grade, my mom worked her BUTT off for an entire year to buy me a computer. In 1992, computers were NOT a common household item, ESPECIALLY one that was ALLLL mine. It wasn’t the “family computer” it was 100% mine. Are you kidding me?! AN ENTIRE YEAR SAVING?!??!?! I used it for seven years… it was SO hard for me to give it up. I’m quite computer savvy now… and I think that’s mostly because I loved that gift so much. My mom is such an awesome woman.

Ever notice that she writes a comment on nearly EVERY blog entry?! She’s working a ridiculous amount of hours at Value City lately, yet she still takes the time to do it. Mom somehow feels like she’s letting the couple down if she misses one. She’s the most loyal blog reader we have. I read a LOT of other blogs and NEVER have I seen a mom commenting like my mom does. I really am the luckiest girl in the world.

When I meet her friends… they always know everything about me from the second I say hello. Why you ask? Because she is the proudest mom on the block. I love you mom.

 

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As I got a bit older… Mom was working three jobs to keep up. I hung out with G-Mom and Aunt Karen a LOT! My three favorite ladies in the entire world… I can’t get enough. Nearly every weekend, G-Mom and Papa would come pick me up, take me out to eat at the Hardware Cafe and we’d spend the weekend going to antique stores and flea markets…. though, that really wasn’t my scene… I was with two people who loved me so incredibly much, I was in heaven. I ALWAYS came home with something new. MAN OH MAN I WAS SOOOOO SPOILED!!!! Well, I still am :) I love her so much.

My mom moved to Indiana in the middle of my Junior year of high school. I was SUPER involved in high school activities and did NOT want to move. Mom made the huge sacrifice of letting me live with my Grandma and Papa. How freaking awesome is that?! Rarely do people have the opportunity to get to know their grandparents on such a personal level. I value that time in my life so much and loved EVERY second.

 

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Alright, rewind back to my childhood…. on Saturdays, it was over to Aunt Karen’s house. That woman was and will always be my personal hero. I can’t put into words how amazing she really is. SO much of who I am, my morals, my attitude, etc… all were instilled in me from a VERY young age! I don’t know how many times Aunt Karen made me look up the word integrity in the Dictionary. She’s such an incredible person. I’ve lived so much of my life trying to be like her. Man, I’m sorta teary right now. She really is my hero. She’s always been supportive of my big dreams. Still to this day, before making any big decisions in my life, I can’t do it without calling and getting the seal of approval from Aunt Karen. I SO wish she lived closer to me. There is SO much going on in the world of bobbi+mike right now (more on that soon) and while it’s all exciting to me I can’t help but wishing she were here to experience it all with me.

 

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Happy Mother’s Day to four of the most amazing women I know.

Love you guys!

~ :!: + :?:

PS. I’ve now received 6 emails… NO I AM NOT PREGNANT! :) Just thought I would clear that up :)

 

olivia jo cole

4:19 pm at Friday, May 9, 2008 | Posted in kids, personal |

 

I’m in Kansas City visiting my friend  Heather Cole for the opening of her studio… By the way… this place is freaking amazing.

Heather had to go run and errand while her GAGAGAGAGAGAGORRRRRRGEOUS daughter Olivia and I hung out at the studio. I’ve now been an Heather Cole employee for about 20 minutes. I even answered the phone once, “Heather Cole Photography, this is Bobbi.” I think I freaked out her mom. :D Yeah… I’m kind of a big deal. Heather should be back soon and my position will probably be terminated… Sheesh… there’s no job security anymore.

ANYWAY… while it was just Olivia and I, I decided to snap a quickie photo…

 

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here’s 75 things that Olivia has to say about herself.

  1. i’m nice
  2. i love my momma
  3. sometimes, my class plays with me
  4. i love my daddy so so much
  5. i miss my fishy memo and he’s in heaven
  6. he’s really nice
  7. i love my momma so so much
  8. our friend seth, he had surgery
  9. i love when i eat mcdonalds
  10. and i love when people get me it
  11. and sometimes they’re nice
  12. i love when people give me toys from old mcdonalds
  13. and, and… i like old mcdonalds
  14. i like to play with princesses
  15. i like to play in the house center
  16. and i love my teacher
  17. and i love story time
  18. and i like kindergarten
  19. i love my friend lauren
  20. uh uhm… i got another fishy and his name is memo and dory
  21. i be nice to my friends and share with them my toys
  22. i’m five
  23. i love myself
  24. i love when i go to kindergarten every time
  25. i like to play with my momma
  26. she’s so pretty
  27. and i love my mom very very very very much
  28. and well, i love my grandpa who is in heaven
  29. he is always in heaven
  30. uh… i miss him
  31. i like to go to florida every time for the ocean
  32. and i like to pick seashells
  33. i like to swim with the fishies
  34. our friend baby cole, he’s a baby and he’s in florida and he’s a long way
  35. i miss him
  36. and i hold him every time
  37. his mom is jera and she had him in her belly
  38. and he’s so cute
  39. i like to dress up
  40. i love every time i go to school
  41. uh i, i love my friend lauren and i play with her a lot
  42. and sometimes i have a playroom and she plays with me in my playroom
  43. i love my grandmas
  44. i really really really really really love ‘em
  45. uhm… i love bobbi
  46. my favorite is ice cream
  47. my favorite color is pink and purple and green
  48. i’m going to go to kindergarten and i love kindergarten
  49. and i love my friend bobbi
  50. i like it when she comes to my house
  51. and i love when i eat her ice cream
  52. i love when baby owen comes to my house
  53. and he’s 2
  54. i like spongebob
  55. uh, i have the hannah montana CD and i love it
  56. i like how she sings
  57. when i grow up, i want to take pictures like momma
  58. i have blond hair
  59. and i have cheeky smiles and i love them
  60. and i love spaghettios
  61. i love mac and cheese
  62. i love my friend bobbi
  63. my dad is really nice and he’s a great dad
  64. and my mom’s a great mom
  65. i love my class
  66. and i’m not sad about kindergarten anymore
  67. i love when my mom plays with me at the studio
  68. i work a lot with her
  69. uh… i love my moms pictures
  70. and i love it when she shoots
  71. i like her
  72. bobbi is my best friend
  73. i like to play on the computer
  74. i love my games
  75. and that’s it

HOW STINKIN’ CUTE IS SHE?! Clearly, she’s a lover :) AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOO CUUUUUUUTE!!!!

Alright.. more later :)

~ :!: +

 

laura+joe

1:24 am at Thursday, May 8, 2008 | Posted in engagement |

 

Bobbi’s view…

 

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Mikey’s view. It doesn’t even LOOK like it’s from the photo above, does it?! WOW!

 

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I spotted this parade float and we couldn’t resist!

 

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Uhm… ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! FAAAAAAVORITE!!!!! :!:

 

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HA!!!! Mikey’s favorite :?:

 

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INDIANAPOLIS. OH how we adore these two! I first met Laura on the morning of Erin & Eric’s wedding. She was one of Erin’s bridesmaids (there’s actually a photo of her here). I met Joe about 4 hours later… (Here’s a photo of him from that wedding). Then I saw them AGAIN at Melanie & Adam’s wedding :) (Here’s another of Joe… that’s him on the far right). I remember at Erin & Eric’s wedding… at the very end of the night, Joe walks up to us and says, “I haven’t proposed yet… but that time is coming soon and you WILL be our photographers!” Be the time Melanie and Adam’s wedding rolled around, he was shopping for rings and at the end of the night he said it again. So… I wasn’t surprised when I got the call…. and now HERE WE ARE taking their engagement photos. That’s probably one of my favorite things about being a photographer. People come into your life and never leave… it’s awesome!

The morning of their session Joe says to me, “Bobbi… I have a HUGE problem with the ‘photo smile’ ” I said… whatever, I can make anyone laugh! When I made that statement, I forgot that he’d heard all of my FAMOUS jokes already TWICE before. So, I had to get creative! You don’t even want to KNOW what I was doing to get these smiles! BUT… it worked! :D

Laura is SUPER adorable… She’s so sweet, petite and has cute little feet. Alright… I don’t know about her feet, but it rhymed… and I was on a roll. I cannot WAIT to see her in a wedding dress, DUH she’ll be hot! :D

SEEEEEE YOU IN AUGUST!!!!!

Love love love!

~bobbi+mike :!: + :?:

 

 

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YAY! THEY LIKEY! :)

 

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Hey… I couldn’t resist!

 

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all images ©bobbi+mike, 2006-2008