SOLD!!!!

As of Thursday April 24h Ryan and I are home owners and we are feeling it now! Cleaning, painting and more painting!!! But it will all be worth it this weekend when we move in! Below are a few pictures of us in front of the sold sign....we had been working all day and are super tired in this picture!!!!

It is done!!!

WE CLOSED ESCROW TODAY!!!!! WE ARE HOMEOWNERS!!!!!

Not Yet...

" Have patience, have patience..dont be in such a hurry" keeps running through my head. We didn't close Escrow today.....perhaps tomorrow. This is all due to an oversight on someones part (not ours)...so in the mean time we are waiting and paying more money......but will it all be worth it in the end? I hope so....I keep having visions of our puppy running through the yard and the house...in time!!!

So for now..we are not homeowners..maybe by tomorrow at this time...

Its like the song from Annie....." the sun will come out tomorrow" only our version goes " you loan will get funded tomorrow"

Cheers!

Escrow.....

Since this is my first time being in Escrow...I am a bit amped!!! I am ready to get the keys to the house and begin working on it! Only...I am have to have patience.......eeerrr. It looks like we are scheduled to close escrow tomorrow and will have the keys tomorrow..which is great because I dont teach tomorrow. Actually timing is perfect for this house as I am not teaching after Thursday. I am going to take some time off from teaching to really focus on the house and the business.

I will post pictures of the house as we begin work on it ....mainly painting right now...then maybe some gardening...then the bathroom remodel (minor remodel..nothing big) Its an exciting time in our lives! And soon....we get to get our PUPPY!!!!

the goal...

the goal is to BLOG everyday for a month..so far so good..but you dont always have something to BLOG about! Today was an exhausting day...in the sense that I did photo shoot for a family with 2 toddlers....they were super cute and blast to photograph...just hard! Maybe I will post some pictures tomorrow. After the photo shoot, Ryan and I went out to dinner with my Step- Dad Art to celebrate my birthday! We went to Steer Inn...great food..little steak house....

This week promises to be a busy one..Ryan is in class all week and the house should close this week as well...which means next weekend we are painting, then the following weekend we are moving! So much to do..not enough hours in the day!!!

One Step Closer

We are one step closer to being Homeowners.....last night we signed our loan docs!!! If everything goes as planned we could be in the house by Tuesday!!!! Yeah!!!

Birthday Fun

Wednesday April 16th I turned 34 years old..... WOW....am I really 34? It was a good day...spent some time with mom, went to the gym, got a haircut, had lunch with Ryan, taught a class and had dinner at Benihana with Ryan, Shelly and Sonia (Craig was stuck in MO and couldn't make it) The day reminded me that I am not getting younger..so thats when I decided to write my list of 101 things to do in the next couple of years....enjoy some photos of the night!!!

Life Group and April Birthday Madness

Last night our Life Group met in Downtown Fullerton at the Fullerton market...we had 4 birthdays to celebrate... Angie (16th), Jen (17th), Matt (18th) and Michele(25th)...attached are a few pictures from the night...

James might hurt me for posting his picture...but I like the posture of the picture...deep in thought....sorry James..couldn't resist!

I am beginning to realize that we are becoming a little family..getting to know one another a little better as the weeks go on. I am so excited to see what God has in store for our group!!




The band played on.....
Yummy cheesecake
thoughtful James
April Birthday buddies

101 things to do in 1001 days...

I have been challenged to make a list a of 101 things that I want or would like to do in the next 1001 days (just short of 3 years) So here it is my list.....In no particular order

101 things to do in the next 1001 days (just short of 3 years)

1. Travel to Europe
2. Go for a hike
3. Buy a house - Completed April 23, 2008
4. Ride bikes around my neighborhood- completed January 09
5. Organize and print my personal photos
6. Take Pilates
7. Run in a 5K
8. Donate time to a children's charity - Pro Bono photography for the Blind Childrens Learning Center 6/10/08
9. Learn to cook a really good steak
10. Be a guest at a wedding (completed November, 8 2008) Amy and Andy Rosdil!!!
11. Blog every day for a month
12. Start or join a book club
13. See the Monsoons storms in Arizona
14. Visit Lake Tahoe for a week and show Ryan around
15. Get a dog - Brought Max home 6/6/08..brought home Bozley June 1, 2009
16. Visit British Columbia, Canada
17. Get in good shape (see actual abs!)
18. Take a road trip just for fun
19. Visit Amy in Denver- March 27- 29, 2009!!! We had a blast
20. Second shoot at a wedding for someone I admire
21. Eat at a new restaurant once a month
22. Go horseback riding on the beach
23. Throw a party - Housewarming Party 5/31/08
24. Shoot in Sedona, Arizona - Completed Thanksgiving weekend 2008
25. Learn about the stock market and invest $1000
26. Call a friend I haven't talked to in a long time
27. Make a book of my travel & art photos
28. Camp in Yosemite
29. Take flying lessons
30. Read the entire bible
31. Call two friends I haven't talked to in awhile
32. Volunteer somewhere- Blind Childrens Learning Center
33. Cook dinner 3 times a week for three months- completed November 08
34. Learn a foreign language and travel to the country where it is spoken(Finland?)
35. Do something nice for someone anonymously - completed
36. Spend a night at a luxury hotel
37. Shoot a wedding in another State
38. Master Photoshop
39. Build a dog house for our Dog
40. Sell a Travel or Art photo
41. Learn InDesign - Class in Progress August 09 - December 09
42. Start a new company - changed company from just photo to photo and design
43. Invest in Real Estate (not just my own home) - bought second invest home in Arizona 9/09
44. Print & frame personal photos for my house
45. Take a vacation and not bring my phone or laptop
46. Shoot a new baby session - July 18, 2009 Avalee Grace...coming soon Joel Kerns
47. Write in a journal at least once a week
48. Learn to knit
49. Learn about wine
50. Be the weight I was when I graduated high school
51. Learn to golf
52. Get an AA degree in Photography or Graphic Design ( if not a BA)
53. Donate old clothes & shoes (completed Fall 2008)
54. go to the dentist twice a year
55. Encourage or mentor an upcoming youth photographer- Jacob Young
56. Reupholster or resurface a piece of furniture
57. Learn to Scuba Dive
58. Plant flowers and get them to actually grow - My garden is growing...December 08
59. Plant an herb garden - how about Veggies!!! I have 3 tomato plants, 2 bell peppers and 2 squash
60. Go sledding
61. Find a way to get angie lyn photography out there
62. Sign up for a personal trainer at the gym
63. Go to the Superbowl, World Series, or Stanley Cup game
64. See Stonehenge
65. Visit the birth place of my grandfather in Finland
66. Shoot family portraits for all members of our family- completed November 08
67. go on a missions trip with my husband
68. Do one thing every day to improve my business
69. Have lunch with someone business related I don't know very well once a month
70. Buy 3 new lenses for my camera - 2 down , 1 to go! (24-105 and 85)
71. Go to a Dude Ranch
72. Teach a class(completed...YMCA Afterschool Classes)
73. Read the books I was supposed to read in school but didn't
74. Work on listening more than I talk and not interrupting
75. Save 20% of what I earn for one year
76. Resist the urge to buy an item of clothing and do something important with the money instead
77. Go to Alaska
78. Make daily lists to keep my schedule more organized & productive
79 Go fishing with Ryan
80. Learn to surf in Hawaii
81. Go to my 20 year high school reunion
82. Learn a martial art or learn how to box
83. Learn how to change the oil in my car
84. Go to Australia and New Zealand
85. Ski Utah
86. Spend a week during the summer on the East Coast ( the cape)
87. Teach our dog to do agility courses
88. Buy new Living room furniture(Completed)
89. Spend a night in a Teepee at the Wigwam Village Hotel in Arizona
90. Go apple picking and make a pie from the apples I pick
91. Ride a Segway
92. Go to New York
93. Learn to play the guitar
94. Read one book per month for six months to benefit my business
95. Buy a nice dining room set and have friends over often Completed 5/17/08
96. Buy a beautiful painting
97. Buy space in yearbooks for Senior portrait services
98. Walk in the Memory walk and raise $1000 for Alzheimer’s Assocation
99. Ride a camel
100. Build my kids' photography business to do two location shoots per month
101. Read Art of war

Part of this list are from another persons list...thought they were great ideas...so I am using some! You can uses some of mine too..if you like!

Hoops, Hoops and More Hoops...maybe a light at the end of the tunnel?

An update on the house... we were supposed to close Escrow on Monday, April 14th...it is now April 17th and we still havent closed. Everytime we think we are getting close we have to jump through yet ONE MORE HOOP! Perhaps today will be the last day we have to that...we are ready to be done with this, to move into our house, to have our lives back...

At any rate...if all goes well...we might have our loan docs tomorrow which means we could be down at the Escrow office tomorrow signing them and giving them a LOT of money and then maybe getting our keys!!! We wont hold our breath....but we are praying...

This is really tough...Oh well!

Missional Photography

Here are few shots from Photo class that I am taking...I am still working on my story telling with photos. The assignment..to take 100 pictures a day is actually harder than it sounds..for one you have to have your camera with you at all times. Two, you have to be ready at any given notice to take a picture...there have been several moments that I have not had my camera out and ready and have missed some great shots! With time I can only get better!!

Frustration.....and happiness

So we are supposed to close Escrow on Monday, April 14th...looks like that isnt going happen. Our Loan Docs are still in underwriting......and now they need even more paperwork and documentation.......eeeerrr...guess this is just one of the joys of trying to own a home!

So on a happier note...I am taking a photo class at our church Tuesday nights through the month of April...we have our first homework assignment...to take 100 pictures a day...to work on our story telling with pictures. This assignment sounded easy..but really it isnt. Its actually rather hard...But it is so worth it!

and we are off to San Diego again tonight...one last night at Lawrence Welk Resort....perhaps this will be our last time there..who knows...we would rather trade the time with another timeshare somewhere else..we shall see...

I will post pictures when we return!

10 days and counting! and other thoughts....

Ryan and I close Escrow on our house in 10 DAYS!!!! Its so very exciting for to think that we will soon be in a house..no more shared walls..no more parking problems...no more small cabinets in the kitchen.....aaahhhh just the thoughts of having a real kitchen bring smiles to face and my heart.

In other news...its my moms birthday today, although she doesnt realize it. We are going over to visit with her shortly..I have a batch of brownies to share with the house! I know this is going to be hard, but it is something that I have to do! I am proud of my step dad for joining me on this adventure..I know that this is hard on him. He is a great man.

One more thing.....I just have to say that our Life Group is amazing..we are becoming quite the little family and I am excited to see where God is going to bring us this coming year!!!!

Website is up!!!

Just a quick note.....my WEBSITE is up and running. Please check it out and give me feedback!!!

www.angielyn.com

One year....

So today marks one year since my mom went to the Hospital and hasnt been home since. I went to see her yesterday and to bring her a wheel chair. I am hoping that the wheel chair makes life for my mom a little easier. Tonight we have our monthly Alzheimer's support group meeting..I think this one might be a little tough for me..I havent let myself really think about today and what it means..but I am sure that it will hit me soon enough...

Mom celebrates her 64th birthday on Friday...she's only 64 and has a disease that she shouldnt have for at least another 10 years or so....God has a plan..just wish I knew what it was!

Its still hard for me to believe that a year has gone by and she is not at home...she is however in great place and I know that she is being taken care of really well... they all love mom alot and that means the world to me!

So ..this post is for my mom! I love you Mom!

The Woodall Baby Photo Shoot

One of my favorite things about being a photographer is that I get to share in special events with families....take this weekend. I was asked to do a Maternity Photo shoot for some friends from church! It was such a blessing...and I am so excited for them as their family continues to grow!

My nephew Jake came along as my assistant..he has got such a good eye for Photography....need to cultivate him a little more!

A Snickers Update

Just thought that I should post a new photo of the "puppy" that Jake and Megan got in September. It was only supposed to be a 35 pound dog.....Whooops...shes well over 50 pounds a bundle of loving fur!!!!

A comes to town!!!!

We had a very fun filled..very short visit with our beautiful niece A last week. She was out (from Utah) on her Spring break. So as an Aunt and Uncle who dont have many pictures of this AMAZING kid....I decided to do a little photo shoot at the park with the kids. Alexis got to spend the day with her cousins (from California) J and M, and her Aunts and Uncles...what fun!!!! Our beautiful niece...and the crazy dog!
All 3 kids...M, A and J