Things are starting to get hectic

The past few weeks have been absolutely crazy.
The husband and I went to the TAP class at NOB mid September. We learned alot about our/his benefits. I highly recommend that anybody retiring from the military attend this course. You can go 2 times I believe. The husband still has just under 4 years left but we were told to attend here in the states as he would get much more information. I am sure we will attend again while we are still in Naples closer to the actual retirement.
During that week we stopped in at NAVPTO to find out how things were going wtih the travel part of the PCS. And as we figured  nothing was done. Command had not even sent the paperwork over and as far as I know they still haven't. Not surprising.
Found out what we needed to do for the No Fee Passports and Visa's. So we typed everything up and printed them off, and took them in the following week. They looked over the paperwork and wouldn't take them because we printed everything front and back. Can't do that. So if you are applying for a No Fee Passport you HAVE to print the front of the application on one sheet and the back on another. Apparently the barcode won't scan if you print them on both sides. And the command had typed one of the kids birthdays wrong, and had not signed any of the paperwork. So the hubs took everything in to the command the following day. We finally have them in and they are being processed. 6-8 weeks for the turn around. Visa's we are being told will take about 4 weeks. Hopefully they don't get lost lol. But we can't apply for them until the end of the year. So have jumping through hoops we have done what we can for those 2 things.
Overseas screenings, oh my where do I start. That has been a nightmare. I have been trying to get the information needed for these since we found out we were going to Naples in Feb. Yeah I finally had to go in and speak to people in person. We have the immunizations and TB test taken care of. But apparently they are to be done at the same time. So I spent 20 mins at Boone clinic being chewed out because someone didn't do things they way this person wanted it done. Not sure which is actually correct. Dental screening was last week but when I confirmed there was a mix up and we went in a day early, so now we are scheduled for this coming week. The physical screening is this week too. Hoping it all goes smoothly.
I am so thankful we are not one of the many of people who get orders and report less than month later overseas. There are just too many things to get done and too many times you don't get the correct info.
Still waiting on the command to submit the paperwork for us all to Travel and by the end of Dec. we should have our flight info.
Oh and we requested a sponsor almost 2 weeks ago. Still waiting on that too.
As for the photography business, I have done a few sessions but since we were planned to be out of here the end of last month, I had not booked any after September. So if you are interested in a Fall or Holiday session let me know. I am currently looking into the SOFA Laws for Italy. As I am getting conflicting info as to if I can continue the business there or not. I sure hope so, I love photography, but if I can't I will shoot for myself and travel as much as possible :D
Who has started their holiday/Christmas shopping? I finally have. I have picked up a few things for the kids, preordered a couple of things for them also. Heading out tomorrow to pick up my moms. Got to get to work on the grandparents and great grandparents gifts. So what have you done so far? This is our first year since my hubs and I have been married (15 years in Jan) that we have spent a Christmas at home. Kind of excited but also worried as both families are so big that there is no way we will see everyone on that day, we refuse to be in the car the whole day. But the hubs will be on leave so we will have time to see everyone at some point at least. So thankful I am not having to put up a tree this year though lol. It gets old when you have to do it by yourself cause the spouse is always gone. And I am so short that it frustrates me at times haha.
Oh and on a YAY me note, I have started  working out again. I had to do something, the meds for my back had totally screwed me up. Caused more pain than I started with and I have gained over 50 pounds in a year due to all of the side effects and not being able to work out. I am finally to a point that I don't wake up hurting every day (usually just a couple of days a week) and not physically sick. So Friday was my first day of working out. 3 days in a row..... It is a start. Friday I was only able to do 20 mins on the eliptical. Today I was able to go for 25 mins. I think it will do me even more good to work off some of the stress that comes from PCSing, so hopefully I sick with it.
Well this is it for today. I really hope I can post atleast 2 times a week. If nothing more it can be updates on the move to Naples Italy.....

The Start of the NEW YEAR

It was great to ring in the new year with my husband even though it was by phone. It certainly could have been worse. He called about 2 minutes before the NYC Ball dropped, so we celebrated my time not his. Certainly would have been better for him to be here in person but hey such is the life of a military family right?!? lol

Well not sure what to say about it. I am really looking forward to it. But I forgot my greens and Black Eyed Peas. Sure hope I didn't Jinx myself.
Spent the day unpacking and repacking for the next trip. We are heading to North Carolina to visit family and celebrate Christmas with them. And then I am off to Imaging USA in Phoenix.

I have decided to try and post here atleast 2 times a week. Hopefully with new photos. I am hoping I will learn some better organizational skills at Imaging also as I need to be more organized so that I can get the most out of my time. As I am also planning to workout 5-6 days a week, plus still homeschool the kids and have time for my photography clients.

Would love to buddy up with someone in the area that can help keep me motivated for the workouts, as we have a trip to Hawaii booked in July and I absolutely can NOT go there looking like I do right now. I am a stress eater and have obviously been stressed alot over the last 18 months. So if you are also looking for a workout buddy let me know. We can motivate each other through email and such if need be.
Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a GREAT New Year!

Lincoln Military Resident Holiday Special

November 16th, 2008
10am-6pm
Willoughby Recreation Center

Are you a Hampton Roads Lincoln Military Housing Resident? Are you looking for Christmas portrait options? If so then you have come to the right place!! I have incredible specials for anyone who lives in Military housing in the Hampton Roads area. Check them out below. If you are not military or do not live in housing please contace me for my regular holiday specials!!

Jingle Bell
* Up to 10 images to choose from
* 25 5X7 Custom Greeting Cards
* 5% off additional prints
$50

Snow Flake
* Up to 10 images to choose from
* 25 5X7 Custom Greeting Cards
* 2 5X7 Gift Prints
* 5% off additional Prints
$65

Reindeer
* Up to 10 images to choose from
* 25 5X7 Custom Greeting Cards
* 2 8X10 Gift Prints
* 2 5X7 Gift Prints
* 10% off additional Prints
$90

Snowman
* Up to 10 images to choose from
* 50 5X7 Custom Greeting Cards
* 1 11X14 Wall Portrait
* 2 8X10 Gift Prints
* 2 5X7 Gift Prints
* 16 Wallets
* 10% off additional Prints
$135

Santa Claus
* Up to 10 images to choose from
* 50 5X7 Custom Greeting Cards
* 1 11X14 Wall Portrait
* 2 8X10 Gift Prints
* 4 5X7 Gift Prints
* 4 4X5 Desk Prints
* 16 Wallets
* 10% off additional Prints
$175

All Collections include up to 30 minute Session
Up to 10 images will be processed and posted in online gallery
5 Greeting Card designs to choose from
All Greeting Cards must be same pose and design
Wallets can be 8 of 2 images each
Discounts are on additional prints only, does not apply to Canvas or albums

All Canvas on SALE!!!!

Past or future sessions that are booked, held, ordered and paid for by November 30 will receive
10% off any canvas
of your choosing.
My vendor is offering the sale to me and I am passing it along to you!!!
If you are a past client that would love to have an image taken by me on any size canvas, give me a call or email me and we will get that ordered right away.

If you are a new client, or one that is booked between now and Nov. 30th keep this in mind. I have several samples if you would like to see and touch them just let me know.

These make AWESOME Christmas presents too! So if you are looking for that perfect holiday gift, give me a call.
And a HUGE special right now is if you can order by Oct 31st, you will receive an addition 10% off!!!! How great is that?