samples

 check this out.... just put up some sample birth announcements

 that i made for a friend.

+ derks photography & design blog +

in 3 weeks....

FLORIDA HERE WE COME!

I am soooooo excited... and ready for a vacation.

But NOT AS MUCH as Matt is ready for a vacation.

Matt NEEDS a vacation. 

Matt DESERVES a vacation.

He needs to get away and just let the house sit for a week.

He needs to take a break. 

Sleep as much as he wants.

Get a nice suntan.

Play a little golf.

Get his mind off the house for a little bit.

so, in 3ish weeks..... really like 2 weeks from Friday.....

we will be on the road heading to Kissimmee, FL.

We are going with part of my family. Sadly, not everyone can go.  We will miss Dale, Esther, Lydia, & Kyle (Dale is an accountant and it is a very busy season for him!). I remember the last time we went to FL with the whole family (minus Matt b/c he was busy with work and we weren't engaged yet either!) But here are some photos that i came across bringing me back down memory lane....

Yes, this is what we do with our kids in the Derks family.....
My dad did it to us.... and we will carry on the tradition and do it to our kids!

I just absolutely LOVE this photo....

Dale & Lydia in the house pool

Awww... Bud & Lydia walking at SeaWorld

Cassidy & I on a ride at SeaWorld

Lydia & Madison playing in the water park!

All of us at Sea World

All of us girls went to Disney a day and let the guys behind!

 My mom & me in front of the castle!

That was a lot of fun!

Closest to skydiving I'll ever get.... it was fun to ride this with my brother Keith..... he was nice to me when he could see that I was a little scared... and he put up with my screaming in his ear as we were going down.

Riding the G-Force with Bud.... 

 

This year.... the rest of the family + Bud's friend Rich will be there.  My sister-in-law Tricia's parents/family have a house down in Kissimmee, FL right near Disney. So we will be able to  sit by our own pool or go to the community pool and just BAKE in the sun (that reminds me, i probably should go at least tan a couple times b/4 i go so that i don't get fried while down there and be miserable!). But i pray that it is sunny, hot, and i come back with a great tan (that always makes me feel better about myself - i hate being pastey white!)

then, after we get back..... 

it's BACK to working on the house and focusing on getting to move in!

Exciting Weekend....

Introducing.....

AVERY LeeAnn VIS

Born March 5, 2010

Precious new baby girl of our friends Brian and Ashley Vis!

Look how cute she is....

 

The Fab 4, is NOW, the FAB 5....... 

So Happy for you guys!

 

Proud Momma and her baby!

  

Bryan is just loving this whole DAD thing... 

Avery already has him wrapped around her finger!

  The miracle of childbirth and the gift that God has given in the form of children is so amazing to me. 

Avery will be loved by so many people.

 I can't wait to take more photos of her. 

House Happenings.....

SO, this weekend, more got done at the house, despite the fact that Matt had to work all weekend! 

We are so thankful for the help of my dad & brother, Bud and for my cousins coming out

and getting our stone put on as soon as the weather got warmer!!!!

 

 Thursday they put the mosaics on the floor....

  

Friday, they started on the rest of the shower.....

  

But could only do so much up the mosaics b/c of the weight of the tiles on top of it.

So that should hopefully be finished up today (Monday).

  Colvin Masonry, my cousins, HARD AT WORK.  They did a wonderful job!  

The "science/math/thinking" that has to go into it with the different sizes and how it all just fits together like a puzzle!  It's just amazing to me.... something I could never do! 

THANK YOU GUYS!!!!

  

  

 

and today, 

THE CABINETS are getting DELIVERED.... I am SOOOOO EXCITED! 

Not that they are going to be put IN and INSTALLED, 

but they will be delivered and ready to be put in when we are ready for 'em! =)

 p.s. i really knew how to blog better. or that i was more interesting 

and able to write more"captivating" stuff.  But i'm just not a good writer. =\ Oh well.......

(the windows will eventually be stained... 

we just didn't want to take the windows out when it was so cold out!)

 

  New Kitchen table

 

Matt putting in our niches for the master bathroom shower!

 

The brick layers are starting today! 

Thankful Thursday

• For a God that is so big, so wonderful, that we can't even comprehend His majesty. That He is the Creator and we are the creature. Everything happens because He has planned it. (more on that hopefully in another post - but i'm not good at deep thoughts and expressing them well - so we'll see).

• The warmer weather. For MANY reasons. For the stone going on the house & getting outside things done. For the pure joy of not having to wear a coat (i know we aren't to that point yet, but hopefully it's coming soon!) and For the flowers that will start to grow/bloom!

• Bit-O-Honeys. They bring happiness to my taste buds. I know other people hate 'em. But I love 'em!

• For the Lord bringing us to the Mini Church group that Nathan and Leah have started.

• Pineapple (especially when it's 99¢ at aldi!)

still looks young....

happy birthday dad (i'm saying that like you read this! haha.....)

i know you're getting old(er)..... but you still look young.

i love you.

 

(I will always love this picture! Two things my dad loves!)

W O R D L E S S W E D N E S D A Y