I married him.......

This is Mike helping me test the light today on our photoshoot! What a ham!

Summer Projects!

So..this is a post that is NOT about houses...sort of.

I just got back from Ft. Worth and wanted to tell all about the great things we accomplished in Cullen's nursery. First of all, his bedding came in the 2nd day I was there so that was perfect. We quickly made a trip to Home Depot to find all the paint we needed to match. We painted the walls, khaki, the dresser to match the bedding, and the crib, red. Here are some hodge podge pictures. Erin will post a "finished product" pic on facebook as soon as the entire room is done. She doesn't want me to ruin the effect so I can only show a few things!

the dresser I painted

one side of the crib

the bedding

This nursery is going to be seriously adorable.

So now Im home, and have a ton of my own projects to do. I have a couple of pieces of wood stained furniture that are going to be painted white, and a few lamps that are getting a facelift. I have around 5 workshops scheduled for Summer and lots of photo shoots! It is a busy but totally exciting time! Before you know it, it will be August and time for school. Oh, and time for me to move into our new house!

Under Contract....Again

5713 107th St.

We are under contract on this home to close on Aug 28. It is a brand new home so I dont think we will have an appraisal or inspection problem. Thank God. Hopefully, this is the last contract we have to be under.

Don't Hold Your Breath

Ok, so I am a BAD BLOGGER. Long story short....

We lost the house on 103rd because of a low appraisal. I cried and cried and then decided to move on and find another house. Tomorrow, Mike is meeting with a builder who owns several homes that we really like. We will see what comes out of that meeting but I am not holding my breath. We have until Aug 1 to move out of the Magallanes house so that my sis in law and her family can move in while their house is being built. Needless to say, the house hunt is really frustrating and I am just ready to have a solid contract on a home. Mike and I both feel out of sorts not having a real place to call home and have really come to realize that walls do not make a home. Home is wherever we are together. (or at least I keep telling myself that)

I am in Ft Worth visiting my sister's family. We are having fun hanging out and doing a bunch of shopping for Cullen (my soon to be nephew). Tomorrow we will move all the guest furniture out of his room and paint it. I also promised my sister a custom paint job on a dresser for the nursery. Hopefully, I will have all those projects finished by Friday so that we can chill and enjoy the rest of my visit! I will head back to Stratford Wednesday. After that, I have several photo shoots and workshops to fill up the rest of my Summer!

HOPEFULLY (no promises), I will be a better blogger and keep my readers updated more often!

Under Contract

I am reluctant to say that we "got a house" because I know from experience that contracts fall through. For now though, we are under contract to close on this house Aug 3. That gives us the perfect amount of time to save our down payment money and relax for the summer. This house is 3 bedrooms/2 baths, corner lot, fairly new, and in Lubbock Cooper ISD.

There you have it. Wish us luck! Basically the only concern we have is the appraisal. Apparently appraisals all over town have been coming in low and that would just be awful considering what happened on our own home appraisal. Prayers are requested!

TOO much going on!

I have not blogged in sooo long for a couple of reasons...

1. No time

2. too much to blog about

This is going to be pretty long so I will try to break it up and tell a long story short.

Houses:

After the heartbreak that happened with the first house we had a contract on, we decided to put off the house hunt for a little while and just see what happened. I knew that wouldn't last long. Last week, Mike emailed me a list of houses he really wanted to see. So, last night we looked at a bunch of houses and narrowed the search down to two. We are putting an offer on one but know that if it doesn't work out we can still put an offer on the other one. I am making concessions for Mike in that we are trying the one he loves more first. It costs more but Mike REALLY loves it. I would be happy in both houses so I'm hoping that will ease the pain if this offer doesn't work out. Hopefully, we will have a house to move into by the end of Summer and all this will be behind us.

School:

As most of you know, I have wanted to get out of Kindergarten for awhile. Last week, several positions opened up at my school. To be honest, I would have loved to get to teach 3rd or 4th grade again but that is not how the cards fell. I found out today that I will be teaching 1st grade next year. It is bittersweet. I am glad to be moving out of Kinder but not so excited about having the same kids next year. I am going to make the best of it and try to have a positive attitude about it. I'm praying for a good year next year. (maybe a bigger and prettier house will make up for it)

AM Photography:

This part is going GREAT. I have been creating beautiful images and truly enjoying every second of it. One of my school friends, Valerie gave me the honor of shooting her engagement pictures which turned out amazing. Because of that, I am now going to get to shoot her bridal portraits. I am so elated and excited to get some rockin pictures! (she is gorgeous) Last weekend, I was supposed to shoot some of the Post little league teams but that got postponed because of weather. So, on May 30, I will be shooting individual and team pictures for 17 teams. WOW! That will be a crazy day..but hopefully a big PAYDAY!

The Big Move:

This weekend, Mike and I will be moving all of our belongings into storage and moving in with my in-laws. I am glad to be getting out of this tiny house but sad that we don't have our own place to call home. We are so grateful to Mike's parents for taking us in and are looking forward to living mortgage free for a few months. It is definitely going to help the down payment situation!

Babies:

Monica (sis in law) is expecting a baby boy in September! She won't tell us the name but we are really excited that they will be living here so we can see the kids all the time!

Erin (my sis) is expecting a baby boy in October! YAY! This is the first boy in our family and we could not be any happier. His name is Cullen Howard Shanks. I can't wait! I get to go to Ft. Worth in June to help Erin decorate his nursery. It will be different but way fun to buy BOY stuff! If anything...It will be a new adventure for both of us! Oh, and Cullen will have the best BIG SISTER ever!!!

US: We have put off trying until we have a house to live in. I really don't want to be pregnant and living with my in laws and they dont want that either, Im sure! We are not trying not to get pregnant but not trying to either! (if that makes sense).

So all in all...life is CRAZY. But what a blessing to have a healthy and happy family! We know that whatever comes our way, our love for each other and for the Lord will see us through! Now, all I have to do is update this blog more and all will be well. Until next time........

New Am Photog Blog

The AM Photography Blog has changed to ....

www.amagphoto.wordpress.com

Stress

Ok, so the past few days have really sucked. We are trying to look on the bright side but I can't help be disappointed. The appraisal on our current home came back well under what we were expecting. We still want to sell our home so have decided to lower the sales price on the current contract. With that, we are not making the amount of money expected so we had to terminate the contract we had on the big house. So...in a few weeks, we will be moving in with my gracious in laws until we can make up the financial loss on our home. Hopefully, in a few months we will find a great house we can call home. Until then, we will be on 27th St.

Boooo.

Home Sweet Home

We got it!

Decisions...Decisions....

Mike and I are trying to decide between 2 great houses. One is the one I blogged about. Both houses are the same price. We will call them small house and big house.

Small House:

1733 sq. ft

4 BR, 2 Baths

updated everything

built in 2006

Cooper Schools

Big House:

2109 sq. ft

3 BR, 3 Baths, with upstairs (400 sq ft.) bonus room , we would use it for a media room/office/play room when we have little ones

plain, white, no hardware on cabinets...builder standard everything

SAME PRICE.

We love both houses. I am a decorator at heart so the task of painting every wall in the house doesn't phase me but Im not sure Mike is on board. Here are some pics of Big House.

New Hair

Yesterday..amist all the house shopping, I took time out to get my SUPER long hair cut SHORT. Excuse the picture. It was taken with Mike's phone.

SOLD

Yup..thats right. Now we need a place to live.

Offers....Offers.....Offers

So, apparently this afternoon we will have 2 offers on the table for our house (above). Hopefully they will be good enough to entertain. Wish us luck!

If we accept one of those offers...I think we will be making an offer on this house! It is 4 bedrooms and we love it. Here are some pics.

If something happens and we dont sell our house or lose this one...back to square one. Real estate is TOUGH!

Here is one I already worked on! I am posting it because my sweet Mother In Law, Liz is home from her cancer treatment and doing well. This picture shows just how wonderful her relationship is with her son! Get Well Soon Liz. We love you!

Wedding Pictures!

My Mom and I ordered the while CD of my wedding with a copyright release and I AM SO EXCITED! They are all posted on Facebook so if you arent on there, What is wrong with you????

New Blog Header

A few people have asked me how I make my blog headers!!! YAY! It's http://www.scrapblog.com/. I love it; its so easy and best of all...FREE. There are some things you can pay for but I don't. I still don't know how to make buttons or signatures so I still have a lot to learn!!! M'chelle???? How do you do it????

This weekend, Mike and I are headed to Stratford for Easter. I hate to admit it but I am kinda excited. We get to sleep, eat, shop (one stop) and take pictures!!! What more could we ask for??

So, Happy Easter!

Give Away Today

Check out Give Away Today! I love this blog and I have won before so it is totally worth your time! If anything....I get to see what is going on over at ETSY! (another place I LOVE)! Check it out!

http://www.giveawaytoday.blogspot.com/.

Oh, and check out www.photographyam.blogspot.com for a FREEtastic offer!

REALLY for Sale!

Here is the link to our realtors blog!!!!

http://www.shannonhcole.blogspot.com/

408 N. Dover Ave.Lubbock, TX 79416$112,000Awesome 3 bedroom 2 bath 2 car garage with rear entry in Northwest Lubbock! Stained concrete floors in living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. Isolated master with 2 walk-in closets. This home has a sprinkler system, covered back patio, and a concrete alley. The kitchen has black appliances and oak cabinets. There is a separate laundry room off of the garage with cabinets and room for a freezer. Open floor plan with designer colors. Wired for an alarm system.Call 806.441.9537 to view this home!

Funny Marriage Jokes (mostly clean)

I saw this on another blog and thought these jokes were hilarious!

My wife sat down on the couch next to me as I was flipping channels.
She asked, "What’s on TV?"
I said, "Dust."
And then the fight started....
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.
She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds."
I bought her a scale.
And then the fight started...
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take her someplace expensive...
so, I took her to a gas station.
And then the fight started...
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----
After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security.
The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver’s license to verify my age.
I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home.
I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.
The woman said, “Unbutton your shirt”.
So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair.
She said, that silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me” and she processed my Social Security application.
When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.
She said, “You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability, too.”
And then the fight started...
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.
My wife asked, "Do you know her?"
"Yes", I sighed,
"She’s my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn’t been sober since."
"My God!" says my wife, "who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"
And then the fight started....
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----
I took my wife to a restaurant.
The waiter, for some reason, took my order first.
"I’ll have the strip steak, medium rare, please."
He said, "Aren’t you worried about the mad cow?"
"Nah, she can order for herself."
And then the fight started...
------------ --------- --------- ---

A woman was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror.
She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband,
“I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly.I really need you to pay me a compliment.”
The husband replies, your eyesight’s damn near perfect.”
And then the fight started.....
------------ --------- --------- ------

I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Miller Light for $14.95.
Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95.
I told her the beer would make her look better at night than the cold cream.
And then the fight started....
------------ --------- --------- --------- -----

My wife asked me if a certain dress made her butt look big.
I told her not as much as the dress she wore yesterday
and then the fight started.....
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------

A man and a woman were asleep like two innocent babies.
Suddenly, at 3 o’clock in the morning, a loud noise came from outside.
The woman, bewildered, jumped up from the bed and yelled at the man
“Holy crap. That must be my husband!”
So the man jumped out of the bed; scared and naked jumped out the window.
He smashed himself on the ground, ran through a thorn bush and to his car as fast as he could go.
A few minutes later he returned and went up to the bedroom and screamed at the woman,
“I AM your husband!”
The woman yelled back, “Yeah, then why were you running?”
And then the fight started.....
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, grabbed the dog, and slipped quietly into the garage.
I hooked up the boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour.
The windwas blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day.
I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed.
I cuddled up to my wife’s back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, “The weather out there is terrible.”
My loving wife of 10 years replied, “Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?”
And then the fight started...
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

I asked my wife, "Where do you want to go for our anniversary? "
It warmed my heart to see her face melt in sweet appreciation.
"Somewhere I haven’t been in a long time!" She said.
So I suggested, "How about the kitchen?"
And that’s when the fight started....
---------------------------------------------------

My wife and I are watching “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” while we were in bed.
I turned to her and said, "Do you want to have sex?"
"No," she answered.
I then said, "Is that your final answer?"
She didn’t even look at me this time, simply saying "Yes."
So I said, "Then I’d like to phone a friend."
And that’s when the fight started....

For Sale

Our first home is for sale. Tear.

Dream

If you didnt already know...I want a baby. Soon. Pray for us.

My Pet

This week at school, we have been teaching our pet unit which is always so much fun. I took this picture of Jax to share with my class. Isn't he the sweetest!

I love my Mama!

I have been working on this image in Photoshop and everyone should know how much a adore my Mom!!!!

Wonderful Savior...

On my way to work this morning, I changed the radio station to K Love and heard the most beautiful song. It is a Jeremy Camp song; I am not big on Christian music (not because of the message but because of the type of music) but this song had the perfect message for my life right now. I think sometimes, Mike and I get so caught up in the tough stuff that we forget how blessed we really are and need to take time out to thank God for everything he has done in our lives. We are blessed beyond measure!!!!

Wonderful Maker lyrics

You spread out the skies over empty space
Said, let there be light
To a dark and formless world
Your light was born
You spread out Your arms over empty
, let there be light
To a dark and hopeless world
Your son was born
You made the world
and saw that it was good
You sent Your only son, for You are good

What a wonderful maker,
What a wonderful savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God

No eye has fully seen how beautiful the cross
And we have only heard the faintest whispers
Of how great You are
You made the world and saw that it was good.
You sent Your only son, for You are good.

What a wonderful maker
What a wonderful savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God

You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent Your only son, for You are good

What a wonderful maker
What a wonderful savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God

Look!!!

What Im Getting.........

Apple MacBook Pro.....Im so excited. We got a really sweet deal from a friend and the tax man!!! This will totally help me be more productive with my photography!!

BTW: Both of our sisters are expecting. Monica in September and Erin in October.
Maybe we will be next!

AM Blog

The AM Photography blog has a new header! Check it out and tell me what you think. Its a little more kid friendly!!! (but I think its fun)

Spring is in the air!!

There is a SWEET SPRING SPECIAL happening at AM Photography! Go to www.photographyam.blogspot.com to check it out!

This too shall pass.

I am only living because of this.