FOCUS Training... and our family

I have been a travelin' fool the last few weeks... so I need to backtrack just a little to fill you in.  The last you heard from us, we were at FOCUS Staff training.  We had a fun little schedule that worked quite well for us. 

We got up in the morning and ate breakfast with the other missionaries.  Anni loved when we sat with other families so she could watch all of the kids.  She loves other little kids and very frequently lets our her most adorable, "Hiiiii!"  when she sees them.  

Then, while everyone headed to adoration, we would go set up for the head shots I took all afternoon, take a little walk as a family and make sure to get Miss Antonia a nice long morning nap (um, and oftentimes Mommy, too.  I was consistently exhausted.)  Daddy tended to run errands or actually run during those naps.  There is only so much you can fly with... so a few runs to the store were in order for some basics for the week.    

 

Then, it was on to headshots.  As you can see, Anni was quite helpful in getting everything set up.  But really, my dear, darling Daniel was the rockstar that helped me figure out tethered shooting and toted all the equipment around.  He rocks.

Daniel also did a little video shooting, and although the setup is slightly different this is where we shot all the headshots.  (We didn't use a green screen, obviously, but rather the FOCUS blue in the picture of Anni).  It's normally a music room, so the poor choir had to work around all of our stuff for the week. 

And in the afternoon while everyone was in class and we were done?  Anni would be halfway into her nap and I would veg with some netflix and a pillow... unless it was the day I had more photos to take... then I would do that.  Then, Mass with all the amazing missionaries. 

I loved it in there.  It was not only a beautiful chapel, but filled with so many people intent on the same mission.  Plus, there were always plenty of other mommies and daddies trying to keep their little ones in line, so we felt right at home when Anni pitched a fit because she couldn't rip apart a book. 

Then, we had the evening generally for dinner, walking and hanging out.  One night a lovely missionary that we went to college with sat in the room while Anni slept so that we could have some couples only time at the marriage retreat we attended (which was packed full of good, practical info - we loved it!). 

One night we explored the Student Union and found an art exhibit tucked away in back room.  My little art major's heart went pitter patter and Anni's little knees went pitter patter across the shiny floor.  (See her pointing at herself?  Cracks me up.)

 

We found time for our first pigtails ever, for Benedictine connections and to see dear friends and their sweet little boys, oh and of course of Anni and Daniel to come on a photoshoot for those same friends... and wander around a waterfall as they attempt to stay out of the back of my shots :).

Phew.  And to think, I left on a trip only a few days after that.  And we're leaving on another one this weekend.  I maybe, possibly, booked myself a little too solid this month.

Just maybe.