So much has kept us busy!!

So, it has been awhile since my last blog...yes, I'm sure you are all so bummed and have been waiting by your computers, so sorry :)...especially you Jon (Joe's brother)...I know how much you love our blog!

Anyway, our photography business is really taking off! We had an engagement shoot with another great couple and their pictures turned out fantastic! We shot first at the St. Regis and moved onto a private beach in Laguna. We also met with a couple this week and booked a wedding in August too! Joe and I purchased a new computer (a DELL, that is supposed to blow the Mac away) as well as a Photoshop/Lightroom program that is used by all professional photographers. So far it is pretty difficult to use, but we have been taking some classes online to learn the program. We have also purchased our website and are in the works getting it all set up, I will let you all know when it is finished! We have also decided to purchase ANOTHER camera so I can take pictures also...and not just "hold stuff" as Joe puts it :)

Here are some pics of the couple (unedited of course :))

Laguna Beach

The St. Regis, outside the wine cellar

California beaches are so beautiful!

As for other things, I was recently home to visit the family and had a wonderful time! My sister and her family had flown in from Italy to attend a wedding, and I was able to make a quick trip out to see them before they ventured out of Ohio! They are quite the traveling bunch! I was able to stay with Matt and the family and spend some extra quality time with little Kaitlyn (who is now talking up a storm! (She is now our little parrot!) So my weekend went a little something like this...

On Thursday I attended the Toledo Chamber's Clambake with mom and dad at the Toledo Zoo, around 650 people were in attendance! It was so nice to spend some quality time with mom and dad...and also eat lots of LOBSTER! YUMMM!

On Saturday we had a birthday party for all 4 children with the Gurtzweiler side of the family. We sang happy birthday in English and Italian this year...well the boys sang it and we just listened! They all took turns opening their presents...it was a great day! Saturday night Britt and I were able to spend some sister time together at the good ol' All Saints Festival! It really was nice to spend some time with friends we haven't seen in years!

Sunday we had a family reunion with the Schimmel side of the family! We don't get to see much of them anymore, so it was extra special to come home this time. My mouth is still watering from cousin Denny's chicken!

By Monday morning I was on a plane headed back to Cali...it was really hard to come home this time, but so happy to come home to Joey and my doodles!

Forgot to mention...I started to nanny for a friend a couple weeks ago too (just 2 days a week) They are the 2 most adorable babies, SERIOUSLY! Jude is 4 mos and Ella is 6 mos....you can say I have my hands full, but I guess I have some experience in my background to make it easier huh?!

Well, I will stop the madness before you all fall asleep...until next time!! :) XOXOXOXO

Joe's Paragliding Experience...and what an Experience it was!

Joe took his first paragliding lesson on Sunday in Malibu! This was Joe's Christmas present from his mom and Monty and he finally had a free weekend to "fly." After his second lesson he will be certified to paraglide off of any mountain in the world all by himself...I am so excited...thanks Terri and Monty :)

Joe's first few hours consisted of learning the equipment and how to get the parachute in the air, which is very difficult to do! While Joe spend 4 hours on the mountain top I spent 4 hours getting burnt, suffering from dehydration, talking to any hiker who passed my way and taking pictures of lizard, some strange squirrel looking creatures, rattle snakes and of course Joe running through the weeds!

It really was a beautiful setting overlooking the Malibu beach on the PCH though :)

One of the highlights on the 2 hour ride back home (due to the traffic) was when Joe found a tick on his arm and freaked out! I came to the rescue by throwing the tick out the window and reminding Joe of all the other places he may have even more ticks :) heehee

It really was a beautiful setting overlooking the Malibu beach on the PCH though :)

Joe learning the ropes...

Heading downhill and FAST!

This may have been when he encountered the tick...

This part sucks, picking it all up and heading back up the hill...it was 95 degrees out!

This is the cliff I sat on overlooking Malibu wishing I was laying on the beach!

NEW and EXCITING things!!

WOW! We had quite an exciting weekend and wanted to catch everyone up on what new and exciting things are happening in the Jankord household! (No people, No babies)

As some of you may know, Joe and I have decided to start a photography business focusing on weddings, but not limited to them. We have been playing around with the idea for some time and decided to give it a whirl! Joe has taken a photography class and has read EVERY wedding/photography book ever made in the last couple months! So, we put the word out and with the help of our dear friend Aimee, we had our first official engagement photo shoot with a couple on Saturday in Laguna! I'm not sure how nervous Joe was, but I know I was feeling some sweaty palms. However, between the two of us we made an amazing team! The shoot went better than expected, the couple was so great, we took almost 800 pictures and I'm not sure how they will pick their favorites! I have to say, you never know how working with your significant other will really work out, but Joe and I had our separate roles and we were brilliant! If you are wondering what my job was (as if you couldn't guess) I came up with poses and fun ideas for them to do as well as make them feel comfortable and of course laugh...you know me and my silliness! We actually have another couple we are shooting next Friday and we have two weddings coming up...wowza, let's hope this keeps up! I will let you all know when our website is finished so you can see our work unfold! In the meantime, here are a few pictures of the adorable couple!

**Our July 4th Weekend**

I hope everyone had a great July 4th weekend! Joe and I took advantage of the extra day and spent most of the weekend relaxing! We spent the day in Newport Beach to get a little taste of how Californians spend their July 4th, should have know it was on the beach! People here get pretty crazy and seem to come out of the cracks to gather together with friends. We tried to meet up with friends, but never seemed to find them in the madness. Our friend Stephanie ended up getting hit on her beach cruiser (bike) by a skateboarder and broke her elbow!! Yep, that's just the kind of day it was :) We spent the night eating at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Newport on the water with friends, which was perfect!

Joe and I FINALLY went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park! This is something I have been wanting to do for the last 2 years now! It is really cool, it is basically a more natural habitat for animals. There is tons of open land where the animals are actually able to act as if they are in the wild and live together in their herds. My favorite part was taking a large tour through the terrain to see the animals a little closer. We saw lots of newborn babies too! I highly recommend this if you come out to visit!! hint hint :)

Our Sunday Funday consisted of having a day with the doodles. We took them bright and early to Central Bark (the dog park) to let them get their energy out. Harley is so funny because he acts like he doesn't even know who we are when we are there. The second the gate opens he is gone for the next hour chasing dogs and sniffing EVERYTHING! He seems to just enjoy running aimlessly, he looks really funny! Cali on the other hand has a hard time leaving us! She would try to play, but was too freaked out by the bigger dogs. We blame this on when we took her to the dog park when she was a puppy and she got thumped by a Great Dane...never has been the same again. However, after about an hour she made friends with a few smaller dogs and seemed to have a little fun.

I am planning on coming back to Ohio to visit July 23-27th, Britt and Ryan will be home with the kiddos! I can't wait to see everyone! I think I will be staying with Matt and Britt, mom will have a houseful!

My First Blog!

Hello Everyone!
I decided that I would give this blogging a "go" and see how it works! I'm hoping that it will be a good way to keep in touch with everyone a little better with us being so far away! It seems like we have family scattered all over the place...Ohio, Chicago, Texas, California, Italy, Germany as well as our friends who are also all over the place. I thought this will be a great way for you all to see what we are up to and the new things happening with us!!!

We love and miss you all so much!!!