The Swine

I want to start by saying that I love my husband very much and he truly makes me laugh on a daily basis...

When Joe returned back from Germany he had complained that he wasn't feeling well and had come down with some sort of cold. Those of you who know Joe, it seems like he is always coming down with something. It sometimes worries us that he must have the worst immune system ever...OR...he knows it will get him out of walking the dogs. Anyway, so Joe complained about being sick for about 3 weeks, during this time I never really realized he was sick. He may have sneezed here or there and may have had a stuffy nose or something, but that is all. So, we were watching the news last night about the "Swine Flu" and how it is spreading rapidly among people between the ages 25-65 (something like that) Joe is now convinced he had the swine flu! I am convinced he had a case of a "mild cold".

As we sat on the couch with our phones, he googled "Swine Flu Symptoms" which read...tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, aching muscles, diarrhea or vomiting.

So, I googled "Cold Symptoms" which read...sneezing, running nose, tired, mild cough, possible fever.

Joe didn't have vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath or loss of appetite...he didn't even miss a day of work. BUT, he is convinced he beat the Swine Flu...he's amazing!

So, what are your thoughts?

I must add, I did catch whatever it was that Joe had. I too came down with horrible congestion, sneezing and was tired also...mine lasted 3 days.

And the fun continues...

Hi everyone!

Hope you all are enjoying this fall weather! Here in CA we have finally gotten rid of the 90 degrees and it has cooled down to the mid 60's-low 70's! I have to say it has been quite a nice break from the heat. One nice thing about Southern California is that we still do get to have fall like weather without all the rain and cold. The leaves do change colors and it gets pretty cool at night in which we turn on the fireplace and drink hot chocolate! We are looking forward to our trip back to Ohio for Thanksgiving too! We are planning on coming for a full week, but we haven't booked our flights yet. I will let everyone know the dates we will be back and hopefully we can meet up with as many of you as possible!!

Well, this past month has pretty much flown by. Joe was in Europe for work for 10 days and was able to visit with Jon, Shannon and Taylor in Frankfurt, Germany. Joe was very excited to be able to experience a little bit of Oktoberfest...which means Joe being able to see drunk girls in short dresses! Jon and Shannon had asked Joe if he would take family pictures of them in celebration of Taylor's first birthday, so they had a fun couple days of photoshoots! Taylor was not feeling the best, but Joe was able to get some fun shots of her and I was able to edit out all the tears and snot :) As I was editing over 450 pictures from the trip, not only of Taylor but of all around Germany I was feeling quite jealous! The castles and old churches and building were amazing! Joe was so happy to be able to spend time with Taylor whom he has yet been able to stop talking about! Thank goodness Taylor was a good girl and Joe came back still wanting kids! The only complaint he has was that Taylor has the highest pitch scream he has ever heard, and suggested that Shannon put her in singing lessons because she may be the next Mariah Carey! It seemed like a great time of year to go and I missed out, but we are hoping in the Spring to maybe head back to Paris again! Below are some pictures of some of Germany that Joe took! If you want to see pictures of the Jankord family in Germany you can visit our website and look under Children/Family.

www.josephwilliamphotography.com

When Joe came back from Germany we ventured off to Lake Arrowhead for the weekend. Lake Arrowhead is about an hour and a half from the house and way up in the mountains! I had found a cabin that we were able to rent last minute and it was adorable! We took the dogs hiking along the trails on the lake, they were able to be off their leaches and boy did they LOVE it! It was so fun to see them exploring and Harley even jumped in the lake and didn't drown! Harley is NOT the best swimmer, but he sure loves the water.

So, I no longer have my little Ford Fusion Ohio car. I turned in my lease and bought an Infiniti FX, which I am totally in love with! It is so nice to have an SUV for the dogs. It was a little weird though when I left it at the dealership, it seemed like my last piece of Ohio I had here in California. I probably would have been more sad if it would have started when I got into it to take it to the dealership! YEP, only my luck would be that the darn car battery dies the day I am turning it in! I needed to call roadside assistance to get it started and I seriously couldn't drive it fast enough to the dealership! Me and the Fusion had a serious love/hate relationship after 3 new radios and 2 new batteries...Thank God I didn't buy it!

Brighter news, my sister-in-law who is pregnant with her second baby is doing better! Unfortunately she is on permanent bed rest and has a long way to go, but things are looking better, continued prayers for her! My mother-in-law (Terri) is still fighting her battles with pretty much whatever new is thrown at her. She is now fighting pneumonia, continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Love you all!

Jen and Joe

Jon and Joe

Joe and Taylor Rae!

Taylor...probably looking for Aunt Jeni!

Obviously, this was a very large hill and Jon needed a little push!

Shannon!! So pretty :)

Cheers!

I love Taylor's face in this picture!

Inside an old church in Munich, beautiful!

Avery Dennison, Joe's office in Germany (a century old farmhouse)

Dresden, Germany

Dresden, Germany in front of Joe's hotel

Dresden, Germany

Dresden, Germany (The view from Joe's hotel room)

Dresden, Germany

Lake Arrowhead

The drive up to Lake Arrowhead

Lake Arrowhead Tour Boat

Engagement Pictures and More! :)

Hope everyone is having a great week, it's Thursday already so the weekend is right around the corner! The weather here in California is shooting back up into the 90's! We have had a very hot summer, this week we finally cooled down (70's) but the crazy weather is striking again and will be sticking around a little longer. I'm sure I will find SOMETHING to do to enjoy the great outdoors :) Let's hope this doesn't start more wildfires though! Remember family and friends are invited anytime! :)

Joe will be leaving for Europe on Sunday for 10 days, I've decided to stay behind on this trip. He is going for work and will be in Munich, Germany the first week, his brother Jon who lives in Frankfurt, Germany will be driving down to meet him and explore the sights of Munich. After a couple days in Munich they will drive back to Frankfurt where Joe will spoil our Goddaughter Taylor, and shower her with kisses from Aunt Jeni :)...and give Shannon a HUGE hug from me too (no kisses though Joseph!) Joe is planning on taking some pictures for Jon and Shannon of their little princess and some family pictures as well!

We had another softball game on Sunday! We didn't win, but The Ho's (that is our team name, short for Horowitz, yes I know it sounds funny!) gave it a great effort! Joe hit a triple, actually we tried to make him stop running when he hit second base due to his speed...but he kept on running! Soooo, when he was almost to third base the ball was also...this is when Joe slid (the most terrifying slide ever) causing a HUGE strawberry on his knee, but he was safe! Now, for the past 5 days he has limped around the house, I've had to clean it for him, he tells me "the cut is so deep!" (No it's not) and he no longer can walk the dogs...next time STAY AT SECOND BASE! I could talk forever about this, but I will not subject you to Joe's tragic injury any longer.

In case you haven't received our email about our website being updated with our latest engagement photos, I've added a few for you to see. They were so fun to work with and the pictures were GREAT! You can check out our website to see other pictures of them too. http://www.josephwilliamphotography.com/

Love you all and have a fantastic weekend!

P.S. Continued prayers for Joe's mom, Terri would be wonderful! We love you so much and hope for the miracle drug to kick in soon! Also, prayers for my sister in law, Brittany on her pregnancy. She has had a few complications, but I think the little peanut is ready to stay in and grow!! AND of course, prayers for Joe's scratch on his knee to get better soon so he can continue with his normal daily activities :)

XOXO
Jen

The latest...

Hey All!!
Just wanted to share with you the latest on what is happening with us! On August 29th we photographed a wedding here in Irvine, the pictures are up on our website if you haven't seen them already! We are really happy with the way they have turned out and the couple seems pleased as well, which is most important!! They were both really sweet, if you want to learn a little more about them you can read our blog that is on our website! They were really cute!

We also shot engagement pictures for our friends a couple weeks ago. The pictures are turning out amazing, I almost have them all edited to share with everyone. I'm really excited about them and can't wait to hear feedback once they are up on our site!!

Besides photography stuff Joe and I haven't been too busy. As some of you may know Joe's mom has been ill, so we were able to go visit her over the weekend. We are asking that you all keep Terri in your prayers...we know a few extra prayers can always help :)

We were also invited to join a co-ed softball team with some friends. We had our first game 2 weeks ago and I think today was the first day that my legs weren't sore! haha! For those of you who didn't know me in high school, I did play softball for 3 years and decided after sitting the bench for 3 years I should give up on warming the seat! I like to think that I wasn't that bad, but looking back I obviously wasn't very good! I was pretty much the designated bunter because I couldn't hit the ball if I was to swing, I also was found in left field hoping and praying the ball wouldn't get hit to me! BUT, I have to say, 14 years later I may have played better in our first slow pitch game than I did those 3 years in high school. I ACTUALLY hit the ball without bunting...that is a huge plus! Joe on the other hand is not as thrilled due to the rules...such as: if you hit a home run it is an "OUT" because...well, we are in a special league of all ages :) So, Joe's first at bat sailed over the fence as a home run and instead of high fives we all yelled at him for getting an out! You can now see why I like it so much! haha!

Here is a funny story to share with all of my loved ones, Joe will appreciate this one :)

So with the start of football season last weekend, Joe was feeling giddy like a school boy and begged me to play football with him in the park Saturday afternoon. I unwillingly did. We started throwing the football and Joe was VERY pleased to see that not only could I throw a spiral but I threw it harder than he thought I could. Now, after playing well in our softball game and throwing the football I was feeling extremely athletic. Afterward, we were talking and I asked Joe if he thought our children would be athletic. Joe was very excited and quick to say "yes! of course!" I was so proud until...."I mean with your man hands and your big boned body our children will be amazing!"...that is when the proud moment passed.

I guess on that note I will leave you with a chuckle! Here are a few pictures from the wedding, your comments are much appreciated :)
http://www.josephwilliamphotography.com/ CHECK US OUT!!
Love to all
Jen

Look closley... :)

Having some fun...

Mr. and Mrs. Chan

An interesting view...

Alice releasing a dove...

Alice's father giving her away...I wondered why I don't have a picture like this, but then I thought about it and I probably got a slap on the back and a "good luck kid!" love you dad!

September 11, 2001

I just want to take a moment to reflect on a day that brings back so many emotions and heartache. This is a day that we all seem to come together and remember how thankful we are for the lives we have. We must honor those we lost and those who serve today for our great country. A thank you just doesn't seem enough sometimes...

This day reminds me of our trip to DC when we visited Jon, Shannon and Taylor. It was my first trip to DC which meant that I had to see EVERYTHING! I will never forget when I stepped foot on the grounds of the Arlington Cemetary and the feeling that overcame me. Obviously, the overwhelming sadness is your first feeling, but I was totally taken back by the absolute beauty of it all. The respect shown to the soldiers and their families is more than words can describe. We saw many loved ones who were spending the day beside their lost soldiers with pictures and other memories in hand. Joe had lost a friend in battle on October 31, 2006, he left behing a wife and two small children. We found his headstone which had a lipstick kiss on it...I thought about that family and how they get through not only every day but every Halloween without their father and husband.

We also visited the Pentagon which has a memorial on the grounds in honor of the people who died on September 11, 2009. When looking at all of the names and listening to the stories of these people it just makes me angry and sad. It's not fair and I will never forget...

If you have not had the chance to visit DC I highly recommend going. We all love to travel somewhere warm and sunny to get away from all of the craziness, but we need to show respect and honor to those who make our lives possible.

God Bless America!

Here are some of our pictures from our trip, ENJOY!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39230&id=515813468&l=5151650621

Love,
Jen

P.S. Sorry for the emotional blog, just seemed appropriate today.

Our Website is up and running!

Hi All!! joseph william PHOTOGRAPHY is finally up and running! We are still making changes and adding pictures as we go, but we are happy to finally have progressed this far. Please visit our site @ www.josephwilliamphotography.com and give us your feedback, we much appreciate what our friends and family think! Our first wedding is coming up next week and we are hoping our new camera will be here so I can take pictures too!

As for our everyday life, things are going well. However, we seem to be having one of those weeks of bad luck! First, our year old plasma TV stopped working (the power board went bad, which I guess is very common), Joe's infinity car battery died, my crappy phone gave me its last dropped call and I broke down and bought a blackberry, and I spent hours at the DMV trying to get my CA license (yes, I know I've lived here for 2 yrs, I'm trying to hold onto my OH roots as much as possible!)

The DMV here is 100 times worse than in OH. Picture getting there an hour early and there is already a line formed outside at least 20 people deep! A mean woman who gave me my eye test yelled at me because I tried to do the test without my glasses on and failed miserably. I also didn't have a pen to fill out the information and they DO NOT provide you with one, so when I asked for a pen she actually threw it at me. You are also required to pass a 35 question written test with Arnold's crazy laws...let me tell ya, it wasn't so easy! Phew, glad it's over...I love California!

I think it's time we head back to VEGAS!

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