Hello, Hello!

Welcome to 2011; Goodbye 2010! We hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season. We want to thank all of our supporters and followers for making this last year one of the most wonderful and memorable years that fickleZeal has had so far. We appreciate all the encouragement and assistance that you have given. We have a very bright outlook for 2011 and would love to continue to hear from you individually.

With that said, we’re excited to share that we are entering this New Year [2011] with a new

Blog + Website… as well as fresh branding that is more suitable for both Andre and I. We would love for you to regularly visit our new blog+site and let us know what you think, especially now that the comments work (whew). Feel free to CLICK ON OVER and check it out:D www.fickleZeal.com

But first, since we we not able to keep up with things on this blog we wanted to highlight some of the many special and exciting moments from 2010. This year has been an incredible year filled with so many exciting, heartfelt and emotional moments. We have been fortunate to photograph a variety of people and events that have been near and dear to our hearts. Below we have tried to quickly recap some of those moments, but it is not nearly enough to fully detail the entire year.

Again, thank you all for the amazing support. We hope this new year brings everyone more happiness, hope, appreciation of life and lots of remarkable memories that need to be captured for a lifetime!

Jenna + Andre
fickleZeal

I couldn’t wait to share what Nate and Andre created for our anniversary. I love seeing the world through Nate’s perspective. I hope you’ll enjoy it as well.

This past thirteen years of my life couldn’t be more incredible. We have been through our share of adventures, heartaches, and triumphs, but nothing has stood in the way of our love strengthening with each day that has passed. I seriously cannot believe it’s been 13 years.

I love you Andre so immensely. I adore the man that you are and am so proud to be growing old wise with you. Thank you for thirteen wonderful years of inspiring me to be my best and for being my very best friend, wonderful husband, and inspiring father that you are to our children. I love you, I love you, I love you!!!

We’ve had a very full life around here and the blog has suffered because of it, but as parents must do, we have to focus on prioritizing life’s to-do list”S”. This quick post is at the top of one of our to-do lists, simply because it’s Down Syndrome Awareness Month. This month we reflect on the amazing ways that that extra chromosome in our daughters make up has changed our lives for the best. Please feel free to post a comment sharing the beautiful ways that Down syndrome has changed or enhanced your life.

I hope you will enjoy this adorable short film that Andre created staring our daughter “Lana” and her friend “Matty”. Who could deny these cuties!?!

Please excuse my absence from this blog. I am swamped with all aspects of life and I have to step away from the blog while we prepare to launch our new blog that will accept comments, ugh. I’ve had a few issues with this blog, so we are under-construction for hopefully just a few weeks. Until then I would like to share a home movie that Andre made on National Dog Day ’10.

Andre and I spend a lot of time each year thinking up goals and, well… dreams. As you know we are passionate about photographing people with Down syndrome (DS). We see it our mission to capture unique and authentic beauty, and to bring awareness to our willing readers. In March, we held our first DS Portrait event, where we hosted a photoshoot for twelve beautiful people diagnosed with DS. It truly was a great success, and we had a wonderful turn-out.

Back to our goals… Just earlier this year, January, we wrote a long term goal for five years from now that said:

“Become the official photographers for a Down syndrome organization.”

Little did we know that the very first Down syndrome Portrait event would receive so much attention and inspiring feedback. The Down Syndrome Partnership of Tarrant County (DSPTC) contacted us the day after we released the video Andre created. Their representative asked us to consider being their OFFICIAL photographers for their organization!!! WHA-WHAT!!! We were a little overwhelmed by the timing. You know, the little things like Dez being only a few months old, Lana being potty trained, sleep deprivation, summer break with the kids, and planning my return to college. Needless-to-say, we had to weigh our priorities before saying, yes. But honestly, if you know us, you know we think we can do anything we put our minds to. Of course, we said, YES!!!

The first event that we would like to share is the DSPTC Teen Dance hosted at Kinderfrogs TCU…

sweet, fun moments were shared by all

Remember Joshua – on the top right


limbo time

We are thankful for all of you who participated in our DS Portrait event and for helping us to achieve one of our dreams. We look forward to watching you grow and live inspirational lives. We hope we have the opportunity to photograph you throughout the years. We’ll see you around!

Also, BIG THANKS to the DSPTC for inviting us to be a part of your wonderful organization. We are so thrilled to be able to provide our services for your wonderful cause. Humbled and grateful!

P.S. The Down Syndrome Partnership of Tarrant County (DSPTC) is a not-for-profit organization that supports people with Down syndrome, their families, and caregivers in achieving the universally desired goals of self-fulfillment, pride in one’s achievements, inclusion in the community and reaching one’s full potential, through social and educational activities. – Anyone in Fort Worth, HEB, Grapevine, Southlake, Arlington, Keller, Colleyville, Mansfield and throughout North Texas with an interest in Down syndrome is invited to join.

Andre and I like to think of food as fuel for our bodies. Hence the reason we enjoy drinking yummy juices that are filled with delicious fruit and veggies.

This morning after I taught my mom how to ride her bike (our mother’s day gift to her) I had the pleasure of getting her back for making me eat that disgusting liver and those overcooked beets as a child… only she enjoyed the experience.

juice recipe
beets, blueberries, frozen goji berries, strawberries, carrots, celery, banana

I started off by juicing 3 carrots, 1 celery, and 1 large beet. Then in my favorite blener, the magic bullet, I combined all the remaining ingredients, added the juice with some crushed ice and blended it to my desired consistency. it’s simple, fun, and beautiful! now I feel great and I’m ready to tackle my day! it’s a juice thing…

yummy for my tummy! and focus for my day.

I wanted to wish all you Father’s out there a Happy Father’s Day… and to those of you willing to go that extra mile or willing to step out of your comfort zone for your little ones… good for you!!!

To my babies Daddy… I love, admire, and appreciate the father that you are to our children and the man that you are to me. Thank you for all that you do and for all that you are willing to do.

Since a post is not cool without a photo… I wanted to share this family group shot of us celebrating Lana’s birthday… Alice in Wonderland style. A few nights before Lana’s birthday party we realized that Lana would be the only one dressing up, so Andre wasn’t haven’ it. So he and I ran around town collecting things for our outfits. Andre didn’t want Lana to be alone and was willing to CoMpLeTeLy step out of his comfort zone and dress up just to let her know we’re in this together… NO MATTER WHAT! He’s truly the best dad I have ever known. I am honored to parent our children with him.

P.S. Andre’s Mom made Lana’s dress. Thanks again Mimi for your time and talent. You did a fantastic job! We love you….. love your weirdo family… LOL!

Nate has been waiting for this tooth to fall out for over a month now.  Each day after school he would ask me to feel how loose it was followed by “how much longer until it falls out?” Each time I would tell him 2 more weeks, until after a few weeks he said, “Oh come on, you’ve been saying 2 weeks for 2 weeks now!” So the “2 more weeks” became our little joke until this last week he finally lost both of his bottom front teeth. 

The first one, he lost, was wiggling back and forth and side to side so I gently YANKED it out of his little precious mouth. He said, “Owe, what are you thinking!” but that was it. He handled it so well. Nate was so excited to feel that his tooth was finally OUT! He put his tooth in his tooth fairy pillow and that night…magically….the fairy came and took his tooth but left $5 and a pack of gum for his very first tooth.  He was really pleased and wondered what he would buy with his $5. That afternoon he told his class everything that happened and then they all went to library book fair. Nate knew then exactly how he would spend his money. He was able to buy himself and his sister a book with his newly acquired 500 cents! He came home and presented Lana the new book he had hand-selected for her. She was ecstatic! Yes, Nate spent his very first tooth fairy money on his sister (Proud Mama Moment!). He is such a great brother with a huge giving heart. He understands that his sister takes a little longer to understand somethings…he takes his time and reads to her every night. This is one of his favorite family times right before bedtime. What a perfect gift for both of them to share.

The next morning he woke up and was talking to his dad. Andre looked at him and asked where his other tooth was. He looked at Andre with a confused face. Andre wanted to know when he lost it. Nate felt around his mouth for his missing tooth and stuck his tongue in and out of his newly created gap. He ran upstairs and looked all in his bed. He couldn’t find it. He probably swallowed it during the night. He was concerned that the tooth fairy would not be able to get his tooth now. We told him that she is magic and magic makes the impossible…possible.  She would still get his tooth from his belly button. That’s what they are made for. Each night in our prayers we state something from that day that we are thankful for and that night Nate said, “And thank you for having Mama and Dada pretend to be the tooth fairy.” He caught us all off guard as we blew it off with laughter. The next morning the tooth fairy awarded his belief with a couple more dollars and a new toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste. This time I think he will be using his funds on candy.
 
My toothless, almost 7 year old is a blessing and so grown-up;-)