Happy New Year

I have New Year's Resolutions...but they're a secret. I WILL post them as I accomplish them though, so be watching for that. I have a couple more lists I'll be posting upon my return as well.

Anyway...I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!!! I will be back to blogging Monday, January 5, 2009!!!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! (hahaha...I always loved saying that when I was kid!)

Michael Michael Motorcycle

One of my goals in 2009 is to feature one of the kids in a post of their own at least every other week...just a couple pictures and a chance for me to brag about one my dudes. :) And I will try to make it even, but some kids like having their picture taken more than others, so cut me some slack.

That said, I realize '09 isn't here until tomorrow, but I won't be online tomorrow, so here is my BABY...my "Michael-Michael-Motorcycle".

He is going to be beating girls off with sticks. My "pretty" eyed boy...*sigh*...


And a glimpse into this kid's personality...he is a bright and shining light. He is funny and goofy and joyful. I love him.

Winner #1: Kathy Lafave

Let me again say THANK YOU soooo much to EVERYONE that submitted an entry for the "Giving is Awesome" holiday giveaway. I had no way of anticipating how hard it would be to decide how any one person or family is more deserving than another. Absolutely, all the of the nominees were wonderful people who are all more than deserving of good things coming their way.

Let me share with you a little bit of the nomination letter I received regarding my first winner:

"Kathy Lafave and her family lost their home and nearly everything in it on Wednesday, December 10th 2008. Kathy is a single mother raising 3 children. Her son is a senior at Marinette High and he had just received his graduation photos 1 week before the fire. These were one of the many losses from the blaze. Kathy has two other daughters younger than her son. Along with the graduation photos lost were her family photos which carried a lot of history with them. I can't even imagine what it must be like to experience a house fire especially right before Christmas. "

Kathy, if you're reading this...Thank God you and your family are safe...but I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your home. I know that I cannot give you back all of your old family photos but I hope I can replace some of your sons graduation photos as well as give you some new family photos as a fresh start and a point to start rebuilding your life.

Kathy was very excited when I spoke with her and we are working together to set something up for early spring! I am excited to meet her and work with her family. Congratulations Kathy!

Giving is Awesome Update

I am updating again...I have decided I can't choose just one winner. It just doesn't feel right. So I chose two.

I'm working on contacting them today and will hopefully be posting their stories soon!!

Again, happy holidays!

Next Week.

I will be absent from blogging next week, but want to wish all of my reader's and their families HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I will return Monday, December 29th and will be announcing the winner of the GIVING IS AWESOME holiday giveaway, so keep the entries coming! (Email entries to: jennstevens@ymail.com)

The stories I've heard so far are very touching, and I am realizing how hard my choice is going to be.

Stay warm, safe and happy this holiday season.

xoxo, Jenn

How we roll.

Santa came early for Adam this year. (Early=no WAY we were moving his gift TWICE! As it stands, it took three men to get it up the stairs...and should I sell my house someday, this will be included, because it's never coming back down!)


This is how we roll...13, side pocket.

Giving is Awesome.

You know someone.

You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – over $800 worth in fact!

Jenn Photo & Design is GIVING away a portrait session including a digital set of files with full printing rights to one deserving person or family in the area, and nominations are coming from YOU…the readers.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a free session and a $50 print credit! What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Wisconsin or Upper Michigan. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well. (Please note, if you know someone to nominate who is from out of the area, please visit http://www.givingisawesome.com/ for a list of other photographer's participating in similar programs.)

* You must e-mail me the full story : jennstevens@ymail.com

The winner will be announced on Monday, December 29th. I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

Jenn
xoxo

FYI (pricing)

I've had some recent inquiries about pricing. I am unveiling a new price and product list in 2009, however, if you book before 1/1/2009 (even if it's for a session next year), I will honor current pricing.

As it stands, my session fee is $75 which includes up 2 hours of custom photography at a location of your choice. 5x7 prints start at $12 and all prints 11x14 and up are mounted. Fully retouched digital files are also available for purchase (including full printing rights) for $800 per session(which includes all proofs from that session).

Check back tomorrow for an exciting announcement and the chance to GIVE the gift of custom portraiture to someone that you know who is deserving this holiday season!

Cheers!
-Jenn

A conversation with my boys...

Fa La La La Laaaaaaaaaaa

The time has come...Photographer Skye Hardwick (http://www.workofheart.typepad.com/) inspired me to post my MUST-HAVES from 2008…just a few of my favorites I want to pass along to you to “share the wealth” on some goodies I just can’t live without!

Who knows? Maybe you’ll find something to try that YOU will end up loving or something that may be the perfect gift for someone you know…

Without further ado…JENN’S MUST-HAVES OF 2008!!!!

1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Owl Candle Holder from PartyLite! (http://www.partylite.com/ ...locals, hit up my amigo Jennifer (jenniferwilch@yahoo.com) if you need your very own partylite lady!) He is the perfect addition to my bookshelf and just looking at him amuses me for some reason. I typically use a Champagne Pear votive with him. It’s a delicious light citrus-y scent that I’ve recently fallen in love with!

Isn't he the cutest!?!?!

2. Call me a nerd, but I ADORE my Bostitch Antimicrobial Stapler in CELERY GREEN! (http://www.bettymills.com/shop/product/view/Stanley%20Bostitch/BOSB326CEL.html?source=froogle2&utm_source=froogle2&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=parts&utm_keyword=BOSB326CEL&utm_content=Office) It stands on end and stares at me in all it’s antimicrobial glory all day long! (And the green color just totally cheers me up!)

3. Buffalo Chicken Dip is the PERFECT addition to any football party or family gathering. It’ s like a hotwing on a chip…how could life get any grander? (Is grander a word??) I use a variation of the recipe found on the Frank’s Red Hot site. (Here: http://www.franksredhot.com/recipe/rds/franks/?rn=RE1242) but I use one cup ranch dressing, one cup hot sauce, and one cup shredded CHEDDAR. I mix it all in a crock pot and keep it warm and perfect for dipping our Frito’s Scoops in! YUMMY!

4. Any book lover’s in the house? I love reading…LOVE it. And I am a self-professed “self-help” book addict, with a particular fondness for self-help for ARTISTS books. I just love to read about other people’s vision and how they found their own way and how I TOO can find my own way. This past year I read “How to Think like Leonardo DaVinci”.(Buy here: http://www.amazon.com/How-Think-Like-Leonardo-Vinci/dp/0440508274/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229100292&sr=8-1) It was a wonderful book, FULL of exercises…my favorite kind! Check it out!

5. Dove makes a new “grapefruit and lemongrass” scent. It is fresh and light and citrus-y and delicious… it’s definitely a must-have for me! (I have the body wash, the shampoo and the conditioner. YUMMY!) (http://www.dove.us/)

6. Everyone who knows me KNOWS I’m a music-aholic. My current fave is Avenged Sevenfold’s self-titled album (http://www.amazon.com/Avenged-Sevenfold/dp/B000V6BE6C/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1229102064&sr=8-2) It is so WEIRD and quirky and fun and fantastic. (I know…I’m over describing everything today but seriously…it’s out there, and I LOVE it.) Check it out!

And my 2009 WISHLIST!!!!

1. DKNY Be Delicious. It’s on my Christmas List…it smells YUMMY and I MUST have it. (http://www.dknyfragrances.com/templates/bedelicious_landing.tmpl?ngextredir=)

2. For you Etsy lovers…you’ll dig this. This store: (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5691356&section_id=5498619) has SO many shirts I love. I don’t know how I’m going to pick, but they’re definitely on my shopping list for the new year!

3. Have you seen the Cadillac Escalade HYBRID commercials?? It’s my dream vehicle of the moment…green AND spacious??? *sigh* And yes…it will stay in my dreams, BUT I will show it some blog love anyway. (http://www.cadillac.com/)

4. “I’m dreaming of a greeeeeen macbook…” (ok …so I can’t sing. But I so love the new environmentally friendly macbook pro!) (http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/environment.html)

5. Did you see ROLE MODELS in the theatre?? Ahhh…I WILL be buying the DVD when it comes out so I can indulge in the smart humor that is Role Models over and over again!! Read about it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430922/

6. IKEA makes me heart happy, and their TROFAST storage will make me AND my kids happy when their room is all organized and happy and fun! I can’t wait to (hopefully) snatch this good stuff up in ’09! (http://www.ikea.com/)

There you have it folks! Anyone care to share some favorites with me?? I’m always looking for new and fun things to check out!!

D is for...

As promised...

McKenzie and Mackenzie...best friends (and, interestingly enough, the cutest Niece and Aunt I know!) We had so much fun at their "photo shoot"...they were great little models!

A present for her parents for Christmas...(lucky for me I don't think they read the blog or the surprise would be ruined!) MACkenzie...one of the goofiest, funniest little chicks I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. :)

And of course, our lovey-girl...MCkenzie...working the camera like only she knows how..."pretty hair" and all!

The sun will come out...tomorrow.

Pictures of the Kenzie's (yes, plural) tomorrow. Should be fun! :)

In the meantime, I've had a couple people recently ask about "before and afters"...wondering how different my photos from the moment I press the shutter button to the finished print.

Long story short...it depends on the photo. Awhile back though, I put together a couple examples of before and afters that were fairly typical for me so I will share those.

This first shot is pretty much "the norm" as far as editing goes. Not a lot to be done. Warmed it up a little bit, cropped it in a little bit, added a vignette and not a whole lot else. (Remember...click on the image if you want to see a larger version...and for non-photographers, SOOC=straight out of camera)

This second shot involved a LITTLE more effort...it was taken in a fairly dark hallway, but it added some "moodiness" which I felt benefitted me in the end. Obviously, I converted to black and white and added a border, but other than that, all it needed was some brightening.

Anyway...almost time to head home and SHOVEL our several inches of snow, but as promised, Kenzie's tomorrow, and by the end of this week I hope to be sharing my MUST HAVES of 2008 as well as some other goodies!

Stay tuned!

Snow Days

It snowed on and off this past weekend...BRR!!! I am not ready for winter...not even close. The rest of my family on the other hand, is PUMPED. The boys have been having fun shoveling and making snow angels (photos sooner than later, but not today). They'd play outside all day if I'd let them. And Oliver, while confused at first, has seemed to find some joy in the snow also...he pounces around and sniffs and licks the snow...SO cute!

Adam and I took him out for a good game of fetch a few days ago and got a couple snapshots of us with our "fluffer" while we were out there. (He loves giving me kisses!!!) :)

I also conned Adam into letting me snap a few of him while the snow flew...one of my faves from that mini-session (tried something different from my usual post-processing...not sure how I feel about it yet, but here it is anyway.)

Pretty Hair

McKenzie and I hit the stores on Friday and weaved our way through the SERIOUS crowds of people. Kenz stayed pretty quiet...it was early and crowded and she was tired. She mostly just sat in the cart, people watching.

I heard a big sigh while I was looking at DVD's. I looked at her and said "What's the matter?" She looks up...."I wish I had pretty hair." Anyone who has seen McKenzie knows that she has GORGEOUS curls...long, pretty blonde hair. But, most anyone with naturally curly hair knows, sometimes, they just want it to be straight. (Just like how I with my straight hair wish once in awhile I could hold a curl...hair can be a bummer.)

I assured her that she did indeed already HAVE pretty hair. She said "Yeah...but it's always messy. I want soft hair like you." Little sweet pea...

Later that night she asked me if I could straighten her hair. I don't know how she knew about straightening because she said she's never had it done before but we sat with our spray conditioner and our flat iron and chatted away while we straightened her hair.

We didn't flatten it completely but smoothed it out some and she was SO excited. Of course, we continued to reassure her that she is pretty WITH her curls too, but it was very cute to see her so stoked.

"Can you take a picture of me laughing?" she said. Sure can Kenz...here's our girl with her "pretty hair" cracking up for the camera.

xoxo


Hope everyone had a safe and happy Holiday weekend!

Thanks to Give

I am thankful for lots of things this year.

• My house...even when the bills are hard to pay. At least I have a roof over my head and a place I can call MINE!!
• My Adam...even when we disagree. We laugh together so much more than we fight and I love every minute I spend with him.
• My kids (and Adam's too)...even when they're talking back or fighting. They're smart and happy and healthy and I love them.
• Our puppy...even when he pees on the floor! He has brought more joy to our lives than I would've thought possible.
• My family...even though we don't always see eye to eye. At least I have family who I know would always be there for me, even when they think I'm wrong.
• My new job...even when it's stressing me out. At least we're BUSY and I know the work's not going to dissapear and leave me jobless!
• My car...even though it's giving me SO much trouble right now, at least I OWN it. Not everyone can say that.
• My photography work...I am thankful for every single person who gives me a chance to capture their family with my camera, and allows me to make it my own vision and art.
• My health...even when I don't take care of myself as well as I should (via healthy eating, exercise, etc.) my body keeps on going. That's a good thing.
• My life...even though it's not perfect, and never will be, but every day I make it the best I can make it and I will NEVER stop trying to build the life for my family that I dream of them having. The mere fact taht I have the opportunity to LIVE and dream is something to be thankful for as far as I'm concerned.

We shouldn't need a special day every year to remind us to be thankful. We should be thankful everyday for all that we have and what we don't have...because it's what we don't have that will allow us to be grateful when we do finally reach those goals.

I LOVE Thanksgiving (who doesn't love TURKEY?) and am looking forward to spending the next couple days with friends and family.

I will return to blogging Monday. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

Until then...~Jenn

TaDA

It's Done!!! It's Done!!! I have completed the FRONT of our Christmas Card. I'm going to put a picture of Adam and I with the pup and hopefully one of all the kids together on the inside, but in the meantime, I am in LOVE with our card front. SO glad the kiddos all cooperated for their pictures. (For what it's worth, THEY love the card too! They're old enough now to realize what I mean when I say they're going to be ON our Christmas card and they're all pretty excited about that!)

Anyway...drumroll please........ladies and gentlemen, I give you:

Luc, Will, Mike and McKenzie...Let There Be Peace On Earth.

YAWWWWWWWWWWWN

What a weekend!

Adam and I had fun with friends this weekend! Saw a movie (Role Models...SO funny, oh my God! I highly reccommend it!)

Had McKenzie on Sunday who had bouts of pouting on and off, but overall we had fun too. :) Got some cute pictures of her for the Christmas card...will be posting those tomorrow.

Mikey was a sick pup last night...poor buddy. He seemed to be feeling better this morning though.

Anyway...just wanted to post a little weekend update. Will have new pics tomorrow for sharing!

Hasta Luego,
-Jenn

3 Down, 1 to Go

They are peace-lovin' boys...makes their momma proud.

Look at them go...

Let It Begin With Me

Obviously I have a couple more kids to photograph before I can finish our Christmas card but this year's theme is "PEACE ON EARTH" and my little men rocked it.

Props to my sweet peas for mastering the art that is "Peace"...

Tis the Season

HOPING (hoping!!) to have new photos to share tomorrow. My sweet man was possibly (probably...**fingers crossed**) hooking my computer back up today (strike one off my to-do list...woot!) and I'm feeling inspired and ready to rock.

I want to photograph my little men...start working on this year's Christmas card. HOPEFULLY I'll have it to show you tomorrow...no promises, but hopefully.

In the meantime, here's our card photo from two years ago (my first Christmas back in Wisconsin!)

MERRY AND BRIGHT!

AND, from Mikey's first Christmas ever...sweet babies.

Anyway...Xmas -09 tomorrow. Until then...

xoxo

~J

Recap.

DONE - Pay the TV bill right after work
Wash a load of towels
Find a permanent home for the computer and re-hook it up.
Work on my website (Yep dude! The website is COMING BACK!)
Process a photography order for uploading.
Upload the two photography orders I have pending.
DONE - Find Luc a suitable pair of pajamas to wear to school tomorrow.
DONE - Do a short and sweet grocery shopping (yeah right!)
DONE - Make Dinner (and of course, take care of the dishes afterwards...ugh.)
Find some way...some how...to organize the boys room.
Vaccuum and Dust (since I didn't find time to do it Sunday...the bad part of To-Do lists is the stuff you miss and it rolls over to the next day...and the next. **Shudder**)
DONE - FOOTBALL PICKS! Woot!
Speaking of football picks...pay for last week and this week. Blech.
ADAM DID THIS ONE! WOOT! Give the dog a bath
Learn to fold origami cranes (Not even joking).
Take pics of the kids for Christmas card. (I've got a theme for this year...I'm excited to CREATE!!!!! Woot!)

So as you can see, I OBVIOUSLY did not accomplish most of my to-do list. Bummer for sure. I DID however get my car fixed (YAY!) and spend some good quality time with the boys, so that's got to count for something, right? Sometimes the vaccuum can wait. :)

If you're bored then you're boring.

I am a self-professed "to-do list-aholic"

I have post-its (LOVE me some post-its!!) and scribbles on the backs of envelopes and mental notes a-plenty! There's just something satisfying about crossing something off my to-do list. (Or in the case of my MS Outlook, clicking "Mark as Complete" on my task list. I LOVE IT!)

Just because sometimes I need to ramble, here's just SOME of my to-do list for today. I won't even include the serious TON of stuff I have to get done at work. That will just depress us all.

• Pay the TV bill right after work
• Wash a load of towels
• Find a permanent home for the computer and re-hook it up.
• Work on my website (Yep dude! The website is COMING BACK!)
• Process a photography order for uploading.
• Upload the two photography orders I have pending.
• Find Luc a suitable pair of pajamas to wear to school tomorrow.
• Do a short and sweet grocery shopping (yeah right!)
• Make Dinner (and of course, take care of the dishes afterwards...ugh.)
• Find some way...some how...to organize the boys room.
• Vaccuum and Dust (since I didn't find time to do it Sunday...the bad part of To-Do lists is the stuff you miss and it rolls over to the next day...and the next. **Shudder**)
• FOOTBALL PICKS! Woot!
• Speaking of football picks...pay for last week and this week. Blech.
• Give the dog a bath
• Learn to fold origami cranes (Not even joking).
• Take pics of the kids for Christmas card. (I've got a theme for this year...I'm excited to CREATE!!!!! Woot!)

Seriously guys...that's just SOME of my list. Tonight I MUST do almost all of that...although of course, some will end up rolling over until tomorrow, where it will be tacked on to the lengthy list of stuff I've got to do that day.

It's never ending...but...I wouldn't have it any other way.

Celebrity Look-Alike

I swear this kid looks JUST LIKE James Franco...anyone else see it??

ANYWAY...this is Nathan, and Nathan is one damn cool kid! I know both of his parents and he is the good things from both all rolled into one fun and funny young man. He immediately took charge of our creative direction, and I decided to just let him...and it worked.

This coat, while too large, was very cool and TOTALLY "him"!

He wanted to include his gf Kim in a few...she was shy, but just as fun! :)


Thanks guys for making this such a fun one!

Life.

Things happen...and people say things...and sometimes, if I'm lucky, I hear them and see it a little better than I otherwise would. Sometimes someone tosses out an innocent statement, and I realize something I hadn't thought of before. Sometimes something happens...not even to me, but something happens to someone I know and I realize the need for something I hadn't come to terms with before.

I'm not living up to my potential...and I can blame life and circumstance all day long, but when it comes down to it, it's me. I have to make life what I want it to be. And I will...starting now. And I know it won't happen overnight or maybe even over the span of a year, but it will happen. I mean that.

Pinky swear.

At last...

It finally happened. A few weeks ago we CLOSED ON OUR HOUSE!!! We're still unpacking and doing projects one at a time, but at least we're there, and yes...it finally feels like HOME! Love it!

New pictures soon when we get the internet hooked up again.

Miss my readers!

OUCH!

Two days since my ankle surgery and I am a hurting unit...OUCH! My pain meds aren't doing anything for me but making me want to puke. I'm pretty miserable. BUT, on a happy note, we should close on our house FINALLY by Monday. (I feel like I'm jinxing myself even writing that but whatever...I'm done with the superstition and over-worrying. I've got enough on my plate...no room for the added stress.

Anyway...back to my vicodin induced nap...

h.o.m.e.l.e.s.s

This is more a rant than anything, but also an update.

I thought my landlords were your basic "good people" but I've since learned otherwise. For no reason other than they want their friend to move into our apartment, they have given us a three day eviction notice. We still haven't closed on our house so we are essentially being left "homeless".

We've been packing all day and will be moving our belongings to a storage unit tomorrow, and as of Tuesday we will be living at a campground in Adam's dad's camper. We won't have our internet, I won't be able to work on my photos (no computer), no cable TV and no luxuries of any sort, but we'll have each other and that will have to be enough.

We've packed some clothes and some food and books, games and toys for the kids. We're bringing the bikes and the dog and our family. And that's all there is to it. We've got a campsite for a week and are hoping and praying we can get into a house after that, but if not, who knows where we'll go from there.

I have never, ever felt so lost and helpless, but am trying to put on a brave face. The boys are excited to "go camping" and I am trying to mirror their excitement so they don't pick up on my stress level.

I want to be in our home with my family and be moving forward with our lives but instead we will spend some time standing still...and maybe that's ok. Maybe a week of quiet and close quarters is good for us.

At least I can sleep at night knowing I am a good person...which is more than I can say for the family that has put us in this position. I am not one to think ill of people but this is the second time the same family has basically "screwed us over" and I don't wish anything bad on them, but I hope they realize that someday karma is going to bite them in the ass.

So, I will be absent from the internet for some time but will hopefully return sooner rather than later. I've got an upcoming ankle surgery, hopefully a new job at our company and some promising photography stuff coming up once I've healed from my surgery. Until then...

xoxo-J.

Oy Vey

Don't mind me...I feel the need to ramble on...

Some much stress, so little time!

Life can be rough sometimes, ya know? BUT, it could always be worse, and because it is not "worse", I am grateful. :)

I apologize for the lack of photography gracing my blog lately...my camera was packed away with the rest of my life in anticipation for our big move last week. We found out (later than we should have) that "life" was put on hold while our closing was pushed back yet again. It's very hard to have your "home" just sitting there vacant while you sit around waiting because of other people's mistakes. BUT, I am choosing to have faith that my loan people are competant and they WILL get us into our home before our rescheduled close. (CROSSED FINGERS AND GOOD THOUGHTS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME!!!!!!!!! :) THANKS!)

I just don't "get it" sometimes...BUT, I think maybe that having to get things "the hard way" will, in the end, make me more grateful to have them. Here's hoping anyway! :)

ANYWAY, back to the photography...I will be posting new photos soon. I recently photographed the LAST wedding I will EVER photograph, and have to give some blog shout-outs to the bride & groom. Those should be up by the end of the weekend. I also am going to take the two little boys out tonight (provided the weather cooperates) and am going to take some new shots of them...bad haircuts and all. I'm hoping this will break me out of my feeling sorry for myself funk, and get me focused on my career and on the future.

I am VERY MUCH HOPING to be purchasing a website soon and will have things up and running, BUT as most of you know, i have a lot on my plate right now, so it may have to wait just a bit longer.

Thanks as always for reading, and check back soon for new pics!

J-Dubbz

Even if I'm not posting new pictures, I need to be BLOGGIN' on a more daily basis...(I say as I convince myself I need to add ANOTHER thing to my daily to-do list! LOL!)

I'm busy now...work/packing/moving/etc. BUT it's important to me, so I'll get it done! :)

So yesterday, Adam and I took Luc to visit our friend Matt (and his new gf Kiersten) in Green Bay! Lucas LOVED Matt...I wish I had pictures because Luc was ATTACHED to Matt all day...holding hands, playing his puzzles with him, and even tasting his SUSHI. (Luc was not such a fan of the sushi by the way! LOL!)

Adam and I tried the sushi too...Adam was alright with it...and I LOVED it. (Surprised myself even!) Props to FUJI SUSHI at Bay Park Square in Green Bay!! YUMMY!

More later!
Hasta Luego!

There's No Place Like Home...

It's official...I am buying a house!! I had my offer accepted this past week and am meeting with my loan officer to finalize details early next week.

Here are a few pictures...cosmetic updates to be made, but structurally, a good solid house!!! I can't wait to move!!!!











CAN NOT WAIT!!!

Happy Birthday Michael

We celebrated Mike's birthday with a monkey cake and a trip to Dylan's track...fun ensued. :)

Mikey and his MONKEY CAKE!


Me and the Birthday Boy himself...he's parched!


Checking out the situation...


The four year olds (Luc and Kenzie)


Luc rollin' with Dylan...


Kenz riding with Heather...


Mike cruisin' with his favorite buddy, Adam...


4 year olds again...


Lanta & Berry Ballz catchin' some air...


Adam "tearing up the real estate"...


Rockin' the STUNNA shades...


The group watching the guys ride...


Me and the GAGGLE of kiddos...

Oh What A Night.

I know I promised pictures last night...but it rained in my car (yes...IN my car) and Adam was ill and I hardly had a free moment the whole night. And I already know tonight won't be much better. But this week FOR SURE I'll get some shots up.

I miss blogging!!

NEW

New fun pictures will be posted TONIGHT!! Dirtbike fun for EVERYONE!! :)

See you then!

For my "honey-bunny" and my "monster"

My two littlest guys are on VACATION! They are with their daddy's family out at their annual family gathering in Oregon, and I am missing them like CRAZY!

During a normal week while I am driving the boys home from Grandma Cindy's (which is where they spend their days) Luc has to remind me at least three times that... "Momma, I am your honey-bunny, right?" "Yes Luc...you are my honey-bunny." This conversation almost always prompts Mikey to say "Momma, I am your MONSTERRRRRR" (which for the record I don't call him so I don't know where he got it but it's cute!!)

Sooo, for my honey-bunny...some pictures of his first ever SOCCER game last week! He was so cute and did such a good job! I was very proud!

And for my monster...a little friend he doesn't know yet, but will soon. His third birthday is Monday and this is the present he's going to return home to find! :)