Daddy and His Girl - Family Photography, Marinette, WI

The love he has for this little girl is unparalleled. She can do no wrong in his eyes. And she loves him like there's no tomorrow. I'm proud to know and love these two...

101 in 1001 Update - COMING SOON!

I've updated my original "101 in 1001" post with updates and have some photos to share of a few of my goals. Look for those SOON!

On another note...lots of sessions coming up soon...couple high school seniors, a family, and some other fun stuff, SO, lots to look forward to!

Back soon!
xoxo

GIving is Awesome - Marinette, WI Children's Photographer

Remember my GIVING IS AWESOME contest at the end of last year? I had a shoot today with one of the winner's, Aiden, who is an amazing little guy. I have a lot of great photos of Aiden and his family from today, and will share more soon, but wanted to post a sneak peek for his awesome mom, Annie.

Aiden, Annie, Ryan (and Bailey)...it was great meeting all of you today. I am so glad I was able to do this for your family!

Congrats Seniors! - Marinette, WI Graphic Design

I recently had the pleasure of designing a high school graduation invitation/announcement for one of my photography clients. Cards like this one will be available SOON through Jenn Photo & Design...keep checking back for updates!

New and Exciting

Couple things (at 2:33 am...yes, I am still up...and yes, I am getting up for work in a few hours...blech!)

I have new photos coming...a beautiful friend of mine, and some randoms of the kiddos! Good stuff!

And also, some "news"...in an effort to make this blog more about photography and less about my "family stuff", I have created a second blog..."Motocross Momma" where I will share more of our day to day stuff...photos of the kids and pets, sports, cooking, decorating (and hopefully more furniture redos!) That sort of thing!

Stop by, check it out and let me know what you think!

http://motoxmomma.blogspot.com/

xoxo
-J

YARD SALE!!!

Stop on by! Lots of good stuff! I MIGHT (if I get SUPER ambitious) have pics of some of my goods tomorrow! :)

xoxo
-Jenn

BIRTHDAY - Mikey

Today...my BABY turns FOUR! I cannot even believe it. My sweet little wide-eyed, funny man is four years old. His party isn't until Sunday ("5 more sleeps!" as he puts it) but as I did for Will's birthday, I will post in his honor!

Four facts about my four year old boy...

1. He is a MAD-MAN on a razor scooter...he jumps and flips and wheelies and does all those other "boy things"...and scares the crap out of me with it on a daily basis!

2. He loves to cook. Sometimes he'd rather watch a cooking show than cartoons. One of his very favorite toys is his "real oven" (Easy Bake). I have no doubt he will be a fantastic cook, like his Uncle Brandon and his Grandpa Scott when he grows up.

3. For the third year running, Mikey has asked for a Monkey Birthday Cake, so I'm on the lookout for a new recipe and new way to decorate it. Mikey has loved monkeys since he was little and still, EVERY NIGHT, sleeps with his "Monkey Friend".

4. This little boy is so full of life and personality that he draws people into his world. He's funny and charismatic and I have every confidence in the world that he is going to grow up to change the world...he's just "that kind" of kid.

Mikey, you make my day. I love you Mooska. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

xoxo
love, Momma

My baby, so long ago...

And recently...

R.E.L.A.X.

I've got a crockpot full of my FAMOUS chili and a crockpot full of sloppy joes...chips and dip, sandwich stuff, drinks and fruit and homemade blueberry muffins! We are READY for camping and riding but most importantly RELAXATION!

I cannot wait...because seriously...I need the break.

Back Monday with some new stuff and probably some camping pics!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ahhh, so it goes.

So, Luc's first race experience was not the great time we hoped for. He made it halfway through practice before coming off the track in tears...he'd fallen at least 10 times by then and was so frustrated with everything, he didn't know what else to do but cry.

Every time I think of the look on his face when I finally helped him make his way off the track, I want to cry myself. It breaks my heart that his first experience was not even remotely fun for him.

He had a great time on the drive up, and LOVED camping the night before and seeing all the kids. He was SO excited to sign up and get his practice bracelet. He went to bed like a very good boy and got to watch some Nitro Circus on the DVD player...this kid thought he was in heaven.

Then it rained.

Rained turned that primed track into mud...fine for the big bikes and even for small bikes with experienced riders. But Luc didn't realize (and I still don't think he understands) that if he would've just gone a LITTLE BIT faster, he would've faired much better. He was tentative about the slippery mud, and wasn't getting on the gas and got stuck and fell over and over and over.

SO, now we go back to two weeks of practicing, and then we'll try a Friday night race at Chilton and see how he does there.

I'm really letting all of this bother me...not sure why. I just wanted him to have a great experience and he really didn't. Just makes me sad for him. :(

That's all for now, I guess.

xoxo-Jenn

Amberg Track, Wisconsin MX Photography

Ahhh...Long time, no see!!

We've been so busy with the guys almost daily riding/practice schedule! It's Luc's first year on a bike and he's been learning so much, so fast! We're very proud! He's just about race ready...couple more weeks and he's going to be ready to rock!

Will a couple pics tide you over until life calms down for us?!?!?!

Luc catchin' air, his FIRST TIME on the track!


Me and the buddies, enjoying the beautiful day in Amberg


Cornering like a pro...


Up he goes...


And for fun...Luc BEGGED to try my "CRAMMA" (his pronunciation of camera)...so I let him snap a few...he got this one of me! Not too shabby! He learned A LOT that day!


Until next time...xoxo

Good Days, Sunshine...

It is FINALLY warming up, and with warm weather comes mud, and fresh air and MOTOCROSS!! Woot!

Luc has been tearing it up riding around the yard, but TONIGHT my friends, he will ride at the Str8 Racing Compound and get his first taste of some place new!

Photos tomorrow!!

xoxo - jenn

Cookie Monsters, Marinette, WI Family Photography

I was at Walmart a couple weeks ago when I, out of the blue said to Mikey, "Let's pick out a cookie jar for our kitchen."

The first one he picked wasn't big enough, and the next was HUGE...so I said "Ok...bigger than this one, smaller than that one..." and he found us our cookie jar. Third times a charm, right?

So I decided, inspired by her: http://itsthelittlethingsthatmakeahouseahome.blogspot.com/ , that we would make a new cookie recipe every week for a year, starting last week.

We're two weeks in and going strong. I will try to share photos weekly...and if anyone wants the recipe, comment with your email address and I will send it your way.

Week 1/52...Oatmeal Chocolate Chip

Luc and Mike, ready to help. (Notice the cameo of "Take Home Teddy"...it was Luc's week at school to take him home and write in his journal)

The cookie jar Michael picked out...I LOVE it!!

Verdict on the cookies...DELICIOUS! A little crisper than I expected, but great flavor. The kids LOVED them.

We made Week 2 cookies a couple days ago...I will get those pictures (STRAWBERRY PECAN cookies) posted early next week! :)

Something I Love.

Go ahead...do it.



History lesson = http://www.barterbooks.co.uk/keepcalm.php

I love and need this...today and always.

Before and After

We bought our house last fall and Adam and I have lived this entire time with one tiny closet to share and NO dresser. Recently, we decided the mess that our bedroom had become could be tolerated no longer and we were going to do something about it.

I searched Craigslist daily until I found a good deal on a solid (and huge) dresser...but BOY was that thing UGLY! (As you can see I had already started sanding the top when I took this picture, but you get the idea.)



After a little bit of stress and a little bit of hard work, we now have this...(don't mind the accessory placement...that's just random stuff I have to find a place for now!!)



We decided on a satin black finish (love it!) and brushed nickel hardware (not what I had in mind but it'll work for now) AND, my personal favorite part...when you open the doors in the middle...BAM! Green drawers. Color chosen to match our new bedding. Love it! (Ooo...and ignore the horrid blue curtains soon to be replaced by light colored roman shades.)



This is mine and Adam's first real DIY project we've done since moving in here, and it feels great! We still have a handful of things to add to the bedroom and I promise to post final "bedroom makeover" photos as soon as that is done.

xoxo
-Jenn

OpLove Session - Marinette, WI Family Photography

Saturday morning I woke up to snow. UGH! Snow again??? Yes. Everything was WHITE. And to make matters worse, I had a 9:30 am photosession scheduled. "GREAT...this family is going to think I'm NUTS!" was all I could think!

Snow or no snow, though, they were fantastic! Total troopers...didn't complain about the wet shoes or the weather...and did their very best to look like they weren't freezing! :)

Adrienne (and Family)~I so enjoyed meeting you guys! Stay safe in Iraq!! I hope the next few months fly by for you guys so you can get home to your family soon!

Sweet, Sweet Baby - Marinette, Wisconsin Family Photography

My good friend Adam's sweet little man!!!! Congrats again guys! He's precious!

Poor, Poor Neglected Blog

Dear Blog,

I know I have neglected and mistreated you...and for this I am very sorry.

The kids have been sick, winter is sucking the life out of everything and everyone, and really...I just haven't been up to it.

BUT, there is a bright light on the horizon...I've got baby pictures to post SOON of a sweet little family I shot a couple weeks back. I've got MORE blog changes, and an EXCITING announcement to make in the next couple of weeks.

I can't give you an exact date or anything, but I promise, faithful blog...things will get better.

Love, Jenn

SAVE CHILDREN'S MX

From the website of Mr. Tom Self (http://www.tomself.com/)

**URGENT**
As of Tuesday, February 10th, 2009, the small powersports industry has all but been shut down. This affects not only dealers and new units but individuals all across the U.S.

New and used units as well as parts avilability for every used unit in the nation has been called under question. This issue is far reaching not only financially but also concerning safety. With the suspension of proper sized ATV's and motorcycles suspended, young riders will be tempted to use improperly sized and built machines which could (but Lord willing won't) lead to severe injuries.

There is a waiver now setting before the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington DC, but has not been acted upon as of yet. We need every available rider, Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Aunt, Uncle and any relative, friend neighbor, business or personal contact or any person who is a legal us citizen to get involved. They need to access this website, read the sample letter, type in their name and addresss then click the "send a letter on my behalf" icon below it. This will generate correspondence to all the committee members in Washington that are on the committee that oversee the commission that could act upon this.

The commission members as well as my office will also receive copies of the letters set so we can be the most effective voice we that we can. The sport as well as the industry is in turmoil and time is short. The future of small powersports is at risk! PLEASE ACT NOW!!-----------------------------------------------

Blog readers...PLEASE...visit Mr. Self's website and take the twenty seconds to fill out the form with your name and address. This is a huge deal to my family and many other families like mine.

Do it for Motorbike Mike...

BIRTHDAY-William

I have been TOTALLY neglecting my poor blog lately. I started off 2009 with good intentions and have sort of gotten buried by LIFE and how busy it's become. It's a good thing...work is a good thing, but my blog is suffering and I know this.

I haven't uploaded ANY photos in the past two weeks...none of my new tattoo, or the kids with the new dirtbike...none of the new puppies or of Will's NINTH birthday party.

I will have a huge photo RECAP post soon, but in the mean time, I wanted to write a post about my first guy...Will.

9 factoids I know about my 9 year old...

1. He likes just a little bit more jelly than peanut butter...and says I make the best lunches. I rock.
2. When he grows up he wants to eat ice cream and boss people around...sounds like my kind of job! LOL!
3. He loves going to Sunday School with his Dad's family.
4. He reads ALMOST as much as I did when I was a kid...which, even though it's an "almost", it's still A LOT.
5. He's good at Sudoku...I don't know how he does it.
6. Sometimes he beats me at chess...and no, it's not because I "let" him.
7. He started the dirtbike all by himself yesterday! Awesome job!
8. He likes Banana Pudding and does NOT like JELLO.
9. His favorite band is Blink 182...that's my guy!!! :)

Happy 9th Birthday William...you are a lovey. :)
xoxo
love, Momma

The sun will come out...tomorrow!

Oooooooo...fresh/sweet/tiny/soft/perfect NEWBORN BABY photos to post tomorrow morning!!! Can't wait to share!

Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend and a wonderful Valentines Day. February 14th is my son (and my Grandpas') birthday, so it's EXTRA special for me every year! :)

Cheers!

101 in 1001 Update

I have accomplished TWO of my 101 in 1001, and have a couple more in process! :)

#1 - Take the boys to Chuckie Cheese- DONE! Stupid me forgot to bring my camera (kicking myself, seriously) but the boys had SO much fun! McKenzie's birthday party is there in March, so I'll take some pictures of all the kiddos then. :)

#21 - Get another puppy to keep our Mr. Oliver company - DONE! As you saw in the post below, we recently got a new mini-schnauzer who is SO sweet and the most laid-back dog I've ever come across. He wants nothing more than to hang out and be snuggled. We love him already! :)

Our boys!

Introducing the newest member of our family...

YOSHI Mirra Berry

And the dog brothers (Our Oliver Moto, and Yoshi Mirra) hanging out...

Oli is used to the camera, but it's a new thing for Yosh'...so far so good! He's a mini-schnauzer...GREAT with the kids...not too bad with Oliver. Been decent on the potty training, and slept like a champ last night. We are already in LOVE with his little face! :)

ARF!

Ooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have a new addition to our family...pictures tomorrow!!!!! Can't wait to share! :)

SNEAK PEEK!

A sneak peek for my musician uncle...since I know he's anxious to see what we got! This is one of my favorites from what I've proofed so far...I will post more photos with details on how to get his upcoming album in coming weeks!

Oy Vey.

I have been SO busy...and yes...neglectful...and I'm sorry. I have a shoot tonight and will post photos from it as soon as they're ready! I will also have updates this week...for real.

Thanks for your patience,
-Jenn