Highlights...

from our family trip to the cities.

First up...a very EXCITING Twins game! They beat the White Sox and we got to see two home runs and a huge tantrum followed by an ejection of the manager Garden-something. It's funny because as soon as I enter the Metrodome, all I can do is think about what treat I'm going to get next. I'm lucky it was such an eventful game or I would have spent all of my money on snowcones and ice cream.

I took this photo as what's his name hit a home run to take the lead in the game.

And the next day we were off to Valleyfair. The weather was unbelievably perfect and we spent the day going on rides and playing at the waterpark. I realized I was no spring chicken anymore and the rides that used to thrill me now make me a little bit queasy. So again, I spent most of the day thinking about what treat I was going to get next and consuming large amounts of ice cream.

Before...After...Carter is NOT a big fan of walking around in wet clothes. He said next time he is going to skip Thunder Canyon.

Kennedy and dad enjoying their favorite fair food...funnel cake and mini-donuts!

A couple more

photos from our 4th of July.

The whole gang...

Here are all of my grandma's great-grandchildren...there are 11 of them now and two sets of twins!

Oh yah...

it was my birthday last weekend! I have been super-duper busy with work, but I did find time to relax and celebrate a little. We went to the lake with friends, shopped in D.L, and ate at Zorbaz. Good times. On Thursday last week, a couple of friends and my dear husband even threw me my very first surprise party...complete with white cake with white frosting, my favorite! I was sure that I would be impossible to EVER surprise since I am such a control freak...but I guess it wasn't too hard. I was completely CLUELESS. Thanks everybody!

Here are a couple photos from our weekend at the lake.

Our 4th

Here are some photos from our 4th of July weekend....we spent time at the Galaxy Resort on Star Lake and at Tim's parents on Little Cormorant. All the cousins had such a fun time together. Thanks for the pics Ann! (Again this photographer had camera problems...the batteries in my cheap-y died!)

Big "E"!We ended the weekend with a little drama, but thankfully no one was hurt!

UhOh

I am officially one of those annoying people who treat their dogs like children and talk about them as if anyone else is actually interested in them. This is my little peanut butter up at the studio today after her vet appointment for shots. She was a very good girl....chewed a bone and then took a LONG nap! See? Totally annoying.

M-dog

You are looking at quite possibly the naughtiest, most high-maintenance, spoiled rotten dog in the world....but boy are we in love with her!

sick puppy

A few nights ago our poor Emme was sick and was up almost all night. As I have several times in the last month, I felt like I had a baby again! She was a very tired girl the next morning.

Is a bad picture...

...better than no picture? Since I've been in my studio, I haven't had my camera around at home so I thought I'd buy a small one that I can keep in my purse or grab easily to snap pictures more often. Can I just say what a disappointment it is to use a "regular" camera after having used my professional one for a year now? Anyway...I apoligize for neglecting the blog so terribly. It has been a busy summer so far at our house with all of the kids' activities. This is the last week of hockey camp...yay! Carter and Cooper have been going Monday-Thursday since school got out. We have a few more weeks of golf and baseball and then the girls will be heading to bible camp. Ryan Ann and the kids came to stay for a night a couple of weekends ago, so I broke out the before-mentioned cheap-o camera...here you go!

SuperMom .. not

Here is my house after week ONE of working outside the home..

Sink full of dishes...

The kids' bathroom...notice the cup of mud on the counter? Kennedy had spent the afternoon using a sqirt bottle to water her grass seed...in her room...while I was...at work. I'd also like you to take note of the empty toilet paper roll at the end of the counter right next to the new one. I do realize how much work it is to actually throw it in the garbage since it is a whole two steps away.Laundry squished in a pile on the counter instead of folded and put away.

Hmmm...I guess it is clear that I can't "do it all."

How cute is she?

She has totally got us wrapped around her little paw!

Our New Baby

So here is the new addition to our family...her name is Emme/Herbie. I named her Emme and Tim decided her name should be Herbie, so we call her both. Poor thing is going to be so confused! She's a very good girl and we think she likes it at our crazy house!

Garage Sale Girls

We had a big garage sale this weekend. Every year I say I'm never having a garage sale again because it is so much work...but this time I mean it. Last one ever. Despite all the work, it was fun and we got rid of almost everything we had for sale and the rest went to Boy's Ranch. It feels so good to have my storage room and all the closets cleaned out...for a little while at least. My studio is supposed to be ready this week too~ so I'll be able to move all of my photography "stuff" up there and make even MORE space in the storage room. Exciting week for me!

Alright ladies...

Who's going? I'll be THERE.

decades dance

Here is Katelyn in her costume before school on Friday. There was a dance after school and they had a costume contest...she got into the top ten but didn't win. What were those judges thinking?

Soccer star

The kids had their last soccer games last weekend and at Kennedy's end of the year team picnic, each player got trading cards of the whole team! Here is Kennedy's...

Such a cool idea! And a funny little thing she said while we were driving in the car a few days ago... "Mom, how come we don't have any of those pretty yellow daisies in our yard?"

She really seemed upset when I tried to explain to her that dandelions weren't flowers, they were weeds and that you really didn't WANT them growing in your yard.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers we know and a special Mother's Day wish for our mothers, Sandi and Laverne. We love you! I had a really great relaxing day that started with breakfast in bed prepared just perfectly by Katelyn. The kids brought me all the gifts they had made me and we laughed and laughed about Kennedy's "Top 10 Things I Love About Mom" list.

1. nice (what??? I don't ever remember being described as nice)

2. cleaning (and I thought it went un-noticed!)

3. baking (ummm...my idea of baking is buying cookies at the store and arranging them nicely on a plate)

4. cooking (again...for those that know me well cooking is NOT something I am skilled at, but since Kennedy pretty much lives on waffles and peanut butter sandwiches she wouldn't really know that I am not a good cook)

5. funny (so glad that she still thinks I'm funny...Katelyn just thinks I am the world's biggest dork)

6. cute (aahhhwwwwww....)

7. playing with me (whatever....she has long ago stopped even bothering to ask me to play with her since she knows I always say no)

8. webkinz (not sure what this has to do with me)

9. shopping (I LOVE shopping, but I'm not sure why it is something she loves about me, since she hates going shopping with me unless it is to go to Target to buy her something and not look at anything else)

10. skating (again....nothing to do with me. I'm pretty sure she just ran out of things that she loved about me!)

Here is a beautiful drawing of me and my youngest that accompanied the top ten list....I guess maybe she would like it if we owned matching dresses...and shoes!

Friday Night Fun

standing in line

for our supper. The other night I had a photo shoot, Kennedy had a soccer game, the boys had soccer practice and Tim had a hockey meeting. So after all the activities we decided we'd get hot dogs and ice cream at the DQ. Apparently it was a popular idea.

Perfect

is how I would describe our day yesterday. The weather was beautiful... AND we had TIME to get our chores done, have a picnic lunch, play games in the backyard, and grill burgers for supper. ****and here is one of those many benefits to having four kids. You have enough players for afternoon games of Four Square, Capture the Flag, and "HOT BOX"!****

Birthdays

If you are looking for photos from the boys' bowling party you are out of luck. This brilliant photographer/mom brought the camera...but no CF card. But I can assure you that fun was had by all! Except mom, who pulled a muscle while playing red rover in the parking lot while we were waiting for parents to come and get thier kids. Yay...Carter finally got Nascar 08. That is what he wanted the most. And here is what Miss Katelyn and her dad went to buy. She is officially a teenager now and a member of the texting world.

TEENAGER

Okay...so if you thought the boys turning nine was bad... how about the fact that Tim and I are now officially the parents of a teenager. I'm pretty sure we're not ready for this...at all. As I drove her to school this morning, we saw through the windows her group of friends decorating her locker, her dad will be taking her out to make a special "purchase" this afternoon(hopefully photos tomorrow!), tonight we'll be heading out for a family dinner and having friends over for cake, and she has planned to have her friends over for a party tomorrow night. I've been told to just stay out of the way...I guess my party planning skills are no longer needed. She is growing up so fast...too fast. Happy Birthday Katie-Mac!