This one is for Grandma Mary, the only real cowgirl we know...

It was the annual Barn Dance at school last night and as excited as Carter gets to go it really is a little overwhelming for him. There are so many kids, so much noise and well for Carter to take it all him he sort of looses himself. He stands around and just stares for the longest time and when the mood hits him he will do a few laps (running, that is) around the dance floor. So most of the pictures I get are these silly no smile, looks like he is miserable. But of course I remember my Grandmother telling me that cowboys do not smile, I think she will get a kick out of these shots.

This is the reason why I live in Wisconsin! In my dreams I would live in a place that had summer weather all year, no cold icky winters, no ice and snow, but then I would miss Autumn... Fall is really my favorite time of year, I love the colors I love pulling out the blue jeans and sweaters and I love days like today where we get to play in the leaves. The kids had the day off of school and we hit the pumpkin patch one more time in the morning and then back home to put the "babies" down for a nap while the big kids got to play outside. They all worked very hard at building the biggest leaf pile just to jump in it and spread them all back over the lawn. I guess I love things like this because it reminds me of my childhood, heck who doesn't remember piling leaves just to jump in! Well I suppose if you live in Florida you may have never done this, but then you've missed out...

A little trip to the pumpkin patch, just to get the blahs out...

So there is no good news on the house front, two offers out, two offers rejected. What are we doing now, trying not to sulk...

So to help with the crazies and because the weather really has been wonderful, we took a trip to our favorite petting zoo/farm market. There are tons of animals to see, all of which little Carter was to scared to get close to. He did like the hay bale maze and picking a pumpkin, it was a great afternoon.

This weekend we are doing a girls only night and heading off to the Badger game, I really need a night out, but I sorta don't want to go either. It should be fun, we're tailgating for awhile and then the game and then to meet up with another girl friend.

Other than that there is nothing exciting going on here, the kids are good, life is moving along way to fast just like normal. And I just need to find something to get me out of this funk... got my hopes way to high and now it just feels like the bottom has dropped out. Yeah I know this is all too depressing, but my blog really is here for me and well there are happy times and then there aren't! Life goes on...

No news is good news???? Right???



So we made an offer on the house, check it out here. And today I am waiting for the phone to ring, it's NOT RINGING!! I have a million and one things I could be doing, but nope I am just waiting for the phone, waiting and waiting... ok so you get the picture.

Nothing else to exciting is going on in our world, this really is enough though. Carter turned two the other day, gosh it goes by so quickly, next year I will start him at pre-school and then before I know it he will be almost to 5th grade, or worse a senior in High School. Kaleb and Linds are doing great they are both enjoying school very much. Kaleb had a rough start, but we seem to have worked things out and he's happy too. We have teacher conferences next week I am excited to hear what their teachers think of them.

WE NEED TO SELL OUR HOUSE!!!

Yes we have finally found a new home that works for both Jeff and I and the kids!!! I am so very excited, but also extremely worried about selling our current home, if you know anyone looking to find a home in Dodgeville pass the word along...

***WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW****

Jeff went Bear hunting, and got a good one! Check him out if you tummy can handle it. He weighed in at 325 lbs, had a 19 in head and was over 6 ft long from head to tail. All of which are very good numbers for a Wisconsin black bear. Jeff, of course, took him with the bow and arrow, and we are so proud of him! Good job daddy!!!

I will have to let you know if bear meat is good or not, we get to pick it up from the butcher next week...

Well we made it through the first two weeks of school and so far so good! Both K and Linds have fabulous teachers, Linds got the same teacher K had last year, YIPPEE for mom!!! I love not having to learn a teachers style! We are slowly getting back to the "school" routine, and I think Carter is happy to have some time without big bro and sissy. And don't think for a minute that poor Carter is alone with me all day, we have two new friends here durring the week and well that is taking some adjustment, but I know things will work themselves out just perfectly. Me, well I wish I could say that I found a little bit of time to take it easy, but there just isn't any of that time around here.

We are smack dab in the middle of crazy, busy time for the Archery shop, archery deer season opens on Saturday and you would be amazed at how many of these hunters are "deadline queens" just like me! LOL, nothing like waiting until the last week to get your gear in order... I seriously feel like I haven't seen my husband for a month! Granted he was truely gone for two weeks in August and gone again for the first week of September, but even here when he's home we don't see him.

A Camping we went...
Wow has it really been a long time since I toyed with this silly blog, oh well, times are busy!

We have had a wonderful summer, just did our very first "real" camping trip. Won the camping prize from Aunt Julie at Christmas time and we were treated to a weekend at Blackhawk Lake outside of Highland, WI. We got to stay in her very fabulous camper (kitchen, bathroom and AC included!!), this is the only way I will camp, I am so NOT a camping type gal. But the kids had a great time and are already planning on winning the weekend this Christmas.

We hiked, played at the beach, played at the park, went for a boat ride around the lake, ate way to much junk food and had an overall perfect time! It was just nice to hang out with Jeff and just relax.

Speaking of Jeff boy has he been busy, before the camping he was in Alabama for a tournament, luck wasn't on his side, he "lost" his release the second day of competition and just missed out on the final shoot out, there's always next year... Then after camping he was off to Ellicottville, NY for an outdoor world championship. Luck wasn't there either, had a rough first day and couldn't make the difference up even after a spectacular day two. But the guys all had a good time and really that is what it is all about. Now we are in full swing with the Archery season just around the corner, opening day is Sept 13. And in between getting customers in and out the door, Jeff is trying to get himself ready for Bear hunting, he's leaving us again next week, this time it's only Northern WI. I hope we can change the luck this last trip, the kids are all hoping daddy comes home with a monster bear!

Me, well its life as usuall taking care of the monsters, we are really ready for school to start, Carter and I miss our schedule. I have been doing quite a few photo shoots, and LOVING it!!! So if you're out there and need a family shot, HS seniors, kids, pets, really I will take pictures of just about anything, give me a call. And I made my photo blog public, so check out the my business link and give me some comments. I think that's next on the list, gotta add some new photos to that one...

YUMMMMMMMMM...

STRAWBERRIES!!!!!!
So we went to Bures Berry Patch yesterday, great day for it too, we went in the morning when the sun was still hiding behind some clouds and it was just the right temp and no glaring sun burning our backs! The kids had a blast and can you believe that when we were getting out instructions on how to pick we were TOLD to either put the berry in the bucket or your mouth!!!! Really he should not have told my kids that. Kaleb was the biggest eater, check out the shot below with berry juice running all over, he was covered in sweet juicy strawberry goodness. Then there was Carter who behaved and held out longer than I expected. We made it just less than an hour and ended up with 7 and 1/2 lbs of strawberries, anyone need some???? After cleaning half the flat last night I just don't know what I am going to do with the rest.

I do totally suggest checking this berry patch out if your in the neighborhood, fabulous people and fabulous place.

Summer so far....

Wow can you really believe that we are coming to the end of June already, it seems as if summer has barely begun and you hit that 4th of July mark and it's all down hill from there.

We are having a wonderful summer though, we've been to archery shoots with Daddy, out to the beach - which I have to say was better than I thought it would be, got this fabulous beach chair and I barely have to touch the sand!!!! LOVE IT!!!! Carter really liked the beach too, something about being able to splash a little then dig in the sand really kept him content. And let me tell you it is getting harder each day to keep that little guy happy. He is just too busy all the time. And of course we have had a couple bonfires at Grandpa's so far, smores, need I say more...

Then the biggest news of the summer, Linds got her very own four wheeler! That's K and Carter hanging on it in the last picture. It's really cute and really little, Linds likes it so far and by the time she out grows it Carter will be set to take off on his own. We've been riding a couple times so far and it really is a blast. Jeff joined a "Gun" club, they have 600+ acres and tons of ATV trails, and since most of the members only gun hunt they are not worried about the land getting messed up by all the riding around. We now have a place to ride where Daddy can really have fun and not worry about the deer! Silly life I know!

My Superstar!!!

Well we made it through our dance Recital, not even massive floods could stop this show, although the rain sure tried it's darn'dest. All the girls were wonderful, Linds is part of a great group of little ladies this year and I really hope they are all together again next year. They played so well behind the sceens and I don't recall anyone getting in trouble or any yelling. It made for a wonderful weekend.