***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.

So we've had a million and one things happening lately, schools winding down, the weather is finally getting warmer (now if the rain would stop...), Jeff's had some time to play with us. All kinds of good things...

But I just had to give a HUGE shout out to myself and a HUGE thanks to my father. I JUST BOOKED MY FIRST WEDDING SHOOT!!!!! Ok so weddings were not really the thing that I want to do, but the gal is planning a very simple day and was even thinking of not doing photos at all. Didn't want to spend the $$$. I am giving them a super deal, cuz well I am so not at the level of wedding photographer, but it will be fun for me and heck I may meet some people who want portrait sittings. I am really excited and needed/wanted to share with anyone out there!!! And I got my business cards today! Gotta get them in the hands of my promoting pals and get the bookings rolling... I am hoping to do a few seniors over the summer, we'll see how that goes.

I have been tagged...

Here are the rules:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
- thanks Shannon!

2. Share 4 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
- Ok 4 facts... first, I'm not doing so well on blogging because I have started an exercise program and that fills the hour that I would normally be surfing the web and playing on this thing, I do miss blogging

second, I am completely into PostSecret, I have to check it out each week. If you haven't seen this check it out, they put new "posts" each Sunday and they even have a few books out too, gotta get me one of those

third, I have created my own Photography business and I have my first PAYING client next week!!!!!!

and lastly I think I am more excited for the end of the school year than my kids. I can't wait to sleep in and spend every sunny day at the pool or the beach! Only 9 days left!


3. Tag 4 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
- my taggees (thanks for the word Shannon)

Angela
Nicole G.
Jen M.
and my friend Chis who I will email, because she hasn't even left a post on her newly created blog, this will be a good thing for her...

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog .
- all done!

like this picture, makes me want to sit and read a book! it's my friend Mary's porch at her country cabin. We did a little tour because she wants me to do her family portraits here and she has offered me rights to bring other clients out to photograph too! She's a sweetie!

Parents day at dance class!

Check out my little dancing queen, they are getting ready for recital and good enough to show off both of their dances for the moms. This year Linds is doing a Tap routine to a little tune called Broadway Bound, they have silver and black "mini" tux outfits, too cute! Their ballet number is to the Mary Poppins tune Supercalifragilistic, and they have white Mary Poppins Dresses with white parasols. This is our third year of dance and our third time with an all white costume, not sure if that's luck or what... I am really excited for the show this year, the kids are so good at their dances.

So I have been ignoring this blog lately, too many other things going on right now and well when the weather is nice I like to walk outside.

A couple tidbits for ya... Isn't my Carter a hoot! We were at Aunt Julie's last weekend to celebrate a couple birthdays and well Julie decided to teach Carter to just bite right into that cake! He wasn't so sure the first few tries but then when no one was scolding him he jumped right in and caked up! Thanks much Julie!

Bowling Crazy!

So we can Wii Bowl pretty good, let's try our luck at real bowling... totally different! Linds had a blast at cousin Brooke's birthday party bowling and cake and video games, really it doesn't get much better than that! Carter had to get in the action too! I love how Linds bowls, on her knees and just give the ball a big push! Hillarious to watch! Also it was horrible getting decent pictures in a bowling alley, most were crazy blurry cuz my shutter speed was so slow and I needed a tripod, oh well I will know better next time...