Apparently I'm supposed to be blogging everyday....

Yeah right, I've been lucky to find time to check my email this week. The weather is cooperating and I have been all about my outdoor sessions these last few days. It feels good to be out running around here.

Tristen is 2 so of course he needed to come out and get some pics on his tractor and then I had Emily come out for her senior pics on Saturday. Then I got to go to Morton to take newborn pics of my new great nephew Asher at the beginning of the week, and yesterday Madeline, also 2, brought out her mom and dad and we had fun picking more dandelions and going for a walk. When we were all done I asked her if she had fun and she smiles up at me and says "Yup"....what a riot!!!

Now today I get to go take MORE newborn pics but this time of my new great niece Irelyn in Peoria. I'm so excited to finally meet her!

Then tomorrow my sister and I are taking 9 teenagers down to Greenville IL for Agapefest for the weekend....so that about covers my week.

And THAT'S why I don't have time to blog everday:)

Hope you all had a blessed week!

Thankyou Jesus!

Guess who got a new washer? ME! My very first NEW washer, and it works! It doesn't sound like it's going to blow up when it spins...pretty cool huh?

I had a thought though, of how it was like my world was crashing down when I had a broken washer...I mean, I've got 5 kids! I was really feeling sorry for myself, and then I started thinking about the mom's in Haiti and all those other 3rd world countries. They put their family's laundry in a basket and carry it on their heads and walk sometimes long distances to the nearest stream and then scrub their clothes on a rock.

Here I am living on a lake and the thought didn't even enter my head of how grateful those mom's would be just to live so close to water so they wouldn't have to walk so far to wash their clothes...and here I was all upset that I didn't have an automatic washer for a couple of days. We are soooo spoiled here in America. Everyone is talking about how tough things may get here in this country, but I don't think it will ever compare to how these women have been living and are still living.

It made me so thankful to sit down in my basement on my carpeted floor and fold my clean clothes (something I don't usually feel very thankful for).

We are blessed....thankyou Jesus.

relearning to juggle

The juggling act is in full swing here, between sittings, kids, life, etc. The thing is...I kind of got spoiled by the slower pace over the winter and it's not like 1 ball at a time, it's like 5-6 balls at a time and trying to keep them all in the air is quite the trick!

I am enjoying the individual sessions though. I got to take Alaina's pics this past week and she was an absolute angel. Just such a sweet little girl. Then I did my first NHS house of the year. Just the kitchen but really cool. Loved the window under the counters. I've got sessions Friday and Saturday of this week too.

My washer has officially died, not good w/5 kids. This is a washer that our wonderful neighbors gave us in exchange for 2 kittens...a funny story. Anyway so here we are w/no washer and no kittens to trade! I guess we'll be going to the real store tonight and picking out a new washer and paying w/real money.

Oh and I had the super bright idea of having a garage sale tomorrow at my nephew's house in Morton. 440 Delwood for anyone who'd care to come out and buy my stuff:)

I have some backdrops that I was tempted to bring to the sale but decided against it. I'm not sure what to do w/the drops I no longer use. They are 10x20 and taking up space in my storage room at my studio. I guess I need to have a photographers garage sale too! Anyone who is interested in these should contact me and let me know. I paid about $75-100 each for them but really would be happy to get $40 each.

I'm uploading the last of the Wisconsin horsefair on the site today. What these people can get their horses to do is really amazing. If you get a chance to check out the album under "online ordering" I think you'll see what I mean.

Madison, WI

We arrived safely at the horsefair about 9:45 a.m. this morning. Yes, I did let Jess drive for a little over an hour and she did pretty well. She had to go through a toll booth so that was exciting.

The vaulting team did really well in their performance and we also got to see some of the other performers. I took some pictures just for the fun of it and posted them on my site under online ordering.

I'm always thankful everytime these kids get through a performance w/no injuries. One more to go tomorrow and then back home we go.

One of my favorites from today is little Moses being lifted super high w/the American flag in the background....super cute!

of to wisconsin

Tomorrow Caleb, Jess, & I need to be up and off to Wisconsin by 5:00 a.m. for a vaulting show. Driving 10 hours in 2 days is not something I've been looking forward to at all. However, when Jess offered to do some of the driving suddenly me driving the 10 hours seemed to be no too bad. Having to sit in the passenger seat while a 15 year old is driving is way worse! Don't get me wrong, she's actually a pretty good driver but I just can't seem to relax while any of my kids are driving! I am at all times ready to grab the wheel to put us back on the road or trying to stomp on a brake that doesn't exist on my side...stressful!

Hopefully we get there w/out incident and the vaulters have a safe performance and if all goes well we should be back in town by Saturday night. Jessica & Caleb both have things going on here at home that they want to be back for. Sometimes these guys just wear me out!

so cute!

Yesterday Dillon came out for her 9 month session. She brought her big brother and sister out and we had quite an adventure. They got to hold baby ducks and we went on a hike, picked lots of dandelions and even a toad!

Dillon wasn't too sure she was liking the wet grass but did great once she got used to it.

tis the season

found these while walking down to get my mail.