the lake

We spent another long fall weekend out at the lake. We brought long pants and sweatshirts along with hopeful shorts and skirts, however never had to pull them out.  Alas the past week or so has been so cold, it feels like it is fall!  I even joked to Andy when we went back to the cabin in September for our last she-bang before we kick off the ... gulp... school year, it would be warmer then than it was now!  We got down into the 40's at night and never crossed 65 (if we were lucky) during the daytime.  That's not to say that stopped certain children from scurrying around in clothing I would have been shivering in, or stopped other children from wading into the water before he could be stopped, requiring immediate pant removal. Then shirt removal.  Then mommy cuddling.

When we bought this property from Andy's Grandma we never new how much work it would require of us. Heck I can remember telling friends right after we got it that once we got her cleaned up we'd have big parties together... and here we find ourselves 2 year later just now catching our breath and feeling like we are getting there.

And we also never knew how much fun we could have.  I never knew that Lucy would prove to be an 'expert fisher-lady' (just ask her if her 15 fish tally in one day isn't enough to convince you!).  It is so nice to have somewhere to go where there is no Internet, no TV besides a VCR and a few tapes, no bills to pay, and very little to distract from the beautiful nature and relaxing atmosphere.

And even if it was cold this weekend, we bucked up a bit, stood out in some rain, chilled our peaches and we enjoyed it.

We are blessed.

Cassidy was the self proclaimed 'worm expert'.  She loved playing with them but then had no issues ripping one in half so I could bait a hook.

even experts snag the weeds once in awhile...

at 20 months Isaac can already hold a pole and reel it in by himself
And he gets mad if he doesn't get to!

i did it

So I did it.  Because I have so much free time, I started another blog.

Right.

No, because I wanted a place to post photos that require no words ... photos of my family doing everyday things ... photos that will tell a story all by themselves.

There have been times when I wanted to post a photo or a few photos but didn't have a whole lot to say about them.  I hesitated to do so because it didn't seem to fit with this blog.

I didn't want to hesitate. And I don't have to any more.

Now I have a place to post pictures that depict life as it is.  'Lifestyle photography' as it is called has really tickled my fancy as of late.  It is a way to capture how life is in reality vs. posed photography.  I know that there is a place for both, and I have both types of photography displayed throughout my house... so why not 2 blogs? ☺

This blog will also be a place to kind of showcase more of my work.

In case you are interested, you can find this new blog here.

It is called 'a thousand words'.

All I could think about when I was contemplating this blog is that old saying 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.

Hope you enjoy it ♥

comfort

daddy's boy

summer mornings

smurfs

What do you get when you give 3 little girls some sidewalk chalk, access to water, and then your turn your back for a moment?

SMURFS!

For some reason I thought that the kids had done this before and didn't think too much about it and let the girls continue their fun.

 

But a word to the wise.... perhaps it was just the uber-brightness of the blue, but we really had to scrub when they were done, and then rescrub that evening in the bath to get all of the blue off.  And even still Cass has some blue tipped fingernails.  Oh well.  It's summer! ☺

throw me in

We spent another muggy night cooling off at the lake.  It is amazing how at the cottage (about a block up) it can be completely still, muggy and uncomfortable, but when you cross through the magical forest barrier and enter 'lake country' the breeze picks up and provides the perfect cooling wind.  The kids have become much more comfortable in the water and are up for new tricks all the time.  Isaac got more brave and tested the waters in a life jacket... he has not done that til this day.

 The older 3 readily ran and jumped off the pier, a first for this year.

 And the newest trick that Jack initiated... the toss.

 Whoa...

 Lucy's turn...

 Um, ouch. Back flops are as painful as belly flops... just ask Lucy.
Cassidy took a pass.
(I would have too!)

beat the heat

rise and shine

We have a new sleepy-head in our house.  It used to only be Jack who would sleep in in the morning. But for the past few weeks it has been Lucy who has been the last one in bed (sometimes past 9:30!).

I recently found Lucy way off of the nest she had created, and on top of a pile of books.   The kids still love to have sleep overs with each other and spend many nights on each other's floors.  I think it's sweet and hope the desire and friendship they have lasts:)  The window was open on this particular morning and the beautiful summer light shown through and just illuminated her shiny blonde hair.  I couldn't resist.  I tip toed out of the room and ran to get my camera.  I captured this shot (that I love),

 and then this next one that I love as well.  She must have heard my shutter go of.

I have been trying hard to capture 'life as it is' more and more as to create a series of photos depicting what life really was all about.  I am finding that while I love shooting 'portrait' photos, I am loving capturing these lifestyle photos... which are genuine, unscripted and unposed, a lot more. There is a time and place for both... perhaps my niche/style is changing? Photography is so fun and engaging.  I just love learning about new tricks and ideas and processing alternatives.

The thought crossed my mind, and I am not yet sure if I am going to do it or not, to start another blog where I can just post some more of these types of pictures with very few... if any words.  It just seems that sometimes I have a picture or two that I want to post and remember, but some how don't have a ton to say about.  For the outsider, it may perhaps be boring.  I know that my time is so limited during the summer... I mean it seems like we just run and run and run from place to place.... So I don't know yet if I'll do that or if I will just integrate these pictures into this blog.  Hmmmmm

When daddies are away

Last Saturday Andy went to Minneapolis for a temple trip.  The thought of a day that is typically 'easier' because there are two adults vs. only one, turning into 'just another day' by myself did not make me very happy.  

I mentioned this to Marta when she was over helping me craft earlier in the week. Then she mentioned Chris had to work in Wausau all day Saturday as well.  We looked at each other and a light bulb went off.  We immediately started blurting out ideas to create a day full of fun activities for the kids and ourselves.

We spent a bunch of time down at the lake playing in the water, watching ducks (and yelling quack at them), making sand castles and sandy delicacies to 'eat', munching on cheese and crackers and Marta's guacamole (mmmmmmmm!) and chips.

Just look at his face... he knows he is not supposed to be on this slide.

mmmmm... guac!

And Marta has the best system for when the kids are done in the lake.  She has a kiddie pool and a hose hooked up to warm water on her deck.  The kids tip toe up the pool and slosh around in a warm bubble bath until they are clean.  My kids loved this idea.  You should have seen all 7 kids in the small kiddie pool.  (I wish I had a picture but was too busy preventing Isaac from standing up and slipping.)

when Jack has a water gun, the smart people stay away

holding hands ♥

Mermaids!

It was fun to watch the kids together. Down at the lake they all played together so nicely- no whining or arguing at all.  Later on Lucy and Ellie and Cass stuck together and played some girlish games while Jack and Pooh played spies and contrived ways to disrupt the girls.  (that is when Jack was not having a blast on the toddler roller coaster!)

Jack was so excited to see Pooh! He is typically at school when Pooh would be over but not today!

We enjoyed treats like popsicles and homemade snow cones to help stave off the heat.  The kids made mini pizzas and drank Hawaiian punch for dinner while Marta and I ordered ourselves a little Casa Mexicana takeout. My favorite. You can never have too many beef chimichangas!

spies... notice the boys have swords... and Lucy looks a bit annoyed.  She might have been taken prisoner.  And Notice Isaac deciding he wanted to try out the trampoline alone.  He is obviously not deterred by steps or ladders!

We had such a great Saturday!  The kids loved every moment of it, as did I.  And I got a lovely text the next morning from Marta stating her family felt the same.  We'll have to do it again soon!