Point Beach State Park

Dan and our friend, Laurel, headed out this morning to go kayaking in Two Rivers in Lake Michigan. We decided that we would all meet them there for a picnic lunch. Normally it is much cooler there than in Green Bay because of the lake, but it was over 80 and just a gorgeous day.

The only problem was the biting flies--they were everywhere, and while you really can't tell in these pictures--I am sure one of us was cursing or wincing in pain. Luckily they didn't really bother Brody or Lily--at least that is what I thought!! When we were packing up and Lily was in the van--she said, "these frickin' flies are driving me crazy." Well, maybe she got that from me--just maybe, but I am going to blame it on Grandma Nan. :::just kidding, Mom!!:::

Besides for the flies we really did have a nice time. Lily was very excited to build a sand castle and then when Dan built one she didn't like it--said it was oooy gooey--not sure what that means, but she didn't like it.

Brody did not enjoy the water and was very content to sit on Grandma Nan's lap or have someone hold him. He did sit and play in the sand and dumped it on his head--that was great fun to try and get out when we got home.

Also, the water is so shallow you can walk a long way out, and it really wasn't as smelly as I remember it when I was a kid. Oh, by the way, I remember the flies from when I was a kid too. My brother, Eric, his wife, Nicole and their dog, Blaze, also came. Lily had a great time with Eric walking out as far as they could, and also playing ball with Blaze in the water.

Brody is 1!!!

How quickly the last year went. I can't believe my baby is one!! Well, he is not walking and doesn't even hold his own bottle, so unlike Lily, who was Miss Independent by the time she was one, I still have my baby for a little longer.

Brody went to visit his Great Grandma Florence and then spent the afternoon by Grandma Carol and Papa's house. Then the traveling boy spent the night by Grandma Nan's. He had a busy day. While, Dan, Lily and Brody were all over the place yesterday, I was home taking pictures.

My first group of the day was the Wilder Family. Sydney, the youngest, is 6 months and Olivia just turned 4. What a good looking family! I am so lucky to have my wonderful neighbor, Lisa, who creates great photo locations for me in her yard. We also did Sydney's 6 month picture. I got a few with her on the petal mat and that sweet smile.

After the Wilder Family left--I was so excited to see Alivia. She is also 6 months, but the last time I saw her was when she was 3 weeks old and about 5 pounds. She has changed so much. Don't you just love the hat?? I was so lucky today to have 2 such happy babies to take pix of!

After the kids came home, took naps, and got up--I wanted to get some pictures of Brody on his actual birthday. I wanted to get that cool shot of him with a cupcake loaded with frosting and it all over his face, but can you believe that I went to two bakeries and neither of them had cupcakes?? Oh well, Dan and I took some pix of the kids anyway, and I think they are adorable. We had to do lots of threatening to get the two of them together. After Dan got done taking the pictures of our own children, he reminded me why I take the children's pictures!! :-)

Tractors, Polkas, and Candy--Oh My!!

I can still hear the beat of the polka bands!! We all went to the Pulaski Polka Days Parade this morning. A huge bag of candy, a popsicle stained face, and almost 2 hours later it was over. If it would have been a cooler day, we would have headed down to the craft sale and maybe even had a bowl of booyah, but we went home--the sun was so hot. I think Brody thought he was in the parade--he waved to every float or tractor :-) that went by.

I remember the Valders Parade as a kid and thinking how cool it was that it came down our street. But as I got older I was very cool because I got to ride on a float or walk in it. I don't remember the heat or any bad weather, but when it was all over everyone went down to the park for the Valder's Lion's Club picnic.

My niece, Dani, walked in the parade with the Pulaski High Dance Team. She looked great--of course, the best one out there!! Dean and Tammy and their kids, Nate and Noah, were down the block from us. My friend, Lorrie, brought her kids, Alaina and Evan, too. Their first ever Polka Days Parade--and they live right outside Pulaski!! How did they manage that? I don't know if they will let their mom and dad get away with missing the "candy collecting event of the year" again. For those of you not familiar with the small town parade, I thought I better include pictures of what makes up most of these parades. Tractors and big trucks!! But what makes this parade different is all of the polka bands and the people along side of them polkaing (is that even a word) away. I don't remember this from the parades of my youth--but not only were they handing out candy, but popsicles!! Which was great in this heat. I bet Lily had 4 of them!! And they even gave some of them to the adults--which I know we all appreciated, but they were handed out by somone running for office!! :-) The other good thing about taking pictures today was that I found some long lost--well, not that long ago--May 12th, and I guess not that lost--pictures of Brody on one of my camera disks. So here is Brody from this past May. Hope everyone had a fab weekend!!

Bonnie and Kile

I recently completed Bonnie and Kile's wedding pictures. I may have told you about them--they were the wedding that was at the top of Rib Mountain in Wausau. We had just crazy weather for their wedding day. First sun, then rain, then the blackest skies I have ever seen, then horrible wind, and then it was beautiful out. We didn't have any rain during the ceremony which was a good thing because it was outside without any protection. Bonnie got back to me and picked out her favorite which I had to share because it is one of my favorites as well. We took more pictures at that wedding that we ever did before because of the ever changing weather conditions.

They were a great couple and you could tell they were very comfortable with each other. I loved the special looks and glances they gave each other. It made our job as photographers very easy.

This wedding also had one of my favorite non-bride and groom pictures as well. This was her flower girl who carried the rings in a sea shell. She was a beautiful girl, and very proud of her important wedding duties.

They said CHEESE!!!

Everyone thinks I must have the best pictures of my kids--but in reality it is so much easier getting pictures of other peoples children. Today was gorgeous outside so I thought I would have a chance of getting Brody's 1 year picture and maybe if I was very lucky Lily's 4 year old picture. My mom was there to help out. I got some cute ones--but of course, my favorite has my mom's leg in it. Oh well, there were some others that were good too.
My biggest surprise was cooperation from Lily. Now those of you that know her well, know that she is not a big fan of having her picture taken. Well, I bribed her with the promise of gum and I got about 5 or 6 pictures that I just love. She is getting very good at trying to pose how I ask her too, and I thing she is starting to realize that the sooner she does what I want, the sooner she gets done. She even gave me her "magic smile" without any coaxing.