New Family Pictures

My brave friend Jenni did some photos for our family a few weeks ago. She did a fabulous job and was so patient with the kids! Click here to check out the first few pictures she has done! (What would we all be without Photoshop anymore? We're so spoiled having little kids and being able to take several shots and then swap heads around!)

The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But...

If only our politicians (and all of us for that matter!) were as honest as my Brooklyn.  After waking up from a rare, rare nap (it was the first time I let her and Ty try to nap together...they share a room and sleep at night, but napping is a different ballgame)...Brooklyn said "I'm sorry Mommy, we jumped-ed on the beds a little bit.  I'm sorry."

For the Hair Handicapped

I honestly struggle to come up with cute ways to do Brooklyn's hair.  Part of the problem is that despite adorable curls, it is very short and thin.  Her hair is always in her eyes if I don't pull it back, but we're getting bored with the same clips.  My friend has a link to this on her blog...great source for styling ideas!

Farewell to Summer

We're bidding farewell to summer...last week, it felt so Fall-like.  We did the following:

• Ty lost his long, blonde, curly summer locks (for not too short fall locks...still have the curl for now!)
• We went to our last Brewers game of the seaon
• Brooklyn starting going to dance class and preschool, we'll be in a group with other moms and taking turns playing "teacher" 

Bird Brains

This site is a sight of significant sorrow for Milwaukee-ans.  I honestly mourn everytime I see that first flock of Canadian Geese headed south for the winter.  I have never shot one of God's creations; but if I had a shotgun....not that it would make anything better.  I had this awful, ironic thought this year as I've seen the geese headed for their vacation homes in sunny Florida.  Geese, historically, are pretty dumb creatures.  Being called a "bird brain" is an insult.  However, geese are apparenly smart enough to head out-of-town to escape a Midwest winter.  If a "bird brain" is smart enough to skip town, what does that make me?  (No offense meant at all to the rest of you who read my blog and find yourselves in the same predictament).  It's truly sad.  I love fall.  I love the chill in the air, beautiful crisp leaves, football season, and all else that comes WITH fall...it's just what comes AFTER Fall, and the fact that the season never lasts long enough.  Wo is me!

More Cubs Pictures

I had to add a few more pictures.  Ty sleeps with his Cubbies hat on now every night.  Yes, he does sleep with his eyes open.  So creepy!  

Harley Parade

Last Saturday, during the 105th celebration, Harley riders sponsored a "parade".  I think in all, the parade included 7,500 bikes.  Whew!  We saw everything, from bikers who had put more money into their biker chicks than their bikes; to a 5-seater Harley.  It was fun, again, a "cultural experience" so to speak.  We didn't make it though the whole thing...

On Monday, we took Jake's parents who were in town for the weekend, to a Cubbies game. Though we now proudly call ourselves Brewers fans, it was fun to visit a historic field like Wrigley.  Ty and Sadie loved the ride down on the "train".  Too bad the Cubbies lost!  We really enjoyed spending some time with his parents!  They had to leave too soon!

More pictures

I caught a rare moment on "film".  Brooklyn and Ty chose on their own accord to sit and read stories together, it was adorable!

The other picture is of Sadie eating great-grandma Morton's famous homemade raspberry ice-cream.  She loved it!

Camping

Every year we try camping, every year we cave.  This year, we did it again.  We went out with some friends to a nearby campground.  The kids loved playing with footballs, fishing, cooking on the fire...didn't love sleeping.  By midnight, Brooklyn was snoozing away while the other two were bouncing off the walls of the tent.  So, sadly, we packed up everyone and headed home so we could SLEEP.  I feel like such a loser leaving a campout, but it makes no sense for four of us to just stay up all night when we could be getting a good night's sleep.  Sorry, Brooklyn, maybe next year!

Taking in the Parks

Here's a few pictures of recent trips to the park.  I ventured out alone and took my kids to a great outdoor water playground.  It was a little ghetto, and on the edge of the wrong side of the tracks (so to speak) but the kids enjoyed the water (me too, as it ended up)  Later in that week, we had fun with friends at playgroup!

Free and Easy

I've been blessed with a few minutes to myself this afternoon, so I thought I would catch up with blogging.  I try to keep myself away from the computer, I get too busy with doing nothing.  You know, I can only check the news and read the same stuff over and over again so many times.  It seems like I've become a bit more of a media junkie than normal; with the Olympics, the DNC, and the RNC (Go McCain/Palin!  I love Palin!)  But, once in awhile, it's a good retreat to rot on the computer.

First, are some pictures taken a few weeks ago at the beach.  We were graciously invited to join a few other families for a day of sailing on Lake Michigan.  While we all took turns sailing, the kids loved playing on the beach.  Sadie ate so much sand, it made me sick; but it was fun.  We really enjoyed it!