Perfect light

You know when you get that gut feeling that winter is coming...even though you look out your window and the sun is shining?  Well, I have had that feeling for the past week.  I have been trying not to hyperventilate.  It hurts my heart.  I hate, hate, hate the cold.  I have begged Kurtis for years to get me away from these horrid Minnesota winters.  Yet, here we are.  This will be our 5th winter here and it is already 5 to many. 

So since I am on the count down until winter I thought that I better get out and take some pictures for Porter's One year...yes, I said it, he is going to be one!!!  Now that is spooky! :)

I took this picture today and just could not wait to post.  So here is a peek into his shoot!

I am seriously in love with this kid!

just because

I found these pictures that I took a while ago.  I got so bust with other pictures and shoots that I did not finish my kiddos shoot!  Here are a few, they were so cute I could not help but post them!

What a charmer!!! I love this girl.  She started ballet this fall and just loves it.  She is taking it with a good friend, which makes it even more fun!!
Today we got the Friend Magazine in the mail.  Hannah took it and sat at the table to look though it.  I was busy talking to Kurtis and making dinner, when she asked me for a piece of paper.  This is no uncommin request, she makes about 5-10 pictures a day.  She LOVES to color and draw.  Anyway.. the next thing I knew she was looking at the art in the friend and was trying to draw the pictures in the magazine!  She really has quite the talent.  She is my girl alright!

She calls me stinky ravioli (who knows why!) and Kurtis poppy seed.  She is the family comedian.  

Holiday Family Sessions

Sessions times: 10am and 5pm

Dates and times are filling fast.  So don't wait!!  (If these times or days don't work for your family, let me know and we can work something out.)

Contact me to make your appointment.  jobows at gmail dot com

My baby...

is playing  TACKLE football!! I can't believe that they let them play so young here.  It is just plan crazy!  Kurtis was counting down the days that his boy would be playing football.  Well, it has finally come.  He had his first game on Saturday.  Caleb had a lot of fun.  He was a little timid at first, but then got into it at the end.  I think that his favorite part is that his dad is his coach. 

Caleb is #33 which was the same number as his Uncle Derek.  He just could not stop smiling when I told him this.  He thinks that he has the strength of two men now! ;)

(There is a reason why I am not a spots photographer!)

The game was right in the middle of Porter's nap.  Poor guy was just so sleepy.  Notice the small brooms that he has for eyelashes!

Your a genius!

Most of our dinner table conversations revolve around different episodes of Phinies and Ferb.  (This ridiculously cute cartoon that the kids have LOVED watching this summer.)  I do have to say that I even find it quite funny.   They enjoy quoting certain lines from the cartoon, which usually results in a very long story of where and what episode it came from.  Their favorite quote this week as been,
"Your a GENIUS!"
I really don't mind this one because being called a genius all the time can really boost the ol' self esteem!  So come on over when your feeling a little unwanted and looked over, my kids are sure to toss this great quote your way! :)

AND since this was the first week back to school I found my topic to be right on track.  My sweet Caleb has started 2nd grade.  He is already loving his teacher and having so much fun doing math.  (not my favorite subject, so I try hard not to be surprised when he asks to do math problems!)  He as an astounding 32 kids in his class.  Kurtis and I are not too happy about this fact, but can't really do anything about it.  Thankfully Caleb is a pleasant kid to have in class. 
Some pictures of the first and second day of school.  (Caleb woke up at the crack of dawn every day this summer, so of course the first day that he has to wake up early, I had to shake him awake at 8am!!)

Hannah is going to her second year of preschool.  She LOVES school.  Her favorite subject is art (a girl after my own heart!).  One of her teachers is our neighbor and are the same teachers that Caleb had when he went to preschool.  Her teacher is also going to take care of the kids when we go on our cruise.  Hannah is beside her self excited about this!
The night before school we set out her clothes and she was so giggly and happy.  I love me sweet girl!

{Porter} 9 months

All about my baby boy...
You are a definite mama's boy!
You love balls
You love your brother and sister, they always make you laugh!
You like you binky...a little too much...
You sleep on your tummy
You still don't "crawl" but you do a great army crawl.
You insist on making me walk you everywhere.
You like to suck on your bottom lip
When you get excited you twist your ankles and wrists.
You LOVE puffs!
You get excited when you see a balloon.
Everyone is loves your hair,can't get enough of that Mohawk! 
You will always be my baby! I love you!

Poor baby, right after the 3rd picture I snapped he fell off the suitcase and landed flat on his face!  It was horrible!  He cried for a few minuets, but calmed down after I tore apart the car to find the binky!  He ended up with a big scab on his forehead.  Thank goodness for photoshop!

Fish tale

I found these pictures that I edited a while ago and never posted them because I was waiting around for Kurtis to download the video of theme telling their fish story.  :)

Hannah's fish tale:  She was "fishing" by herself, which means the poor little worm was sitting on the bottom of the lake, below the dock.  While riling the line back in she miraculously caught a tiny fish!  I was totally shocked!  She was scared to death to look at it because of the blood and all the wiggling it was doing.  So she pretty much stayed away from it while Kurtis took it off the hook.  She insisted on keeping it.  She was so proud of herself.  Here is big brother holding her fish for her.

Caleb's fish tale: Caleb was showing off his fishing skills (which are really pretty good) to me while I lazily sat in the boat soaking in the fresh Idaho mountain air...ahhhhh... oh sorry I got a little off course...as I was saying...
Caleb started pulling in the line and all of the sudden he almost got yanked off the dock.  He started screaming, "Help!!!"  I jumped up and ran over to him. I am frantically trying to find a net and at the same time I am over hearing Kurtis yelling at me from the paddle boat across the lake trying to tell me where it is. (Now that is a long sentence!)  Caleb finally got the big guy in and I scooped it up with the net.  He was huge!  You should have seen Caleb's face!  He was so happy!  That sucker weighted close to 2 pounds, honestly I thought it was going to be bigger.  Fun, I want to go back!

Here are a few more pictures of our stay at the cabin in Island Park.  I had so much fun walking around with my mom and taking pictures!  Can you tell?!!

There was an Eagle at the top of this one tree for most of the time that we spent there.  This is also the breath taking view from the cabin window!

The cabin, taken from across the lake. Oh, how I miss that place!

A few years ago we went on a hike with the kids.  We stopped to admire the view and to build a little fort of broken branches.  While there Kurtis carved this into a tree.  When I went back this summer I went out to see if I could find the tree.  And sure enough it were there and it still looked cute!  Thanks hon!  I love it and you, of course! :)

There is always a tone of things to do there.  Going on a paddle boat ride is one of them! 

These next few pictures were taken with Kurtis's Iphone. 

Thanks Bryon for always sharing your fun toys and awesome Cabin!  We love you guys and miss you all soooooooo much! xoxoxoxoxo