Shooting

Dec 29th we went shooting with the family. Ben, Travis and Kevin each got an AK-47 for Christmas and of course they wanted to try them out.
Travis with his new AK the day before when we scouted out a good spot for everyone.




This was also Avery's first time to shoot


Once Avery had the experience, all he really wanted to do was go sledding, but the place didn't work out to be any good for that. Plus, the snow was pretty slushy and getting more so as it rained, or rather misted, on us. It was really hard to keep my lens clean and fog free!


We did have a hot lunch though!


Someone thinks they're cool.


Since DeAnna has bad reactions to the cold, she mostly stayed in the truck with Carson and occasionally Avery. I jumped in for a bit so she could have a turn to shoot.






Avery liked shooting:

Avery On His First Shooting Trip from Laurie H on Vimeo.

The shooting finale!

Shooting Finale from Laurie H on Vimeo.

While I was up on the hill videoing the finale, I also saw some sort of plant peeking out of the snow and had to photograph it.

2 Years Later

It's been two years since we last made it to Ohio to visit my uncle, aunt and family, so we went again for Thanksgiving this year. At an adorable eight months (okay, he's a few days shy of that), Carson was a big hit during his first visit with the Cabe's

MaKenna and Sarah "fight" over Carson

Avery loves their spa tub!

Ivy was actually afraid of Carson!

Avery had way too much fun with Julia

Darla and Carson

I think it's funny to find Carson is wearing the same
clothes as Avery was in our last Thanksgiving in Ohio.

Ivy, Cameron, Jenna, Carson, Sarah, Julia, Del, MaKenna, Avery

Jenna, Carson and Sarah

Our last pictures on our last morning got a little silly

Thank you Cabe's for another great visit!

Desitin

Say it with me now: UGH!




Some also got on the carpet and it does not come out!

Reading

Quick comment on book club.

So Twilight was great - I'm a total addict now. I'm definitely looking forward to book 4 next fall.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves is a great book. I couldn't agree with the author more; although I don't know what we'll talk about at book club... It really doesn't seem like much of a conversation carrier.

Pumpkin Picking

Today we went pumpkin picking at Barthel Fruit Farm for playgroup. It was good fun but I completely forgot my camera. Many thanks to Pam for emailing these to me!No luck getting Carson to look...They don't look a very happy bunch, do they? They did have fun, honest!

Milwaukee Zoo

We're having some great weather so today we went to the zoo with several friends. Here's our little stroller convention in front of the "ZOO" bush.
The older kids in front of the "ZOO" bush. Notice there are also animal shaped bushes!

This snake was really active.

When we had lunch the peacocks showed up.
Trying to feed the peacock, not a great idea as far as I'm concerned.

They don't like to be chased Avery!

Hello smiley Carson!

One last try for a group shot of the older kids.
Thanks for driving Mandie, we had lots of fun!

Mr. Darcy or Edward?

So yeah, book club list. I've got it now. These were the ones we finally chose:

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss
Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Ben Hur by Lew Wallace
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Newberry’s (TBA) (We're gonna do 3 Newberry's this month TBD by that month's host)
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
These is My Words by Nancy Turner
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriett Beacher Stowe
Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

So I knew I'd like Twilight (and New Moon and Eclipse which follow it) the way about half of the girls were gushing about it. So I got the first last Monday and had finished all 3 by Saturday. It's now Wednesday and - pathetically - I've only got a titch of book 2 left on my second read of the 3! Good Grief! I think these books have just joined the few others I consider to be my gold medalists.
Can I just say here that I think my beloved Mr. Darcy has some serious competition now. *big sigh* Edward... you can dazzle me anytime!

Need a Tractor?

So here's a digi scrap freebie for you. If anyone ever finds me here that is! :)
Thanks to a little toy tractor one of my sons have, you now can have this cute little guy. I made it to use on one of the father's day cards this year. And since the pattern to it doesn't resize well, I've given you 3 sizes to choose from in the one zip.
Download here.

And Then There Were None

So tonight's bookclub was the one to pick all our books for the next year and one of the ones I brought was chosen. How fun. I'll be hosting that one, but it's not until spring. The book is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. It's been many a year since I've read it and it's the only one of hers I've read, but I thought it time for a re-visit. Once I get the list of this years picks emailed to me I'll post it.

Hmm

Well, I think I will TRY and do this blog thing. We'll have to see. I'm set up now tho so maybe I'll get there. :)

First, I'm crazy and rambling. Now for some concrete info - tho reading it may actually prove this first fact...

Starters: I'm a SAHM of 2 boys - a 2 and a half yr old and an almost 6mo old and DH's a dental student.

I love my PS CS3 and photo editing and I'm trying to expand the photography dept. to match that :) I have a lot of hard drive space of digital scrap booking stuff, but don't use it nearly as much as I should. Now I'm trying to give time to creating digi stuff with the CS3 skills but I'm rather lazy about it... I wonder if I'll be lazy about blogging too... Hmm. Okay, maybe I'm not lazy, I just don't get how the other digi scrapper SAHM's (or the few Dads!) out there manage all they do! With only about 2 hours a day on the computer, it's awfully hard to do all the things you want to!

I love to read, and for not being all that big a fantasy reader (I really don't do sci-fi) my biggest reading obsessions happen to be fantasy. But who can say no to Harry Potter? My profile is actually me sandwiched between Melissa Anelli and John Noe from Leaky at the HP7 pre-release party for those of you other fabulous dorks out there who know what I'm talking about! Don't worry, I love the Muggle boys and Laura too. :)
Love Melanie Rawn's works obsessively enough that some years back I actually created giant family trees of her two big worlds. Way too many hours put in there!
Tamora Pierce first got me way back in 4th grade tho with Alanna and I've followed Tammy thru the years. Nothing like a good clean fun read to take you back.
Otherwise, I love my Jane Austin :) Allan Folsom's first book Day After Tomorrow (nothing to do with the movie) was really good. Political subterfuge, espionage, etc are always good, and I love me some good Historical Fiction.

College football, with college basketball a close second, must be the best of sports entertainment.

One last bit: give me nature that's GREEN. Mmm, I just love it.

Okay, that's enough little factoids for you. Maybe I'll come back later and post some of my digi work - can you say FREEBIE? Maybe. Gotta decide if I'm serious enough about this - suppose I could give it a shot tho... Hmm :)

Jeep Ridin' and a Smooth Hat pt 2

My Mom loved the picture I took of Avery in the Jeep like this, so I'm following through on orders and taking some of Carson too. Carson is a few days over 5 months here.

Road Rage Carson:

Um, do you want a ride?

Crazy happy:

The Zoo

Yesterday we went to the zoo with our friends Amy and her boy Brandon.

The Cheetahs like to stalk the glass, I think Avery was offering himself up here!

Happy Father's Day!

Travis, you're so amazing. Our boys and I love you so much! Happy Father's Day!
Travis with his Father's Day gift - of course Avery had to get his tools too and pose!
I love you Daddy, Happy Father's Day! -Laurie

The card says it all - there's nobody cooler! Happy Father's Day!

Mother's Day

Here's pictures of my Mother's Day card and my gift! I love you boys!