Budding Photographer?

Kate received a camera this weekend while we were up north visiting my folks (fear not- my mom found it on clearance for $2).  And as predicted by the grandparents- she's all about it.  Here is a sampling of her first attempts in digital photography.  Note: the camera takes 60 pictures the majority of which were to dark to keep there is no flash and for the first 40 pictures taken that night upon our arrival the first two below were the only visible shots.  Or perhaps her fingers were covering the lens?  It seemed like things improved with the quality in the morning.

Smile Mom.



Julia backlit?



The majority of shots were taken of Gramma.  She was so thrilled!

Dad having an a.m. coffee

A view of the kitchen window

Julia's close-up

Gramma and Mom in action in the kitchen

And this time she said, "Say cheese Gramma!"

Look for more posts from our budding photographer. ;-)

May Crowning in June

So, I know we're a month behind but it just didn't work out for us to gather for our May crowning this May.  Seemed like with the skipping of spring the winter sickness just hung around longer and so week after week we postponed our festivities so that all of our little mom's group could join in the fun. 

What you don't see in this post procession and crowning picture of the kids is my

 3 yr old's epic meltdown during the whole thing.  I think Rachael got some of it on video.  Its worth watching if it gets posted- epic. 

 We ended up crowning Mary on the feast of the Sacred Heart so we included that statue, too.

The Mom's from Mom's Group.  I'm looking tall in this self portrait.

Carolyn and I matched- we had to take a picture of that cuteness.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Many of my friends have been posting garden updates of recent (see, here and here and here and here, oh and I guess this could count, too).  So I thought I, too, would answer the question, "How does your garden grow?"  Ours is growing "like a weed" and that is why we worked so hard weeding it this weekend.   Both Saturday and Sunday we worked in the garden we've planted and are sharing with a couple who have a beef farm in the environs of Kieler.  In years past we've had a garden in our backyard but decided to try something different this year.

Here is a picture of the garden from one end to the other.  You can vaguely see people at the far end, past the rototiller and the stroller.

 Of course, Daddy has been doing most of the work but the girls and I came out to help both days and actually accomplished more than I expected.  Kate is great at the farm.  She's for the most part self entertained.  Tromping here and there to see the cows, kittens, and back to the garden to see the ever fascinating worms.

 Julia and I however are not 'farm girls' at least not yet.  I know we had a garden growing up and I remember Mom taking us there so she could weed and work in it.  But I didn't gleen a green thumb from the experience.  Even my house plants beg for water or death.  And Julia, well, she's just a babe.

 However, as I mentioned we were pleasantly surprised.  Saturday, I brought Julia out in her stroller with bug netting and snacks and she lasted well over an HOUR!  So, I did get some practice weeding.  See the picture above for proof.  Then this morning we drove out again and Julia slept in the car the whole time.

But it was way more fun having the whole family outside and working together.  Oh and the fruits (or vegetables?) they're coming up.  The spinach has been delicious this past week and soon enough the late growers will follow. 

Yesterday...

was our 4th Anniversary of Our Wedding and it seems like just yesterday.  These shots were found in the folder labeled "Alone Time".   They are candids that were taken in the church before our Wedding Mass. I think after we went to Confession.  I was a bit nervous and wanted to talk to Kurt if I recall. 

Yesterday, Kurt and I got to enjoy some "Alone Time" once again.  Seems like with two little ones its a rarity.  One of our church friends watched the girls.  While we reveled in a meal out with only the waiter interrupting to bring dessert.  Some of our dinner time was spent recalling highlights from this past year.  It was amusing to see that many of our memories blend together and that we each recalled events that the other would not have remembered or included in their memories. We came home to put the girls to bed without much fanfare and settled in to enjoy our own special game of Bonkers.  It was wonderful evening.  Spending time with my love brings me such joy!

Summer Reading....

Since I was young I've participated in Summer Reading at the local library (with a long break in college and graduate school- no time to read anything but textbooks then) and now with my girls look forward to summer for some enthusiastic reading.  This summer's theme is One World, Many Stories (albeit a little cheezy but not too bad).  The girls and I have started reading in earnest.  Kate is up to 21 books (with many minutes added in rereading them).
So I've picked up a few books thus far this summer that I'd like to recommend.

The first is God's Smuggler.  It is the life story of Brother Andrew, a Protesant missionary, who was called to bring the Word of God behind the Iron Curtain after World War II.  I heard about it from this post from Conversion Diary.  I don't often read non-fiction in my 'freetime' it just seem exhausting when I'm exhausted to try and think.  But I must say I really enjoyed it and recommend it.

Kate has been on a Laura Ingalls Wilder kick.  She really enjoys the easy reader versions of the Little House Series. Her favorites are the stories taking place in the Big Woods of Wisconsin.  Because of this recent interest of hers I discovered another famous Wisconsin girl, Caddie Woodlawn.   This young tomboy has adventures with her brothers around their home in Northern WI.  I enjoyed each little tale of this young girl's journey to adulthood.  After finishing it I found out that the Dunn County Historical Site keeps the Woodlawn home at a wayside near Menomonee and that there is a sequel.  I am looking forward to reading these books with Katie and Julia eventually.  There are even paper dolls of Caddie to print and play with at home.

Finally, a friend of mine read and recommended The Noticer.  I read this book in one Sunday afternoon.  It was one of those books that I wanted to read excerpts to my husband and say, "Listen to this...isn't it great?"  (I tried to at one point but he fell asleep shortly into one chapter.)  There were countless times that the lessons for living shared resonated with my experience.

Currently, I am listening to The False Princess on CD, so far, SO GOOD!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow...

HAIR TODAY

I wonder if Julia is going to have curly or if this current curl is just a baby trend.  Whatever the outcome it sure is growing in curly and cute.  Here are some recent attempts to photograph our girl with a curl. The third one down is my favorite.  She just wanted the camera in the worst way.

GONE TOMORROW
So, I decided Kate's hair was getting too long.  And since my mom (her usual stylist) was out of the country I thought it would be a good idea to try cutting it myself.

Here's the outcome.

It was a slight nightmare at first as I searched bobs online and found this mention of putting hair into a pony and "presto"  After the fact, I have found out this is how I should have done it-- How to cut a bob with a ponytail.Instead, I combed it into a pony in the middle of her head and did the damage.  It looked like a really bad mullet at first but with Kurt's guidance and a lollipop for Kate we managed to "straighten" things out. I think I took at least 3-4 inches off in places.  All in all I am fairly pleased with the end result and she's not sweating nearly as much.

One funny note- about this same time Kate purchased (with her quarter) a Brewers cap at a garage sale.  She's been wearing it out quite a lot. :-)