304/365... Happy Halloween joy

Happy Halloween!!

And so the Halloween fun continued! What is Halloween without a mountain of candy, anyway?


I wouldn't open any candy for the kids. Looking at these pictures, I would rather them have had the sugar than the germs!




Trick or Treating with Grandma is always a treat!


One tuckered out princess.


Happy Halloween from our family to yours!

Happy Halloween joy.


Here are some Halloween funnies...

My daughter called the lion "Cryin' Lion" because... well, I'm sure you can figure out why.

When we were driving home, my oldest said "Mom, I'm sad that this is the last day of Halloween."

303/365... Trick or Treating joy

Here we come
Walking down the street
We'll knock on your door and
Say "Trick or Treat"

Hey! Hey! We're the Trick or Treaters!

Trick or Treating joy.



In other news... yes, our town is goofy and had Trick or Treating the day before Halloween.

302/365... Fall Festival joy

Let the Halloween Weekend begin!

Our family enjoyed the Fall Festival at the church tonight. Face painting, hayride, cake walk, games, candy, chatting with friends ... it was the perfect way to kick off the weekend!

Fall Festival joy.



In other news, Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law, Diane!!!! Love you bunches!!!

301/365...Pumpkin Carving Day joy

Yippee!!! Pumpkin Carving Day!!

How I loved watching each of my children's reactions to this experience.

I gave each of the kids a dry erase marker to draw a face on their pumpkin. Of course, I wasn't expecting the youngest two to do that.

The baby of them all wasn't quite sure what to even do with the marker.


After watching his siblings for a bit, he quickly figured it out.


Hmmm... who gave him the permanent Sharpee?


My baby girl was so serious about making her pumpkin's face... and hair... and ears... and legs....


My oldest little man was fairly grossed out about taking out the seeds and gunk from inside the pumpkin. Once he got the hang of it, he took off his shirt and was elbow deep in the pumpkin.

He now wants to carve pumpkins every night.



Good ol' pumpkin guts. The twins were completely grossed out by the stuff. Baby girl and the oldest could have bathed in it.


And the results...


I helped them out a bit.

I think this is a day that the kids will always remember... and so will I.

Pumpkin Carving Day joy.

300/365... Peaceful pumpkins joy

Here they sit. So content and peaceful.

Tomorrow, they won't know what hit 'em.

My babies are going to carve and decorate the pumpkins they picked out.

It will be fun day for us. Not so much for these poor pumpkins.

Peaceful pumpkins joy.



In other news... it is day 300!!!! WOW!!! Where has the year gone??? To my fellow 365/52 project friends... are you doing this next year???

299/365... These are the days joy

Today was a much better day with my babies than yesterday. There was more laughter than tears. There were more smiles than frowns. There were more hugs than fights.

It is days like yesterday that make me truly appreciate days like today.

These are the days joy.



In other news... Happy Birthday to my baby brother, Derrick, who turned 29 today!!! I hope you had a wonderful day!!! I miss you so very much!!! Love you!

In other, other news... my latest photography achievements have been blogged about on Clickin' Moms blog!!! I am so very honored!

Clickin' Moms blog

298/365... Pretty red leaf joy.

No rhyme or reason. I just felt like laying in the grass to capture a pretty red leaf.

Pretty red leaf joy.



In other news, am I the only one who contemplated donating their children today? I'm going to blame it on the weather.

297/365... Rainy day joy

It was a rainy kind of day. The three photography shoots that I had scheduled were rescheduled. I told hubby to pretend that I was gone so I could tackle my ever-growing list of things to do.

While I was working, hubby made jerky, chili and sugar cookies with the kids.

It was the perfect way to spend a rainy day.

Rainy day joy.



In other news... my photography blog is coming along nicely.

296/365... McHenry Country Photography Contest Awards Ceremony joy

Today was the awards reception for the McHenry Country Photography Contest. What an honor it was to be in the presence of such incredible talent.

It was such a wonderful feeling to return to my seat after receiving my awards and see my mom smiling from ear to ear with tears in her eyes. I will never forget that moment.

During the awards ceremony, it was also announced I am one of 3 photographers whose work will be displayed at a local business for the month of January!

Yup... still doing the happy, jumpy, clappy dance!!!! My kids are too :). Truly, I am so very honored.

McHenry County Photography Contest Awards Ceremony joy.



In other news... my in-laws celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary today!!!!! Happy Anniversary to you both! Love you so very much!!!

295/365... Bees on steroids joy

This is a fine example of what happens when bees are on steroids. This nest is easily 15 inches tall and 12 inches wide! Holy nest!

Bees on steroids joy.

294/365... McHenry County Photography Contest Winner joy

After a lengthy series of judging, the final results from the McHenry County Photography Contest are in! Two of my images placed... in 1st and 2nd place!!!!

I have been smiling and jumping and clapping and dancing all night!

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for your support and encouragement. It means more than you know. I am so very blessed!


Here are the winning images:

First Place


Second Place


McHenry Country Photography Contest Winner joy.

293/365... Never ignore this joy

There are some things in life that you should never ignore.

A beautiful sunset is one of them.

Never ignore this joy.



In other news... thinking of my dear friend today. So much love to you!! I'm here for whatever. Whenever.

292/365... Boogie Wipes joy

Who is the brilliant person who invented these boogie wipes??

I would like to give them a great big hug!

Boogie Wipes joy.

291/365... I missed my babies joy

Hubby and I had a wonderful getaway weekend. During our time away,

I missed the laundry,


the boogies,


the temper tantrums,


and the crying.


I missed my babies joy.

290/365... Just the six of us joy

Before we headed for home, we had yet another fabulous breakfast the Iron Horse Hotel! The hotel is AWESOME!!! Maybe we will stay there next time we get away.


No romantic weekend would be complete without stopping at the Jelly Belly factory... especially when you are coming home to 4 young kiddos.


We even rode on the tour train around the Jelly Belly factory... and held hands the entire time.

Where did the weekend go? Just when we were starting to recognize that feeling of "just the two of us", it was time to be "just the six of us" again.

Actually, we will forever be "just the six of us". I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just the six of us joy.


In other news... Happy Birthday to my dear mother-in-law! Hope you had a wonderful day!! Love you so very much!

289/365... Milwaukee joy

Hubby and I took our time getting out of bed on Saturday morning. We enjoyed the peace and quiet.

But... whenever I go anywhere new, I get a little antsy to explore the area. So, we had a fabulous breakfast and walked all over the city.


Our first stop was the Milwaukee Public Market. What a fun place!!! Great food!! Fun entertainment!!! Hubby treated himself with a chocolate bar and then he treated me with a pumpkin latte. Yummers!


I was in awe of the beautiful architecture of Milwaukee! Truly, the city is amazing!

Hubby and I enjoyed the day so much! We walked in and out of galleries, shops, and pubs.


I could do this getaway thing once every 3 or 4 months.

Especially if we stay at places like the Pfister! What a fabulous hotel!!

Hubby and I were sad that the day went so quickly. We had our "last supper" at the Steakhouse at our hotel. We then had a cocktail at the lounge on the top floor while overlooking the city.

It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.

Milwaukee joy.


In other news... my dear friend and her hubby welcomed their tiny, precious son into the world today! Little Bryce weighed in at a little over 2 pounds and is13 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. Continue to pray for the new parents, the family and for their little Bryce to continue to grow stronger every day. God is so very good.

Welcome to the world, Bryce James!