tubing

Tubing is a huge activity for us in Whitewater. I even tubed, but Cal thinking he was zooming in on me actually changed the f-stop to a really high setting which whited the shots completely out. I don't play daredevil, I just take a nice ride

Callahan intentionally hits a wave at the perfect angle which makes him catch huge air.

Cal also likes to kick Karrick out of the wake. When I was trying to fix my camera after Cal "adjusted" it I wasn't paying attention as spotter...I look up with Cal yelling at me. Karricks tube upside down and Karrick about 50 yds behind it. Cal kicked him  out of the wake right when a wave hit him and flipped him off. Karrick was just bobbing in the lake waiting for us

 Cal taking out his cousin Marisa

 Uncle Brian almost crushing Cal

 We had to put the kabash on Cal  flying with Karrick, because he landed on top of him

 Just a sweet picture of my sweet little boy...God I love that kid

sunny fun shots

Wisconsin

Spent 4 days in Wisconsin and it was wonderful. I got some of the most amazing shots. Posted a few and will update later. I need a shower then my bed. I am starting to book jobs for my photography company and I am pretty excited. I also have an incredible opportunity to showcase some work I've done. Had a meeting on Friday for something huge and they want to use my photos. Will share when I can

Happy Birthday Dad!

My father turned 75! Whoa

My siblings and I threw him a big party to celebrate. My dad being the Exalted Ruler for the 4th time at the Elks Lodge really wanted the party there. It turned out wonderful. My dad was in his element, I honestly think this lodge keeps my dad young. There are 4 framed pictures on the wall in the entryway of my father. His name is plastered throughout the place. Last year he was Elk of the year for his dedication to the lodge and fund raising efforts for the less fortunate

 at 75 he is allowed a little help from the youngest

I 

This doesn't do my picture collage justice...It was super cute on burlap with antique lace.

Damn, my dad was a  cutie as a little guy and a hottie a big guy!

I see a lot of TJ in my dads high school pictures

look at 2nd row last picture on the right...my mom and dad in high school. Christine is almost a carbon copy of my mom. I am forever told I am a duplicate of my Nan, paternal grandma

the crew minus TJ who was in Texas for 9 days

just some of the girls, above

 How stinkin cute is my little white dress?

Below is my best friend of almost 35 years Erin and her mother. We were inseparable during high school. Her mom was a second mother to be. 

The party was a success and a good time by all

To think I was taken to the ER via ambulance the night before with heat exhaustion

Gone, but never forgotten

Sadly we lost a special member of our family. Patrick went into full kidney failure and the vet didn't think he would make it through the night. Patrick held on for 3 days (vet assured us he wasn't suffering) until TJ could get home on Sunday to say goodbye.

 Monday morning on July 9th Patrick went to puppy heaven. I have tears streaming down my cheeks as I write this.

He was the best dog ever....I know everyone says that, but Patrick was different. He watched over us and the kids his entire life. From a puppy to the end.

He never jumped on anyone when they entered our home....NEVER!

He disliked all other dogs as we think he thought he was human

Patrick was named by TJ and Callahan when he got him at 7weeks old. They named him Patrick Star after the starfish from spondge bob. A month later when we received his pedigree papers we noticed he was born on March 17, 2001 - St Patrick's day

Callahan at age 2 taught Patrick to "fetch" he would toss a toy, pick up the few month old puppy and toss him to the toy yelling "fetch". A mischievous 2 yo Cal would walk up and just kick Patrick or rock back and forth on his tail while giggling. They grew to be the best of buddies

Impeccably trained, he never required a leash. If one of the boys strayed out of Patrick's comfort zone he would herd them back by circling around them.

Patrick knew better than to let Karrick catch up with him...he wasn't having a repeat of Callahan's baby antics

Every morning he would watch the boys walk to the corner and get on the middle and high school, school bus. See Callahan in distance. When safely on bus he would walk back to front porch or back gate.

No lie, If I wasn't home by 3pm Patrick would leave the yard (never left any other time while TJ and Cal were in elementary school) through a 2ft opening in fence on other side of house. He would just pace the sidewalk in front of our house and the neighbors house because he knew the elementary bell rung at 3:15. That meant Cal and TJ would be walking down the block soon

We moved to into the Lombard home 3 days before the school year started in 2005. Turns out Patrick was so nervous on the kids 1st day at the new school, he left the yard and walked to the school and waited on school property until someone called the police.

Patrick indulged me in my doggy dress up photo shoots

Patrick slept in bed with us for a little while each night, then hopped down to the floor. I like to believe he waited until he thought we were safe. The last couple of years Patrick's hips failed him and he couldn't do stairs anymore

He put up with Karrick's passive aggressive taunts. Karrick loved to just follow right behind him, but never touch him. Poor dog just couldn't lay down

His presence was always known when the kids gathered outside to play with their friends. He protected all of them

 Always went everywhere with us whether it was Long Grove or Whitewater...he was a member of this family

  

Patrick loved the old boat up in Wisconsin unless Tim drove to fast, then he hid under the steering wheel 

 Loved the snow, hated the rain

Patrick loved Tim's magic fingers

God Bless you, you sweet wonderful dog