I went here when I was a kid. My mom taught me to bowl here. I do the same cute little skip that she did.  Difference is, I suck.  She was actually a good player.

We brought our kiddos here so they could bask in the greatness of Country Club Bowl.

Lots of memories came flooding back as soon as we drove into the parking lot.

It totally was exactly as I remembered it.  Same orange and white lockers.  Same water fountain.  Same vending machines.  Same arcade. I do think the bowling balls have better colors now.  I seem to remember they were mostly black when I was a kid.

Let’s get started!

The kids started with the tried and true roll-the-ball-between-your-legs technique.

My nephew tried out the ramp.  Pretty slick.  Just put the ball on it, aim the ramp, and push!

I really enjoyed watching the moments after the ball was released but before the pins got hit.  My little dude did some funky things with his hands.

My nephew is just a little bit cute.  He gave up on that ramp pretty dang fast.  If his cousins didn’t need it, he most certainly didn’t.  I loved how he squatted down to watch the action.

My daughter held her ball just like that the entire time.  Not sure if she was just really eager to have her turn or if she was keeping that ball all to herself. 

Love this.

And OMG, how is he so devastatingly cute?

My serious bowlers.

Guess who won.

After two games, we stepped outside into the bright sunlight.

Time to load into the car.  But wait!  HOW is she just standing there looking like that?  Le sigh…..  My beauty….

Next up is the wonderfully talented Kel Ward of Kel Ward Photography!  Click on her link to see her Life Story, and then find the link at the end of her post.  Go through the circle and find yourself right back here. 

Thanks so much for looking!  You can follow me on Facebook, if you’d like!…

Looks like I’m going to try to keep this Life Stories project going another year!  We’ll see how it goes.  Briefly, my amazing photographer friends and I decided to do a monthly project documenting our own lives.  Our everyday boring lives.  Could we make it look magic?  Because, ya know, it is.  Our everyday boring lives ARE magic because they are filled with love for our families.  And so we embarked on this photographic journey that we named “Life Stories.”  It’s been a year since we started and many of us wanted to continue because it’s been nothing short of amazing.  So proud to be part of this group.

It’s been a year since I posted images from our trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  It was my first Life Story.  You can see those images RIGHT HERE if you’d like to take a walk down memory lane.  And now it’s that time of year again.  My kids are really into pumpkins and really, what’s not to love?  Brightly orange colored pumpkins littered all around the ground.  So many to choose from and only ONE that is right for you.  My daughter, especially, takes her pumpkin finding responsibilities very seriously.  We found our way back to Joan’s Farm and Pumpkin Patch. 

It was a bright and sunny day.

They quickly got to the tasks of choosing their pumpkins.The little guy dropped his pumpkin and the stem scratched his knee.  He wasn’t happy about that.  I went to get him a bandaid from my camera bag and simply couldn’t stop myself from taking some shots of him sitting amid all those pumpkins.

Can you blame me?  Look at him!

He was a bit annoyed with his crazy mom who takes pictures of sad boys.  He refused to smile for me.

But I worked my mama magic.  Look at him pretending he isn’t listening to my hilarity.

My little guy.  I love him.  I love his toothless smile.  I love his personality.  I love loving him.

And look at this sweetie.

She has this thing about baby pumpkins.  Ever since she was a cute little toddler, she’s just loved baby pumpkins.  When she was little, she would carry a little pumpkin around with her all.day.long and put it right at her bedside when she slept.  It cracks me up.  She treats it likes it’s a baby.

My kids are goofy.

I have no idea from whence this goofiness comes.

Total mystery.

I adore my kids.

Now all we needed to do is ride those pumpkins to the car and head home.  Another great visit to the patch.

I’m already looking forward to next year.

Next up is the amazing Northern Illinois photographer behind Heather Wilson Photography.  She never disappoints! Head on over for some beautiful images and then click your way through all the links to find your way back here!…

Once there was a girl

who had a new pink hat.

She loved her pink hat.  It matched her pink sunglasses….

It even matched her pink hair.

She was a girl that could be sassy, serene, silly.

Sometimes, when she was thinking, she would hold her hands just like this.

She was contemplative.  Sometimes quiet.

Sometimes… not.

But one thing was for sure.  She took her mommy’s breath away.

Again and again.

And again….

Her mommy looked into her daughter’s big brown eyes, and with just the briefest glimpse, everything was right with the world.

Everything.

Sometimes, when her mommy looked at her, she saw a little girl.

But with just the slightest shift in perspective, she would realize that her little girl was growing up…

…into someone amazingly beautiful…

…with a depth behind her eyes that always took her mommy’s breath away.

And while her mommy loved watching her daughter grow into such an amazing big girl…

…she still was a little sad.

When the girl with the pink hat realized that her mommy was sad, she felt sad too.

“What’s the matter, Mommy?” she asked, peering earnestly  into her mommy’s eyes.

“”Oh, sweetie,” said the mommy forlornly, “will you still love me when you’re older?”

The girl looked directly into her mommy’s soul.

And started to giggle….

And then really started to laugh laugh laugh!

“You’re so silly!  Of course I’ll always love you, Mommy!” she said sweetly, hugging herself.  “Always and forever.”

“Do you promise?” the mommy asked.

“Yes, Mommy.  I do.”

And the mommy and the girl with the pink hat lived happily ever after.

This age is a perfect age for a session for your growing child!  They are learning to express themselves as they begin to emerge into the person they are becoming.  If it’s not obvious, I love photographing this age and would love to help you freeze your child at the age they are right now.

And in case you don’t know what this Life Stories thing is about, I’m participating in a blog circle with other amazing photographers from around the globe.  Every month, we share images about our own family.  It’s a chance to be sure we’re taking the time to capture our own moments.  I am honored to be part of this amazing group and am happy to send you on over to Taryn Lisa Photography’s blog!  Read her story and then follow her link to another photographer.  Follow the links all the way around, and you’ll end up right back here.  It’s a big ol’ picture fest!

You can follow me on FACEBOOK.…