Happy Thanksgiving

I just love all the projects the kids make at school, 

I should really photograph them all, as they don't seem to last too long 

and arn't the easiest to store. 

We just had conferences at school.

I really appreciate all that the teachers do for our kids, 

life is so busy, and at times I feel guilty, like I'm not doing the best that I can, 

tho at the moment, I feel I am.  

So leaving confrences I had a good feeling, 

my kids are good kids, so I must be doing something right.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm so thankful for my faith, family and friends!

I wish everyone a safe Holiday weekend,

and hope you score all the Black Friday deals

that are on your list!

Apple Orchard

My Family and I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at the Apple Orchard with my sister and nephew.

It was a gorgeous Fall afternoon, and a busy-busy day at the orchard.

I know there must be so many fun orchards in Minnesota, 

but year after year we go to Apple Jack Orchards in Delano, and just love it!

What are some other great orchards that you would recommend?

Pumpkin picking

and apple eating,

mmmmmm love the honeycrisp's!

 playing in the haystack

checking out the animals

Olivia had no fear of the goats, she had so much fun feeding them kernels of corn.

I was the one that got nervous that they were going to nip her...but they didn't!

"We Love Apple Jack Orchards"

***

Apple Jack Orchards is a beautiful location for a family photo session!

Contact me if you are interested in scheduling a session there!

email: CrystalLeePhotos@yahoo.com

call/text: 763-496-7199

find me on facebook!

***

My sister and nephew down by the Crow River,

such a beautiful day.

well, this photos is completely over exposed, and not so clear,

but it's what we got, of me and my hubby (and growing baby), so I love it!

 We enjoyed the corn maze, some apple doughnut's and sampled a variety of apples,

while at the orchard.  Bought a delicious bag of Honeycrisp's

and came home and made a pan of apple-crisp.

We completed our wonderful weekend visiting with a houseful of friends.

Recipe for Apple Crisp:

Bottom Layer:

1 1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

7 large apples sliced

Topping:

2 1/4 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

3 dashes of salt

1 1/2 cup oatmeal

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

in 9x13 pan mix sugar and water and add apple slices.

Spread topping mixture over apples

bake for one hour

Serve with vanilla ice cream, yum!

Happy

I enjoy making others happy.

A few weeks ago I had my friends kids over,

and we had an impromptu photo session.

I really enjoyed hearing how happy she was that I did this.

That's really what I strive for, to make others happy.

It is such a great reward to me,

when someone tells me how much they love their photos,

it's what keeps me going.

a Sister...such a special friend to have.

*****

Still a few more days left to enter for a FREE photo session.

Giveaway in celebration of Crystal Lee Photography's 1st Anniversary!

Click HERE to enter.

Splash Pad

We enjoyed a beautiful day at the Splash Pad in St. Cloud,

it was our first visit there

and the kids can not wait to go back

We went to the Lake George one,

there are three neighborhood splash pads in St. Cloud

visit the city website for more info

Great place for kids of all ages...especially the little ones, no stresses about drowning

fun company to visit with

in addition to the splash pad there are THREE fun playgrounds

Whitewater State Park

Last weekend we went camping with some friends, at Whitewater State Park.  It was about a two and a half hour drive for us.  We decided not to leave Friday night, since severe storms were in the forecast. Saturday there was still fifty percent chance of rain, but we figured we'd still meet up with everyone.  We drove through some hard-hard rain, I chuckled to myself...I can't believe we are going camping, in THIS weather.  It did end up clearing up. 

The guys were looking forward to this trip.  The 2,700 acre park is an angler's paradise with brown, brook, and rainbow trout swimming in the spring-fed Whitewater River and Trout Run Creek. They did get some fishing in.

and a few of them were lucky

the following collage of photos were taken by my cell phone.  It was rainy and 80%+ humidity, that I didn't really want to take out my camera.  We went on a walk and I really wanted to go back and take more photos, it was so beautiful.  These photos don't do justice.  Just when we were finishing up grilling our dinner the rain came, hard!  Olivia was left unattended for a bit, and she was in her glory splashing in the mud puddles.  She was so dirty, I wish I could have captured it better, but I was trying to get umbrellas for everyone, figure out who went in which tent, and who still wanted a hot dog, it was crazy.

Not sure how long the rain lasted, but it did clear up and we enjoyed the camp fire, friends and smores.

The rain did come back, just as hard, if not harder, and lasted all night long. 

Loud thunder, lightning and rain.  Our air mattresses went flat and we got a little wet. 

On the bright side, my kids surprisingly slept through it all, even my baby.

Our camping group!

This was our first visit to Whitewater State Park.  We did have reservations last year that didn't work out.  So despite the rain, we had a great time camping with friends.

Refreshed

It's Monday, and I am feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

I had such a relaxing weekend and feel my faith has been uplifted.

I was able to spend the weekend with a group of Mother's from my church.

These were my travel buddies...we filled two vans and bunked in the same dorm room

(seriously felt like I was 16 again, sleeping on the top bunk,

late nights chatting...and giggling, oh it was great!)

Camp Directors: Pete & Katie (right)

and Russell and Sinikka (left) filled in as Assistant Directors

So many wonderful presentations and discussions.

It is so comforting to have the love, support and understanding

from those around me.

I feel refreshed as a Mother, and as a Wife. 

I'm content with the very important role,

the very important job

God has given me. 

I will continue to do, and be, 

the best that I can

and I pray that God continues to guide me.

We had a rainy weekend, but we were still able to enjoy the beauty of God's creations.

I thought my kids would love to see this cute little turtle

a big "Thank You" to those that volunteered to work in the kitchen

(not all the kitchen help is pictured).

It was so wonderful to wake up to a delicious breakfast,

have lunch and dinner and snacks warm and ready

and not have to worry about the clean up.

You all added to the enjoyment of the weekend, thank you!

I also put together a slide show, including a few of these same photos. 
Notice the singing that plays with the slid show,
the beautiful voices of my cousins;
Toni, Marla, and Dustin.

I was bummed to noticed I spelled "Russell" incorrect, missed an "L"

I really should take the time to proof and not be in such a rush.

Fresh Air

 Yesterday was such a beautiful day.  Even though I really-really wanted to sit in the house the entire day and take part in an amazing workshop put on by CreativeLIVE and Jasmine Star I couldn't, without feeling guilty.  Hubby was up north and I needed to attend to 5 kiddos.  I hope to purchase the course and re watch it on my own time.  Saturday was a great day to play soccer, swing/slide, play in the sand box, have the neighbor kids over, play with a toad, rake the yard, squeeze in a photo session, score on two awesome chairs from my neighbor (will have to arrange a photo session so I can share them with you) and soak up as much as I could, of Jasmine Star. Didn't get to all the cleaning and organizing that I would have liked to, but as my hubby reminded me, that's probably a never ending task in my eyes (so true) so enjoy the beautiful day!

Thank you Simply Bree Photography for sharing your bloggin tricks with me...how to make my photos larger and to add tabs to my page...I'm going to have so much fun changing up my blog! 

Good Luck to you as you start your photography business, I'm very excited and happy for you, you are talented.  Such a bummer we weren't able to meet up when you were in town.

Friends

We had a play date today,

and thought it would be fun

to photograph the girl friends together.

I thought it would be equally as fun

to photograph the boys,

 but they had absolutely NO interest,

so I gave up.

Friends!

we also celebrated Mr. K's 3rd Birthday

There is something so special about a Sister