Find a penny pick it up....all day long you will have good luck

 Grandpa got Matthew started collecting pennies while he was out here. He taught him all about wheat backs, and all sorts of other things. Matthew has been through every penny we can find ever since.

 Oh, and Mike got sucked into it too. Today Matthew talked Mike into taking him to a bank to buy $6.00 worth of penny rolls from bank A...then he talked me into taking him to buy $6.00 from bank B and then he talked Mike into taking him to bank C to buy $11.00 worth of pennies. Keep in mind he is trading his quarters for them and not really loosing money just putting it into a different form. I must say that every bank teller takes a double take and asks...don't you mean trade your pennies for quarters???

Mike and Matthew have very specific rules..only one roll can be opened at a time...new in one pile..wheats in another... so you want to see our best penny so far?

Kismet right? We found this penny in one of our rolls today. I have never seen anything like it. I now know what to get grandpa Bob for the next holiday. It might take a little more time stamping every penny you have before spending it than putting a Montana sticker under a table but it would be pretty darn cool. Anyone know where I can get a MT metal stamp? Maybe this penny will make it home.

New boots for Christmas

Cutest dog ever!

Sporting his new boots. He really is a princess:-)

Taking our guests from Chicago on a Minnesota adventure

 We were blessed again this year with a visit from the Carrillo family. This is Mike's cousin Nick and his wife Tic. This was her first time sledding. She loved playing in the snow.

 I had a photo shoot out in Hayfield so all the credit for these pictures goes to Mike{well almost}

 I love this photo! 

 Matthew raced Nick and Tic several times

 Mike handed over the camera to take a turn

 and the race is on!

 Matt is in the lead

 Nick pulled off the win

 redo!

 Cute sisters!

 Making her first snow angel

 Bob and Cheryl take a turn

 Tic really loved playing in the snow. 

 would you ever guess that she came from a tropical climate?

 who does not love a snowball fight!

despite how it looks it was not a warm day. It was above zero but with the wind it was chilly!

I can attest to that because I was outside shooting too. I was shooting engagement photos for Matthew's teacher's{last year}daughter. Here is my favorite shot from my day! Okay..two of my favorites:-)

Christmas catch up {Cross Country Skiing take 2}

 In January it will be 19 years that Mike and I have been together. Ironically in all that time I had not cross country skied. This is ironic because he comes from a family of ski enthusiasts. They help groom trails and they love anything to do with skis. 

 Look! There is a rare glimpse of the elusive me creature. Mike took a few shots before handing the camera over to me.

 Being warm sometimes out weighs fashion 

 grandpa leeds the way

 Can you see me? I'm in this shot too.

 Matthew and his grandpa are seldom parted. 

 amazing grandma Cheryl!

I loved watching Matthew trying to get his skis to stick in the snow. Grandpa and Dad made it look so easy. It took him a few tries. 

We had a really fun day and Minnesota finally gave us a year of above 0 temps so we could actually enjoy it. 

I will be posting the sledding pictures soon too.