Wisconsin Dells: Old West Style

The very first time we ever went to Wisconsin Dells we took the cutest old time photo of Alex and Alyssa. Alyssa was 4 1/2, Alex was Chloe's age. Chloe was about 24 hours hold back then, in utero, although we had no idea she was with us. Yep, Chloe is our original Wisconsin Dells souvenir. I told you this place was fun....Chloe burst right down from heaven to join us.

Anyhow, now that you are all uncomfortable, I will get to the point.

Our first old time photo is one of my favorite pictures ever of my kids. Alex was running at high speed out of the frame for about the first 20 attempts. Finally, we physically held him still and then jumped aside. He pulled a mad face and it turned out to be way cuter than anything we could have planned.

Check out the original gangsta' here.

This year, we decided we needed to get an updated picture, with Chloe in it. We decided to go "old west" this time, since we did roaring 20's last time. They gave me a bar maid's dress, or should I say, negligee. I told them that was not going to work and they handed me half a negligee. Apparently the first one they gave me was the most modest one they had. I was confused. By old west, I meant that we were going to be cowboys and cowgirls. The girl said I could be a cowgirl and my kids could be old west saloon girls. How absurd would that look? I decided to sit out of the picture and then, how weird is this, another lady came over to help dress us, and the first lady, who was staging me for my Playboy shoot, went off to photograph the Hawleys instead (and did a great job incidentally). The new lady dressed my 3 kids...like cowboys. Apparently her and the other lady had totally different ideas about what old west meant. I guess I could have rejoined the picture, in cowgirl gear, but by then I think I'd annoyed the staff and I really don't like looking at myself in photos too much anyhow. So we just got the kids.

It was very hard for Alyssa and Chloe to not smile. They love to say cheese. Alyssa looks like she is almost in pain. Chloe looks a bit like a boy, but a cute one at least. And why are they holding so many guns? I was not thrilled with the rifles, but I guess it fits the time period. But a hand gun? Why does a 7 year old cowgirl need to hold two guns? By the time the pictures were snapped I was wondering...why did we do this again????

Until I saw the proofs of Alex, who always nails his old time photos. He does not like dressing up and being looked at and he pulled that face the whole time. Totally accidental, but yet again...right on the money.

Back tomorrow with the water shots....