UW-Iloveyou

I am a senior at University of Wisconsin-Stout located in Menomonie, WI which is only a little over an hour from BRF.  I love this school, I love this town, I love everything about the last 4 years of my experience here.  This college experience has first and foremost lead me to my future husband.  Luke and I met in Psychology class my freshman year.  He was a Sophomore looking for a younger woman apparently :) .  I remember that first day of class as if it were yesterday.  I even remember what I wore..SERIOUSLY!  I went for comfort...my black strechy athletic pants, a red zip-up hoodie, and tan colored "ugg boots" (the Target brand ones of course).  I didn't know anyone in the class so I sat by myself.  That evening while on Facebook I got a friend request from Luke Sipple.... I had no clue who this creeper was.  I messaged him and asked him if I knew him.  He said we were in psychology together.  To be honest I was a little freaked out, but flattered at the same time.  I accepted the request thinking that I may need help with homework sometime.  After all, he did seem to be a bit of a nerd.  On the second day of class I sat by this mysterious man named Luke and ever since then our friendship grew.  It grew into a relationship that I had never had before.  Finally, a great guy, with a great family, who was kind and a gentleman.  I quickly fell for Luke, and we continued our journey at Stout together from that point on.  I remember late nights, Luke bringing me back to my dorm and being locked out because it was passed hours.  Hanging out in his Grandmas basement which is where he lived (romantic, I know!).  Watching movies, going on dates, finding out even more and more that we were meant for eachother.  Luke left our love campus last December, as he graduated.  I am still here, at the love-strucken school that lead me to Luke.  I am so thankful for this school.  I still have classes every now and again in that psychology classroom.... Home Ec. building, room 230.  So, I leave you with this:  Sometimes one little decision can change your whole life.  Keep an open mind, and ALWAYS accept friend requests on Facebook.  You never know!! :)

UW-Stout Campus

My Freshman Dorm: "CKTO"

February 2008: Hanging out in my dorm :)

March 2008: Hanging out at Luke's Grandparent's

Tiger Spirit!

It's Homecoming week in Black River Falls, WI.  It's a school holiday!  A week of fun for the kids!  I wish I could rewind time and participate in the events one last time!  Dress up days, powder-puff football, cheerleading/football player dance routine, hall decorating, toilet papering, pep assembly, parade, the big football game, and finally - the school Homecoming dance on Saturday night to top off the event-filled week.  I find myself envious of my sister who is a cheerleader and high-schooler participating in this weeks events.  That was me just over 4 years ago!  Although High School seemed so demanding (at the time), those were some fun years in my life, especially Homecoming week...my fav!  Whenever this time of year rolls around I can't help but to think back and remember how much fun I had participating in all of the school activities.  Tomorrow is "hat/crazy hair day" for my younger sister in Elementary School and "camoflauge day" for my younger sister in High School.  I might have to sneak on my crazy hat and camo and live vicairiously through my younger sisters tomorrow! :)  I am so glad that they now get to experience the fun activities of this special week and will one day reflect on the great memories like I am today.  I can't wait to head home to BRF this weekend and see all of the toilet papered yards, the parade, the football game, and my little Sis all decked out for the Homecoming dance.  Go Tigers! 

This picture makes me smile.  My first vehicle: the Ford Explorer with "Seniors" painted on the window was my most prized posession!

Senior Cheerleaders

Go Tigers!

Sister Jessica is now a cheerleader :)

Sister Olivia is a great Tiger's fan!

   

True.to my.Roots

Although I currently live in Wisconsin, I was born in Minnesota and raised there for the first half of my childhood.  I love Minnesota and all it has to offer, especially the Minnesota Vikings!  I love fall time, and watching football games with my family.  I've gotten a lot of grief throughout my lifetime for being a Vikings fan, but have never veered off-track. I have a very tight-wound family, and a lot of great memories I have are at Grandma and Grandpa Valentino's house, with all of my aunts and uncles and cousins.  All dressed in purple, with yummy snacks, enjoying eachothers company and cheering on that purple team!  Lou currently lives in the land of 10,000 lakes, and I just cant wait until I graduate in December so I can move back to that state called "home."  Now, you all are probably wondering about Lou.  Where does he stand?  Has his recent residancy to that glorious state transformed him?  Does he share my passion for purple?  The answer is sadly no.  Luke tends to find cheese more appealing, aka, he is a Packers fan.  My rival, my biggest nemeses!  Lets just say those game days get intense.  My soon-to-be husband may not agree with my purple and gold addiction, but I've already claimed that our kids will!  So, I leave you with this: Never change who you are or what you feel to fit into the status quo!  After all: opposites attract!  Stay true to what you love and what brings you back to those childhood days of fun, family, and love!

Skol Vikings, lets win this game

Skol Vikings, honor your name

Go get that first down, then get a touchdown

Rock 'em, sock 'em, fight fight fight!

Skol Vikngs, run up the score

You'll here us yell for moreeeeeeeeeeee!

V-I-K-I-N-G-S, SKOL VIKINGS, LET GO!!!

A good sport he is!

An awesome art print from Etsy

Man's.Best.Friend

Lou has never been a "small dog person."  His family has always had hunting dogs, so when we started dating and he found out we have 2 tea-cup yorkies he was apprehensive.  Yipping little hairballs was the term he used (if I remember correctly).  After spending more and more time with Milli and Max, he started to admit that his pre-conceived notion of our "babies" were changing for the better.  Lou has taken particular interest in Max, who is Olivia's puppy.  Max is the cuddliest, most easy-going little dog you will ever meet.  He loves to take naps, and nestle into the coziest spots he can find around the house.  His favorite spot is on Lou's lap.  When Luke is in town, him and Max are buddies for the weekend.  Wherever Luke goes, Max isn't far behind, and vice versa!  Max, also known as "moodo" holds a very special spot in Luke's heart.  Luke never thought he would become so attatched to a little tiny lap dog, but he has!  Luke and I are very excited to have a yorkie of our own after we get married.  We hope that ours will be as cuddly, warm, and fun as Max!     

Pals.Buddies.Friends.

B.B.D - Big.Buck.Down

I know I just posted about hunting, but this past Saturday I got my first buck with a bow.  Hunting stories are long, so grab your coffee and buckle down!  Anyone who has been bow-hunting knows that the sport is much more meticulous and fussy than rifle hunting.  Why?  With a rifle, you can shoot up to 300 yards for a good accurate shot.  How far is 300 yards?  3 football fields!  With bow-hunting, an accurate shot for most is only between 20 and 30 yards.  This is only my second year bow-hunting and I spent close to 100 hours last season in the stand, ending the season empty handed.  I may have seen many big bucks, but none that presented themself with that perfect shot.  The shot must be perfect and clear.  A leaf, slight wind, or positioning of the deer can make or break the ability to squeeze off a shot.  I learned the particularness of the sport last season and expected the same for this one.  With anything else in life, sometimes you just get lucky, and that's exactly what happened (along with my awesome shooting skills).  Saturday evening, the first night out of the season I got my chance.  The evening started with a group of 3 does, followed by 2 more at 6:15.  At 6:35 the buck came out.  I looked to my left and was shocked to see those big horns.  Being a hunter who has spent 100+ hours in the stand and not seeing a buck closer than 50-75 yards, I was in awe.  Really?  The first night?  The first 2 hours?  The 10 point buck stood in the field, 20 yards in front of me and munched on the clover for a few minutes.  He had no clue I was there.  I had the luxury of having enough time to spot him with the range finder to see how far he was.  21 yards.  With shaking hands and bouncy legs and I sneakily grabbed my bow, placed it where it needed to be, and drew back on my target.  SMACK was the sound it made when I hit that beaut right where I needed to hit it.  He took off running and I could see that the arrow was only half way through his body.  Ugh Oh, what now?  Dad doesn't have his cell phone and Lou is wayyyyy down in another stand.  Before I had time to set down my bow another nice buck came walking down the trail right towards me.  SERIOUSLY?  What an experience!  I crawled down out of my trophy-killing stand and made the trek up to my Dad who was only about 300 yards up the hill from me.  He couldn't believe it when I told him I had just shot a 10 pt.  After answering about 1,000 questions, we made the trek back down to my stand and began looking for blood.  There was very little and I knew that wasn't a good sign.  Luke came with the 4 wheeler and flashlights.  By the time he got there it was pretty dark.  The field was made of tall grass, high above our heads.  The blood trail was ridiculousy horrible.  Tiny specks of blood the size of an M&M every 5 feet through an entire field of this thick, tall grass, in the pitch dark.  I kept thinking there is no way we are going to find this deer.  With what little blood there was, it didn't look good.  I was upset and hopeless that I wouldn't find my first bow buck.  After 2 hours in the tall grass, the blood trail lead to the end of the field.  And then there was forrest.   The tiny specks continued down into the woods.  My hope grew thinner and thinner the farther we went.  I told Luke to just hold the flashlight up and look through the woods for horns.  I was getting tired of the whole blood-trail thing.  Before I could finish my sentence, Dad came to the rescue and said 2 words that brought me to an estatic happiness.  "Dead deer".  SHUT UP was my reaction, followed by 800 ohhh myyy God's.  I did it!  My first buck with a bow!  I will never forget this hunt and the amount of work that it took to find my trophy.  I will likely never have an opportunity like this again on the opening day of the season.  That's just how hunting goes!  I was lucky enough to get my chance and have such a memorable story to tell.  Until rifle season...     

Thanks to my Helpers!

Thrill of the Hunt

Like most girls, when I'm not shopping with my sisters or at school, you can find me in the woods.  Ok, not most girls, but that's what makes me so unique.  I am a "girly girl" with an outdoor edge.  It's simple... I love all the usual girly stuff like shopping, purses, shoes, makeup, chick flicks, etc.  However, I love the outdoors, and hunting and fishing just as much or even more!  Every year when fall rolls around, I put my heels in storage and drag out those camo boots.  No more sun dresses and cute shirts - it's time for the long underwear, blaze orange face mask, and camo attire.  I love hunting.  It's my Dad and I's favorite thing to do together.  There is nothing better than climbing into my tree stand at 6 am, and coming down 12 hours later.  Seriously, most rifle hunts last that long.  Most people get down and go in for lunch or the Sunday football game but not me or Dad.  We stick tough all day in that 20-40 degree weather waiting for that big whitetail buck to come into range.  It's not only a hobby of mine, but a real passion.  There is nothing more relaxing than being in the fresh air, witnessing natures beauty and spending your time hunting trophy animals.  Ever since I was little, I have always been Dad's outdoor side-kick, and the tradition only continues to grow.  I love hanging out with my Dad out at our cabin and learning the ways of a great outdoorsman (or woman in my case).  He has taught me so much about the outdoors, hunting, and the importance of nature.  Lou has recently been inducted into the Valentino Deer Camp.  The one rule that applies on our hunting land is this:  Lindsey always gets first choice on deer stands :) .  I look forward to many more years of family hunting tradition with my Dad, Luke, and someday Children.

 Me and Dad in 2008.  My first big buck.

Camo Couple!

lots.of.love

I am going to be an Aunt for the first time on my side of the family!  My older sister Miranda and her husband Phil are expecting a little one in February, and they find out the gender in less than a week.  I can't wait to finally know what "it" is!!!  I have already had dreams about this little bundle of joy and already love him or her more than words could ever say. 

I can't wait to hold you in my arms, little niece or neph - and buy you the cutest clothes, snuggle with you, sneak you treats, teach you silly words, and watch you grow.  We haven't officially met yet, but I

am your favorite, most awesome Aunt Lindsey

and I love you, little peanut!

Your mommy when you were 13 weeks old, just a little seed!

Your Mom is my best friend.  You may have to take turns with her for who I will hold!

My Name Is.....Many Things!

Hello family, friends, and loved ones.  It's me, Lindsey, AKA "Linny" to a lot!  I've been thinking about creating a blog for quite some time now.  After all, it is the latest fad.  Everyone has blogs these days, but my biggest inspiration is my sister-in-law-to-be, Alli!  She has her own family blog - Life on Leroy (check it out) and I love reading it!  It is literally one of the first things I check in the morning when I wake up on my smart phone (along with the weather, weau news, and of course Facebook).  I think this will be a great way to follow along with the latests in my and "Lou's" life.  For those of you who are wondering what Lou signifies and why it is the name of my blog, the answer is simple.  Lou is my man, my future husband, the butter to my bread, my best friend, my soul mate, the cheese to my macaroni (cheesy, yes but it is all so true).  He is the Love of my life and the inspiration for the name of this blog.  Lou is the nickname that I gave to him nearly 4 years ago.  It is his Trademark, and a lot of people have taken on the role of personally calling him this.  It just fits!  He's Lou (Luke).  Since I am on the topic, nicknames are a huge must in my family.  My Grandpa Valentino and Dad are the best nickname-givers .  I just love giving people nicknames, and hense that passion has lead to many fun and silly moments.  So,  I leave you with this:  comment and tell me what your nickname is and how you got it - And don't forget to stop back again!

Lindsey's Nicknames and How She Got Them:

Stub, Squeege  --- Grandpa Tino

Scrub, Scrubby, Scrub-Nut (my personal favorite) --- Dad

Linny, Ci-Ci --- Sister Miranda

Peep --- Lou