Over the river and thru the woods… No, we went over the prairie and thru the creek to get to Katie’s secret garden. It is a beautiful, secluded area behind their property where she likes to go for her quiet time and also to create – painting and using other media like colored pencils.

We then went to Muirhead’s Bed and Breakfast where the grounds were gorgeous! The magnolia trees were blooming…

and even the field of weeds that looked so pretty in the fall still had a lot of color left

And then my favorite old truck – Katie even climbed inside of it!!!!

Katie’s brother, Jake, was home from college so we had to get a few pictures with the whole family – including Sophie & Nala.

Katie is planning on studying Internation Missions at Wheaton College or possibly Moody Bible Institue-Spokane.  Good luck Katie – you will be a blessed wherever you study!

I had the honor of photographing Kim in anticipation of the publication of her new book! She is a beautiful woman with an amazing story to tell. She needed some pictures for her new website www.breathinginashes.com (soon to go live!) to promote/sell copies of her book. Her story is not a story just of loss – but of hope, strength and courage in the darkest of days that any parent can imagine.

Kim – you are in my prayers and thoughts as your story comes into print. You will never know in this world the many, many lives you have touched.

Thank you!

I hope everyone has a Merry, merry CHRISTmas and a happy & safe New Year! Here is our family Christmas card this year.

I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to blog about my sessions so I am going to blog my last few fall sessions.  This was a 3 sibling family sessions for a Christmas present for their parents.  We had a GORGEOUS day in November for a photo session!  We went to LeRoy Oaks in St. Charles where we had great fall color and the kids had a great time exploring the area.   This was such a fun family because they are so close-knit.  They get together regularly for family dinners and even have a place up north that they all vacation together!  The cousins are all best friends.  Hope your parents LOVE the gallery-wrapped canvas!

I had the opportunity to photograph this beautiful family before Brittnee heads back to college and Ashlyn starts college this fall. I did Ashlyn’s senior pictures last fall so this was a time to reconnect and hear about how all her plans are finalizing for studing equine therapy and massage in West Virginia.
The session was held in thier spacious backyard and the 2 yellow labs provided all the entertainment for the evening. Whenever we wanted them in shots they weren’t interested and when we didn’t want them in the shot we couldn’t get them out of the way!!! They are so cute and so full of energy! Hallie – you have a gorgeous family and I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

Laughter, giggles, smiles, unbridled energy and enthusiasm. Those words describe this session. I had the pleasure of photographing this wonderful family again. They were sooo much fun and were all soooo cute. I loved the girls matching summer dresses and the boys were oh so handsome in their polos and khakis. The session was held in their rural Lily Lake yard and the weather was PERFECT!!!
The Group shot

The Big Brother – Mr. J

The Big Sister – The adorable Miss M

The Smiling Miss A (love the little baby teeth!)

Good Golly Miss M

Mr. R – I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the mischevious smile. You can almost see the wheels turning in his head – “what trouble can I get into NEXT???”

Megan & Ryan – you have a beautiful family! Hope you like your sneak peek! Your full session will be online in a day or so! Thank you!

I was honored to be the photographer at a very special 80th birthday bash!!!  The party was held at Pineview Nursing Home in St. Charles.  The grounds were gorgeous and it was a wonderfully cool day (as a lot of days have been this summer).  It was a large family of 5 siblings and their families as well as the birthday girl and her brother.  Happy 80th Birthday!!!

Just had to share a couple of my most recent grad – Sabrina!!! I love you and am so proud of you!  Congrats!!!

Sabrina & Noah

Sabrina and her grandmother (who claims she NEVER takes a good picture!)

And a couple of sweet ones of Sabrina & Ben

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. 

Three children under 2 is HARD!!!  But I think I got a few goods ones of the cousins together and a LOT of cute individual ones!

And since Easter is right around the corner we decided to use the EASTER BUNNY aka Mr. Fluffles in some pictures!

Chase wasn’t too interested in the bunny, but…we decided to get him out of his clothes and boy did we get the smiles then!!!

And then a cute one with the Easter chicks!

I was so excited I got to photograph Chase’s 3 month pictures!  He is a such a doll and a good sport too!  Don’t you just want to pinch those cheeks!!!!

Thanks for the opportunity to photograph Chase!  Can’t wait for our next session so we can get more with their 2 BIG dogs & Chase!