Friday, December 17, 2010

A flurry of baking took place today....






This morning, while the snow fell gently outside, my little girl and I baked gingerbread men.  And then we tried our hand at homemade marshmallows....sticky, sweet, ooey gooey goodness!!    


Coconut macaroons and salted caramels.... 
A pomander (orange & cloves) sits in our window sill...
In the oven, apple spice ornaments are baking and the smell fills the house.  
Oh my!!  Glorious!!
  
Tomorrow we'll make spritz cookies and sugar cookie cut outs....
And snow angels and paper snowflakes....
We'll make hot cocoa and savor those marshmallows...


I'm loving this Christmas season.....


  






  



Inspired



Tuesday, November 30, 2010

And the little brothers....





Miss Peyton's little brothers.
I snuck a few of them after I photographed her.
I love this last one of her brother Silas.
He refuses to be photographed and I get such a kick out of it!!
And those curls....



You know what I love about photographing kids?









I love the stories they tell while you're quietly 
capturing them with the camera.  
The details of school and friends and little brothers....
Miss Peyton is the daughter of a very good friend of ours.
My children ADORE her and so do I!
She is a great storyteller and activist... 
she organized a charity event at her school last year to help a fellow classmate.
A heart of gold, this one, and wisdom beyond her years.
I could listen to her all day long and never tire.
XOXO Peyton!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!


Hope everyone has a wonderful day spent with family and good friends!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Welcome 35...



Today is my birthday! 




Ever inspired by my friend Kristin ( http://mainemomma.blogspot.com/2010/02/38-things.html) and her birthday lists, I decided to "wish big" myself this year!  So here goes...
35 things to do before I turn 36 (in no particular order):

1. renew my passport

2. bake a pie from scratch  (an apple pie with the help of my little girl ~incredible!)
3. make a blurb book
4. fully move into our home…ie hang up art work, print out photos to frame, finish painting, thrift store & antique finds
5. experience seeing my photographs hanging in a coffee shop, etc. ….somewhere in this city
6. purchase and learn to use a film camera
7. begin learning a foreign language
8. take a yoga class
9. learn to use the sewing machine my mom purchased for me YEARS ago
10. cook more / eat healthier
11. see a modern dance performance  ~ I'm due and missing it... (Passionate Puccini ~ Thank You Erica!)
12. more photographs of the kids and I together….
13.  flickr weekend meet up
14. visit the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Chicago and Oak Park 
15. make snow angels in the snow
16. begin taking piano classes
17. take the train into Chicago with my husband and kids on one of our 
trips home to visit my in-laws
18. make homemade ice cream (especially coffee flavored…..YUM!)
19. have chocolate cake for breakfast
20. learn to take a compliment
21. read On the Road by Jack Kerouac
22.  watch Casablanca and The Sting…I know!  I know!  where have I been?!
23. sing louder ~ dance more
24. see Turandot performed
25. try to heal old wounds
26. watch Annie Hall again
27. learn to voice me opinion without qualifying it
28. buy a new pair of earrings
29. attend First Friday in our city (local artists)
30. go for more walks in the woods with my kids & husband…
31. buy fresh flowers for our kitchen table
32. renew my juggling skills
33. photograph my parents
34. more snail mail lovin’
35. more game nights with my husband & kids
……..and one to grown on…..
36. listen with my heart….

Welcome 35....I'm ready if you are!















Sunday, November 14, 2010

Grateful...

Grateful for long time friends...
Grateful for mornings spent with them...
Grateful to have the opportunity to photograph their beautiful family...
We used to walk this campus discussing exams & lectures.
On mornings like today, we chase each other's children 
playing tag and hide & seek.
How life has changed...
And yet, remained the same....always thankful for their friendship.  








Saturday, November 6, 2010

A lovely Saturday morning....

spent with the sweetest family.
Erica is one of my closest friends.  
In fact, she's more than a friend, she's family.
You know the type of friend I mean...
We've stood by each other through all sorts of life's events.
We've hugged and laughed and celebrated...
We've cried each other's tears...
We've supported each other's dreams and hopes...
We've sang hopelessly off key at Lyle Lovett concerts...
We share a love of crazy winter hats and modern dance...
And this morning I had the pleasure of photographing her beautiful family.
Enjoy this little sneak peek!
xoxo!












Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Maddy {New Big Sister to Mia}



She didn't want to smile
and I'm ok with that.
Sometimes we just don't want to smile.

She is 4 and the new big sister.
I believe her comment to her mom was, "Mia can go back to the hospital now."
It is hard, isn't it?  Life and all of its changes.
She is used to being the one and only.

So on this day we went to the park with my kids (her cousins)
And we sang songs (I did a glorious rendition of The Ladybug Picnic)
which led to us talking about what we'd bring to a picnic (she'd make PB&J)
and we stayed on the swings for as long as we wanted.
And we only smiled when we felt like it.







It was on the swings that she got the giggles...

Mia {one week old}

This weekend we traveled home to visit the latest addition to our family.  
Meet my niece Mia.
A tiny bundle of love born almost a month early.
We instantly fell in love with her...
those little baby feet...
her little ears...
that little nose...
those little fingers that wrap around yours.
Pure sweetness!
   






Welcome Mia!

Friday, October 22, 2010

The Moments In Between....

One of the things I love most about being a photographer is capturing the moments in between.  It seems to me, we're often so focused on the big events that we miss the details.  So much is revealed there in those seconds...

My brother was recently married and  he & his wife asked if I'd photograph the wedding for them.  Although I was hesitant, I'm so glad I did.  Do you know what I found in those in between moments?  A genuine tenderness for one another.  Kindness.  Friendship.
It was in the stolen glances between them that I was able to see 
just how much they love each other.      
Below you'll find a little sneak peek of their beautiful day...  














Congratulations Dan & Krista!