This is from a session when the kids visited a couple of weeks ago. We made a quick trip to Mineral Point on Saturday and found the great headband at Bobby Jo Interiors. I highly recommend a visit to her jam-packed store. She has a sweet variety from bags, throws, scarves and headbands to furniture and large rugs. We also visited the in-town and edge-of-town locations of Johnston Pottery and had a tasty lunch at the Brewery. There’s a new, organic food store there where we bought huge bottles of olive oil. Dawn and I agreed we could have done better if we would have been alone shopping!

I recently added to my collection of canvas wraps with this one of Erin in March 2008. In the background is her canvas from her third birthday in 2008. I need to update the other kids, too, and am also making a few changes in the studio. My son and husband mounted my large rolls of paper on the wall and that is a huge improvement. My next project is installing a green, sustainable flooring like bamboo or cork. It will probably be bamboo with a cork underlay for added warmth.

I’ve also had a great time learning how to use my Wacom pen tablet by taking an online class with Jessica Sprague. One of our fun projects was a doodling image which we uploaded and shared with the other members of the class. I’m still getting used to it but it will be especially useful when using Photoshop for detailed image editing.

We should be worshipping in our new sanctuary next month! It’s hard to believe that just a few short months ago in July, 2009, I posted these photos of the ground breaking ceremony and early photos and now the carpeting is being installed. It has been way too long since I’ve been in the new construction to take photos.Our entire basement has changed and the old sanctuary will also be remodeled to make additional space for the youth groups, SWAT and Frontline. The carpet layers from Lincoln Nebraska were working hard to install this gargantuan number of yards of carpet. The low lights throw a beautiful row of rounded shadows at the front of the stage. The curves are repeated in several place in the new addition: windows, doors, outside lights, stage lights and the door into the coffee area. That seems to be a current trend in decorating and architechture – I’m seeing lots of it as I look through cabinet catalogues while planning for our own laundry room remodeling project.

This first photo was taken from the elevated multimedia area and shows the acoustical clouds used for noise control. They add an interesting architectural element to the area. As you can see there are already two projectors installed in the ceiling – I can’t wait to see how this will be used.

The arch in the door, pendant lights and rich colors will make this coffee area a real hot spot. Our coffee area is popular now but we are located in a pretty small area.

Can’t wait to see Bob Werntz play on this big, beautiful stage when he and Joyce return from Honduras next month!

Jim thought it was pretty shocking that I had a beautiful table set for breakfast this morning. It’s because #1 we are working on eating healthier all day long and #2 it involved a photograph. I joined a Flickr group called, A Month of Mornings, Breakfast Without Borders, and have been inspired not only by the photography but also by the unusual breakfasts that some people prepare. For instance, guacamole on a toasted english muffin! I love that idea and will definitely try to incorporate that into our options.

This is part of a move towards a healthier lifestyle since Jim’s prostate cancer diagnosis. Thankfully, his pre-op visit included an appointment with a nutritionist. She recommended pomegranate juice (which he doesn’t like but chugs it anyway), healthy fiber, fish oil capsules with vitamin D, eating fish more frequently, 5-8 fruits/vegetables a day, green tea, oatmeal and blueberries and more. We have incorporated most everything into our diet already and will both make a renewed commitment to exercise after he has recuperated and gets the green light. I’ve included photos of a couple of our breakfasts which are the healthy start to our day. He’s already lost over 10 pounds!

I came home quick for lunch and whipped up some egg salad on a bed of spinacl leaves served on a toasted whole wheat english muffin. We are really fond of the Thomas brand though sometimes they are hard to find. Jim is still pretty tired but, after all, it has only been one week since his surgery.

I just experienced the most relaxing hour of my whole week and surprisingly, it was spent back at Highland. This time I was there for the 1st Annual King Day Celebration to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Freeport & Stephenson County. The event featured best selling author Kimberla Lawson Roby who echoed Dr King’s sentiments about following your passion. I was happy to donate my photography services again to add some multimedia to the event from last Saturday’s community basketball games. That was quite relaxing, too, as I am always so relieved from my daily stress when I get to immerse myself in the joy of photographing young people. These kids are from the various elementary schools in Freeport, first and fourth graders, were there to play basketball. Tomorrow they will start working on their soccer skills. They all seemed so joyful to be participating and were really focused on their coach, Ronnie Bush, and the drills they were doing. Please help support the club by a monetary donation or by volunteering on the community campus. Here are a few of the photos.

Came back from vacation to a very busy week getting ready for Highland to start but I sure want to share a bit about our family vacation to Florida. We were all sooo lucky to be able fly out from O’hare in between snow storms, to be all together, for Dawn’s family to get through the Detroit airport on the same day as the would-be terrorist, to connect with Molly’s family in O’hare for lunch and to all land safely in Miaimi to 70* weather.We were simply amazed that the kids could jump right in the pool and that it was warm enough to sit out there most of the evening eating our pizza from a Chinese restaurant (not many places open on Christmas Day).

The next morning, Nic’s birthday, we caravaned to Key Largo for a really fun lunch at Alabama Jack’s. Molly had sure done her research on all of these places and we were happy to sit outside and to start eating fish for the week with crab cakes, grouper and chicken fingers for the kiddos.This is a very unique biker bar/restaurant and a great place to stop on our way to Marathon.

It was nearly three pm when we arrived at the house and received a quick tour from Eddie. There were a few issues: like no washing machine or working refrigerator on the main floor but we were thrilled with the 5 bedrooms, 5 bath, wrap-around balcony, pool, hot tub and dock on the canal. We were within walking distance to the pretty Sombrero Beach park and took advantage of all of these amenities daily.

We drove to another gorgeous park and beach on Sunday, Bahia Honda State Park, where everybody had a great time playing in the water and sand, exploring the old seven-mile bridge and gawking at a huge iguana in the trees. We saw several of those during the week.

Our food was fabulous. Monday was a day for relaxing, cooking, grocery-shopping, fish-shopping and swimming in the pool. My kids are pretty great cooks and Molly’s family cooked fresh Yellow Snapper for our first meal at the house. Then, Dawn’s family cooked a shrimp/bloccoli/pasta dish that was just terrific. We shopped at Key Fisheries for our fresh fish and wish we would have time to eat lunch there. Molly also picked up a lobster reuben there, I think. I seriously doubt that we went a single day without a Key Lime pie which I’m definitely missing now that we’re home. Andrew grilled huge portions of chicken and steak for fajitas one night and on our last night there we tried Stone Crab and had some fresh shrimp for our appetizer. In addition, Mark blackened and grilled the King fish that Kelby caught on Thursday.

Key West was our trip on Tuesday. That was the chilliest day (and breezy) so the high was only about 64* but it was sunny and that felt wonderful. Part of the day was spent driving around the congested town in an electric, six-seater after lunch at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Restaurant. Shopping was great – we were on the hunt for the perfect Sanuk beach shoes. Oh, wait, they’re not shoes, they’re sandals. All of us girls bought them (except Dawn).

The rest of the week: Wednesday was a boat ride for all 13 of us out into the ocean and onto a private island called Pigeon Key. We had a very special picnic lunch there under the palm trees and the family had a great time catching a variety of fish from the dock helped out by our skipper, Captain Bill. Thursday: charter fishing from Sparky’s Landing (a favorite find) for most of the guys and shopping in Islamadora for the girls. Friday: three-hour kayaking adventure with our least adventuresome guide.

It has been hard to get back into the routine of work and this dismal, cold weather here in the midwest. This was such a special week for us with memories that will last our lifetime. Thanks to all of our children and grandkids!

Reconnected friend, Pam, who’s a needlework expert, designer and shop owner sent me the petite, silver tree that she designed and stitched with those teeny, tiny little stitches.

Another new and favorite decoration is one-of-akind unique, stained glass star. It was as close as the house next door where friend, neighbor and artist Sue lives. The stars are very delilcate and it adorns one window of my office. Also, in my office is this funky tree that I happened upon while perusing the back of Marshall’s in Rockford. I stuck it on my file cabinet and was done with my office decorating!

Merry Christmas to all of you – praying for safe travels and a peaceful New Year!

This year, we will not have a family celebration at our house for the about the first time ever, I believe. Therefore, we didn’t even decorate our big tree but did get out a few precious decorations and added a few new ones for this year. One thing I purchased is the round, Anthropologie candle because I am sooo fond of their signature scent this year. The Snowman cookie jar gets to remain on the counter until at least Valentine’s Day and was given to me years ago by my good friend, Deb, from Luecke’s gift store when it was still in downtown Freeport. Jason made the napkin holder years ago and SIL Barb gifted the cool glass pane lights. The small Noel and Santa are what remains of my MIL’s decorations and always have a prominent place on my china cabinet. Last, but not least, are these two funky and whimisical ornaments that Molly brought to us at Thanksgiving. Molly has so much silliness in her and these ornaments are special because they will remind us of our Christmas holiday all together in Florida this year. MORE COMING TOMORROW -

Snowman Cookie Jar

Anthropologie Candle

Gift from Barb

Noel from Wilma

Jason's Napkin Holder

from Molly 2009

Michael is the son of Kim, Kelby & Erins’s former babysitter. However, she’s much, much more. She had so much fun in her and caring and zest for life that I can already see she’s bringing all those wonderful qualities to her own family. The kids used to call her “Kim Possible”. Kelby has, what we affectionately call, “BIG BUNNY” and now Michael has one, too! It wasn’t hard to get these adorable photos of him and his gorgeous eyes and cute, pudgy six-month body. Six-month old babies are my absolute favorite to photograph. They are usually sooo happy and happy to stay where I put them!

Yes, I have been a very bad blogger. I don’t think I have ever let a whole month lapse between posts. What can I say – I’ve made two trips to Chicago and one to Iowa City in the last month but will finally have a weekend home to finish getting ready for Christmas. All of my client orders are fulfilled and now I will be working on some family time –

Big Bunny

Birthday suit

Michael's Hat

Santa's Helper