Max's Fifth Birthday Construction Party

I tend to go a little MIA in the January/February months. It is a slow time for me business-wise (as few people want to have family portraits done when it is cold enough outside to freeze the snot inside your nose), and following the busy fall rush, I am in need of a little break to unwind and get things organized for the new year.

But February is rapidly coming to an end, so it's time to break the silence and get back to blogging. And what better way to do so than by celebrating my sweet baby boy's fifth birthday. FIFTH BIRTHDAY!?!?! Holy. Cow. Max has been requesting a "construction party" for his fifth birthday party roughly since the time his fourth birthday party ended. The good news: I had plenty of time to brainstorm. The bad news: he wanted a construction party in February in Illinois.

 Since we definitely could not hold the party outside (where all good construction parties should be) and our house is a smidge too small to do the party there, we rented a large party space from our town's recreation department to be the build site. The plan? Let the kids go to town with "bricks" (cardboard boxes) and "paint" (art supplies of all different kinds, except (ironically) paint), and build a house. I was a little apprehensive as to whether the idea would be a flop or a triumph, but I need not have worried, because, as all parents know, cardboard boxes are really the world's most perfect toy.

 We topped off the party with a riveting game of "pin the wrecking ball on the crane" and a bulldozer pinata. And after the candles were blown out and the cake was consumed? The kids headed straight back to the cardboard boxes to begin building, decorating, and demoing all over again. Party success.

 

(no hating on my drawing skills...)

And in case you're wondering....
Hard Hats came from Oriental Trading 
Cone Cups came from Birthday Express

Fall Mini-Sessions 2012 ~ Northern Illinois Custom Portraits

When I first began offering mini-sessions a few years ago, I wasn't sure if the concept would catch on or if I would want it to. Now, after completing year three of fall minis, I can conclusively say that I love mini-session weekend! It is insane and hectic and just gets my creative and adrenaline juices flowing like wowza! 

This year, I wanted to give my mini-session families, especially those who come see me every year (love you guys!), a little something different, so I decided to add a tent to the setup. I loved the result with the sweet filtered white light and a slightly whimsical twist.

Want to do your own tent session? This bad boy is in my garage just waiting for its next set of campers, so come on out!

High Five ~ Lake County Illinois Children's Photographer

This has been the year of five person families for me. So many beautiful families with three babies (of all ages), and man has it been great. Photographing five family members is a simultaneous challenge (keeping all those fast feet wrangled in one place!) and joy (so much love! so many laughs!).

Here's another family of five that came to see me this year, bringing all kinds of happy with them. We met up in Grayslake to get a little bit urban and then we headed for the woods to get our nature on. Enjoy!

Down on the Farm ~ Chicago North Suburbs Child Photographer

Although I live in Illinois and primarily shoot here in Lake County, I took a trip "home" to Florida this fall and while I was there I offered up a few fall mini-sessions. It was so lovely to be able to shoot in the warm Florida weather surrounded by lots of green grass and warm sunshine. I met up with sweet Ella and her family at Going Green Family Farm (coincidentally, in Lake County, Florida), so I had a little geek out moment when I saw Ella and her mom's awesome boots ready for some farm action. (Well, sort of. We didn't ride any tractors or horses or anything, but there were some curious chickens and a pony keeping an eye on us.)

p.s. I just *might* be headed back to Florida in 2013, so if you're interested in setting up your own Florida session, let me know and I'll update you when I have more deets.