Wrapping up an awesome year...

What a ride it has been! So many great adventures and so many more on the books for a great 2010! Here is what I have been up to this holiday season...

I did finish my shopping, thank you for all your concern and encouragement. I did it! Chad and I shopped til we dropped and got it almost all done in one day...then proceeded to spend the next day wrapping it all for about 6 hours. Whew, I was exhausted! And it was not a moment too soon, we finished up everything once the kids were in bed on Christmas Eve's Eve.

I have had some great sessions that did not get a "sneak peek" on my blog because I already posted the pics in their galleries for them to see:

Looking forward to a swanky wedding at the Hotel Baker in May with Ann & Jim. They invited me out to their gorgeous home in Palatine to meet the rest of the fam and do a fun engagement/family session.

And I can't forget baby Aubrey...what a doll she was!

I have also been a busy little card designer...here are some of my faves:

And let us not forget the most memorable family session that took place just two hours after the infamous "haircut." I can't wait until I can look back and laugh at this. What is funny is how adamant Brynn was about NOT wearing a hat in our pic.

Chad and I have the most forced smiles and Ky is like, "What are these people doing to me?" Even Berks looks a little pissed. Oh well, what can you do?? ;D Good times.

Random note, this pic of B in the hat was taken two weeks before she cut her hair...go figure. Also a big shout out to Chad's aunt Nancy for knitting Ky's hat...LOVE it!

Here's Court, Adam & Ella's card.

A couple updates on some past clients...

Brad & Kristina got engaged. I was lucky enough to be there to capture it since he did it during the Vanderploeg Christmas Grab Bag.

It was pretty awesome.

I got the cutest email/birth announcement two weeks ago. Tori had her baby. Another little boy.

Here is what was in my inbox:

Twas a week before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that our baby soon would be here...

Sawyer was not nestled all snug in his bed,

But rather running down the halls with visions of toys in his head.

And mamma feeling something different than she had before,

She called to my office and said head for the door!

When in Tori’s belly there arose such a clatter,

I raced home from work to see what was the matter.

Out of my car I flew like a flash,

Tore open the door and made a mad dash.

Upstairs in the bedroom my wife had such a glow,

She said grab our bags we definitely need to go.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature head, and two tiny baby ears.

That little guy was moving so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment that this was definitely it.

More rapid than eagles, his body it came

And I whistled, and shouted, and called him by name!

Sebastian Adler Conroy joined us on Monday night around 7:30 pm, December 14th in the comfort of our own home. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 ozs. 21 in. long. Mom and baby are healthy and doing great!
"Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good-night!"
Love,
Nate, Tori, Sawyer and Sebastian

Now for some sad news :( I am sending a prayer request for Carol Gentile who you may recognize from a family session I did this summer. I shot her with her husband and three beautiful daughters. I also did two of her girls' senior pics in the last couple years.

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that she has been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer - a fit, healthy, non-smoker enjoying traveling and spending time with her husband now that all her girls are away at college. Why can life be so unfair?

She just started chemo two weeks ago and we are hoping and praying for the best. Please go give your mom a hug and tell her you love her. That's what I felt like doing when I heard this awful news.

Carol, if anyone is in the physical condition to give this cancer a run for its money, it is you. You fight this with every ounce of you so you can be around for me to photograph at all your daughters' weddings ;) (just kidding -- unless you want me to).

To me, this is why I do what I do...create memories that make a fun moment in time last forever in a photograph. If you are waiting for a "momentous occasion" to get family photos taken, don't wait. Do it now. You never know what life will throw your way.