Christmas in August...or September...or October | WEDDING, FAMILY, & CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER | EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS

Well, Colby and I just got back from a visiting two of my sisters in Minnesota. My mom went with us, and we had a great time...despite the fact that my mom somehow talked me into driving the 12 hour trip with a six-month old! Although Colby is a trooper, I think we'll be flying next summer for our annual visit to the great white Nort'!

Several people have mentioned to me in the last few months that they wanted pictures done in time for Christmas. Well, the time is here! In all honestly, to have the images edited by early November, we need to have your portrait session done by October 15th. So, I just wanted to send a friendly reminder to all who have mentioned this to me to please give me a call or drop me an email so we can get it on the calendar!!

In the meantime, I have TONS to post over the next few days. And, here's a little peek at what I've been up to in my free time!

Some family portraits....

...and some children's portraits...

....and even some senior portraits.

I'll be finishing up the editing of all of these sessions over the weekend; so, check in next week to see more of the above....AND, even some pictures of some local superheroes!!

Thanks for checking in !

Kelly

Come to the Fair! | WEDDING, FAMILY, & CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER | EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS

Right now I'm in the Minnesota visiting my two sisters with my mom. Colby and I took off yesterday with my mom, but before we hit the road for the 12-hour drive to the great white nort', we headed to the county fair to watch my niece Emma show cattle at her first 4-H fair! She took two heifers, Tina and Darla. Originally, she was taking Tina and Pedro; however, Pedro was a little skittish...probably because he was blind in one eye....so, Darla was subbed in for Emma's first fair! I took pictures, of course!

Emma, congrats on your ribbons and your great job at your first fair!

Colby was quite intrigued with everything going on. There was so much to watch!

Emma in the show ring.

Keeping the heifer happy while the judge checked it out.

Family friend Eric helped Emma out in the ring.

Colby was fascinated with the whole scene.

Emma and her Dad strategizing in the corner. :)

Smiling at the crowd.

After the show. I love the grooming comb in her back pocket.

Displaying her ribbons for the camera. Her mom asked her if she wanted to show again next year. Emma said, "Yeah!"

After the show, Anna walked us down to show us the garden she and Emma took care of as part of their Jr. Master Gardner project that Grandma Budke helps supervise for the county.

Leo & Ava | WEDDING, FAMILY, & CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER | TUSCOLA, ILLINOIS

It all started one night when we were talking about movies instead of playing Bunco on Girls' Bunco night.

I mentioned that I loved any movie that was based on a Jane Austen book. I said that I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED "Pride and Prejudice" and that's when THE question was asked: "Which do you like better - the 2-hour or the 6-hour version?" I thought, "Here's someone that speaks my language." "Either," I replied, "It depends on my mood."

At that point, I thought about mentioning the fact that PBS was beginning a two-month Masterpiece Theater marathon of Jane Austen movies, but I was worried that I would be wearing my dorkdom a little too much on my sleeve for people I had just met. And then, she said, "Did you know that PBS is beginning a Jane Austen Masterpiece Theater marathon beginning this Sunday night?" I became a fan right then and there!

When she brought me a T-shirt from Girls State that said "A Woman's Place is In the House...AND In the Senate" I became a diehard. And, when I found out her husband read Ann Coulter books, I threw in the towel. They had no choice...they were going to have to be my friends for life. :)

So, when Sarah called and wanted me to not only take six-month pictures of her little guy, Leo, but also do three-month pictures of her lovely sister Laura's new baby girl Ava, I was thrilled. (sorry for the run-on sentence!!!)

Sarah and Laura, congratulations on your new babies. I'm so excited to see Leo and Ava grow over the years, and I couldn't have been more honored that you entrusted me to capture their budding personalities!

Below are a few of my favorites. Click here to see a few more of my favorites on my site.

Kelly

In one picture, this describes Leo's personality. He was this happy for almost the entire shoot!

I think every mom should have a picture with their little guy...

...or their little girl.

Ava was pretty solemn for the first part of the shoot.

Leo - showing his displeasure at having to look at the camera instead of watching the kitties play nearby.

Ava - still somber.

Starting to warm up to me slightly.

The PERFECT drool picture!

Finally, I win Ava over!! Actually, it was all her mom. Laura was tickling her toes while I snapped away!

Leo & Ava

It all started one night when we were talking about movies instead of playing Bunco on Girls' Bunco night.

I mentioned that I loved any movie that was based on a Jane Austen book. I said that I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED "Pride and Prejudice" and that's when THE question was asked: "Which do you like better - the 2-hour or the 6-hour version?" I thought, "Here's someone that speaks my language." "Either," I replied, "It depends on my mood."

At that point, I thought about mentioning the fact that PBS was beginning a two-month Masterpiece Theater marathon of Jane Austen movies, but I was worried that I would be wearing my dorkdom a little too much on my sleeve for people I had just met. And then, she said, "Did you know that PBS is beginning a Jane Austen Masterpiece Theater marathon beginning this Sunday night?" I became a fan right then and there!

When she brought me a T-shirt from Girls State that said "A Woman's Place is In the House...AND In the Senate" I became a diehard. And, when I found out her husband read Ann Coulter books, I threw in the towel. They had no choice...they were going to have to be my friends for life. :)

So, when Sarah called and wanted me to not only take six-month pictures of her little guy, Leo, but also do three-month pictures of her lovely sister Laura's new baby girl Ava, I was thrilled. (sorry for the run-on sentence!!!)

Sarah and Laura, congratulations on your new babies. I'm so excited to see Leo and Ava grow over the years, and I couldn't have been more honored that you entrusted me to capture their budding personalities!

Below are a few of my favorites. Click here to see a few more of my favorites on my site.

Kelly

A Special Treat | WEDDING, FAMILY, & CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER | EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS

Nick and I have been very lucky when it comes to childcare for Colby. When I first went back to work, Miss Norann watched her, and when she resumed her nursing classes last month, I was frantic trying to figure out what we would do for a new babysitter for Colby. At the last moment, I remembered that our friend Carolyn, who had Baby Henry just one month after Colby was born, had mentioned that she planned on watching one or two little ones and staying home with Henry. We could not be more thankful for the loving care she gives Colby, and we're also excited that Colby has a playmate in Henry!

Today in my inbox was this little treat from Carolyn: pictures of Colby and Henry playing during the day!

Colby - probably wanting the camera. Like her cousin Jacob, she's drawn to all things electronic...especially remotes.

Big smiles...probably because she's playing with a green tractor. Sorry, Daddy!

Colby and Henry hanging out.

Colby and Henry holding hands. I like Henry's onesie. :)

With her tongue out...as usual, it seems nowadays.

This little onesie is a gift from Carolyn. On the front, it says, "This is my little black dress." Too darn cute!

Holding hands again....

...and again. When Nick saw these hand-holding pictures, he turned to Colby and told her that she had to stop holding hands with boys.

So happy in the exersaucer!

Grandma Rankin

This past weekend my Grandma Rankin passed away. It's a blessing. She's had Alzheimers for ten years and the past several she has basically been catatonic. Thank you to everyone that's sent me a note or email...they have all been very much appreciated. Grandma Rankin was a dear, wonderful person, and she will be greatly missed.

As my dad and his siblings finish up making funeral arrangements, I began thinking of the eulogy. As Grandma has been in a nursing home for the past ten years in Minnesota, the pastor at our church in our hometown has never met her or knew who she was. I would never be able to make it through giving the eulogy, but if I could, this is what I would say about my Grandma Rankin...

• She wore red polyester shirts with pink polyester pants. And, on Sundays during the summer, she wore white, open-toed sandals...with pantyhose.

• She was a horrible cook. Really, she was. My dad tells the story of her making him tomato soup when he was sick. It was a tomato floating in hot milk. However, she could make good pancakes, and that's what she would make us for supper when we stayed with her. And, we thought that was the neatest thing ever: breakfast food for supper. And, she taught us to put peanut butter on our pancakes.



• She was a career-woman. She both taught elementary school and served as Superintendent during her career. I don't know if this is true...maybe I'm imagining it, but I thought I remember someone telling me once that she would make the students pray in the cafeteria before lunch.



• In her basement, she kept boxes and boxes of old teaching materials and books. She let us go through them and use anything she had when we wanted to play school at her house.



• I probably owe part of my love of reading to her. She taught me to read when I was four years old.



• She could make the smallest objects HUGE games. She had this tiny shell on a shelf, and we'd play the 'hot/cold' game with it for hours.



• She was the oldest of four siblings. She put herself through school by being a nanny. She then paid for the next sibling to go to college, and he the next one, and then the next one...until all four had graduated from college.



• After watching the movie "Annie" she made us mush to eat just like the orphans.



• After getting engaged to Grandpa, she started saving her money for a dining room set. She bought it one chair and piece at a time. My great grandparents bought her the very last piece as a wedding gift to complete the set...the buffet. That is the set that's in my living room.



• She was a woman of great faith and knowledge of the bible. For many years, she taught the 7th grade confirmation class at our church.



• When you walked into her house, she would always greet you with, "Well...how do, how do, how do!"



• She was the type of grandma that cousins on the other side and most of my best friends all called "Grandma Rankin." She was Grandma to all.

Every time I've turned the TV on over the last few days, there's something on about Michael Jackson's death. All those people crying who have never met or known him have driven me crazy. But, now I kind of understand them. They're crying for what used to be...some nostalgia from their childhood...memories of a more carefree time.

Sorry for such a melancholy post, but as my sisters and I talk about Grandma this week, little memories keep popping up, and we all smile and laugh at what we had forgotten about her! I know many of my cousins check the blog and would maybe want to read through the list above too!

Here's my favorite picture of me and Grandma in more recent years.

It's 10:47 pm, and I just received a copy of this picture in my inbox from one of my cousins...yep, pink shirt and red pants. :)

Colby's Pictures | WEDDING, FAMILY, & CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER | EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS

Well, the cobbler's (or is it cobblar?) child finally has shoes! We took Colby's pictures on Father's Day and I finished editing them this morning! Here's my five favorites. If you'd like to see all of them, go to my website's "Client" section and use the password "Colby".

Thanks for checking in!

I know, I know. She looks like a boy in this picture, but I don't care. I still love this picture.

We could have a whole series of pictures that display Colby's tongue...and we do if you check out the proofing section. She's quite infatuated with sticking it out all the time now.

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