3 weekends of pictures up at the lake

The last 3 weekends in pictures

looks like Katie and Karrick above, TJ and Cal below . I used my zoom from our dock to capture this shot across the lake of TJ and Cal

Sunsets

annual Labor day party 

Worlds happiest baby

our friend Tim S (Tim's friend since childhood) has a house next to us came in from Colorado. always fun to ride the jet skies

Just my little cutie patootie Karrick

4th grade!

Karrick's 1st day of 4th grade

Karrick looks like he's standing in a dang hole! Maybe the leaning over chopped a few inches off?

Either way he's a super cutie and a keeper. He is friends with a great group of boys

and the girls, always the girls

My sweet Callahan is officially a high schooler

CALLAHAN'S GRADUATION WEEK !

 These two are just perfect, like a prince and a princess.

 The 2 of them are wise and mature beyond their years. They bring the best out in each other, Cal is wickedly funny and somewhat reserved. Katie is all personality, quick, clever and not to mention as darling as they come. They ARE the 8th grade couple. Met in Italy where they spent 10 days together (under the watchful eye of Tim and Katie's mom, Deanna)

Soon to be celebrating 1 year together

What a great week couple of weeks in the McGinty house.

My sweet beautiful intellegent Callahan graduated from Glenn Westlake Middle School last night. The ceremony was head at Glenbard East High School.

Tuesday was the 8th grade dance on the Spirit of Chicago downtown

 My photo of them in their dancing clothes has been postponed due to weather and life.

I am hoping to shoot them today.

I could not be more pround of Callahan if I tried. 

Forget being rediculouly smart (scored above average on the SAT's 4 years early)

He is kind, thoughtful and caring. Cal is the kid that will get up at a restaurant to go hold the door open for a senior citizen. He is very open with his emotions. I can glance at him and see him gently putting Katie's hair behind her ear.

Callahan can fix anything...ANYTHING! he took apart a car at age 12, fixed it,  sand blasted it and repainted it. He has fix computers, garbage disposals, doors, cars, lawn mowers, bikes to name a few. 

I was laying in bed the other night and heard powers tools in the garage. The next morning he said he was bored so he built a table. (he had friends over in the garage last weekend and felt bad that one of the fathers had to drop off a long table for them to sit at while hanging and listening to music)

My hope is that callahan has the most amazing summer before entering high school. He is spending a week overnight at the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora where he is taking a summer  Energy/physics camp. He will get a taste of dorm life as he has wanted to go to HS there since 3rd grade when he walked out of his 1st IMSA camp saying

 "I love it, I am finally with kids that are just like me"

Older brother build character!

Look at my guys, Love them!

 Missing my Karrick in this picture, he was off chatting with the graduated girls

Callahan has just an amazing group of friends, together and tight  since 1st grade. These friend are one of the main reasons I didn't have Callahan moved up a grade early on

On the morning of the Dance, Gayle got all the boys and us moms together at 7:15 am for pictures. These are the pictures I shot

 We have watched these boys grow and mature into fine young men. I cant belive they will all be starting freshman year together...they were just babies yesterday

 330 kids graduated from GWMS

 We are all so proud of Callahan, a kind, thoughtful and caring young man. You are the real deal and we love you to pieces

Callahan is destine make a difference in this world!

You are an original

My baby is 9

Today Karrick turned 9 years old. To me 9 is so much older then 8 as 8 is still a little boy. Where as 9 is a boy...a boy, my baby is a boy.

Karrick brings so much joy to all of us. He is smart as a whip, funny, quirky and serious all wrapped into that cute little body. 

A pure gift from God.

We sang last night and he opened his gifts. 

On his actual birthday we went to Brookfield Zoo; myself, Karrick and his buddy Nick. The weather was warm and sunny...a perfect way to celebrate his special day.

After the zoo Karrick and I had to be at Columbia College for reheasal at 6pm. He is in a movie and he rehearsed until 10 pm.

Let me tell you he was one tired little boy by then

 Happy Birthday Karrick!!

The joy you bring us is indescribable 

snow and just being a little boy

The snow fell hard and it was beautiful! Karrick came home from school with a couple buddies and they had a ball with the brothers

A night out with friends

Last night myself and about 36 others joined my friend Missy for her daughters last volleyball tournament. Brit goes to school at Milliken U, but was in town to play at Elmhurst College. She is a senior and was in tears at the end knowing this was her last VB tournament ever.

Damn, college level players are fantastic. Unfortunately Milliken was knock out to the undefeated Elmhurst.

Amazing how quickly Brits 4 years of college flew by....maybe not for Missy,. Seems like yesterday Brit was at GEHS.

what a great week!

two sided card

I have had just one wonderful week! 

My fabulous husband surprised me with my own business cards, not 1 but 2 of my own domains and a website for my photography business

 I did my 1st big event...an award dinner for Heartland Food Corp. Employee's flew in from Canada and the surrounding Midwest states.  Honestly the first hour I thought I might pass out. Taking pictures of kids or families is easy and non-stressful.....you really can't ruin it. An annual awards dinner ....if you mess it up, you can't fly everyone back in to re-shoot. The evening turned out to be a success and I had a ball with it.

TJ started another 9 week class downtown on Saturday's. This week I headed North to the Rush St area with my Macro lens...flower above

 I took some fun candid shots at Karrick's soccer practice...fun in the sun! I love playing with light

 Friday night Tim and I joined some of our friends at the 1st Annual Black and Red Ball to benefit the Glenbard East Boosters. My dear friend Missy- below in pink, sister in law put this together in just 8 weeks and was hoping for at least 200 people. Over 300 people attended. There were 720 items in the silent auction, dinners to All-inclusive trips to Mexico. A junior/senior school parking pass went for $500 for 1 year...it was just crazy

All proceeds go toward GEHS new turf field and concession stands. Community spirit and support was second to none!

A table of some of my favorite people

Bern, in the white sweater is the worlds funniest person...she will make you pee in your pants from laughing

I won the "Fireman for a Day" for Karrick in the auction. The auction was cool as you bid via cell phone. Tim won an hour with a mechanic for a teen...a learning hour. It's for Callahan and my fear is that Cal may teach the mechanic

I have joined the juicing fad. I actually have aged in the last 6months...little stress with TJ's  traumatic brain injury. I always took pride in the fact that I never looked my age. I have a couple on wrinkles...GASP, I know....48 is only 5 months away..after that 50 is knocking on my door. I love my juice...every morning I juice all my veggies and a couple fruits. I feel fantastic after almost 2 weeks of juicing

 Just my sweet little boy 

He wants the shin guards on the outside