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

Head Shots and a day at LPZ

the pictures posted from the zoo I took

Karrick needed headshots and an old friend was coming to town.

 Steven Palm was one of the photographers that shot the kids represented by Ford Models 12 years ago. We met Steven when TJ was 5 and we just hit it off. He shot TJ and Cal a few times over the years. Steven now shoots the stars on the west coast. He contacted me saying he would be in town for business and had some free time if any of my kids needed new headshots.... TJ was already booked with Zoe McKenzie-another fave of mine. Karrick needed headshots as he hasn't had them since age 4. He is now expressing an interest in performing and has booked an Opera , 3 movies and a runway fashion show. It is time to get him with an agent...which means headshots

I picked Steven up at his Hotel and we headed to Lincoln Park Zoo. Karrick and I had already planned to go to the Zoo after the shoot as Karrick has to build the zoo for his 3rd grade Social Study project on Chicago landmarks.

Steven and Karrick just hit it off, Karrick is really hard not to love. We were there a couple hours and I hae no idea how many pictures he took. Karrick says "a bazillion"

I haven't seen the shots (a few on the camera) as Steven had to catch a plane back to CA

When I asked Karrick how he liked Steven he replied "I just want to hang out with him"

It was so great reconnecting and I wish TJ could have joined us, but I couldn't pull TJ out of school.

I anxiously await a CD arriving in the mail.

Good luck to Steven and Alisha as they are trying the knot in 2 weeks! 

 Karrick and I hung at the Zoo after the shhot and had a great mommy/Karrick day. I was pretty happy when Karrick got the zoo for his project, but now it seems really hard. Callahan got the Shedd in 3 rd grade and it turned out amazing. We made it out of styrofoam...I can't find the pictures. Kids get creative as you can use anything you want to build ie marshmellows, sticks, clay etc. Karrick wants to try legos or clay. Then in May the 3rd graders take a field trip to Chicago...it's pretty cool and a right of passage in the 3rd grade.

shots in the sun

Finally some sunshine. 

When I picked Karrick up from school I took some candid shots of him playing. He looks like such a little boy with his matching hat and coat...I try to squish him down every night so he'll stay little forever

artwork by karrick

 I never really posted any artwork of karrick's because he hated art. This year Karrick loves art, reading and writing....who is this kid? Check out his penmanship...huh huh ? Not only does he write neatly...he spells almost all his words correctly. He went from zero - 2 words written in his journal to full stories. From incomplete assignments to almost all 100%

The kid has done a complete 180....from the struggling kid that hated school to the happy go lucky kid that is pulled out for math (SMART KID MATH) He is in the top 1 percent  nationally in math and in the top 10% in reading. 

A combination of getting his tonsils and adenoids removed plus extra help from his school and an intense reading camp over the summer at Concordia University in River Forest

Skating

Tonight was Pleasant Lane's annual roller skating party. As the official yearbook photographer I was on duty. I got some incredible shots and think this years book will be spiced up a little. I also love that we put out a full yearbook for grades K-5...great for all my boys to be able to look back at every year.

 Lombard roller rink is surrounded by large windows which make for wonderful reflections. Of course I didn't post my actual shots that will  be featured in the yearbook

That time of year

 My little man started the 2nd grade today. I went with him as it was only 1hr to say hello and drop off school supplies. I also had to capture the "back to school shots" for the yearbook. Callahan also had 1 hr of class today...7th grade, holy Cow!

TJ starts Sophomore year tomorrow and all 3 boys have a full day

I am so excited for Karrick this year, he is a new child after having his tonsils and adenoids out last April 6th.  Since then he has added 7lbs to his frame and 2 inches to his height....2 inches in 4 months. He grew so fast that he had hip and leg pain. His voice is slightly deeper and he is full of spunk.

 3 out of his 4 close buddies are in his class and the class bully (future inmate and sociopath) is in the other class. I was 99% sure he would be as I barged into the principals office on more than 1 occasion about him hurting Karrick. Karrick's full of piss and vinegar now, so I don't think he'll be pushed around anymore