Photog in Training

Recently, Eloise has been very interested in taking photos using our phones. It’s one of her favorite games to play. I get the biggest kick out of flipping through her images after she’s done. Most of them are rapid-fire repetitions of the same “artistic” frame, colorful and out-of-focus snaps of the world around her. But Ellie takes her art very seriously, and she’s recently managed to get a few shots of me and her daddy that I absolutely love. Yep…she’s a natural. I’m a proud mama over here, and totally day-dreaming about her working with me at JSP as she grows up. Watch out, Mike…she’s gunning for your second-shooter gig!

* “Pilates Photography.” That’s what Ellie said she’d name her business. Because no matter how many times I explain my photography business to her, she still thinks my job is going to Pilates classes. Sigh.

* “Come on guys…let’s take a selfie!” I’ll never get enough of that.

*St. Joseph, MI. Last Sunday, Mike, Eloise, and I met up with our good friends, Lachelle and Mike, in St. Joseph, MI. We enjoyed a few fun meals together, and spent the day exploring the cute beach town. Silver Beach is awesome. It’s huge, and you don’t have to squint to imagine you’re in Florida instead of on a Great Lake. We spent the better part of the afternoon lounging, people-watching, and building a big sandcastle with Ellie. Then, while Ellie enjoyed a big, beach-side playground, we explored St. Joseph’s abundance of cute boutiques. My only regret is that Ellie melted-down before we had the chance to try some of the yummy looking ice-cream scattered all up and down State Street! Thanks so much for meeting us, Lach and Mike. We are loving this new tradition of having adventures with you every few months!

*Summertime. I know it’s already August, and the start of school is just weeks away. But it feels like summer JUST started here in Chicago! We’ve resumed our family tradition of taking walks through the park or the neighborhood every evening before dinner. Ellie’s really getting the hang of her new balance bike (thanks again, Auntie Becky and Uncle Adam!), and Dorey is learning to steer out of her path! I can’t help soaking in the moment when we take these walks. The sweet summer air, the soft, golden sunlight, Mike and I trailing slightly behind Ellie as she glides down the sidewalk in her over-sized bike helmet, singing or chatting away, Dorey bopping along beside us, sniffing all of the neighborhood smells. Summer has always been Mike’s favorite season. I’m starting to understand why.