Our Trip to Michigan

My mother and I packed up the kids this week and went to visit her sister in Michigan.

My aunt is a writer and while we were there, we tried to get some photos of her for the jacket of future books.


The lighting was awful. It rained the whole time. But we did get a few keepers.

To get her more comfortable, I had my mom jump in for awhile.









My Aunt and Uncle have been married 32 years and are still completely in love.

This shot it not posed. I grabbed it after he got home from work.


It is my favorite from the bunch. Actually, I think I'd go so far to say it's one of my favorites ever.

The Fall we dream about is finally here...

There is nothing like Fall in the midwest. This is the time of year when you drive through the slight hills and fields that stretch on forever and you think, "Why would anyone live anywhere else?"

The colors are stunning. The air is crisp. The leaves are brilliant.

Just being makes you feel alive.

And it's just beginning.

Welcome, Fall!

My Mom

My mom is a beautiful woman; but for some reason, she has trouble seeing it.

I have waited a long time to do photos of her. I knew it would be a challenge to create art that even she would love.

These photos were emotional for me, because I wanted this for her so badly--for her to see what we all see.

I believe there is power in exposing people in photos... instead of trying to cover them up with fancy clothes, hair, or make up. It is a theory I grow more passionate about all the time.

I also believe that age and all of the learning and growth that comes with it makes every person more beautiful as they journey through life.

For these reasons, I do very little doctoring to my photos. Especially to skin.

My mom was a little bit nervous when I told her we would do these photos so simply; but my mother is a character. And I just couldn't see the sense in having anything distract from who she really is.

I can't speak for her, but I love these.

Happy Fall

It's freezing here.

And dark. All day long.

I took my son out to play in the puddles but it was just too cold for him.


So we're settling down inside with a fire. Hopefully there will be more interesting light and activities soon.


For now... just wanted to wish everyone a happy Fall.

My Super Son

My son is three. But he thinks he's 40.

He tries very hard to be grown up. He is my big helper--watching out for his sister and feeding the cat each morning.

I don't ask him to do either.


My mother recently bought him Superman pajamas.

He wears them everywhere. People stop us and say, "Hi, Superman!" He gives them this look, out of the corner of his eyes, and says, "I'm just a kid."

I don't know why he can't just allow himself to make believe something completely, and I so wish he could. But I love the innocence his response shows. In his mind, these people really believe he is Superman, and he needs to clear it up for them.

Or maybe he's tricking them and just doesn't want them to know his true identity.


I'll let you know if he disappears in to any phone booths.


Whatever the case... he couldn't be any more super to me.

Sneaky little Twinkle Toes