Happy Birthday Emily!
Today my niece, Emily, turns 12!
Sunday, she and I got together to do our annual thing
of hair and a fashion/photo shoot. I look forward to
this every year for every birthday for all the kids!
Now, in that most 12 year old girls don’t get their hair
colored, let’s keep in mind that this is what I do and
of course a little color is fun, right? So I get to spend some
quality time with my nieces and nephews, and then photograph
them in a way that most parents wouldn’t ordinarily think of.
I mean, what’s an Aunt to do when armed with the tools!
If you are interested in giving this sort of gift to someone you
know and love, please contact me for a personalized quote.
Let’s leave the school photos in the year books and on the fridge!
It’s time to create some timeless images of your children.
This is not your mother’s glamour shots! 
And as always, I keep each session age appropriate.
Happy Birthday Emily! I love you.
Birthday Videos
Wanted to share my birthday lunch with y’all!
Thank you Nicki for the wonderful Lunch & Candle!
Thank you Anne for the Lovely flowers & the Cake!
Thank you Scott for filling in as buss boy! 
And Mom, thanks for being there as well but most of all
thanks for having me! 3rd time’s the charm, right!?
Today I Celebrate!
My sister will be here in about 30 minutes.
She and I are going to the gym to work out
together. We’ve started swapping gyms every
now and again and I have to say that having
a gym partner is sooo much better than goin’
it alone all of the time.
So, occasionally on a Monday or a Friday we
get together and kick it!
We’ve recently discovered that we can actually
sandwich an hour of weights with an hour of
cardio (30 minutes before and after).
It runs about 1000 calories and makes me
feel like I’ve conquered the world!
Anne and I actually made up a word for our
hour of cardio……”hourdio”! It’s really
sad how such little things can bring such
joy as we get older! 
Once we complete the workout portion of this
day, I will be visited by Owen and Reese.
Owen as made me a picture and wants to give
it to me today so they are stopping by.
Then Anne and I will head to Nicki’s as she
is preparing lunch for me at her house.
Gary and I are going to dinner at Campiello’s
here in Eden Prairie. I absoLUTely love
that restaurant! Their short ribs?? Heaven!
Well, Thanks for stopping by today…make
your day special too!
Today I Celebrate!
My sister will be here in about 30 minutes.
She and I are going to the gym to work out
together. We’ve started swapping gyms every
now and again and I have to say that having
a gym partner is sooo much better than goin’
it alone all of the time.
So, occasionally on a Monday or a Friday we
get together and kick it!
We’ve recently discovered that we can actually
sandwich an hour of weights with an hour of
cardio (30 minutes before and after).
It runs about 1000 calories and makes me
feel like I’ve conquered the world!
Anne and I actually made up a word for our
hour of cardio……”hourdio”! It’s really
sad how such little things can bring such
joy as we get older!
Once we complete the workout portion of this
day, I will be visited by Owen and Reese.
Owen as made me a picture and wants to give
it to me today so they are stopping by.
Then Anne and I will head to Nicki’s as she
is preparing lunch for me at her house.
Gary and I are going to dinner at Campiello’s
here in Eden Prairie. I absoLUTely love
that restaurant! Their short ribs?? Heaven!
Well, Thanks for stopping by today…make
your day special too!
Owen’s Birthday in Review.
Well, altho’ Owen’s birthday has passed, when you
not only OWN a camera, but remember to always bring
it along, you can save the memories forever.
Here’s some of the moments of the day…enjoy.
Remember…NEVER forget your camera, NEVER
forget to have extra (or charged) batteries
and for God’s sake, READ YOUR MANUALS!
Or at least bring it along.
Drizzly Tuesday.
If it rains in Minnesota in February,
it just means is warm…and I’ll take it!
Back from the gym, Boo at my feet, a fresh
Vienna roast press and lots to blog about.
I’ll start with Reese’s birthday brunch that
took place on Sunday. She turned 1 on Wednesday.
She is so darn cute and at the tender age of
1 she is already fascinated with opening and
discovering gifts.
Owen helped a ton and I have to say that it
was remarkable how Owen didn’t get the least
bit jealous…most kids do…he just helped!
Good job Owen!
Today is my sister and Pete’s wedding
anniversary! 13 years?…wow! Congratulations!
Another Sunny Day!
Lois and I did a little shopping yesterday and
had a little lunch. It was so beautiful out I
hated to be inside so when I got back and saw
Gary out on the porch laying in the sun with a
beer, I joined him!
Sort of just hung out last night and chatted it
up with Gary’s dad & Lois. We dined on ribs at
the house (yum!) and sat around solving the
world’s problems!
Kind of an early night but it was a really
wonderful day.
We are all checked in for our flight tonight
and will get in kinda late.
This trip went pretty fast but I guess short
ones do.
Next we hit Mexico for about 11 days, that should
feel like a month!
Sunny Arizona!
Wow! I guess I didn’t realize how much I
really miss the warm weather. I mean, I
know that it’s cold in Minnesota but it’s
also January and it’s supposed to be cold.
We ordinarily set our warmth radar for the
end of February and just look forward to
Mexico. We’ve come to Arizona in January
in years past but it never seems to be quite
this nice. 70s. Indeed, nice! Oh, and not
a cloud in the sky so that’s always remarkable
too…it’ so beautiful.
I’ll back up a few days to Tuesday, the day
before we flew down only because I think
it’s worth it to explain that I worked a 12
hour day to make it possible for me to join
Gary on this trip. Then we were up until
about 11 or 12, set the alarm for 4, caught
the airport shuttle from the (my) Hilton over
to the HHH terminal, breezed through security,
hopped in seats 8 C & D for our 6am flight,
landed around 9:20 AZ time and then got an
early check in to our hotel, walked over to
the golf tournament, and proceeded to walk
the course for the next 4 hours! All the while
imbibing in the occasional beer
At around 4 we ventured over to the infamous
Birds Nest, a giant tent with live music, food
and libations galore! We ran into some friends
that live down here (Tony Schindler) and a
couple that gave me her wrist band and lanyard
to access the VIP area (nicer bathrooms, free
fabulous food and drinks)…well, I’m worth it!
We the took a cab to the “Tilted Kilt” and had…
shocker….PIZZA!!! back to the room around 11.
Need I say that this was a very long day and
it’s quite possible that I was “over served”!~
Um, yea, we slept in on Thursday and then drove
to Surprise and settled in to the cutest casita
on the planet! Owned by a couple from Oregon.
Donny & Cory live here full time now. Cory has
impeccable taste and a flare for fun. The casita
is just darling…a beachy theme.
Breakfast with Dean and Lois this morning and
now off to hit some balls and get in the warm sun.
More later….
First hard freeze hits.
Well, it had to happen, right?
I mean, after all, it is the end of October!
Doesn’t mean I like it, want it, am
ready for it or in the least, prepared
for it.
I stopped in Owatonna to visit with family
that I don’t see often enough…picked up some
wine and laughed the night away!!
Moving on.
I wanted to leave Katie up for awhile as a
sort of memorial so I thank you for all your
concerns and well wishes. Gary and I are just
fine. Didn’t realize that by not blogging I
would arouse such concern. Thank you, again.
Losing Katie was such a shock but I know that
she is with Hobie and that they are happy,
healthy and doing all those crazy brother-
sister things that they always did here.
Last night I joined my sister’s family in
Eden Prairie to celebrate Amanda’s REAL
birthday (10/22)…here are some shots from
that….
Last weekend I got together with a good friend,
whom I hadn’t seen in a while, to photograph
her daughter, Kathryn. Here’s a slide show…
Gary’s off on his first of many pheasant hunting
trips and I’m left to teach Boo that AA batteries
are not toys and foam pumpkins are not treats!
Later today I will venture over to the Sofitel to
meet and listen to Rudy Giuliani and Norm Coleman
speak. I’ve been gonna hit many other stops of
Norm’s but it just hasn’t happened. Today’s the day.
Have a great day…I’ll see you all tomorrow.
