Adam Pratt Photography

Adam Signs up for 100-mile Ultramarathon

2012-01-02T23:28:00.002-06:00

Cindy took this photo of me signing up for the Burning River 100. This is a 100-mile race that takes place in northern Ohio in July 2012. There's a 30-hour time limit and I'd love to finish in under 24 hours. In 2011 I knocked out a few marathons and a 50km+ race with minimal training, so I'm excited about a new challenge.

I remember after my first marathon in 2001 that I could barely walk for several days after the race. At that point I couldn't even imagine running another step. Fast forward a few years and I ran my first back-to-back marathons (Virginia on Saturday, North Carolina on Sunday) and loved the experience. The following year I ran a 50-miler and felt great. The intimidating part about the 50-miler was how much "unknown" territory there was. I knew what it was like to run 33 miles, but that left 17 miles of "unknown" out there on the trails. Those were the intimidating miles.

I have no plans to run anything beyond 50 miles as I train for this 100-mile race, which means I'll be facing 50 miles of "unknown". In my imagination it's like the path ahead of me goes dark and I don't know what to expect. How hard will it be? What will be my greatest enemy? Quads? Stomach? Sleepiness? Blisters? Doubt?

I'm going to do by best to prepare for the challenge and I'm basing my training plan on this schedule. I'm also looking for people to help as crew and pacers, so if anybody wants a memorable experience on the trails of Northern Ohio drop me a line. Stay tuned for more details...

Lisa + Scott: Family

2012-01-02T12:50:00.002-06:00

Lisa and Scott have three beautiful children and we were lucky enough to catch the last of the fall colors of 2011. We headed out to St. James Farm in Warrenville to capture the leaves, their smiles, and sweet memories of their family together. Below are just a few of my favorites...

Five Cousins: Wheaton Family Sneak Peek

2011-10-27T17:29:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to show you more of the wonderful shots I captured at this recent family session, but in the meantime let me give you a little sneak peak of these two sweet families who are also our good friends.

Sarah: Senior Session

2011-10-27T00:36:00.005-05:00

I owe a big thank you to Sarah for a delightful senior session. She has a beautiful smile, a tender heart, and a mature confidence that exceeds her age. We met up at the Danada Equestrian Center because she loves horses and worked there for many years. I love shooting a session in a place that is familiar to them because they can be comfortably themselves. That comfort shows through in these great shots we captured on a warm fall afternoon with beautiful light and vibrant fall leaves. Enjoy...

Tom + Susie: Family

2011-10-16T23:13:00.001-05:00

Tom and Susie are raising two wonderful boys who are full of energy, action, and giggles. God has worked in interesting ways to bring Tom and Susie together in marriage, and in truly miraculous ways to make their family what it is. To make this family session extra special, we met up at the exact same spot at the country club where Tom and Susie had their wedding photos taken. I so enjoyed my time with them and love the family memories we captured together on this fall afternoon.

Nick + Annie: Family

2011-08-23T20:24:00.009-05:00

Nick is from St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands and Annie is from France. They met at Wheaton College, married, and have three beautiful children. They now live in France where they love their neighbors: refugees, college students, and their local church.

Nick and Annie are two of the most beautiful people we'll ever know in this life. Our friendship with them goes back to Wheaton and has spanned hundreds of meals, thousands of miles, and countless games of ping pong. Memories of laughter, adventures, and trials all bring tears to me eyes as I remember the paths of life that we've walked together.

The strength of their faith and the generosity of their hearts are two indelible marks of their character that any friend is encouraged by. Of course it's no surprise to see these same traits growing in their sweet children. We only get to visit with this dear family every couple of years, but our children consider them good friends and talk about them often. Even at a young age their sweet spirit is leaving a mark on their world.

This legacy of faith and generosity spans multiple generations, as we've enjoyed the blessings and friendship of Nick's parents for many years…starting 14 years ago during our honeymoon on St. Croix. Well, we're back on St. Croix for a few weeks and I was delighted when they asked me to shoot a family session with all three generations at a place that's very special to their family, the St. Croix YWAM base. Enjoy...

Rick + Gail: Family

2011-08-12T09:07:00.003-05:00

Rick and Gail are about to be empty nesters, which is pretty hard for us to imagine with four little ones in our home. They're handling these big changes with grace, but wanted to capture some family photos and memories before their children headed off in separate directions. Their daughter Sarah is headed off for her first year of college and their son Brent will be leading a one-year study team in China. While they will obviously miss their children, it's wonderful to see them encouraging their children in the next exciting phases of their own lives.

Click for Slideshow

Emily + Graham: Wedding Teaser

2011-08-06T22:56:00.000-05:00

It's been a very busy summer around here, but I'm delighted that wedding photos of Emily and Graham are almost ready! Check back early next week for the complete gallery, but in the meantime, here's a little wedding day teaser of their beautiful day.

14 years

2011-08-01T23:12:00.008-05:00

Adam and I celebrated 14 years of marriage on July 19. We had one of the kids' favorite babysitters come care for them so we could enjoy an evening out. Adam surprised me with dinner at a wonderful Spanish tapas restaurant, Meson Sabika. A dear friend had told us about it and we finally had a chance to experience it. It is a beautiful place--an old mansion--with gorgeous gardens and fountains and columns outside. Of course, we took photos!

We shared tapas and a seafood paella.

Best of all, we shared time and good conversation, reflecting on how we've grown in our love for one another over the years. It is true for us that we love each other more and better now. May God continue to grow our love for each other in the years to come!

Brielle + Tyler: Wedding

2011-07-22T16:54:00.001-05:00

Brielle and Tyler's wedding day was one of the most fun and joyful celebrations I've ever witnessed. Their ceremony was clearly a worship service dedicated to reminding everybody that their new covenant is rooted in their faith in Jesus. It's a thrill to watch a little boy grow into an honorable man and find a beautiful bride like Brielle. As you'll see in the slideshow below and in their online gallery you'll see lots of laughter and joy!

One of the Joys of Summer

2011-07-20T23:06:00.009-05:00

I love summer. Plain and simple, I love this time of the year. I'm good with hot weather (even this week's 100 degree temps), the relaxed and sometimes lazy schedule, trips to the pool, no school, our summer recipes, and ice cream treats more often. Enjoy the photos of Emily, Josh and Katie loving their ice cream cones on our deck!

For those of you wondering, Andrew was out with a friend for a birthday treat...a cookies and cream milkshake!

The Cobbler's kids have shoes!

2011-07-13T13:01:00.003-05:00

We found another cobbler, our good friends Tim and Asharae, to do a family photo session with us a few weeks ago. They were in town to shoot a wedding and we had the privilege of hosting them for the week, so one night we headed out to Cantigny and they captured these beautiful images for us. Here's the full gallery.

Andrew Turns Ten

2011-07-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

Our oldest son, Andrew, turned ten years old today and we're grateful that the Lord has blessed us with such wonderful and healthy children. As Andrew gets older we're seeing him grow in so many ways: service of others, love for reading, writing, and poetry, witty sense of humor, and his ability to overlook small offenses from small siblings.

Andrew celebrated his birthday with breakfast in bed, a party with friends, and a family dinner with sushi. We're so grateful for Andrew and pray that God gives us grace and wisdom to raise him up well.

Do you know who is in each photo below?

Emily and Graham Engagement

2011-06-24T23:08:00.000-05:00

We've known Emily and Graham for a long time. In fact, Emily has been our go-to babysitter for years. But now she's all grown up and getting married in a few weeks to her high school sweetheart, Graham. We have so much respect for both of them and are really looking forward to celebrating (and shooting) at their wedding!

Click for full gallery

Todd and Cindy

2011-06-19T17:53:00.001-05:00

We've known Todd and Cindy for almost a decade, and from the very beginning their family has been an incredible blessing to us. Todd is one of our pastors at our church and a true shepherd. He's also a great father, good friend, and fast runner. We've even enjoyed some great marathons together!

Cindy is a patient, calm, and wise mother who is raising two wonderful daughters. This past winter, with great joy and anticipation, they welcomed a son into their family who was born in the Philippines. I was honored when they asked me to capture some photos of their expanded family and we had a great morning together.

Click for full slideshow

Click for album preview

Phil and Kristen

2011-06-10T00:36:00.000-05:00

Phil and Kristen live in North Carolina and we've been great friends for almost 20 years. We first met at Wheaton College and have enjoyed our friendship ever since. Depending on how you count, our kids have been friends since before birth. Andrew (our oldest) and Abi (their oldest) enjoy a very sweet friendship, and we think Phil and Kristen would make great in-laws one day. ;-)

I got to shoot a family session with their girls recently during their visit to Chicago. Kristen made us a great dinner and we spent the rest of the evening in Oz Park. For most young parents, the last time they had a decent photo taken was on their wedding day, so I must say this image of Phil and Kristen is one of my favs.

Happy Birthday, Josh!

2011-06-07T15:14:00.000-05:00

Josh turned 5 on May 19! He was very excited about his birthday and his birthday party, which was a Pirate Party. He invited 5 friends from preschool: Lars, Ben Josiah, (Josh), Drew and Joshua.

They did treasure hunts and played games led by Andrew (and Katie)!

They made pirate bandanas, which helped bring out their pirate faces!

They enjoyed dinner and an "X marks the spot" birthday cake.

It was a great party and we all enjoyed celebrating our smiling, happy, energetic Josh!

More from the park

2011-06-02T15:53:00.000-05:00

Along the theme of being outside at the park, I'm excited to post these beautiful photos of some of our beautiful children taken by my very talented husband! These photos are all taken at a park just down the road from us that they all enjoy. Thanks to Adam for capturing our kids so well with his creative eye!

Sweet Emily at the park

2011-06-02T15:43:00.000-05:00

Here are a few photos of our sweet little Emily at one of her favorite places in the world--the park. She loves the park and talks about it everyday! Glad the weather is finally nice here in Wheaton so we can take her to the park often!

Annie and Stephen Engagement

2011-05-21T10:12:00.000-05:00

Stephen and Annie are so in love and we're very excited about their recent engagement. We've known Annie for several years now and she even lived with us for a while, so it's really special to be involved with the most exciting parts of life with a dear friend. We known both Stephen and Annie from church while they've attended Wheaton College and can imagine so many ways they will be better together, as one. Click through for the full gallery...

A Sunday Walk

2011-04-20T23:35:00.000-05:00

After an afternoon of hosting friends in our home, Adam took Josh and Emily on a walk outside. They loved being out on one of our first warm days of the month! Enjoy the sweet pictures of our youngest two, taken by our resident photographer!

Sweet and serious Emily. Each month her personality and words come out even more and we are so enjoying her!

Brielle and Tyler Engagement

2011-04-15T22:50:00.001-05:00

I've always believed that the best way to capture emotion in a photo was through the eyes of your subject, but in this engagement session I was reminded that a laughing smile or a tender touch can be a close second. I've known Tyler since he was about six years old and I really enjoyed my morning with him and his sweet bride-to-be, Brielle. We explored some nooks and crannies of Brielle's home town and I'm so looking forward to shooting their wedding this summer!

Cousin Penny

2011-04-15T21:25:00.000-05:00

We recently had the joy of reconnecting with Adam's cousin, Penny Quinn. She is the oldest daughter of Adam's Uncle Joe. It has been many years since we've seen her, but she was her same joyful and vibrant self. She hadn't met any of our kids and she so warmly loved on them and they on her. It was a fun evening with her in our home, as you will see by the photos!

The girls loved cuddling with Penny.

The boys liked "measuring" themselves against Penny.

Emily loved laughing with Penny.....

....and making Penny laugh!

Thanks for visiting us, Penny!

Chicago Weekend

2011-04-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, our good friends Jen and Ryan took on the brave challenge of watching our kids for a whole 24 hours so Cindy and I could enjoy a night in Chicago. We've lived here almost 15 years and have never done a "night in the city," so this was a fun treat for us.

We stayed at the amazing Dana Hotel and Spa and totally dug the modern digs. We had a corner room with floor-to-ceiling windows which afforded sweet views of the city.

We had a nice meal at Roy's Restaurant where Cindy was daring enough to try some raw sushi (she liked it, but not as much as I did).

After dinner we had the most overpriced drinks combined with the most fantastic views from the top of the John Hancock Building.

The next morning we enjoyed a run in the snow along Lake Michigan before we had to head back home. What a great night out and huge thanks to our friends Jen and Ryan for making it possible!

Kate and Yellow Harp

2011-02-23T11:41:00.000-06:00

Kate's harp isn't actually yellow, but her "Yellow Harp" brand definitely captures the vibrancy and joy of her professional harp playing. Kate's husband Ted was a great assistant for this photo session and we all enjoyed Kate's fantastic playing during our time together.

Enjoy a few fun shots below and click through for a full gallery.

Blizzard of 2011

2011-02-08T22:42:00.000-06:00

We reluctantly take a break from showcasing photos from St. Croix, though rest assured that we WILL post more of those as we have more to share! Last Tuesday we had a blizzard and about 18 inches of snow fell. We enjoyed watching it from inside our warm house, especially as the wind howled and we often couldn't see our neighbor's house across the street! Adam faithfully shoveled the driveway twice during the storm, and in the morning we both dug out our driveway just as the snow was ending and the sun started to shine.

Still shoveling and I think the snow is taller than me!

See our mailbox peeking out? No mail was delivered the day after the storm.

Adam and Andrew went for a drive later in the day to see how Wheaton looked with lots of snow. They enjoyed taking photos and seeing friends out shoveling. The following photos are from around downtown Wheaton. Note the snowmobile headed down one of the main streets!

Though we don't have any photos to prove it, Adam and I both enjoyed some challenging runs in the snow. Adam went out running DURING the blizzard and loved the thrill, and I ran the next morning and loved the stark whiteness of the snow and the quiet of the streets.

We hope to return to photos of the island, so stay tuned!

Jason, Heidi, and their beautiful family

2011-01-10T17:15:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, we met a wonderful couple named Jason and Heidi who were very kind to us while we were on St. Croix. Adam ran with them two mornings each week, ran the local marathon with them, and we enjoyed spending time at their beautiful home in Rust Op Twist.

Adam had the opportunity to do a quick family photo session with them one afternoon at their place. The warmth and generosity of their family is so attractive as you can see below, or view the full gallery.

More Than a Vacation

2011-01-06T23:46:00.000-06:00

I can't say enough good things about our time on St. Croix for my work sabbatical, and one of the biggest surprises was that the trip didn't feel like a vacation. At least not in the typical sense...

What made this trip different was that it felt like we LIVED there instead of just VISITING, and a major part of that was the friends we made during the month. Our dear friends the VanWingerdens welcomed us into their church, their home, their lives, and introduced us to the sweetest families who treated us like friends. We were so blessed by their warm friendship, gracious hospitality, and incredible generosity. Our connection with these friends made our experience on St. Croix that much sweeter, and that much harder to come home.

Katie really enjoyed spending time with Amanda.

And the girls liked exploring the sugar mill at the YWAM base.

Josh and Andy enjoyed all things Star Wars!

Heidi and Jason were so kind to our whole family and gave Katie the ride of her life....

Jay is the son of Jason and Heidi, and Andrew misses him a lot as they bonded over a common love: LEGO.

A major highlight of the month was spending the day with Dave, Shelley, and their kids on Buck Island. It was a perfect day and we so appreciated their kindness and generosity. Their whole family made us feel so welcome and really helped the kids get assimilated into church life on the island.

And of course the super-fun home school sports gang from Friday mornings...we miss you all!

Warning: Mourning

2010-12-29T17:39:00.000-06:00

We've been home from St. Croix for more than a week and I have thousands of photos I need to sort through and lots of images I want to post, but I can't get up the nerve. It's just too difficult. When we think about our time on the island we're full of great memories, but also sadness as we realize we've left part of ourselves behind.

Transitioning from 84°F days on St. Croix to 14°F days in Wheaton has been much more difficult than we expected.Among other things, we've been shocked by the silence of our home. In St. Croix our house windows were open all day and night as the sounds of ocean waves, palm fronds, sea breezes, tree frogs, and more wafted over our play, our meals, and our sleep. In Wheaton it's deathly silent in our hermetically sealed house. We wake up and it's utterly silent. We read a book and it's silent. We go outside...nothing out there either. It's as if the world has gone to sleep for the winter and forgot to tell all the people. I'm starting to think this part of the world was not intended for human habitation.

This pair of images sums up the difficulty of our transition. The shot on the left was taken one morning by our lovely pool at the Sugar Mill and the shot on the right was taken right after we got home in our front yard. We miss St. Croix.

St. Croix Images

2010-12-13T18:43:00.000-06:00

I've taken thousands of photos on this trip, but because our internet access is so slow I haven't taken the time to post any yet. I've actually enjoyed being so disconnected, but I wanted to take a few minutes and post two quick photos.

This first image is one of my favorites photos of our trip. I shot it about a week ago on the side of our pool and it captures the beauty and peacefulness of our time. Off-camera Cindy is swimming laps in our pool and our kids are playing at the foot of our sugar mill.

I took this second photo today underwater off Buck Island. We were with our friends the Claeys on their boat when we spotted eight dolphins (6 adults and 2 babies) playing in the water. We followed them a bit offshore, slipped into the water, and swam with them a few times. The quality of the photo isn't fantastic, but the quality of the experience, friendship, and memories are superb.

Weekend in Washington D.C.

2010-11-09T22:43:00.000-06:00

Adam and I love to run. You all know that. We especially love when we can run together, but that doesn't happen very often with four kids. And like most couples, we love a weekend away from our kids. And we do love our kids. You all know that too! So when we registered for the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington D.C. way back in March, it was the best of both for us--a marathon and a weekend away together. Grandparents Pete and Nancy arrived in Wheaton to care for the kids and we were off!

Once we arrived in D.C. we hit the marathon expo to pick up lots of goodies, including our necessary race numbers.

After picking up our race stuff, sampling many yummy (and healthy) foods and juices, I took a few minutes to rest outside the Brooks tent. Adam enjoys running with the Brooks Inspire Daily program.

One of the highlights of our weekend was connecting with friends. The day before the race, we met up with Jessica Karazsia, a high school friend who I played tennis with. She lives in D.C. and has become an amazing runner. We loved the chance to catch up with her and share about our lives.

The marathon was Sunday morning and it was a great race. Though I missed my goal time by a few minutes, I ran well and felt great. Adam had a decent race, but is newly motivated to run a dozen marathons in 2011! Like I said earlier, a highlight of our weekend was seeing friends and we saw one of our closest and dearest friends, Kristen Rendall, on marathon day. She graciously drove 4 hours from her home in Raleigh to cheer us on in the marathon and then spend the rest of the day with us. We loved our time with Kristen!

After a wonderful afternoon with Kristen, we headed to church. Not our usual marathon day routine, but Capitol Baptist was recommended to us by one of our pastors so we visited. As we pulled up to the church, we saw our friend Sarah Rotman standing outside! Remember that friend highlight? Well, here was another one! What a joyous time we had reconnecting with sweet Sarah! She lives in D.C. and attends this wonderful church.

Here is Sarah on the Metro-the easiest way to navigate D.C.!

Now a trip to D.C. would not be complete without visiting the monuments. Sure, we ran past many of them during the race, but running by does not afford one the chance to really enjoy the sights! After our late dinner, we enjoyed a visit to each of our favorites. First, Adam's favorite--the Washington Monument.

And Cindy's favorite--the Lincoln Memorial.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend away. A neat city, great race, fun friends, and most importantly four days with just each other!

The Mother of My Children

2010-09-12T20:55:00.000-05:00

It's hard for me to put into words what a wonderful mother Cindy is to our four children. I've started this blog post half a dozen times already and I keep starting over. Not sure where to start, not sure where to go next, not sure how to praise my wife without sounding cheesy.

Our little Emily is 14 months old and still doesn't speak a word. She understands what we say to her and she communicates with us in squawks and screams, but you can see her frustration as she's on the cusp of speaking real words. I have that same sense of frustration, but instead of sighs and groans, I revert to photos I took tonight after dinner...

Date Night

2010-08-30T15:37:00.000-05:00

For friends and family visiting this blog and that hope for more kid updates, I'm here to remind you that there's another beautiful person in our family, Cindy! A few weeks ago we got out for a date night at a fun local restaurant.

We enjoyed a great dinner and a quiet hour of conversation.

We've been married for 13 years, our conversations have never been better, marriage has never been sweeter, and Cindy has never been prettier.

A Family Legacy

2010-07-15T08:48:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to do an extended family photo session with three generations of a great family. I've been friends with this family for more than 15 years, but it's the first time I've done a session with all of them together: 19 people, 3 married children, 11 grandchildren, including a pair of two-year old twins...phew!

These grandparents are so blessed with faithful children and wonderful grandchildren...a great legacy.

Click through for the full gallery...

Five Cousins

2010-06-10T16:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining two families and their beautiful children for a Father's Day session out at Cantigny. That's five cousins with lots of energy! We walked through the beautiful gardens and got lots of great shots.

Click through for the full gallery....

Count your blessings...One, Two, Three, Five

2010-05-31T12:05:00.000-05:00

These are our dear friends, Jen and Ryan. Adam went to Wheaton College with them, and even spent a summer in Mali (West Africa) with them. Needles to say, living in close quarters in a third world country is a very bonding experience.

Fast forward a few years, and we all end up married, working, and having children. Jen and Ryan got their family kicked off with (from L to R) Audrey, Nathan, and Camille. They have such sweet children and our kids are all good friends. We spend a lot of time together, and have even enjoyed sleepovers and vacations through the years.

Their most recent addition was a set of twins, Colin and Andrew. They're two years old now and provide non-stop action! It's no wonder that everybody in their house is asleep by 9pm.

About 30 minutes into our photo session I started to wonder if it was statistically impossible for 7 people (with two-year-old twins) to all look in the same direction at the same time, but we had a great time and captured some great images!

Click through for the complete gallery....

Hannah and Drew Engagement

2010-05-17T14:55:00.000-05:00

This engagement session has been a long time coming, but I finally got out with our friends Drew and Hannah this weekend for a great shoot. It was a bit early and a bit chilly for a Saturday morning, but the weather worked out perfectly and we really enjoyed our time in the park. Drew is an amazing bike builder and works in a local bike shop, so the bikes you'll see in the gallery aren't just props. They're custom-built cruisers with some of the sweetest details and the perfect attitude. The three of us rode over together and captured the joy of their engagement (and their sweet rides).

Click through for the full gallery...

Here, in the Gates

2010-05-14T21:16:00.001-05:00

This was the title of the play the students of The Greenhouse (the school Andrew attends on Wednesdays) put on this past March. Each year, the play is a wonderful and creative production that involves all of the students grades 1-8 and incorporates their history studies. This was the first year that Andrew had lines to say all by himself and he did a great job! He played two characters--Dagan, an Israelite taken into captivity, and Eshtoel, a spy.

One of Andrew's favorite scenes was when the walls and gates of Jerusalem are laid to waste by the Babylonians:

The second half of the play focused on the rebuilding of the walls. Here is the entire cast and the restored walls of Jerusalem:

We were very proud of our young thespian!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-14T18:28:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day was nice and quiet, and included a photo shoot with Adam. The youngest two were napping, but Katie and Andrew enjoyed being in some of the pictures. I am so thankful God has given Adam and I the blessings of four healthy, beautiful and fun-loving children. I love being their mom!

Sweet sisters

2010-05-12T10:45:00.000-05:00

We have the cutest girls! I found matching pajamas for Katie and Emily, and they love to wear them together. Katie is truly a great big sis and Emily continues to be a sweet little sis!

Swim Time

2010-05-12T10:40:00.001-05:00

Andrew and Katie have been taking swim lessons at the YMCA just down the road from our house. We wanted them to improve their skills and comfortability in the water before summer hits. After lessons, there is open swim time so we all played in the pool. It was Emily's first time in a swimming pool and she loved it! As soon as I put her in the water, her little legs kicked like crazy and her hands started splashing. Lots of smiles and giggles!

Lunch with Josh

2010-05-11T23:18:00.001-05:00

I'm taking a much needed week off work and enjoying some great time with the kids. Today I took Josh to lunch at his favorite place, Noodles and Company.

We had a great time together and Josh waited patiently for his noodles!

There are so many options, but Josh always goes for the Mac and Cheese.

He's such a great eater and we had such a good lunch together.

He ate the whole bowl before we were done!

Seattle Dinner

2010-05-10T10:36:00.000-05:00

I normally don't post work-related stuff on the family blog, but I had a great time in Seattle last week and wanted to share a few photos from that trip. Whitney, my manager, and her husband Joe hosted an amazing dinner in their home on my last night in town. I've worked for Adobe a little more than ten years and the best part is always the smart and funny people I get to work with. This was never more clear when we had a great time laughing, eating, and getting away from work.

The olive/fig tapenade with goat cheese and herbs was also lovely. And then there was the vegetarian lasagna. But I can't forget about the pear and rosemary tart....amazing food and and lovely hosts!

I feel badly that I didn't get any shots of Steve or Mark, but I must have been shooting photos in direct proportion to how much each person was talking. I guess that's why I have so many photos of Whit!

Click through for the full gallery....

The Big Cut

2010-04-20T21:51:00.000-05:00

Last June, Katie decided to grow her hair in order to donate it to Locks of Love. She was very determined, so we supported her decision and encouraged her along the way. We talked often about why she wanted to do this and who would benefit from her pretty locks. By the end of March, she had the 10 inches she needed in order to donate. Our whole family went to KidSnips to witness The Big Cut! KidSnips will send the hair to Locks of Love and do a haircut all for free. The photos below tell the story....

Katie before The Big Cut

Measuring the 10 inches of hair to be cut

The Big Cut!

10 inches of Katie's hair sent to Locks of Love

A very proud Katie!

Getting styled

Katie after The Big Cut--she looks beautiful!

Asharae and Tim Engagement

2010-02-15T23:58:00.000-06:00

Tim and Asharae have become dear friends over the last year. Asharae shot my first wedding with me last fall and I'm looking forward to the privilege of shooting their wedding this summer. It was a crisp, cold day so we started out at a local coffee shop before we headed out into the snow.

They're so full of joy and laughter that it makes them so easy to shoot. We had a great time this afternoon and it shows in the photos. Click the image below for the full gallery.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-22T22:06:00.001-06:00

We hope you're enjoying the anticipation of Christmas. Our kids are so excited about Christmas and we're all looking forward to a special day together. Instead of sending a Christmas card this year we thought we'd try an alternative approach, a sort of digital storybook that shows our year in pictures. Click here to enjoy....

Getting Ready for Christmas

2009-12-15T22:55:00.000-06:00

Every year we read the "Doors Book" (really called The Advent Book) with the kids during our family worship time each day in December. We're reading it again and the kids are loving it. The book is all direct quotations from Scripture (mostly Luke) and tells the Christmas story very well. It's amazing how quickly they memorize the verses and how much they understand. On December 1 we read just the first page. On December 2 we read the first two pages, and so on. Then on Christmas day we read all 25 pages.

The book is a bit difficult to find, but can be purchased online if you're interested.

Straighten Up!

2009-11-30T22:28:00.000-06:00

Andrew was very brave today at the orthodontist's office. After having an expander for the last few months, it was finally the day to to have his braces put on. Let's remember this as our starting point:

And just a few minutes later the doctor got to work:

And this cool blue light cured the adhesives (I don't think I went blind taking pictures of it).

Cindy and I both had braces (Cindy twice) but we can't remember being as excited as Andrew is here. He was very brave and has a great attitude. We're all hoping for great results and that they can come off in 4-5 months.

Emily Update

2009-11-25T21:37:00.000-06:00

Just a quick photo update of baby Emily. It's 10pm on Thanksgiving eve and I'm still working, so too tired to write much. Just thought somebody might like to see this cute shot of Emily with Cindy.

Janlee and Zach Wedding

2009-11-17T11:51:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited to share a slideshow from the Johnson wedding. It's only the first wedding I've shot, but we had such a good time and captured such great images! My shooting partner, Asharae, has such a creative eye and between the two of us we captured the joy of the entire weekend.

Lighting Experiment

2009-11-14T21:18:00.000-06:00

This afternoon the boys and I went to a local camera shop to look into a lighting kit for portrait photography, which I'd like to do more of. I have very little experience with studio-style lighting, so instead of making a purchase I rented a two-light kit with umbrellas and softboxes for the weekend. I brought it home, set things up, and started shooting.

With some trial and error I managed to get some decent shots. I'm sure with more experience I'll look back on these first shots as really amateurish, but it was fun to experiment. I learned a lot quickly and made some good progress just in the first hour. I do wish I had rented the backdrop stand as well. Next time....

Fireman Josh

2009-11-01T21:58:00.000-06:00

This fall Josh started preschool and he is doing great! He likes going to "his school" while Andrew and Katie do their school at home. One of the yearly traditions at our preschool is the costume parade near Halloween. Josh loves fire engines and "fighter-fighters" (fire fighter), so dressing as a fireman was very fun for him!

We were all glad to be there to see Josh the Fireman in the costume parade!

Fall Fun

2009-11-01T21:48:00.000-06:00

While the kids have enjoyed raking and playing in the many fallen leaves in our front yard, Adam has enjoyed taking photos of them IN the leaves! Emily was happy to lay in the leaf pile, though the sun was a bit bright for her! After jumping in the pile, Andrew, Josh and Katie agreed to a photo. Next time, we will try to capture all 4 of them in one photo!

Daddy's New Ride

2009-11-01T21:40:00.000-06:00

Hah! I wish....actually, for about $150,000 less I did purchase a bicycle this weekend. After getting Andrew outfitted with a new set of wheels this summer I've been wanting to get a new bike to tool around town but hadn't found the right bike yet. Well on Saturday morning I strolled past a local bike shop and this one caught my eye...

It's an unassuming gray steel frame, single-speed bike. I was going to get a hybrid with a bunch of gears and nice disc brakes, but was worried I'd turn every ride with the kids into a race. I decided to keep it simple. I rode about 8 miles home after I bought it this afternoon and it rides great. It's been SO long since I've been on a bike, but as we work our way from two cars down to one it's been a priority for me to get something simple and rideable for local errands.

I especially love the flip-flopped white/black on the tires, rims, spokes. What a fun, quirky detail. One day I might want to throw some orange tires on there. Anyway, here's a few more glamour shots of the new wheels...

Janlee and Zach Wedding Preview

2009-10-26T17:28:00.000-05:00

Well we're almost done editing our first wedding shoot and it's been a very interesting experience. I've always been a very organized photographer, but this type of event has definitely introduced new challenges. :-)

I'll post some images from the wedding here soon, but in the meantime here's another little teaser...two of the shots are mine and two are by Asharae, my shooting partner for the wedding. I was so glad she was there with us and she did a fantastic job!

Emily is 3 Months Old

2009-10-13T21:40:00.000-05:00

So our little baby Emily is 3 months old and doing well. She sleeps like a champ, is strong and healthy, and loves smiling at her family. Everybody asks us how life is going with four kids and we tell them that #4 is a piece of cake, it's #3 that's the handful. ;-)

Here's a shot that Adam took of Emily on our relaxing vacation in Wisconsin.

Congratulations Zach and Janlee

2009-10-11T23:07:00.000-05:00

Dear Zach and Janlee,

We're grateful to be your friends, flattered to be your wedding guests, and thrilled to be your wedding photographer. We've had such a great weekend with you and your families here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Your entire wedding experience was so intimate and personal and I so enjoyed capturing memories of the entire weekend. I hope you're NOT surfing the web on your honeymoon, but here's a little tease until you're back.

Fondly,
Adam

School days are here again

2009-09-27T22:53:00.000-05:00

School has started for the Pratt kids! Well, at least three of them. =)
Andrew is now in 3rd grade and Katie is in 1st grade. Its become a tradition to take pictures on our porch on their first day.

Joshua started preschool this fall. He is doing well and loves having his own "school" to go to twice a week!

Preschool is just down the street from us, and Adam and Josh walked to school on his first day. Adam captured this photo of them holding hands on the way:

I love my three little students!

I also love my sweet little Emily!

Bullseye, or there abouts...

2009-09-27T22:51:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update for tonight on one of Andrew's new fall activities, archery. After he spends all day Wednesday at the Greenhouse (classical, Christian homeschool co-op), he stays an extra hour in the afternoon at an archery class. Andrew can take a while to warm up to new things, but he came home from this new adventure just beaming.

I'm not sure if any of Andrew's arrows made it close the center, but he had a great time at his first class.

Janlee and Zach Engagement

2009-09-19T22:39:00.001-05:00

If I could quit my day job...I'd be a photographer. I did an engagement shoot last night for our house guest, Janlee, and her fiancé, Zach, and I had a blast. They have both become wonderful friends to our family and we're sad to think Janlee is going to move out in a few weeks. Good news for her is that she'll be married to a great guy.

We're grateful to be invited to their wedding and our whole family is looking forward to the event. I've been observing and practicing because I'm also going to shoot their wedding along with another photographer. Exciting and sobering. Gulp!

Here's more of Zach and Janlee.

Andrew's Vintage Ride

2009-07-27T00:14:00.001-05:00

If there's anybody out there reading this blog, you're probably expecting to see more baby photos of Emily, but life hasn't stopped for the other three kids in our home. In fact, earlier this month Andrew celebrated his 8th birthday and we found him a very special birthday present. It took some work and we had to special order some replacement parts, but Adam was able to get this 1969 Schwinn Stingray up and running for Andrew!

He really needed a new bike, but it's virtually impossible to find a simple bike. Everything in stores today is either boy (with flames and skulls and Spiderman) or girl (pink, princess, pixies). I guess that's a slick way to get American's to buy twice as many bikes as they actually need, but we weren't fallin' for it. We also figured that if a bicycle can last 40 years then it'll last another 10-20 for our kids. Anyway, Andrew is pretty stoked about his new ride, complete with banana seat!

And for those of you who just want to see baby pix, we have those too...

Emily sleeping peacefully:

Katie loves her baby sister!

Five-Day Photos

2009-07-15T23:16:00.000-05:00

Little Emily is already five days old and I had a bit of time this morning to snap some shots of Cindy and Emily together. We had to give Josh a bowl of animal crackers to keep him busy, but it gave me a few minutes to grab these shots. Hopefully we'll have time for a few more photo shoots before I go back to work next week.

Checking out of the hospital

2009-07-14T22:21:00.000-05:00

We've been home for a few days now from the hospital, but wanted to share a family shot and a hospital photo tip. First, the shot...

Here's our entire gang at the hospital just before leaving on early Sunday afternoon. I took the older three to the 9:30am worship service at College Church and then headed over to pick up mom and Emily at the hospital. We wrapped up the remaining paperwork and of we went, right after taking this shot.

And now...the photo tip. In case you're wondering how I captured this photo of all of us, I've gotten in the habit of finding creative "tripods" to use. In this case, it's the bedside table tray on wheels. Because it adjusts up and down and has wheels on it, it makes for an excellent tripod. Just set up the camera, adjust the position, and starting firing off shots with the timer.

Out of the mouths of babes...

2009-07-13T15:17:00.000-05:00

With the arrival of baby Emily, we've had some pretty good laughs around here. Some of them have just been sleep-deprived giggles but some of them have been gut-busting laughs. Here's some of the stuff that's kept us going...

1. When I brought the kids to the hospital on Friday evening to see mom and meet Emily, Cindy asked the kids what they did all day and they recalled how they had colored, played soccer, had mac-and-cheese for lunch, and so on. Then Andrew, obviously working on his conversation skills, looked at Cindy and innocently asked, "What did you do today?"

2. Later that evening the kids were fawning over their little sister when Josh jumped in the fray and asked "Can I pet her?"

3. After a nice visit at the hospital I brought the three older kids home and put them to bed. I had a nice chat with Katie about the day and asked if she had any questions about mom or the new baby. She paused thoughtfully and asked "So is there a force field in mommy's stomach or what?" I was pretty confused by her question but took a few minutes to tease out what she was thinking. With a bit of patience I learned she was thinking that if food goes in mommy's belly and the baby is also in mommy's belly, then there must be a force field in mommy's stomach that keeps the food off the baby. I did my best to explain the difference and I think she got it. No force field required, but anybody who has witnessed birth knows there is something supernatural going on! :-)

Announcing the arrival of Emily Grace Pratt!

2009-07-11T14:30:00.000-05:00

On Friday, July 10, 2009 at 1:43pm CDT we welcomed baby #4, Emily Grace Pratt into our family! She weights 7lbs 10oz and measures 20" long. Cindy and Emily are doing great and everybody is thrilled. We plan to have the whole gang home by Sunday afternoon and will hopefully post more pictures soon.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these shots from yesterday!

Blessings,
Adam, Cindy, Andrew, Katie, Joshua, and Emily

**Had we known our baby would have been born the day after posting a pregnancy picture of Cindy on the family blog, Cindy would have made me do that weeks ago!

Any day now...

2009-07-09T16:25:00.000-05:00

So we're at that 39-week point and hoping this little baby arrives soon and safely! We'll keep you posted...

Joshua turns 3!

2009-05-29T14:55:00.000-05:00

OK, so we've been pretty delinquent in updating our family blog. I thought I'd redeem our family for our readers with a post about Joshua's 3rd birthday. He turned three on May 19 and it was a wonderful day. He was very aware of his birthday this year and loved the presents, cupcakes and special attention from all of us! His favorite gifts were two new Thomas trains, a scooter and helmet, and a toy camera. Enjoy the pictures!

Josh's "pupcakes"--his birthday treat request!

We enjoyed having our friends, the Conleys, over in the evening to celebrate Josh. They gave him the toy camera you will see in the last photo.

Preparing for Christmas

2008-12-21T22:03:00.000-06:00

I enjoyed my 50-mile race and its related post so much that I've let it linger there for quite a while, but it's time to move on! Christmas is right around the corner and we just got a tree this weekend. It's a sub-zero weekend in Chicago so it took a day for the tree to thaw out, but we finally got to decorating it this evening with the kids. I think this is the first year that we've trimmed the tree with little ones that hasn't involved broken ornaments, so they must be growing up fast. :-)

And speaking of fast, here's a fun little time-lapse sequence of us decorating the tree. Enjoy!

I would have cried, but I was too tired...

2008-10-25T21:01:00.000-05:00

I did it! Today I successfully completed my first 50-mile ultramarathon on the trails of the Kettle Moraine State Park in Southern Wisconsin. I wasn't particularly fast (10 hours, 25 minutes, 31 seconds), but considering I wasn't even certain I could finish 50 miles at all, or within the 12 hour limit, I was pleased to finished more than an hour and a half under the cutoff.

Preparing for this event was very similar to taking on my first marathon back in 2001. The essence of the challenge is that you endeavor to try something that you're not entirely confident you can achieve. So much of life is so measured and there tends to be so little risk taken in the day-to-day habits of suburban living. For my first marathon I did training runs up to 20 miles, but anything beyond that seemed like a black hole, a no-man's-land, utterly unknown. That leaves 6.2 miles of risk, fear, and challenge. And let me tell you, for that first marathon (and most subsequent marathons) that last 6.2 miles is a real whopper. It chews you up and spits you out.

Now fast forward to this 50-mile race and you've got new unknowns and uncertainties, but on a much larger scale. I've completed about 25 marathons, two ultramarathons of 33 miles, and a few weeks ago I did a 30-mile training run. In case the cold hard numbers escape you, that means there were about 17-20 miles of "unknown" in this race for me. That's a long distance, and even on a good day on flat ground with fresh legs that takes me a few hours to run. So what would it be like to run 17 miles AFTER I've just matched the longest distance I've ever run in my life? I had NO idea, but that's the challenge I guess.

Rain showers were predicted for most of the day, but we were spared rain. For that I was very grateful, but we weren't spared cold. Temps were about 38F at the 6am start and I'm not sure they rose above 50F all day. Brisk, but I'll take that over heat. The course was all trails over rolling prairies, sandy pine forests, and hilly oak forests. Most of the trails had the dipsy-doosy ups-n-downs of an old wooden roller coaster. The fall leaves made for a scenic day both on the trees and under foot.

The first 10 miles were in COMPLETE darkness. We ran with headlamps and did our best not to trip over stumps, fallen branches, shoe-sucking mud puddles, foot-sized rocks, and mounds of sand. When you've done a lot of training in the dark you acquire a sixth sense of how to negotiate trails, but it's always interesting, and always challenging. This part sounds entirely miserable to most of you, but it's probably my favorite part. I was grinning from ear to ear in the dark, but of course nobody could tell.

Things continued to go smoothly through mile 21 where I got some food and changed from my jacket into a vest. The next seven miles were more challenging. Not as challenging as a normal marathon, but I wasn't drinking enough water and eating enough food. This mistake caused me to get really tired, a little bleary-eyed, and a bit grumpy. I rolled into Aid Station #5 at 28 miles, desperate for food and drink. I drank water, sports drink, 2 cups of chicken soup, handfuls of potato chips (yummy salt), and handfuls of M+Ms (yummy sugar). My awesome support crew (aka my wife, Cindy) refilled my CamelBak with water and got me fresh shoes and socks. The new shoes felt so WONDERFUL that it seemed as if I had been running on wood slats for the first 28 miles of the race. It's amazing what happens to shoes (and your feet) when you run through ice-cold bog water, coat them with mud, and run a few dozens miles in them. Yuck! Fresh shoes and socks felt like fluffy pink slippers, potato chips tasted better than fine gourmet food, and Cindy's kiss...well, you get the picture! I was back on the trail feeling very refreshed, only 22 miles to go!

I kept chugging along and noted the exact moment I crossed the 33-mile point. From here on out was uncharted territory for me. I had never run this far before, but it came and went without stumble or surprise, not even a trumpet blast from heaven! Then came mile 35, still doing okay. I suspect I could have run a bit faster during the day, but I must admit I was a bit scared. What if I went out too fast, completely imploding in cramps, vomiting, diarrhea (sorry for being gross, but they're all fairly common for this kind of event), or worse? And what if all of that happened 10, 15, or 20 miles from the finish line? Running 50 miles seemed hard enough. I didn't want to be a hero and I had no hope of winning, so I settled for finishing with a "comfortable" pace.

That strategy seemed to be working. Mile 35 came and went. Mile 40 came and went. The last aid station at mile 46 came and went and all I needed was a few grapes and a cup of cold water. I only had 4 miles to go, and I was feeling strong. I knew at this point that even if I fell and broke my leg (sorry for being morbid, but you're mind goes strange places out there) I could belly crawl the last four miles and still make the 12-hour cutoff. I saw Cindy one last time and started to pick it up for the last few miles. I passed a few folks on my way back to the finish and enjoyed hearing the wind blow strongly (like 15-20 MPH) through the trees.

I had one more mile of big hills and I finally emerged from the woods for the home stretch. Just three quarters of a mile back to the finish line. Cindy was there waiting for me, camera in hand and cheering loudly. My strong kick (and 8:30 last mile) made me realize I had sand-bagged the race a bit, but I was happy just to finish. I cruised across the finish line feeling like I could have run a few more miles, but not wanting to take another step. It was a very emotional moment and I would have cried, but I was too tired.

Cindy met me right away in the finish chute with a big hug and kiss. She probably regrets that now because I smelled like...ya know what, I don't think any of us knows what I smelled like, but it wasn't pleasant. Possibly not even natural. Definitely not normal. Anyway, I felt good considering what I had just done. There is something funny about races like this though. When I'm done I'm not sure which force wins out: being tired FROM running or being tired OF running. Either way, mission accomplished!

Before I'm done I want to leave you with a few photos and and several thanks!

First, thank you to my wife, Cindy, who is my best friend, my greatest encourager, my beautiful bride, and still the fastest runner in the house! She was an awesome support crew all day, supplying me with everything a dirty, tired runner might need.

Second, thank you to Andrew, Katie, and Joshua, our precious children that fill our lives with joy, adventure, and lots of small plastic toys. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers for Daddy's big race. You guys are the best!

And finally, thank you to so many friends and family who sponsored me for this race and helped me raise funds for needy children through Compassion International. My goal was to raise $5,000 (100 per mile) and your generosity helped me crest the $4,200 mark. It's not too late (never is) to make a donation to this great cause, so if you've been inspired, please consider making a donation at <https://www.compassion.com/contribution/>. If you do, please shoot me an email and let me know the amount of your donation so I can add it to my totals.

And finally, a few photos that capture the day...

A cold, dark start at 6am.

Alternating swigs of sports drink and hot chicken noodle soup. The body needs lots of sodium and other electrolytes for a race like this, and Campbell's Chicken Noodle gets the job done.

Swapping socks and shoes at mile 28. Red shoes make me feel fast!

The last turn toward the finish chute after running 50 miles!

Cindy, my awesome "crew babe" got me through the day!

Help Adam Help Needy Children

2008-10-20T20:48:00.001-05:00

Here's an email I sent to many friends and family this weekend. I'll post updates after the race, and of course you're invited to contribute to Compassion if you're so inclined!

Dear friends,

On Saturday, October 25, I'm going to attempt my first 50-mile ultramarathon as part of The North Face Endurance Challenge. I've run 25 marathons and two ultramarathons, but this will be the longest run of my life. Please consider being a part of this exciting event by helping me help needy children around the world.

Would you be willing to make a tax-deductible donation to Compassion, a non-profit organization that helps about 800,000 children in 24 countries around the world with food, clothing, education, and health care, including AIDS-related services? Our family has supported children through Compassion for several years and they are a trustworthy organization.

My goal is to raise $100 per mile ($5,000 total), and I'm hoping you'll consider making a one-time donation at:

<https://www.compassion.com/contribution/>

There's no easy way for me to track sponsors, so if you decide to make a donation please email me back and let me know about your contribution. It would be a real encouragement for me to keep going and finish this race!

Blessings,
Adam

I think I can, I think I can...

2008-09-18T19:43:00.000-05:00

We feel like the little engine that could...I know we'll make it, but it's been a long ride. My sense of relief comes in knowing that our contractor does excellent work and is very meticulous. That's exactly the kind of attention this siding project needs. They guys are doing a great job and progress is accelerating. It's gonna look incredible!

They started on the side of the house because that's the location of some of the largest panels. Now they're working on the back and it's shaping up well.

This shot might give you a better sense of the details. The Cembonit siding looks great next to the bamboo brow!

One piece at a time...

2008-09-16T22:15:00.000-05:00

After some record-setting rains in Chicago dumped more than 90 billion gallons of water on the city this weekend, that's right 90 BILLION GALLONS, we're finally back to work on the siding. The guys got the first few pieces in place today on the side of the house and it looks wonderful. It's probably not obvious, but the siding I'm talking about is the large, dark gray, concrete panels with exposed stainless steel screws in the top of this photo:

At least I think it looks wonderful. Cindy's still skeptical, but I think it will grow on her. This project, especially the siding, has drug on so long that I don't think she cares what it looks like she just wants it done. I joked today that I could wrap the house in Christmas wrapping paper and put a bow on top, just as long as it was done. Cindy didn't argue.

Anyway, we're in the home stretch and it's looking great!

A long, long wait....

2008-09-11T21:28:00.001-05:00

We've been waiting for more than a year for this, and the day is finally here! As you know we've embarked on a huge house renovation project over the last year and the last significant loose end we need to tie up is siding on the back of the house. The front already has siding and looks a bit more conventional, but the back of the house is being clad in a more modern, industrial concrete panel system manufactured in Europe.

So after months of delays for a whole slew of reasons, we're finally there. The crew has been here on and off throughout the week preparing for the installation. If the rain holds off and the special screws get delivered, we'll finally get rolling on what I think is my favorite detail of the house!

First the house is wrapped in a special waterproof but breathable membrane (think GoreTex for your house) with liberal overlaps.

Then there's dark-gray Trex decking material drilled in vertical furring strips on all the vertical surfaces. On top of that there are long rubber strips stapled to every single furring strip.

Then on top of that goes the concrete siding panels in a lovely gray color that the manufacturer calls "flint."

We've second guessed this part of the project a million times. Sometimes it was the extra cost, other times it was the exhausting wait (2 weeks turned it to 3+ months), and sometimes it was the exasperated looks from our wonderful contractor. I think everybody's tired of the process, but we're hopeful that this is gonna be the icing on the cake. If things go well here it's going to be an amazing finish to a great project.

First Day of Greenhouse

2008-09-03T19:01:00.001-05:00

Andrew spends every Wednesday at the Greenhouse, a wonderful local school that is both Classical and Christian. It's just for homeschooling families and it's a great complement to what we're doing at home. Andrew loves it. Cindy loves it. All around good stuff.

Now while Cindy does 99% of the homeschooling around here, I enjoy participating when I can. One of those times is the first day of Greenhouse when the parents and students go together for an "orientation" of sorts. It's a good time for the kids to transition back to school and a good time for parents and teachers to connect.

Andrew and I had a great morning together and then enjoyed a lunch date for just the two of us. All that to say that I'm sure some of you wouldn't mind another "first day of school shot."

First Day of School

2008-08-26T21:24:00.000-05:00

If you're reading this blog, you probably know by now that we do school at home with our children. It's a hard job for Cindy, but we're convinced its worth it and the best option for our family right now. Lots of benefits, lots of flexibility (especially since I work from home), but sometimes it makes for some funny situations. Just last week Andrew and I went to a neighbor's house to see if Andrew's buddy could come out and play, but his mom reminded us that Nathan was still at school. Woops! We forgot that our public schools opened SO early and we were taking a more leisurely schedule until after Labor Day.

Anyway, today was finally OUR first day of school and the kids were great. When the kids are asking to start school you know it's time. Andrew is starting second grade this year and will still go to the Greenhouse (Classical, Christian school) on Wednesdays. Katie is starting kindergarten at home and is very eager. Josh is, well, very attention-hungry and a real challenge.

There are some things about homeschooling that are the same as public school and some things that are different, but something that's still special to us is taking pictures on the front porch.

Our Trip to Great America

2008-08-18T10:45:00.001-05:00

In Andrew's words:

Last week dad and I went to Great America, an amusement park.

Our first ride was the merry-go-round.

Our second ride was the Hometown Fun Machine. It was really fun!

I liked spinning really fast on the Fun Machine.

Then we did the Whizzer, which is a small roller coaster. I was scared at first, but I liked it very much.

We did old fashioned race cars and had a lot of fun. I drove the car and dad sat and helped me a teeny bit.

Then I wanted to go on a roller coaster that went upside down.

When we were waiting in line we saw it go through two loops. It looked a little bit scary.

We also saw it go up and down a big hill.

We had lunch at 3 o'clock and I sat in the trunk while I ate my sandwich.

We went on a water ride and it was fun. We got wet when we went on this ride.

We did bumper cars and had a fun time bumping everybody else. Dad pushed the pedal and I helped turn the wheel.

After that we had dinner at 9 o'clock. We shared a pizza dinner and a funnel cake for dessert.

This is us riding the Condor. It spins and goes up high in the air. I liked riding it at night with the lights. I also liked riding it in the day.

This was us leaving the park.

We had a good time and we got home at midnight. I fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Squeezing the Life out of Summer

2008-08-18T00:25:00.000-05:00

Considering last summer was spent packing all of our belongings into our basement and ripping our house apart for our renovation project, this summer has been SO much more relaxing. Still busy and fast, but the pace has been a bit slower and we've enjoyed lots of special treats including frequent meals with friends, lots of trips to the pool, and many evenings (like tonight) at a local park. Just last week we had our annual pool party with Legacy, our adult Sunday school class from College Church. One of our families graciously opens their home (and pool) every August and we always have a nice evening swimming, grilling, and squeezing the last few drops out of summer.

Watch out Tiger!

2008-07-28T11:33:00.000-05:00

Last week I took the afternoon off work to take Andrew on a special little outing. We went to the local mini golf park in our town and Andrew and I had a blast. Andrew was an excellent student of my amazing putt-putt skills (laugh!). We got off to a slow start but he really caught on quickly. He jumped for joy every time the ball dropped.

Andrew tied me on the back 9 and even landed a birdie and a hole in one!

I'll leave you with this smile as evidence of how much fun we had!

Off to Jay, VT

2008-07-25T00:48:00.000-05:00

I'm headed off to Jay, Vermont again to run the 33-mile Ultimate XC Challenge. Last year I ran with a buddy and this hear I've ~~tricked~~ convinced my sister, Stephanie to join me. It's very difficult to describe what this race is like, and even photos can't capture all the terrain and insanity of it, but here are a few shots from last year to remind you. If we survive (supposed to be tons of rain and high winds) we'll post some pictures when we've recovered!

Hula Hoop is a Hit!

2008-07-23T00:49:00.001-05:00

Just last week we took the kids to a community concert in a local Wheaton park and they actually handed out hula hoops to all the kids who attended. Well, they were a real hit with the kids and I thought some of you might get a kick out of some of the images I captured. Andrew caught on quickly.

And he was such a good big brother that he helped Katie with all of her attempts. She REALLY loved trying.

Josh wasn't interested in the hula hoops, but he sure loves his brother and sister. Here's Josh giving Andrew a "big hug."

Peek-a-Boo, I See You!

2008-07-16T00:08:00.000-05:00

Actually, I don't see you, and you can't see me either. That's the whole point of this post! As many of you know, over the last year we've been doing major renovations to our home. Part of this project was an addition over our garage which includes four large clerestory windows on the west side of the house. These windows provide tons of natural light without sacrificing and privacy.

Well this is all well and good, but there's another window (probably 3x3 feet) on the west side of the house that was supposed to be frosted, but by mistake it was manufactured as clear. Might not sound like a big deal until you realize this window is directly between the master bathroom and our closet. Not wanting to attract undue attention from our neighbors, we've been living with a lovely paper shade from Home Depot to retain our privacy.

Well, the replacement glass finally arrived and our contractor replaced it today. It's just wonderful! Tons and tons of natural light, and privacy and modesty for all! Here's a peek of what this looks like at night.

Paris Review

2008-07-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

So I'm finally getting caught up enough on work stuff that I've had enough time to start working through all the photos I took in Paris. I doubt I'll post too many more times on this trip, and I doubt you're interested in seeing all 10 GBs of the images, but since many of you have asked I'll post a few shots from day one for now.

We flew through the night from Chicago O'Hare and arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris the following morning.

We saw an IKEA on our way from the airport to our hotel.

After a short rest in our hotel, Cindy enjoys our first French lunch, a crudité with ham and cheese.

Our first hotel was only a block from the Eiffel Tower, but after walking about a mile or so past the Eiffel Tower we got this great view.

We continued walking over by the Hotel des Invalides and were amazed by the way the Eiffel Tower really towers over the city.

Eventually we did make it over to Les Invalides, but didn't go inside.

Just around the corner from there is the Musée Rodin, which Cindy visited by herself later in the week while I was working.

I had a bit more energy than Cindy today, so we took a rest on the stairs in front of the Musée d'Orsay.

It was quite a warm day in Paris (86F), so we enjoyed walking by the Seine River.

Cindy needed a bit more refreshment, so we stopped for mango ice cream at the end of the Tuilerie Gardens.

After passing the obelisk at the Place de la Concorde, we headed up the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe.

Seven miles later, we made it back to our hotel so we could freshen up and head back out for dinner.

After dinner, we connected with Karl, one of Adam's coworkers, and snagged some shots in front of the Eiffel Tower again, this time with an amazing evening sky.

And Karl captured this photo of us at the end of our first day in Paris. Would you believe this photo was taken at 9:50PM?

Berry Picking

2008-06-30T22:59:00.000-05:00

We're finally home from Paris after a great trip! I shot over 10 gigabytes of images, so the chances of me sorting through those and posting them on the blog in a timely fashion are pretty slim. In the meantime, here are a few shots from our adventures this evening. Cindy was out with a friend for coffee, so I took the kids to pick mulberries.

Katie really got into picking the berries because there were a few low branches that she could reach. Here's Katie showing off one of her first finds:

The temptation is terrible: keep or eat!

A few mulberries actually made it home, so we'll have those on cereal in the morning.

Mom and Dad in Paris

2008-06-23T17:36:00.000-05:00

Hey kids,

Mom and Dad are having a great time in Paris. We miss all of you very much, but thought you'd enjoy these pictures of the Eiffel Tower. Here's a great photo of mom holding Andrew's picture in front of the real Eiffel Tower:

This evening we took a walk after dinner and saw how beautiful it is with all the lights.

Last, here's a nice photo of your beautiful mother in front of the Eiffel Tower.

We'll post more photos later this week, but it's very late now and I need to wake up in a few hours for a long day of work.

Love and miss you all,
Daddy and Mommy

Joshua is 2!

2008-06-05T21:22:00.000-05:00

Joshua turned 2 years old on May 19. He spent his birthday riding in the car as we drove home from Cleveland, Ohio. He is a good little traveler, so he didn't complain! Once we were back in Wheaton, we all enjoyed dinner at Qdoba, a great little Mexican restaurant, and then had birthday cake at home. He really liked his cake!

He also really likes his brother, Andrew and sister, Katie.

Lest you think we deprived our third child of a "real" celebration, we had a party for him on May 18 while we were still in Cleveland. Cindy's parents live there and graciously opened their home for a family party. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great-aunts and uncles, friends and the kids' great-grandma were all there to celebrate Josh turning 2. It was a fun time with family.

We love you, little 2-year-old Josh!

Cindy Qualifies for Boston...Again

2008-05-21T01:07:00.001-05:00

Just a quick post to let you know how proud I am of our speedy Cindy! We ran the Cleveland Marathon together (in the rain) on Sunday morning and she had a stellar race. I paced her through 20 miles on her way to qualifying for the Boston Marathon for the second time. She finished with an awesome PR of 3:37:44 and ran really well.

I, on the other hand, finished a few minutes behind her at 3:44:04. I wish I could have finished with her, but I account for my slowness by remembering that this was my third marathon in three states in five weeks. I don't have any photos from the actual race because I wouldn't sacrifice a camera to all the rain we had that day, but I do have this snapshot from after the race:

Congratulations, babe!

Attack of the Monster Bugs

2008-05-09T23:09:00.001-05:00

A cool new bugs exhibit recently opened at the nearby Morton Arboretum and the kids have already been twice. Instead of tiny little bugs, these are HUGE insect models made mostly out of wood and they're just beautiful. It's a great learning experience for the kids, and a great photo opp for dad!

We started with some nice shots by the tulips.

I was able to get both Katie and Andrew, but Josh just couldn't stand still.

Then we say our first bug, a praying mantis, right by the front entrance:

Next we found these GIANT ants:

There are a total of 12 different bugs on display, including a dragonfly, spiders, and a grasshopper. This damselfly was one of our favorites:

Josh wasn't as interested in the bugs as he was in his own pockets.

Adam Wins Newspaper Photo Contest

2008-05-05T21:29:00.000-05:00

I'm still catching my breath from a CRAZY month of work travel, but when I returned home on Sunday there was a special treat waiting for me in our Sunday paper. I recently submitted a vacation photo to our newspaper's monthly photo contest with very low expectations, so I was delighted when their photo editor selected my submission as the winner of the month! Check out the full story.

John Muir Marathon Recap

2008-04-14T13:39:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm recovered from last weekend's marathon I want to share some photos from the race.

The race starts on the beach, just a few feet from the Pacific Ocean.

Turning around, this is the view from the start line, over the beach, and up into the mountains where we would run the rest of the race.

We ran a few hundred feet on a side street to get to the trails, and the rest of the race was off-road. We started on the famous Dipsea Trail and ran through Golden Gate Park, the John Muir Woods, and Mount Tamalpais Park.

The sun was HOT and the trails were STEEP!

Within ten minutes this was the view from the trail back to the beach where we started.

Once we got into the woods it was much cooler and offered nice shade. Running through the redwoods, across streams, and by waterfalls was an amazing experience.

I've run a lot of interesting marathons, but this is the first marathon I've done that included a LADDER on the course!

Coming down the last few miles of trails I stumbled upon this heart-warming sign.

The hills and heat were tough on me, but it was a great experience. Here's one of my favorite shots from the day which is a nice panoramic shot o the trail on the side of the mountains overlooking the ocean. You can see the trail on my left and right cutting across the ridge. Click the thumbnail below for a larger, interactive version in a new window.

One TOUGH Marathon

2008-04-13T00:15:00.000-05:00

Today's race was QUITE challenging. I'm not sure if it was all the elevation change, the tricky footing, or the 86F heat, but I had a tough time with today's marathon in the John Muir Woods of northern California. I finished, but it wasn't pretty. It took a little over 5 hours and my feet are tender and my skin is burned like a lobster. On a positive note, my legs aren't tired at ALL. In fact, it feels like I didn't run at all. Then again, considering how much I walked today maybe that's more true than I wish. :-(

Anyway, I'm beat and I'm going to bed. I'll post more photos later, but for now I'll leave you with this beautiful pano shot I captured around mile 14. Click the small image below for an interactive version with amazing zoom capabilities. Enjoy!

[Opens in new window.]

Another Marathon, Another State

2008-04-12T00:17:00.000-05:00

I have to go to California this week for work, and I'm managing to squeeze in another marathon in another new state. This time it's California and Cindy was gracious enough to let me leave town a bit early so I could tack on this race at the beginning of my work trip.

I flew out to San Francisco this afternoon, met a co-worker (who I had never met before) from our Tokyo office, and we drove together over to Stinson Beach. The road over the mountains was crazy-curvy and reminded me a lot of the road to Hana in Maui. Here's a quick roadside pano I shot on the drive out. Isn't it beautiful here?

(Click for larger version!)

Anyway, we arrived safely and even caught a bit of the beautiful sunset out over the Pacific Ocean. I had a small dinner and when I went to unpack I discovered a wonderful letter from Andrew and beautiful pictures from Katie. Thank you guys for being so thoughtful!

The marathon starts at 9am tomorrow, elevation change is several thousand feet of rugged trails, and the temps are supposed to be in the mid 80s. Should be interesting! If I survive I'll post some pix after the race.

Spring Has Sprung....For One Day

2008-04-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

The weather over the weekend was in the high 60s, and yesterday was just lovely in Wheaton. It's a good thing I captured evidence of it because today it's cold and rainy. It rained several inches today and we're expecting snow by Saturday. Spring was fun while it lasted, and here's proof!

The Name Game

2008-04-04T23:15:00.000-05:00

I took Katie on a little date this afternoon for hot chocolate (with whipped cream, of course) and a treat. While we were out we decided to walk around downtown Wheaton and take some pictures. We made up a little game where Katie had to find the letters of the names of everybody in our family. She did an excellent job finding all the letters and here are the results. Click any one for a full-size rendition.

Katie Needs a Little Sister

2008-04-01T23:29:00.000-05:00

No, this is not a funny way to make a pregnancy announcement. It's also not an April Fool's joke. It's just a simple observation based on the following photo of Josh after Katie played "dress up" with him. She really needs a little sister, or at least some more play time with some of her little girl friends.

Poor Joshua!

Automoblox Rock!

2008-03-25T13:42:00.000-05:00

We had a really excellent Easter weekend. Church services were great, lots of discussions with the kids about the resurrection, and plenty of rousing singing of great Easter hymns. We also colored eggs, had a bit of chocolate, and enjoyed some new toys that I found for the kids. I've been eyeing Automoblox for years but they're hard to find and a bit expensive. Imagine my surprise when I discovered a big stash of their mini cars in the clearance aisle at Target on Saturday night. I snagged one car for each person in the family and brought them home as a special treat. The design of these toys is just fantastic. The wood is incredible, the way they reconfigure is lots of fun, and the "retro-modern" aesthetics are just great. As many of you know, we try really hard to avoid all the trappings of consumerism and the proliferation of "stuff" around the house, especially cheap toys that just break before they're even out of the box. Our kids really don't need any more toys, but if we're going to live with toys all over the house, at least they can be quality toys with great design!

Below are a few sample shots from the kitchen table.

Easter Photo Bonanza

2008-03-23T21:43:00.000-05:00

We've had a very special Easter weekend and really enjoyed having people over throughout the day! Our Easter celebration started with or Good Friday service. College Church does an excellent job of making important services special with a very sensory approach. Our Good Friday service is very visual, and right before our silent dismissal in the dark they usually post a dimly lit banner in the front of the sanctuary. I managed to snap a shot of that on Friday:

Then on Saturday the kids had a great time decorating eggs. Most of the photos below should be pretty self explanatory.

This shot of Josh might need a bit of explanation. If it's not clear, Josh is attempting to eat a hard-boiled Easter egg, shell and all. He was VERY eager to eat the entire thing, but was easily distracted by all the pretty colors in the cups!

Check out the drip I caught on this shot. Click the image for a larger view:

And finally our annual family photo in front of the flowers in the College Church sanctuary.

We spent the afternoon hosting a dear college student and then had a small group family over for evening dessert. The kids had a blast and we enjoyed spending the day worshipping and with friends.

Glass Panels Installed!

2008-03-13T00:33:00.000-05:00

Part of our home design involves some creative uses of glass panels in different parts of the house. This is a real highlight for us and we've been looking forward to their installation for a LONG time. Well, the panels finally arrived this week and the guys finished the installation today. Let me take you on a tour.

This first shot was taken in our upstairs sitting room, looking toward the master bedroom door. As you can see on the right there's a normal maple door, but on the left we've used a frosted panel. Actually, it's two pieces of glass with a layer of white laminate sandwiched between. It's trimmed out like a door, but provides a interesting visual ambiguity between the two spaces, as well as extra light. The manufacturer says the glass transmits about 70% of the light, and you can see vague shadows, but it's otherwise very private.

The other set of panels is in the kitchen. We wanted a smooth, monolithic backsplash material that would be visually interesting and also very easy to clean. Again, we went with frosted glass because it also brings the element of "blurring" spaces because of the light transmission. This first shot shows our new kitchen at night. I really love the way the light leaks over the middle wall and through the glass backsplash. It's just how our architect, Bill, designed it.

This next shot isn't that much different, but it gives you a sense of the lighting variations with the cooktop illuminated.

The last photo for tonight is one more night shot of the kitchen with the lights turned up to about 30 percent. We still need to find some good pendants for accent lighting, but everything in the kitchen is very functional. We love cooking and hosting more than ever!

Stair Railing Going In

2008-03-12T10:49:00.000-05:00

I've been saying this for months, but our house project is almost done! Our glass panels arrived yesterday (photos to come soon) and the steel workers came to install the railing system. There were a few small problems with the railing so they had to remove it, work on it, and they'll bring it back later this week for final fitting. It was an exciting (and loud) day with all the work going on, and it was also a great day for photos. I mean, how often to do get to take a picture of a steel worker, a grinder, and a fistful of sparks...in your home?

Published Again

2008-03-05T12:36:00.000-06:00

The other day I received a padded envelope in the mail and wondered what the surprise was. I didn't recognize the return address, but I ripped it open and took a peak. Inside I found a copy of Signspotting 2:

As I thumbed through the book I realized why I had received a copy...they used one of my photos:

What a fun treat! If you're not familiar with these books, I recommend them for a funny browse. You can't help but flip through the entire book and laugh out loud through the whole thing!

Time flies when...

2007-12-03T00:52:00.000-06:00

...your home is under construction, you co-author a book, run a few marathons, lead a Sunday school class and a small group, educate your kids, and live in a small 2-bedroom rental. That's just a bit of what Cindy and I have been up to lately. If we can catch our breath, we'll try to post some pix and updates. In the meantime, here's a crazy little story from our November...

After about a year of consideration, Cindy and I finally decided to update her wedding ring. We planned to do it this past summer as a 10th anniversary gift, but if you remember, our anniversary was also the same day demolition started on our house project. Needless to say, moving from house to house and managing our crazy life quickly become a higher priority.

So on November 1st we finally got around to shipping Cindy's wedding ring (diamonds and all) to Karen Konzuk in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I was apprehensive to send something so valuable, precious, and tiny via the postal system, but my friendly local postal employee assured me that registered mail was definitely the way to go. I went ahead with the plans, said a prayer, and waited the 5-7 days I was told it would take to arrive.

A week passed with no updates. Gulp.

On the eighth day it arrived in Canadian Customs and I breathed a sigh of relief. Progress! I figured it might take a day or two to be processed through customs and then it would be delivered to the jeweler.

A week passed. No progress. Another week passed. Still no progress. I quickly went from impatient to frustrated to sick to my stomach. What was I thinking sending my wife's ring to Canada? Why was I so honest when I filled out the customs paperwork. Wouldn't it just have been easier if I had written "Small and valuable, STEAL ME!" on the customs form? Dreadful.

Finally on November 24 I spent several hours contacting the US Postal Service (useless), Canadian Postal Service (much nicer than USPS, but just as useless) and the Canadian Border Patrol (just as personable and helpful as you'd think Customs would be).

The conclusion: There's no good reason a small padded envelope should sit in customs for weeks.
My options: Contact the Canadian Consulate (yeah, I'm sure they're dying to help me) or file a postal investigation.

Basically, everybody I spoke with said the ring was missing and it was a lost cause, but for the sake of thoroughness I could initiate an investigation. And that's exactly what I did. It made my physically sick to think of the predicament I had gotten myself into, but I filed the report, prayed, and waited.

48 hours later I received an email from Karen (the jeweler) letting me know the ring had arrived safely in Calgary and that she'd be returning the new ring to us (accurately sized and including Cindy's original engagement diamond along with her old ring) by the end of the week.

Woohoo! What a HUGE relief for both of us. I'm not sure if the investigation I filed kick-started things or if it was completely unrelated, but either way we were quite relieved. Karen did a fantastic job with Cindy's new ring and she was totally awesome and patient in dealing with our traumatic episode. We had the ring back by the end of last week and we're thrilled with the results.

Here's what we ordered for Cindy:

And here's how it looks on Cindy's hand:

Next time I might buy a plane ticket to Calgary, hand-deliver the goods, and save myself the grief....