New Camera

Hello everyone. It's been awhile since I've posted on the family blog so here it goes. Over spring break Sue and I will be taking Brett to Las Vegas. We will be staying in a time-share about 15 minutes from the strip. We hope to go to the Grand Canyon and Hover Dam along with whatever else Sue has planed out.

I have been staying busy with photography, mainly doing orders from photo shoots from last year. In 2008 I shot senior pictures for people from Richwoods, Dunlap, Minonk, Fairbury, Eureka, Goodfield, Washington, Clinton, Normal Community, and Normal U-High. I shot every weekend last summer, usually 2 to 3 a weekend. I will start shooting again the week after we get back from our trip (senior football player from Richwoods). The big news for me is I bought a new camera, the Canon 5DmkII with the EF 24-105 L IS USM lens. That last line was for Staci who will be helping me shoot my first wedding in June at the Peoria Country Club. This camera will allow me to use my old camera as a backup, something I didn't have before, which is one of the reasons I've turned down over 30 wedding over the last 3 years. I don't plan on booking any more weddings until I see how this one goes and determine if this is for me. I've already started booking seniors for this year which is earlier than I normally do.

Sue has been keeping busy with her event planning business (Create A Scene). She just had an open house last Thursday night. They had 4 decorated tables that included flower center pieces and bridal bouquets. She did a great job with the flowers and everything looked beautiful. The pictures are of some of the flowers from that night that I took with the new camera.

I hope that everyone is doing well,

Eldon

Spring Break coming soon.......please!

Hi everyone! I am sorry that Keith and I have been a bit quiet of late. We are rather busy for old people, and get tired quickly. Can we use that as an excuse??? Actually, there is no excuse. We think of all of you often and love the updates on the family when Keith calls mom. Seems like everyone is staying busy.

We are very anxious for Spring Break. we will be joining Tom and Sharon on a NC beach for some badly needed R & R. This past week has been particularly tough. You may have heard about the Peace Corps teacher who was murdered in Africa. She was the 24 year old daughter of one of our teachers. Her mother and father were both teachers in the system here and very proud of their "Kate" (Catherine Puzey). It is difficult to comprehend such a loss. The faculty has taken this very hard as most of us are parents - loving and proud. I mention this as I would like all of you to pray for this family, Lois and Harry Puzey, this weekend as they hold the visitation and service for their daughter. Kate was an amazing young lady who was fulfilling her passion in life. May God Bless them all.

Thanks, dear family. I feel you near!
Love,
Connie

20 week sono (19+6)

I had my ultrasound today. We know one sex for sure. The other is suspected but uncertain. Both babies are healthy and active, estimated to weigh 1-1.5 pounds.

The baby on the left was very cooperative. It was head down and in a good position, and it stayed still all through the measurements. We were done with this one in 20 minutes and were sure (as you can be before birth) that it was a BOY!

Then we moved on to the baby on the right. This one was a booger! To start, it was breech and very, very active. It wouldn’t hold still for very long, so it took almost an hour to get all the measurements done. It finally held still and refused to move when we wanted to check the sex, and of course the angle was unclear. The technician *thinks* it’s a girl but says not to hold her to it.

It appears that Ethne was correct: a boy and a girl. Though it’s still possible they could both be boys. We are working on getting in with the Perinatologist where I will probably have another ultrasound, a higher quality one where we will hopefully find out for sure. So for now, the temporary nicknames we've been using, “Clark and Addison,” still work, although it seems “Perez and Zerah” might be more appropriate.

See, they usually label twins as A and B based on which will be born first. During my first two ultrasounds, the girl twin on the right was identified as A. Today, the boy twin on the left was in the A position. That’s odd, we thought. Then, halfway through the ultrasound, we watched in amazement as the girl reached over, shoved her brother out of the way, and slipped down into the firstborn position! They’re already fighting over who gets to be first!

We also were trying to get a shot of the girl’s head when we saw the boy’s hands wildly waving in the background as if to say, “Look at me!” Looks like we’ll have our hands full with these two!

Happy Birthday Mike

Dear Mike,
Happy Birthday. We need to see some of your pictures of the past year. They might not be as adorable as Zion's were but I know you would have a few like Halloween and and your anniversary. Anyway have a great birthday and many more. Love, Mom

Zion is turning 1!

I can't believe he is turning one this week (03/18)! He seems more like a kid and less like a baby everyday! Here's a video I made of the past year.

Mexico for Spring Break!

Cathy and I are going to Aqua Prieta, Mexico (on the border with Douglas, AZ) on Friday with the ICC/Bradley young group (30-some college students and 8 adults). We will be working at Brazos de Amor (Arms of Love) orphanage. We are going by bus and will return the next weekend. Please pray for our safety during our travel and our work.

Tim

32 and counting...

Hello Family! I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the birthday wishes a few weeks ago. It is always so nice to hear from you all. Things in Atlanta are going well. We had a beautiful sunny weekend in the 70s, the first of the season and a far cry from the snow we had last week. I am getting ready to move into a new apartment in April. I feel like I have plenty of time to get packed and ready, but I also know that I am one of the worlds best procrastinators and that moving day will be here before I know it! I hope all is going well with each of you and while I am terrible at posting on here, I really do enjoy reading all of the updates. Love to all.
Angie

Hi Everyone.

We seem to be a flying family this week. Crystal left for Texas yesterday. I think Mike and Faye left for California today and Duane leaves for Florida Sunday! Is anyone else on the way to somewhere? Duane has 6 days of meetings in Orlando. I don't think he will even have much time to get any sun. In April, Becky, Elle, Crystal, Kayla, Sandy Hoffman, and I are flying to Disney World to help Elle celebrate being 4. This is a girls trip and she told Sam he can't go because he is a boy! I wonder what she will think when Caleb takes Sam on a fishing or hunting trip and she can't go because she is a girl. I hope everyone has a safe and fun time or their trips. Love, Eileen

Happy 25th - Thanks!

We would like to say thanks for the Precious Moments and cards we received for our 25th Anniversary. Thanks for thinking of us and all the well wishes. We still can't believe it's been 25 years already. We must be having a lot of fun.

The picture on the right is from a little surprise party Faye's family had for us at Ed and Vi's.
Dot Sauder and Larry & Judy (Sauder) Hodel were also there to help celebrate.

We are planning to take an anniversary trip to California the end of February and the first week of March. That should be nice to get away for awhile.

Thanks again.

Much Love,
Mike & Faye

Sunday Morning

Dear Family,
I have a few minutes before going to church so I thought I would say hello.
Eldon and Brett came yesterday and put up the blinds in my kitchen. They
are from Mary and Keith and look great. I'm looking for new curtains but
they are hard to find. Colors don't match.
We have church potluck this evening at the fellowship hall and then our monthly
hymn sing. My time is up so you all have a great day. Love, MOm