Ohhhh...so tired. But sooo worth it. We took the 6:12pm train into Chicago to meet up with
the Larkins one more time before they left to go back home on Thursday. They had spent most of
the day down at Navy Pier, so when our train came in at 7:27pm, we hopped a cab down there and
met up for the last couple hours of the night. Jim and I had so much planned to do,
and we just ran out of time.

I was planning to take him to Calumet Photo on Cherry St. It's my new favorite camera store,
edging out B&H due to the fact that I can actually handle the goods before you buy.
I like to think of it as THE professional photographers camera store. It's not uncommon to see a
$25,000 Hasselblad digital medium format camera sitting in the case. Thank you sir, I'll take 2 please. =)

I also really wanted to have them sit for a formal family portrait, but they were having a great
time on their vacation, and didn't want to spoil the mood by forcing the kids to sit, when all
they wanted to do was run and play with Ian. I know I should have let them be, and not bark at
them every time they got a little rambunctious. I get that way some times. I hope that's not
the memory the girls have of me.

The girls are so much alike, but with each of them having a very distinct personality.

Hannah strikes me as 7 going on 17. She's definitely the big sister, and while she's only two years
older than Hailey, she strives to keep that gap noticeable.

Hailey seems very happy to be 5. Her and Ian are the same age, so I think he connected with her a
little more than with Hannah. She was very friendly with Ian, so I can see Jim's gonna have his
hands full with her. =)

Staci was so nice, putting up with Jim and I rambling on about camera settings and such. We had a
chance to chat a little when everyone else raced over to get ice cream. I've always wondered if she
thought it was weird that total strangers poured their heart out to them when things didn't look
so good for Ella early on. She did. I just wanted to let her know that we felt very close to them
thru Jim's writing and photos. Most of the time, Margaret knows what Jim has posted for the day
before she checks my page!

But the highlight of my evening was when I got to hold Ella! She's so adorable! I held her while
everyone else ate their ice cream, and thru most of the fireworks. She didn't mind a bit, and neither did I.

What can I say about Jim? He's a great wonderful father and husband, and a great guy. I only wish
we had a little more time to hang out. Just to set up some lights and blaze away a few cards worth
of shots. I don't think it will be long before we meet up again.

By the time we said our good-byes, treaded back to the train station in a heavy downpour, and the
hour plus ride home, it was almost 1am. But it was soooo worth it.

Special thanks to Amber for working the camera here.