Chicago Bears center, Roberto Garza teases Eastview Middle School seventh grader Brandon Kendall for being a Packers fan when he spoke at the school Friday afternoon.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Using a colorful umbrella a woman protecting herself from Mother Nature’s wrath carries her groceries through the wet heavy snow as the second major snowstorm hits the Chicagoland area.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Raquel Davalos of Hoffman Estates and her dog Fluffy brave the blizzard as they make their way through The Arboretum of South Barrington.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

A lonely snowman sits in a field in Palatine as snowflakes dance around him, soon he will be joined by others as Mother Nature dumps his soon-to-be brothers and sister next to him, just need to add children now.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Christina Gross of Gilberts gave birth to her daughter Emilee Rose in her 27th week of pregnancy. Now a little more than two years later the bills are adding up.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Junior John Aldana, 16, is one of several students from West Aurora High School who held flags during the funeral procession of Spc. Christopher A. Patterson passes his former school on Friday, January 20. Patterson, a 2009 graduate, was killed on January 6.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

John and Kathy Bosh share a slow dance to the Etta James tune “At Last” during A Winter Wonderland — 5th Anniversary Celebration of Creekside Lodge at the Creekside Lodge at Edgewater by Del Webb in Elgin on Friday night.

Patrick Kunzer | Staff Photographer

Amanda Klewin, 9, of Gurnee carves her name in a giant block of ice at Gurnee Park District’s Frosty Fest at Viking Park in Gurnee on Friday, Jan 20th.

George Leclaire | Staff Photographer

Kaitlyn Griffith, 6, of Lombard perfects her snow angel during the Lombard Park District’s winter carnival, at the Lombard Community Building.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels helps in the presentation of medals to Bob and Mary Patterson, parents of Spc. Christopher A. Patterson at his funeral in Batavia. Patterson, a member of the 713th Engineer Company of the Indiana National Guard, was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Photos of Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, a member of the 713th Engineer Company of the Indiana National Guard, were worn by members of the Patriot Guard at his funeral.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Fourth grader Justina Chua wears traditional Chinese clothes as she plays a recorder through the halls during the annual Chinese New Year parade by students Monday at Hawthorn Elementary South School in Vernon Hills. January 23 is the start of the Chinese New Year and marks the Lunar New Year of the Water Dragon, a once in every 60 years occurrence.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Kaushik Perkari leads other fifth graders as they wear the dragon costume through the halls during the annual Chinese New Year parade by students Monday at Hawthorn Elementary South School in Vernon Hills. January 23 is the start of the Chinese New Year and marks the Lunar New Year of the Water Dragon, a once in every 60 years occurrence.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Licensed Montana Outfitter Jerry Carr is surrounded by some of his hunting trophies at the Chicago Outdoor Sportsmen Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. A fully licensed guide, Jerry has been outfitting for 39 years in his home state of Montana.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

A Lake County Sheriff’s car was involved in an accident with a Fremont District school bus filled with elementary children Thursday on Route 60 and Black Hawk Trail in unincorporated Grayslake. A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy and two students were taken to Advocate Condell Hospital in Libertyville with nonlife threatening injuries.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Heavy fog settled over Lake County Thursday morning as warmer air moved in over snow-covered ground. The warmer weather also brought out dog walkers to the Lakewood Dog Exercise Area near Wauconda.

Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Renowned police dog trainer Alex Rothaker ate a cheeseburger with 12 slices of bacon and more than one pound of chili-cheese fries in a little over 19 minutes during a eating challenge Thursday at Bulldogs in Grayslake.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Third grader Dylan Haffner makes a cave drawing as students from Half Day School in Lincolnshire experience prehistoric art through hands-on activities Tuesday at the Rivershire Nature Center. Rivershire created the “Caves of Rivershire” which simulated the sensation of being in a cave.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Ducks skirt the Fox River as they move to another feeding area in Algonquin just South of the dam Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

GILBERT R. BOUCHER II | Staff Photographer ¬ E

Glenn Johnson and The Voices of Inner Peace sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Program Monday in the Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel at Lake Forest College. The keynote speaker was author and filmmaker M.K. Asante, Jr.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer