Happy Birthday Mommy!

Today, August 12th is your birthday as well as the Drum Corp International Finals! I love you!

Edit: This just in Mommy! The Cavaliers won!!! (why am I telling you? I'll bet you're there with them!)

Portrait Innovations....

is perhaps one of the greatest finds we have made lately. When I told one of my co-workers about the need to have more portraits taken of the kids and grandsons, she suggested this studio to me. OMG!!! Quality, value and speed all wrapped up in one tidy package.

The portraits came out fabulous, the photographer was very patient with everyone from Brayden who needed a little break, to the adults (potentially me) who want to influence the outcome of the session. Even though the studio recommends bringing several changes of clothing to provide variety, we chose to do the very basic-blue jeans, white tees and bare feet to allow the focus to be on us rather than what we were wearing. (not that there is anything at all wrong with that - it just wasn't our intent with this session) They take on average 65 shots, then explain the process at a station with a huge monitor (which Robert and undoubtedly most guys go crazy over). The pricing is explained in detail and the running total is always visible on the screen (for those who are too shy or embarassed to ask). Once we decided on the package we wanted (8 poses) and a total of 4-10x13, 10-8x10, 32-5x7,4-3.5x5, and 32 wallet PLUS the actual CD - the pictures were printed within 30 minutes. Total price with tax? ~ $140!!!!

Check out this link to get a good idea of 'the flow' of the experience. Portrait Innovations

Here are a couple of examples of their work:



Becca and Noe, me(Sheri) with Noe's son Brayden on lap and Robert (Kenui) and Kawika









Bottom line? I highly recommend this studio for all of your portrait needs!

Open Jam, a first for....

Noe, Becca, Kawika and Brayden....

It's never to early to rock!

Favorites from Florida - Pt 1

The day I left Florida was Elijah's doctors appointment. We waited for awhile and he got a little bored.......














He weighed in at a healthy 8lbs 14oz as evidenced below.














Momma, Angela, comforted him throughout his visit...



















That was exhausting, Elijah decided to take a nap

This is wayyyyy cool!

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular!

This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.
Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m.
and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

Share this with your children and grandchildren.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

NOTICE: Aliens have invaded

We woke up this morning and much to our suprise we found this ALIEN! Please help us to identify this species so we can figure out exactly what to feed it!

UPDATE: We have manage to find out it's name - Akiwak - very strange.........

What to wear when it's 98 degrees -

Your swim suit of course! Where to go? White Waters Theme Park!

Come on in - the water's fine!

Take a swim with Becca and Kawika at the pool. Hard to believe that Robert and I have lived here for years and never have taken a swim. Today is the first day of a wonderful visit with Robert's two youngest children Kawika and Becca - look forward to more pix to document the occaision!

Tio my horsie!

Isn't it funny that just a few days with a few wonderful people can produce so many great memories? Nathan simply loves his Tio Chris, who also just happens to be one of the best horsie rides in town. Chris actually bought Nathan a fabulous stuffed horse, but he paid attention to it for just a few moment before announcing, "Tio my horsie!"