ONLY 45 MINUTES AWAY...

A day later

45 minutes away

A campus

A tragedy

A hopeful community

Reach out to those who hurt

Life is short

Savor those precious moments

HUG YOUR KIDS

Connect with loved ones

Have family time.

After yesterday's events at VT University, I realized how dumb it is for me to get frustrated over being late for work because my kids are literally hanging on me as I go our the door and they're demanding hugs. I truly WILL NOT take this for grand it.(sp) I will hug as long as it takes:-)(OH, and kiss your spouse like it's the first:-) Life is short.

Silly picture, I know, But we had fun doing it!

Nor'easter = W I N D Y D A Y !!!

Just a bit wind blown, wouldn't ya say! It's so windy that once I step out of the car my hair instantly stands on end!

Silly Socks

Thanks Grandma! (Easter came through the Mail) These socks are so cute! Here are the boys showing them off...

First I thought the animals went on the bottom( I guess so I could photograph them better) but obviously are meant to be seen on top:-)

These socks started out the size of my kids fist and then you put them in water for a bit and they unravel(sp?) ...then you can put them in the dryer.

I kinda adopted the alligator socks from Nick...He said he didn't want to wear them but Im sure he will in time:-)

Easter Recap...

All dressed in blues! You can't see it but Chad is wearing Khakis!! Something he rarely does! And Lil'Chad wore his shirt with buttons with much to his dismay! And Nick wanted to add a pen to his shirt pocket(like his T.A.at school,Mr.Delcato) And well I just threw something together...Easter for me is more that just the glittzy attire, but it is nice to get dressed up.

We ate Easter dinner at my parents home and had a Egg Hunt for the kids! I had to make sure my kids didn't become the EGG hogs! It was so nice to be here in Va. for Easter this year.(don't worry Michigan family were be up there soon!)





And the "Easter Bunny" made an appearance and a quick escape...
Lil' Chad chased him around the house!

No training wheels for Nick and Friends in the Park...

Well, Nick finally gave it a shot and took off the ONE training wheel that was on his bike! It was like he just knew what to do! Take a look!

Video of Nick in action!

We also got to go to the park yesterday with my friends from highschool and their kids! One is moving back to California so I don't know the next time I will see her. It was good catching up and talking ! (L to R: Mandy, Crystal,& me)

I know we look silly, but Lil' Chad was taking the picture and was taking quite a bit of time pushing the button! And of course the kid picture on the turtle! Hopefully next spring we will get a visit from Crystal and meet again!

For a Good Cause...For Our Future Generation...

Ever heard of sixdegrees.org? Well if you haven't Check it out! It's nearing the end of the "contest" and if you could donate to this cause. The picture is not my son, but is the son of Ali Edwards, An awesome and creative "life artist"(a.k.a scrapbooker). I connect with her is a way, my son has had learning delays and challenges in learning but never diagnosed with AUTISM. Being around Nick's class 3 years ago I'm sure I came in contact with those who were diagnosed. WE need to find out what's going on and how we can stop the rise of this epidemic! 1 out of 150 kids will be diagnosed...and these kids are our future generation. Visit Ali's blog, even if your not the artsy type she has a way of inspiring you.

Com'on if you've ever wanted to give to a Charity,this would be the one,NOW is the time, do something good...I did:-)

Skidding tires + "busted" tire = NEW BIKE!

Well a typical day for us is riding bikes after school! As boys do... they see how far the "skid" will go and if it leaves a mark behind. Well , Chad has accomplished this and then some. Riding down the street he comes back with tears and pushing his bike to show me this . . .

Chad has gotten to big for his little bike which prompted Daddy to suggest getting a new one! I have never seen tears wipe away so fast in my life and replaced with a smile! Seriously in less than 30 min they were back from the store . . .

Well Nick on the other hand is just happy with his one-wheel training wheel( the other one fell off and we lost the bolt,but we found it again,but HE decided to have just one training wheel on) But this has increased his awareness for keeping in balance! He keeps falling on occasion but picks himself up usually w/o tears!

Sorry Ive been bad about not blogging...it's just so BEAUTIFUL and 80 DEGREE weather with a gentle BREEZE , who wants to sit infront of a computer?...(well maybe my hubby:-) I'll try to blog more and hopefully I'll be getting a new lens and testing it out and getting use to it before I shoot for a WEDDING in the future!!!! Stayed tuned.

Photo Thursday: WATER

A view from underneath

Nick's Pledge To The Flag..

I gave in ... I bought new markers for the boys, well Chad bought erasable markers with his own money. They are pretty cool in fact. Nick's were a buck and change. It was such a beautiful day on Sunday after church and the boys usually beg to get on their bikes! Well, with new markers in hand they chilled inside for a while. So I found this drawing by Nick. I remind you he's a 6 year old Kindergardener and is doing his best with everything. I thought it was so cute. Maybe a few words are mispelled(well like almost all of them), letters turned the wrong way, words/phrases missing but that's just Nick, he puts everything he has within him into his work(or atleast his artwork) . Such a special kid!

Lunar Eclipse

This is basically what we saw last night. I didn't take these pictures...night photography is tricky for me. We headed up to our church's parking lot to get a closer , unobstructed view. It was kinda cloudy and thought it was behind clouds...We couldnt even find the moon! We decided to go ahead and leave and I turned around to see if I could see anything and I noticed a faint, orangy image just cresting over the mountain! (I think one of the parking lot lights was in our way before) So we got out Lil' Chad's telescope and set it up. By the time we noticed it, it was in it's totallity and moving out of its eclipse. Still, it was so cool to see and experience with the little fam. and Chad especially! By the time we got home and settled we looked again and Nicholas said it looks like someone took a bite out of a moon cookie! Well, maybe I'll have my own picture next time when it happens again in August.

Photo Thursday Challenge: "Entrance"

Studio Friday: Quoted!

This week's topic for Friday February 23rd suggested by Robyn: QUOTED!
"Quotes are so inspiring. They give us comfort in rough times or the push we need to overcome our obstacles or fears. They enlighten us and give clarity and "A-ha's". Some we keep around for a life time and let them guide us, others we forget about. We work with them maybe or pass them on to others."~ Robyn
What is your favourite quote or quotes? How do they inspire you as an artist? Have they guided you on your way? Where in your studio do you keep them/ Maybe you have a journal that is specifically for you quotes and that you write them in so you don't forget and can easily look at them again? Where in your studio do you display your favourite quote?

I have few favorite quotes that inspire me. I may not have a picture or photograph to go with these but these have kept me going in my persuit of my passion for photogaphy...

"The minute you begin to do what you really want to do, it's really a different kind of life."-Buckminster Fuller

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it. -William Arthur Ward

Photograph your memories and you will live life twice-Alice Paul

Find ART in the everyday.-Banana Republic Campaign

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single talent left, and used everything you gave me."-Erma Bomback

I keep these in my "Artsy" book/journal but I need post them in my studio where I can see them constantly and inspire me when I get in a rut.

Waterpark @ Massanutten Ski Resort...a FUN Birthday Gift!

We usually plan to go somewhere for a birthday. This year I decided I wanted to go to an indoor waterpark at Massanutten Ski Resort in VA. We had so much fun! I was so proud of the kids actually getting totally soaked at the little slides and getting sprayed! And lil"Chad went down the BIG slides on a double tube with daddy! SO brave! The kids asked me what my favorite thing was at the park....I told them, seeing them with huge smiles on their faces and all the fun they were having...Priceless! Well I can surly say I am definately NOT 18 anymore! My SORE body reminded me the next morning that yes, Kendra you are OLDER!

Valentine's Day: First "Crush"...

Isn't this so cute! This is a specialized Valentine for one of Nick's classmates. It's a person on a bike delivering a flower on Valentine's Day. (such detail in the bike!) Anyway check this out too... Love is in the air:-)

Happy Valentine's Day Everybody!

Something NEW...(look at the top of my blog)

YES! FINALLY after pulling my brains out to figure out how to put picture as your blog header/title...I finally figured it out, only after 5 months or so! The sad thing is I had to go to another blog called "Blogging For Dummies" and read up on it...I found it quite easy and Im still learning so you probably see the image change quite often!

SNOW ! - NO SCHOOL ! - DAY OFF WORK ! ...

Ahhh! Finally some decent snowfall here! Only 3 inches or so but enough to go SLEDDING!! I have such fun and great memories of going out in the snow when I was a kid.We always headed over to the hill we called "Kill Hill". When you're little everything seems so much bigger and grand! I look at it now and it looks so small!
We headed over to the Park where we go to our favorite hills...Lil chad and I named it "Museum Hill" because it's on the side of the park near the museum. Hopefully I'll be able to load up some video too! If it doesn't work, bare with me...still learning.:-)




Watch VIDEO.
More VIDEO!

Studio Friday: PORTFOLIO !!

EDIT: I changed stuff around and you may have to visit entire blog to check out my Photography slideshow/Portfolio:-)

This week's topic for Friday February 2nd suggested by Jo: PORTFOLIO!
"I've never put one together. I would be very interested to see and hear what everyone else has as a portfolio and what makes up one"~ Jo

Okay...I was a studio art major in college, so I know a bit about portfolios. During the semesters I was engrossed in photography it all came down to the final portfolio. It was a great time to see others' works and get the "constructive criticism"that was needed. I learned only to compile images that were best of the best, made sure it showed your style and began and ended with your "attention getters" or something that the viewer would remember. They say your impression of people is concluded by the "first and last". Believe it or not I still have that college portfolio. Since then and recently I keep images on a cd-like a digital portfolio. Those who visit my blog frequently(friends and family) may have seen some of these images on my sidebar slideshow , maybe you'll see something different or something you like?? A print maybe?( A fee of course, gotta make a little profit:-) Let me know if you're interested :-)

Edit: If you're visiting my entire blog...I posted this "slide show" on every post by accident...still learning html/template and etc. bare with me:-)

An AMAZING GOD WE HAVE !

Everytime I see footprints in the sand I think of only one set of prints( even though this pic I took shows more). I visualize God carrying me though the rough times in my life and also as He walks closely by my side.


As a blogger I've come across blogs of those I went to college with. I check up to see what's going on, how their families grow and where they live and etc. Well over the weekend I came across horrific news of a fellow Alumni, Josh Buck. While attending I.W.U in Indiana I remember this guy with really red hair, sang in the University's Choral and even in a small group,I think and even saw him in a few Art classes! He found his future wife, Shelly while attending there.
Here comes the sad news... He was vacationing in Cancun and was in a diving/swimming accident and suffered a spinal cord injury to the neck. He was evacuated to Miami where he is now. Read how this amazing story is unfolding and see the miracle God is preforming in front of our eyes. I read updates daily and find myself shedding tears of joy and praise to see what he is doing not only for him but the community he is a part of(back in Michigan) and leaving the doctors is awe! Check out this site for updates:
http://www.greenhouseministries.org/
Please PRAY Josh and EVERYBODY involved. Even if you stop by my blog and read this and don't know him, send out a prayer for him...wouldn't you want somebody to pray for you in time of need?

WINTER MIX INSPIRATION ...

It's been a while since I picked up my knitting needles! Since it is winter time and it's actually producing a winter mix outside(and not 70 degrees like last weekend!) I had yarns calling me to make something! I'm such the novice when it comes to knitting . I keep to the basic garter stitch, stockinette stitch, and still trying to figure out the "seed stitch". I have yet to use my Briar Rose Fibers ! So wanting to use the seed stitch with that..I just get real confused knitting the purls and purling the knits! UGGG! So anyway, here is what we are dealing with today, as we watch the sleet/freezing rain/itsy-bitsy snowflakes fall and form a layer of ICE! I have a feeling there will be no school tomorrow for the kids... as for me, I work at a mall that never closes unless there's a foot of snow! We'll see...

Studio Friday: Inspiring DREAM Studio...

This week's topic for Friday January 19th suggested by mereteveian: INSPIRING DREAM STUDIO!
""We get to see these wonderful studios, - how about not showing our own, but choose among the great studios we know about now? Tell us a little about why you like this studio, what you would like to do if you could work there for a day as it was your own, and, - if it is so, - you have learned from this studio/ artist?"~ mereteveian

To be truely honest this is my Darkroom dream studio! I know we are in the digital age but I really love the process of traditional photography! Knowing that YOU made a piece of work from start to finish!
I would(and could) spend countless hours in this studio creating traditional silver gelatin black and white prints! I learned all the traditional techniques in college and had the time of my life! I would also love to work with Polaroid transfers and Emulsion transfer art. That is where I would take to my PotteryBarn style "dry" studio. So much more organized that what I have. And I would love to have an area for my "digital" photography . Lots of counter space! Storage and well a picture can speak for itself!