Brenda's Photo Blog

Wow, time flies!

2008-10-08T20:56:00.002-05:00

I came to my site to see what my last entry was so I could see how far behind I was in my posting. Well, imagine my surprise when I realized it was in 2007! Oh my!

I guess I have alot of catching up to do. :)

Over the next week or so I will attempt to catch everything up and then stay on top of it. Suffice to say since visiting Maui (one of the last entries), we've done quite a bit.

More to come... promise!

Smile!
Brenda

WOW! Life is busy!

2007-05-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone. :) Just wanted to post a quick hello to apologize for not keeping up with everything. We have been very busy as a family and I'm trying to get things back on track.

Let's see... after our trip to Maui my son & husband did a long weekend for my son's birthday. Jim then traveled to California to work with his friend Derek on their music collaboration, Precious Wreckage. During all this time we were heading to our daughters indoor guard competitions EVERY weekend! And they are long days, let me tell you. :)

Oh... and I shot photos for a wedding in April as well. They were an awesome couple and the family was too cool. I'm finishing up their photos so that has been keeping me busy as well.

The last weekend in April we traveled back to California (except Aaron) for the 8th Annual Coachella Music & Arts Festival. That will have to be another blog, but to sum it up --- three days; 60K+ people each day; temps in the 100's; over 120 performances; and it was AMAZING!

I'll have pics to post by the end of the week.

Anyway, I'll get it caught up now that I'm back and getting things in order.

Smile!
Brenda

Whale Sightings!

2007-01-26T01:48:00.000-05:00

A mama whale and her baby were playing in the ocean when we first started our trip. This was one of the shots we got. They kept surfacing and almost waving at us.

Our first tail shot! We were so excited. Talk about an impressive sight. They were just so amazing.

We were very lucky and had many sightings. Some were closer than others, but all were great. Here is another great tail shot.

We didn't crop this one in yet, but if you look closely you can see that Mama is on the left and baby is on the right and both of their tails are showing. It was very cool!

Here is a baby whale breaching. Capt. Tom said this was a great shot to get. Yeah for us!

Okay, just as we were finishing our trip and heading back to the shore... this mama and her baby came literally within 200 yards of the boat. We couldn't believe it. Here is a shot of mama's tail.

I do think this is one of my favorite shots from the tour. Again, this is when mama was only about 150-200 yards away from the boat. You can actually see the barnacles growing on her tail. It was a really great trip.

We are having so much fun on this trip, you should come to Maui sometime if you can. It is an unbelievably beautiful spot and there is so much to see & do.

We miss everyone and can't wait to see you!

Smile!

Brenda & Jim

Maui is awesome!

2007-01-22T15:27:00.000-05:00

Aloha!

This was the dinner being carried over to be served.

Here we are just before the luau began. The weather was just amazing and check out that background. It's so great!

Can you see the mountains in the background? It was very cool to be right at the ocean, having the luau and then also having such incredible mountains behind us!

Here is the amazing view from our balcony. Not bad, huh?!

One of the five pool areas at the Westin.

We were able to watch our dinner be "unearthed" before the luau, they were telling stories while doing this, it was funny!

MMMMMM... it smelled good and tasted good!

This was one of many costume changes during the luau, which told the story of how the Hawaiian islands came to be and it's history.

A close up of one of the dancers.

They looked like pieces of leaves or something, but they sounded so cool. They would tap them on each other and also on their shoulders. They had a good beat!

More dancers!

Still more dancers!

Our lobby has this incredible water pond area stocked with huge koi fish & gold fish, swans, & these pink flamingoes! They are so cool.

This picture really shows the court area of the Westin. There are five pools & a couple hot tubs. It's pretty cool.

How do you like this lobby? LOL This is what the view is like from the front desk area of the hotel. This is the water area that the flamingoes & other things live in.

No grass skirts in this picture, these are made from some sort of leaf. They looked very heavy.

More dancers!

The other side of our view from the balcony. The mountains are just too cool.

This shot shows them a little better.

Hey, I'm having a blast in Maui!!!!

Sunsets here are just beyond words. I have many more photos of these!

Pink flamingoes!!!!

I hope you don't mind that these are a little out of order, I was trying to get them posted so you could all see them.

It is a beautiful place and we are so glad that we came It is certainly one of the best trips ever. We are relaxing alot and loving it!

Tomorrow we will be doing the sunrise over the volcano and I can't wait to get some photos of that. I'll try to post a few more later in the week.

We miss all of you and love you all!

Mahala!

Love, Jim & Brenda

Gina Alexander bags now offered!

2007-01-17T21:29:00.000-05:00

Gina Alexander bags are here!

Photos by Brenda has been selected as an exclusive provider of designer Gina Alexander leather handbags. These bags are offered in many styles & colors with several photo design options as well. We even offer some for that special guy in your life!

Bags start at $75 and can be customed designed with a photo chosen from your personal portrait session.

Mothers' Day orders can be placed up until March 23rd to guarantee delivery in time to WOW Mom.

I'm scheduling portrait sessions beginning in February 2007, so call to get your time reserved.

Smile!
Brenda

Happy New Year!

2007-01-09T20:11:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I took this shot of my kids in our back yard to give to their Grandparents at Christmas. Everyone seemed happy with them. :) Aaron was reacting to the rain that started to fall as we were taking the picture.

I hope you all had a great new year, I'm hoping 2007 is even better than 2006 was! I'll be posting more often and sharing images from different sessions so be sure to check back.

Smile!

Brenda

It's official --- Innovative is BIG!

2006-11-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

Well, Innovative has gone BIG! Starting 11/1/06 and going through 12/07 they will be having this billboard showing up in various locations throughout Hagerstown! Is this awesome!?!?!?!

This is how the billboard looks driving up to it. (Actually I was sitting in the parking lot to take the picture.)

As soon as I get pics of the Cruiser's & Matrix's with their lettering, I'll post those too. The Matrix is getting done today.

Way to go Jim & Jason!

Smile :)

Trick or Treat!

2006-10-30T20:36:00.000-05:00

Here is our little Pablo! He really loves the Backyardigans and was very happy to have this as his costume. Aaron was such a cutie!

Here Pablo (aka Aaron) was helping Daddy get the "trunk" ready for the trick or trunk. This is where Aaron and his other friends from MOPS get together and go trick or treating in the parking lot during the day, much safer & more fun for them. Of course he will still be going to a few houses in our neighborhood tomorrow night.

Aaron is all bundled up waiting for the Mummers Parade to get started! Sissy was marching with the band (she's in guard) and we had seats right on the street! He did pretty well with all of it until these little go-cart type cars came zipping by and all the drivers had those scream face masks. He wouldn't even look at them and when they were done, he said "Let's go home now Mom". I'll post the pic I got of her in the next post, I still have to get it sized.

Smile :)

Aaron's new digs

2006-10-29T07:50:00.000-05:00

Well, Aaron has found his new house. :) We went to a pumpkin patch and then a farmer's market and this little house was at the market. He was quite pleased with it. Inside is is play kitchen - he made us pizza in it. He had fun playing in the loft as well.

He had a great time with it...so much so that we wondered if Grandpa shouldn't build him one? Hmmm...

Smile :)

Greatest Kids!

2006-10-27T14:41:00.000-05:00

This is Christopher, he's very into snowboarding and football. He's becoming quite a computer expert.

Jackie does guard (rifle & flag) and is so great at it. She's also very interested in photography.

And this is Aaron, he's just cute. He loves to play football, we've decided he will be a quarterback and not a receiver, he just can't seem to catch anything! :)

They are all great kids and so much fun to have around. Aaron really looks up to his big "bubby" and "sissy" and I think they really enjoy it. They certainly want to spend alot of time with him!

Smile :)

Welcome to my blog!

2006-10-27T11:11:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! Welcome to my photo blog. As I go along I will be posting some of my favorite shots here, some may be formal & posed while others may just be those great moments you just luck into capturing. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos as much as I enjoy taking them, although I'm not sure that would be possible. You see, on a trip to the Grand Canyon I managed to take over 200 photos of the same giant rock. :) See, I LOVE photos! Check back often, leave any comments.

Smile :)