Virginia is for {Baby} Lovers

A week spent with the Blanchard family in Virginia looks a little bit like this:

The view I enjoyed everyday from the kitchen table:

 

Lots of book reading:


Rock-a-bye baby:

A hike to the Cascades with Gabby:
 

 

Spring!

Walks with Katie and the rooster and picnics on the porch:

Amazing blossoms at the Virginia Tech duck pond:

One Year Older and Cuter Too

My wife turned 27 today which makes her one year older and cuter than she was last year and this time. Here's a quick pic or two from today's corned beef and cabbage dinner festivities with our friend Anika and the missionaries. Dessert was some strawberry shortcake and a rather tasty chocolate cake that Anika donated to the cause.

The candles are 28 - 1 to equal 27.

A Resolution

One of the goals I made for myself this year was to try to improve my creativity in my photography by taking a photo each week that matches a theme word (or words) from a list that I randomly found online somewhere.  Well, I've been doing this for six weeks now, and I can say that it's even harder than I imagined it would be.  (I had originally decided on a 52 project because I knew that a 365 - actually 366 this year - project would be more than I could handle.)  I've learned that even with the direction of a theme word, I still find myself stumped come the end of the week (especially with these last two - tired and sleep).  Then Gregg suggests something witty and creative and I take a photo that I'm somewhat pleased with and then I post it.  Obviously he doesn't need this exercise in creativity as much as I do.  But I'm not giving up.  It's a challenge, yes.  But it's fun, too.

Anyway, the whole point of that rambling mess is that I want you to see them, too.  You can check 'em out at kimmas52.blogspot.com.  :)

Gregg's Latest Shenanigans

Kim keeps hinting I should post this here.  So, after a week of hints, I'm giving in.  Actually, I wrote that first sentence about a week ago, got distracted, dragged my feet, and was finally reminded again to finish this up.

First, I pitched an article idea to the NSAA (National Ski Area Association) Journal and was lucky enough to have it published.  In the end, it was actually made the cover story.  Pretty cool.

Then, I was lucky enough to get a short slot (5 minutes) to speak at the Snowcial conference I went to in Tahoe.  Covered a Facebook metric that lots of people are using but taking out of context.  Anyway, here are a couple photos reminding me how goofy I look when I'm nervious.

Bluebird Day

We spent our Saturday skiing at Ski Cooper near Leadville.
Gorgeous weather.
Soft snow.
Perfect company.
Doesn't get better that that.

Lady Grizzlies

Gregg told me to take the camera this week while I was visiting Logan so I could take some "action shots" at Ky and Meg's basketball games.  I did my best, but I've come to realize that action shots are a lot harder to capture than still lifes.  (I didn't just come to this realization - it was only reinforced on this trip.)  Anyway, it was fun to practice, but even more fun to be able to watch my little sisters on the court (even if they lost all three games, which was kinda sad).

So . . . here's the action I caught on "film":

Passing

Shooting

Listening

Posing

Smiling

Waiting

Fouling

Pepping

Thinking (?)

Coaching / cheering

These next four photos show Shuweii at the free throw line:

Swish!