DEA - Richmond, VA

Savanna and I spent last weekend in Richmond for the Dance Educators Association competition. It was a good competition and the last one for the season. She will be dancing her tap solo in the recital and her lyrical solo for Youth Sunday at Tab church in August. Her lyrical solo is "Never Alone" by Barlow Girl, her tap solo is Harry Connick Jr's "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey". She did a great job.

More pics from Brad

He went on a tour with MWR today. Visiting the Christ statue. I don't know where else these are the only pictures I've gotten so that is all I know about :-) Guess what kind of car that is! He took the picture of the ship from the cliff where the Christ statue is.

Pictures from Brad

Before Brad left we bought him a little Canon point and shoot. What a treat it has been to get pictures from him! Their first port call is Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Here are a few he took while on the ship coming into the harbor. I think the blue tint is from Brad shooting through the window in the tower.

Time in DC

I don't have a lot to write about but I thought I would give it a shot anyway. I got a phone call from Brad last week, he made Captain! We are excited about that even though he won't pin it on until probably September '09.

I've been busy with portrait sittings and a wedding. One of the sittings was in Washington DC. We took pictures at the Lincoln Memorial and also at the Capitol. It amazes me how beautiful our capital is. I know there are parts of the city that are far from beautiful but the area I was in was great. The family I had the sitting with was awesome, they had two little boys who were 7 and 3 and they were the best little boys, real troopers. BTW I know that is the Washington Memorial, not the Lincoln Memorial. I was standing at the Lincoln Memorial when I took the picture of the Washington Memorial.

Happy Birthday Brad

Well, after celebrating his birthday twice, once in TN and once this weekend his birthday finally arrived. A day we had hoped would not arrive! The day was wet, windy, foggy, and gloomy - matching everyone's spirits.

Brad's birthday dinner Part 2

On Brad's last day at home we went to church and then went to lunch at our favorite hot dog place. Josh and Heather ate lunch with us and then spent the afternoon here. Although we celebrated Brad's birthday in TN with the Ruckers we also went to dinner here with our kids to celebrate. We went to Bennett's Creek Marina Restaurant. I had envisioned taking nice pictures of Brad with his kids on the pier to take with him on cruise but unfortunately the weather did not cooperate so we wound up taking pictures inside the restaurant.

Ryan and his "pet"

Okay, the following pictures are not for the faint hearted (or people who don't like snakes). Ryan invited us over to his place last night for dinner. Well, he was providing the steaks and we provided the rest. It was great though, we played a little pool talked to him and his friends, met a couple of friends that we hadn't met yet (of the non-snake variety). I have to admit I was a bit fascinated with Sheila - the big one. Ryan has several snakes and although I still don't want to touch or even get near them I do like to stand from a distance and watch. Sheila was huge and creeped me out but it was like a train wreck and I couldn't keep from looking at her. I took the pictures with Brad's new camera. We bought him a little Canon point and shoot to take on cruise with him and we had it with us. Enjoy - err, or don't...

Ryan and his "pet"