Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
16 December 2013
Kalia - 18 months
Our baby is finally old enough to go to nursery! She did really good for her first day. She got scared when one of the other kids started crying, but other than that it was a success!
05 December 2013
Senior Pictures!
Can't believe this girl is a Senior! She only has a few months left in high school and then she is planning on attending BYU-I. (Application is in...waiting on an acceptance letter!) She is an amazing, beautiful, talented, artistic, smart, athletic girl and I'm so grateful I've been able to watch her grow from a tiny infant into a wonderful young woman. Love you B!! (I had to put off taking her xcountry/track pictures since it got too cold. I'll take them in the spring when it's warmer). =)
02 November 2013
School Pictures
I have been waiting for weeks for the leaves to change colors so I could take the kids's school pictures! We haven't experienced full blown autumn weather for probably 12 years and I was genuinely excited to see the trees burst into color! Alaska has two seasons (winter and not winter) and Hawaii only has one (springish summer).
I remember last time we lived here, that Virginia has some amazing and beautiful fall colors this time of year. What I didn't anticipate (or remember, I guess) is that when the trees turn all these beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown, the weather gets cold and it rains a lot! I started to doubt if I was going to get any pictures where my kids weren't wearing coats and donning pink noses. Luckily, the past three days have been overcast and 70 degrees, which are perfect photography conditions!
You will notice that Brooklin is missing from this post. She is a senior this year, and we have only been to one of the three locations I want to go to take her senior pictures. The ones we did today are great...but no sneak peeks yet. Caleb is a sophomore this year, London is in 8th grade, Isaiah is in 6th grade, and Kalia is sassy...and sixteen months old! I took these pictures about 2 blocks from my house in an empty sloping lot between houses. I'm so excited that I didn't miss out on capturing these amazing colors...and my awesome kids.
And here are some of the trees around the neighborhood! It is so beautiful here!!
I remember last time we lived here, that Virginia has some amazing and beautiful fall colors this time of year. What I didn't anticipate (or remember, I guess) is that when the trees turn all these beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown, the weather gets cold and it rains a lot! I started to doubt if I was going to get any pictures where my kids weren't wearing coats and donning pink noses. Luckily, the past three days have been overcast and 70 degrees, which are perfect photography conditions!
You will notice that Brooklin is missing from this post. She is a senior this year, and we have only been to one of the three locations I want to go to take her senior pictures. The ones we did today are great...but no sneak peeks yet. Caleb is a sophomore this year, London is in 8th grade, Isaiah is in 6th grade, and Kalia is sassy...and sixteen months old! I took these pictures about 2 blocks from my house in an empty sloping lot between houses. I'm so excited that I didn't miss out on capturing these amazing colors...and my awesome kids.
And here are some of the trees around the neighborhood! It is so beautiful here!!
14 June 2013
10 May 2013
10 April 2013
10 January 2013
30 March 2011
Valley of the Temples Memorial Park
Micah and Cori came to visit us in Oahu this month! On March 5th, we drove to the east side of the island to check out the Byodo-In Temple in the valley of the temples. The temple was pretty amazing...but I think the highlight of the visit (especially for the kids) was hand feeding the birds. All we had to do was put the food in our hands and hold it out, and birds would eat right out of our hands!
The Byodo-In Temple situated at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park was established on June 7, 1968 to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-in was built entirely without the use of nails. It is a scale replica of a temple at Uji Japan that was constructed over 900 years ago. The Byodo-in is built to represent the mythical phoenix, its wings upheld by pillars of stone. Folklore tells of the phoenix arising from the ashes to reflect the promises of hope and renewal.
"The Magnificent Byodo-in Temple" translates "Temple of Equality - not to discriminate" and is home to Amida, a golden Buddha unique to the entire world.
The Buddha is thought to be the largest figure carved since ancient times. Towering more than 18 feet, the immense figure is an original work of art carved by the famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui. When the carving was completed, it was covered with cloth and painted with three applications of gold lacquer. Gold leaf was later applied over the lacquer finish. The hall and all the artistry it reflects are regarded as representing the essence of the culture of the Fujiwara aristocracy.
The Hall is popularly known as Hoo-do, or the Phoenix Hall, because a pair of the legendary birds of good omen and of Chinese origin is seen perched on both ends of the roof with their wings spread and ready to fly away. The hall containing two wings reflects stability as well as artistic beauty.
The Bell House, called kanetsu-ki-do, contains a five foot high, three ton brass bell, called bon-sho (sacred bell), cast in Osaka, Japan from a mixture of bronze and tin, by permission of the government of Japan. It closely resembles the bell hanging in an identical Bell House at the at the Uji Byodo-In. The original is said to be more than 900 years old and to have come from India. It is revered for its distinctive shape, and the tone of the bell sounds a message of deep calm and peace, cleansing the mind of evil and temptation. The resonant sound of the bon-sho creates an atmosphere of tranquility for meditation that travels some distance. A soft wooden log called the "shu-moku" is used to strike the bell. The bell is customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha.
The Byodo-In Temple gift shop which is adjacent to the beautiful Sunra gardens, offers a variety of unique treasures, souvenirs and refreshments.
This following text is typed exactly from the information sheet and is property of the park...
...and the pictures were all taken by me
(so please do not copy or repost them without permission).
The Byodo-In Temple situated at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park was established on June 7, 1968 to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-in was built entirely without the use of nails. It is a scale replica of a temple at Uji Japan that was constructed over 900 years ago. The Byodo-in is built to represent the mythical phoenix, its wings upheld by pillars of stone. Folklore tells of the phoenix arising from the ashes to reflect the promises of hope and renewal.
"The Magnificent Byodo-in Temple" translates "Temple of Equality - not to discriminate" and is home to Amida, a golden Buddha unique to the entire world.
The Buddha is thought to be the largest figure carved since ancient times. Towering more than 18 feet, the immense figure is an original work of art carved by the famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui. When the carving was completed, it was covered with cloth and painted with three applications of gold lacquer. Gold leaf was later applied over the lacquer finish. The hall and all the artistry it reflects are regarded as representing the essence of the culture of the Fujiwara aristocracy.
The Hall is popularly known as Hoo-do, or the Phoenix Hall, because a pair of the legendary birds of good omen and of Chinese origin is seen perched on both ends of the roof with their wings spread and ready to fly away. The hall containing two wings reflects stability as well as artistic beauty.
The Bell House, called kanetsu-ki-do, contains a five foot high, three ton brass bell, called bon-sho (sacred bell), cast in Osaka, Japan from a mixture of bronze and tin, by permission of the government of Japan. It closely resembles the bell hanging in an identical Bell House at the at the Uji Byodo-In. The original is said to be more than 900 years old and to have come from India. It is revered for its distinctive shape, and the tone of the bell sounds a message of deep calm and peace, cleansing the mind of evil and temptation. The resonant sound of the bon-sho creates an atmosphere of tranquility for meditation that travels some distance. A soft wooden log called the "shu-moku" is used to strike the bell. The bell is customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha.
(this is the end of the information sheet text...now on to the other pictures!)
These next two are detail shots from some statues outside the gift shop
Small Buddha in front of the temple.
This was on top of a little gazebo behind the temple
Feeding the birds!
Full statue by the gift shop and a black swan.
07 January 2011
Venture Out
I sat down on the couch yesterday to read while the maintenance guy was here fixing our dryer door...again. I had wanted to practice the piano, but then the doorbell rang and I didn't want to play in front of the repairman so I grabbed a copy of The Church News off my bedroom floor (my bedroom floor could use some work...) and started looking through it. There was an article title "Venture out" by R. Scott Lloyd (Church News staff writer). The subtitle was "Ships must leave the harbor". I decided to read on. The article talked about people who had courage to undertake difficult journeys, and how we were meant to leave our refuge places and experience the "seas of life". There was a quote at the very beginning of the article that I really love. I found this picture Darwin took in Kodiak, AK and added the quote to it.
I've been pondering this quote all day. It has made me think of all the times in my life when I have chosen to stay in my comfort zone instead of having the courage to act or speak up or just do it. I'm not saying that always stay near the dock... but there are a lot of times I could have done something and didn't because it would have meant sailing out of the harbor. I hope I can remember this quote and have courage when I'm not feeling confident.
I've been pondering this quote all day. It has made me think of all the times in my life when I have chosen to stay in my comfort zone instead of having the courage to act or speak up or just do it. I'm not saying that always stay near the dock... but there are a lot of times I could have done something and didn't because it would have meant sailing out of the harbor. I hope I can remember this quote and have courage when I'm not feeling confident.
25 May 2010
I'm going to miss these views!
I went on a 5 1/2 hour hike with London's class for a field trip today. We hiked the West Glacier Trail up to the face of the glacier. The weather was amazing,the scenery was amazing, and I enjoyed every minute. I even got a pretty good sunburn on my forearms. Right now my whole body is sore and I'm sure tomorrow I will be stumbling around like a grandma...but it was so worth it!
The beginning of the hike we walked along the shoreline.
Some of the icebergs out in the lake.
Another iceberg
London hiking
This is a wild lupine. They grow everywhere up here...and I love them!
This is a view of the lake (and the visitors center) from the trail
The cloud you see in the trees is a spruce pollen cloud! It is so thick you can see it! Everything here in Juneau is covered with a film of pale yellow spruce pollen right now.
This is a little pond at the base of the steepest part of our hike.
The kids call this "The Cliffs of Insanity"
The first part of the climb. If you can see, we had to rest half way up. It really wore us all out!
Here they all are resting...and waiting for stragglers. =)
Second half of the steep climb
Here are the stragglers...and a view from the resting spot.
More of the "Cliffs of Insanity" =)
The west side of the Mendenhall Glacier. So beautiful!! We ate our lunch right here!
Ice break-up
Close up of the glacier ice
I think this one is my favorite!
This spot of rock was covered with ice last time we lived here!
All the kids at the glacier
London and Me...
...and Emma's head...lol.
This hike was great and I am going to sleep so good tonight! =)
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