The Summers’ blog

The daily happenings in good ole’ WV

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Filed under: Photography — Terri Summers @ 1:26 pm

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Photography October 14, 2009

Filed under: Photography — Terri Summers @ 4:05 pm

I’m trying to get started as a photographer, and the process has been slow and tedious, but I’m learning!

I have a share-site up:

terrisummersphotography.shutterfly.com

and a blog about my photography:

terrisummersphotography.wordpress.com

I’ve really been working on my editing skills and have determined my style!

If I’m able to specialize in children’s portraiture, I want my work to be seen as simple, classic, clean, bright, and most of all able to capture the child as he or she is at that exact moment!

Here’s a sample of what I’m trying to describe:

 

Trip to Ky: August August 16, 2009

Filed under: 1 — Terri Summers @ 11:13 am

 

August 21-Aug 27  Brady and I will be coming to KY to visit!!

Brady will do most of the visiting, as I have 2 (possibly 3) Senior Photo Shoots scheduled, and Brady’s Future-Girlfriend’s 4 year birthday photos to shoot!   Brady’s becoming adept with his camera, so maybe he’ll want to take care of that one! :)

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I have to also squeeze in a girl’s night somewhere in there, and will hopefully get to meet my sister (who only lives in Owensboro!!).

 Brock will be home, working… fun fun.

But, Brady and I are coming home so that Brock can spend his vacation with us here at home in WV.

We have lots of plans!

We’re going camping, and hiking to a place called, “Spruce Knob,” which is supposed to be the highest peak  in West Virginia at 4,863 feet above sea level.  

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 Spruce Knob is in the Monongahela National Forest, which are collectively, the Allegheny Mtns.

We’re planning to drive up, pack a picnic lunch, hike and sightsee. I will, of course, have my camera in hand, taking in all the beautiful scenery!!

I believe either that day, or on another mini-trip, we’ll be taking Brady to the CASS Railroad museum, and we’ll get to ride on a train! :) He’ll have a blast! (If you remember, we tried this once before with the Day Out with Thomas the Train…unsuccessfully–but that was over a year ago…so we’ll try this again, now that we’re all older and wiser! ) ;) 

Lots to do!

We’re trying to enjoy every minute… since Brady will (hopefully) be starting preschool on September 8th. :/ I’m not so sure how he’ll handle that, seeing as how I cannot be physically more than 10 feet from him, without him whining and clinging to me. :) Brock is a little paraniod about sending him, because he never listens to anything but the news, and is beyond freaked out about the Swine-Flu and H1N1 virus that they think will turn into an epidemic, and will need military involvement with. :/ I think we may skip preschool & duct tape ourselves in until Spring…or next Summer. ?

 

Home to Kentucky June 11, 2009

Filed under: 1 — Terri Summers @ 12:55 am

horses

We headed out to Kentucky for the week before Memorial Day…

after an entertaining 6 hour drive

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we arrived at Granny & Granddad’s house.  Brady (once he woke up) could hardly stand to stay buckled until we pulled to a stop in the drive way.

First on the agenda, for Brock and Brady, was to ride on Brock’s new 4wheeler…

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and I unpacked and tried to rest.

The rest of the week was a blur.  We visited Nanna & Pappaw, Paw Paw, Jenn, Alan and  Brody, April and Shawn, and  as many other family and friends as we could fit into the week’s visit.

Brady was anxiously awaiting his first encounter with Brody, his first cousin.  He was elated to get to hold the little guy!

BRADY BRODY Picnik collage

brady and brody

Brady really liked Brody, and even asked if he could take him home with us. :)

Brody also brought out Brock’s paternal instincts…brock and brody

3D chalk and glasses

Brady had lots of fun in Nanna’s backyard.  She was ready for his visit and had lots of fun things to play with when he arrived.  3-D chalk was just the first thing he found.

But then he found PawPaw!  His favorite play buddy!

gardening

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feeding aflacBrock and Brady had a great time feeding a duck named Aflac!  He is a regular at Jeff & Anita’s pond.

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trip to KY may 09 194Brady called Granny from Anita’s cell phone…which he knew how to work perfectly. :)  

We spent a couple afternoons at Nanna & PapPaw’s campsite… and Brady made a few new friends: 

 

Kylie Littlejohntrip to KY may 09 221

Kylie & Brady became fast friends as we walked around the campground.

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And as always, Brady had a blast with Aunt Apey!

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We played PlayDoh, roasted marshmallow’s, and made S’mores!  YUM!

Our visit was cut a little short, when Brady became homesick!  I never would have guessed that Brady would miss being home in WV! Although the thing he missed the most was Brock’s XBox! Of all the things we didn’t pack!

So we headed home to WV, surprised that Brady considers WV home… but one thing is for certain, we will plan shorter visits to KY, and won’t ever leave home without his XBox again!

 

Mother’s Day May 15, 2009

Filed under: 1 — Terri Summers @ 6:20 pm

Mother’s Day this year was wonderful!

 

Mother's Day was terrific!

My Little Bear Mother's Day (09) 

 
Brady and Brock took me out to eat at Olive Garden… and a special thanks to Nanna for sending me the gift card to foot the bill! :)
my baby
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Sweet kissess from my Little Bear!!  Those hugs and kisses made my day!

brady bear

Getting ready for a wonderful dinner at Olive Garden!~

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Heading home from Olive Garden… Brady was perfect! That was gift enough!

My Little Bear Mother's Day (09)

 

a tiny scrapbook of Brady May 9, 2009

Filed under: 1 — Terri Summers @ 1:01 pm
 

Brody Duncan Hall May 9, 2009

Filed under: 1 — Terri Summers @ 9:35 am
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Happy Birthday, little man!

We are so excited you are here!

I can’t wait to blog about you lots more in the near future! 

Oh, and your cousin Brady is very excited to see you, and he told me that he can’t wait to play X-Box video games with you! 

You’re a very loved little boy, Brody!!

 

Brady’s First Time BOWLING! May 3, 2009

Filed under: 1 — Terri Summers @ 10:54 am

Early  morning on Friday, May 1st,  Brady decided he wanted to go bowling.  It was a rainy morning, I was (am) sick, Brock was out of town on a busniess trip, and we weren’t doing anything… so I  decided it would be fun for him.  We made the 15 minute trip across the bridge into Nitro, and arrived at Towne & Country Lanes with our “free game” tickets in hand. Brady was so excited he could hardly wait for me to find a parking spot before he was unbuckling his seat belt.

No one was there that morning, so it was the perfect time to teach Brady how to bowl.  

We got our shoes… Brady, a size 12, and my size 9, which were actually a little big on me. Yay! Maybe my feet are shrinking. :) The photo is of Brady’s first pair of bowling shoes. Too cute!  :)  Brady’s Granny loves bowling shoes, and has wanted a pair for as long as I can remember.  These make sure to let you know upfront that they are for “rental only!” So don’t even try asking to buy them, Granny.

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Brady was excited to pick out his own bowling ball.  As our game went on, he proceeded to collect as many bowling balls as could fit in our ball caddy (I have no clue what that thing is called, obviously.)

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The owner set up the bumper guards for us. Thank goodness! As every ball would have ended up in the gutter, for sure.

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Brady had the instincts to go for the “Granny” bowling form. 

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Check out the VIDEOS of Brady’s FIRST TIME BOWLING:

 Brady bowled my turn and his, and had a great time.  I was just glad no one else was bowling, so that I didn’t have to worry that Brady might injure someone!

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All in all, it was a successful morning.  Brady is ready to go back again, but this time he wants to bring Daddy.  

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Brady will keep practicing so that he might be able to beat his Pappaw Scott in a game or two.

 

Over the Top Circus! April 24, 2009

Filed under: 1 — Terri Summers @ 12:09 am

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It certainly was! I don’t think I have had this much fun in a long time! Brady enjoyed himself, but was a little groggy from waking up with the sun this morning, and being awakened from a nap about 2 hours too soon.

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We rushed into the Charleston Civic Center, minutes to spare, past all of the seemingly thousands of booths with souvenirs to sell.  Brady, of course, spotted a 4-wheeler toy that surprisingly was the cheapest thing they offered, at a mere $12.  Of course the plastic swords were $22, and a bag of cotton candy was $12. But it came with a plastic hat! What a steal!

I promised Brady we would buy the 4-wheeler toy AFTER the circus was finished.  BIG MISTAKE.  

The entire time, after each segment of the circus, Brady would yell excitedly “It’s OVER, Mom! Let’s GO!”

3 minutes into the show, he was determined he could convince me it was over.  4 minutes after that, same thing.  This went on for nearly 2 hours.

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somewhere between the tigers, elephants, goats riding on minature horses, trapeze craziness, motorcycles

, clowns, fireworks and tons more Brady woke up out of his daze and enjoyed the show.  

circus-amazement

By that time… it was finally, INTERMISSION!

We stood in line for 10 minutes and bought that darn toy.  Instant happiness.

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Next, we stood in line for the bathrooms for another 15 minutes. 

We then returned to our seats to finish the amazing show.  Brady had no intention of actually watching the circus until it was over, as he already had what he really wanted, and was ready to go home to play with it.

We missed the man shooting out of the cannon.  Dang.

But, I guess seeing the tigers, tons of elephants (no pun intended), 7 motorcycles in an iron ball-shaped cage, trapeze atrists (this is what I want to be when I grow up!), and lots of clowns and dancers, and the like… we had a pretty successful night.

watching-the-circusover-the-topbarnum-bailey 

This was, by far, the neatest thing I have ever seen.  I would recommend going to any of the Barnum & Bailey circus shows if you can!!

As for me, I think I’ll run off and join them.  I could sure lose my baby-weight on that trapeze.  :)

 

POTTY TRAINING! April 22, 2009

Filed under: Our Family — Terri Summers @ 9:49 am

polaroidpoop-in-potty-028Since it is Earth Day, April 22, 2009… Brady did his part to keep a diaper out of a landfill– he POOPED in the potty for the first time!!!!

Beyond excited, I took a picture of it (of course…) (insert the rolling of eyes here.)

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Brady has been promised a 4-wheeler or a dirt bike for becoming a “Big Boy,” wearing big-boy-underwear and no more diapers.  He knows that “Baby diapers are not allowed on a big-boy’s 4-wheeler!”

 But for immediate praise & reward, he got a sheet of coveted Monster Truck stickers! YIPPEE!

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And the very proud flushing of his first poo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I know it may seem silly to some of you, but we are so proud of Brady, and have been working toward this moment for a verrrrrry long time now!

I love you, Brady! Mommy is so very proud of you!