School's out for Summer!

Now swim season will kick into high gear!

Little Graduate

Yesterday was E's last day of Junior Kindergarten, and they had a little graduation ceremony at school for them. I t was so cute as all the little ones had corsages. They sang a few song received their certificates and then had some treats. I wish I could share pictures of the class, but I do not have permission to post pictures of other people's kids, so you will just have to be happy with a few pictures of my little graduate.





Here are the yummy treats we brought to share with classmates:

More exciting news

I entered the first ever photography contest held by Scrapbook and Cards Today and the winners were announced yesterday with the release of the summer issue. I am so excited to have been chosen as one of the winners!!! Here is a screen shot showing the winners. You can also follow the link above to the magazine and click on "check out the winning entries". Thank you so much Scrapbook and Cards Today and Hewlett Packard.

Also if you have a few minutes, you should download the magazine and check it out, it is full of great ideas and inspiration. Don't forget to check out the cards in this issue too, they always have the most unique and inspiring cards.

I have won Second Place in the Catch-All category of this month's BetterPhoto photo contest!

I cannot believe it, a second place! Here is the press release they issue to you:

6/20/2008

Photographer Heidi Brand of Lucan, Ontario, has won Second Place for May in the prestigious photography contest sponsored by BetterPhoto.com, the site's founder, Jim Miotke, announced Friday.

More than 29600 entries were submitted to the online photography contest, which attracted contestants from around the world and featured 10 separate categories.

Brand's stunning image, "Reflections of a Rainy Day", garnered top honors after being submitted in the Catch-All category.

All of the winning images can be viewed at BetterPhoto.com's contest page: http://www.betterphoto.com/contest/winners/0805.asp

The contest is conducted each month. Categories include Nature and Landscapes, Animals, People, Elements of Design, Digital Darkroom, Travel and Place, Flowers, Details and Macro, Catch-All, and Monthly Theme. Judging is performed by a panel of professional photographers.

Besides its free, popular photo contest, BetterPhoto.com also offers a variety of services: digital camera reviews, online photo courses, free newsletters, a discussion forum, Web sites for photographers, question-and-answer section, how-to articles, photo galleries, and more.

Photographers can enter this month's contest and learn more about photography at: www.BetterPhoto.com

Here is the winning photo:

Check this out!

Here is a sneak peek from the press release sent to the scrapbooking stores regarding the newest issue of Scrapbook and Cards today magazine.

I am so honoured that the designers created a cover layout using one of my photos, and I just happen to think he is a pretty handsome looking cover model too.




Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine hits your local scrapbook stores on June 21st. Make sure you get a copy as they tend to fly out of the stores.

Don't have a store near you that carries them? NO PROBLEM! The magazine also has a FREE download section for the magazine on their website.

Slip and Slide

Or should I be saying Slide and then Slip. Either way E and S had a great time playing over at my girlfriend's house the other day.










Tina was so kind to let me try out here 85 1.2 lens, and I have to say I am in love, what a great lens. Here are a few pictures. They are not the best pictures and I only had a few minutes to snap these pictures, and the kids were still sporting their wet heads and ice cream faces, but I think you can still get the idea. So sharp and great bokeh.



This one just makes me laugh cause of the angle, she looks like her head is huge! LOL!



Isn't he handsome! Sorry about the large watermark but I did it for Tina, as she had had trouble with people stealing pictures of her little guy.

Happy Birthday Grandma

Last week, my SIL and I along with the youngest great-grandchildren went to visit grandma in honour of her 92nd birthday. Gosh, if I ever make it to 92, I hope I look as good as my grandma does. Here are just a few pictures :





The four generation photo:




Little Mr S with the flower her brought for Great Grandma:




Little E with her flower for Great Grandma:

"The Bologna Bandit"

I love being able to capture those real life everyday moments. Today I managed to capture my DD eating her slice of bologna. She always does this, even when we are at the deli counter and the staff give her that free slice of meat.

Crazy Weekend Weather

Well we certainly had some wicked storms pass through over the weekend. One minute it was calm and sunny and then next the sky was almost black. Environment Canada confirmed that a tornado did in fact touch down a couple of miles from our house, but thankfully there was only property damage and no one was injured. We were incredibly lucky and did not even sustain any damage.

Here are a few picture of those dark storm clouds passing through.

I Cannot Decide.....

.........Whether or not these Freak Me Out, or Crack Me Up more.......

Either way she's got personality!