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Did you know that a 9 year old, Russell Capper, asked President Nixon for a day to celebrate grandparents back in 1969? Russell got a letter back from the Personal Secretary to the President, but it said that the president could only do that when a congressional resolution authorized him to do so. The founder of Grandparents' Day is considered to be Marian McQuade. She urged youth to "adopt" a grandparent to learn more about the older generation and all they've contributed. The National Grandparents' Day proclamation was signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 after a resolution was introduced…

We took a vacation to Annapolis this summer. It's a wonderful place to visit! This morning felt more like summer again, but for several mornings this week, it felt almost like fall. The air was cool, the sun was warm. After walking my dog, I sat on my patio with my coffee, planning my day. As I planned, I enjoyed the cool air, the sunshine, the dark green leaves of the trees blowing in the breeze, my tomatoes ripening on the vine.Summer is winding down. But there's still some time to enjoy before school starts and the hectic…

My favorite place to photograph is in the studio because the story we tell will be all about your expressions and relationships with no distractions. But sometimes you just want that outdoor portrait. Outdoor portraits work especially well for extended families. So where is a good location for an outdoor portrait?The most important thing in choosing a location is beautiful light. It doesn't matter how lovely the location seems, if the light is harsh, it will not be flattering on your face. If there is a location that is meaningful to your family, that will make for a…

When I was a kid, the closest relationships I had were with my grandparents. I loved going to visit them, especially when we got to stay overnight. When I was with my grandparents I felt loved and accepted. I didn't have to worry about making mistakes. Everything was right with the world when I was with them. Grandma Shirk loved birds. When I was a toddler she had two baby chicks, Cuckoo and Lulu. They ran around the house with kleenex for diapers. Grandma and I loved those chickens!We loved staying up late at night with Grandma Light playing games,…

School will be starting soon. It's always a bittersweet time. Time to start something new, but a loss of time you spent together as a family over the summer. You and your kids might have some stress concerning returning to school this year. Here are a few ways to ease that stress.Before school starts, reconnect with a classmate your child hasn't seen in awhile. Maybe have a playdate at a playground. If your child hasn't been around school friends in a while, this will make her more comfortable on the first day.Plan your clothing for the first day…