The top Russian pairs figure skaters and Japanese speed skaters have been using the ice at the Abbotsford Rec Centre to practice and members of the public are allowed to watch for free. Being fans of free Olympic entertainment, we took the kids and the camera.

The skaters were amazing! I’ve skated the same ice as these Olympians and it seemed like they shrunk the rink for them. The distance it takes me a minute to wobble around they could glide over in seconds. I found someone to confirm that the rink is indeed Olympic regulation size.

The 2010 Winter Olympics start tomorrow and I am looking forward to watching it on TV. There is something about people pushing themselves to achieve the impossible that is contagious. I always find I am inspired to push myself as an artist more after watching athletes at the peak of their career vie for Olympic medals. As a child, I loved watching the Olympics. Partly because I hardly ever watched TV so it was a treat, but also because it somehow made me feel validated for all the hours I spent practicing piano.

When the Olympic torch came through Abbotsford this week, we bundled up the kids, put on our Olympic mittens and participated in the historic event. It was a great evening. I have never seen so many people in one place in Abbotsford! The torch was carried into Rotary Stadium by Gerry Swan. Premier Glen Campbell, MP Ed Fast and Mayor George Perry made speeches. Plus there were performances by the West Coast Chamber Singers, Victoria Duffield and Aerial Dance + Acro Academy’s dancers as Hannah and the Inukshuks. However, the highlight of the evening for our kids was that each got their own can of Coke from the Coke tent. Here are a few pictures …

MetroCan Construction has handed over the keys to the Olympic Village and it was time to celebrate with the team who made it happen. They had a fun evening at the River Rock Casino in Richmond where everyone was treated to a marvelous meal, awards presentations and great performances. Some of the highlights were dancers from Aerial Acro + Dance Academy, a cake in the shape of the Olympic Village, a presentation by Olympian Victoria Brenner and then Barney Bentall and The Legendary Hearts rocked the house. Here are a few pictures from the event …

Earlier this fall, Jason photographed Michael W. Smith’s concert when he was in Abbotsford. I just checked out his website and he’s posted a gallery of the pictures. You can check them out here.

We had a great time meeting thousands of people at the West Coast Women’s Show at TRADEX this weekend. Congratulations to Andrea O. our draw winner! We have photographed her + her family several times over the last few years + are excited that we’ll be seeing them again soon.

Our business + display was featured on a couple other blogs. Check out these articles:
Fraser Valley Pulse
Marvelle Media

We have over 100 kids signed up for our Imagine art book and did our first session today. We are excited about this project! We are photographing about 200 kids in the next half a year + each kid will have a picture in the Imagine art book we are creating. The best part is the session fees are donated to Matthew’s House. It is a great way for us to document the kids in our community and give back to kids in our community. We are still looking for kids to sign up + you can find more information on our Imagine website.

I’m working on our October newsletter + it will be sent out in the next few days. If you’re not on the list to receive our monthly e-newsletter, you can sign up here.

We appreciate our clients + want to take an opportunity to remind you what you mean to us. We are offering a Boo Shoot on this Saturday, October 31st from 2:00 - 4:00. Please bring your costumed little ones down to our studio for a complimentary shoot and copy of a photo. All we ask is that you bring a donation of food for the food bank. This offer is open for past clients (commercial, wedding or portrait) and you can each bring a friend. Please call the office at 604-864-6339 or email to reserve your spot. Here’s a link to the pictures from last year.

Finally for those of you who are still reading this long + varied post, here’s a photo of some leaves that Jason spotted while he was playing at the park with the kids. If you want family pictures in 2009, please call us now at 604-864-6339 as we only have a few times available.

We are enjoying schmoozing at the West Coast Women’s Show. It’s at TRADEX in Abbotsford + we’re in booth #372 in the interior design section from 10:00 - 5:30 today. If you stop by, be sure to enter our draw for a $500 gift certificate!

Yesterday we took a break from our booth to check out Colin + Justin from Home Heist. They were fabulous + hilarious.

We also checked out the Forever Yours + the Fire Fighter / 911 fashion show which was entertaining as always. I think the women’s reaction to the fire fighters is as entertaining as the fire fighters themselves.

We are running off the door + quickly threw this together. If by chance you’d like to see some of the pics a little larger (wink, wink), leave us a comment + we’ll see what we can do for tomorrow.

Come see us at booth 372 at the West Coast Women’s Show at the Tradex in Abbotsford - you can enter a draw with a chance to win $500 credit towards products! The Women’s Show is on Saturday from 10-9 and Sunday from 10-5:30. Some images of our booth and the Friday crowd:

We are going to be at the West Coast Women’s Show next weekend. It is the biggest + most popular women’s event in BC! Come visit us at TRADEX Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford on October 23rd, 24th + 25th. We will be at booth #372 in the Interior + Decorating Zone.

We are giving away two pairs of tickets to the show. To enter to win, simply leave a comment on this blog post (if you’re reading this on Facebook click “View original post” at the bottom of the note) + we will enter you in a draw for two free tickets. The deadline for entries is Wednesday at noon.

For discount coupons, including $1 off admission, plus show information + stage schedules please visit the website.

The Voth family had a lot to celebrate this year. Don + Elma had their 40th anniversary + 60th birthdays, plus Don had an amazing recovery from a brain aneurysm. They gathered their family + friends together and had a great evening of celebrating. Here are a few of our favorite pictures from the event …

When my parents came home with our first CD player (they still use it), my Dad bought Michael W. Smith’s Go West Young Man (music starts 1 min. in) album to test it out. I grew up on Christian Contemporary music so I’ve been listening to Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman my entire life. Jason also saw Michael perform at Jesus North West when he was a teenager. So when our friend, Laura, mentioned that she knew Michael and that she’d try to get us hooked up to photograph his concert in Abbotsford, we were excited. It all came together about 3 hours before the concert. Here are few pictures from the concert …

Darcie + Jason meeting Michael W. Smith before the concert.

Brian Doerksen and his amazing band opened the concert.

Brenda Janz singing with Brian Doerksen.

Steven Curtis Chapman performing.

Michael W. Smith performing.

The cell phones came out when he sang Friends.