Back by popular demand, this is one of Edie Grace’s favorite camps of the summer.  They have opened up a few more spaces and I encourage you not to miss this.  Every child dreams of joining the circus (and a few mom’s too) so this is their chance.  Thanks to Tim Chapman and the staff of the Averitt Center for bringing back this amazing camp.

A circus clown camp is a unique experience to say the very least. A full week of circus games, learning, teamwork, performing and fun! Campers will learn chair stacking, stilt walking, balancing, hoola hoops, the history of comedy and circus, slap stick, makeup, juggling, skit writing, wire walking, rola bola, character development and, of course, pie throwing! 

The end of the week will conclude with a camp show on Friday, July 1^st at 7:30pm.  Tickets are $10.00 per person. 

INSTRUCTOR: Joey Thurmon & Crew

DATES: Monday – Friday, June 27 – July 1

TIME: 9:00am – 3:00pm

AGES: 8 years old & up (Adults are encouraged to sign up)

CAMP FEE: $100/ $30.00 per student supply fee

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED: Friday, June 24     Call the Averitt at 912-212-2787 or stop by to register.

(A few years ago Edie Grace was chosen to be featured in a full page ad in Paula Deen’s magazine for the Vidalia Onion Committee.  After this ad ran – strangers would stop us and ask if she was the Vidalia Onion Girl.  They have continued to use her image in other marketing efforts through the years.  It has popped up again in this feature story for Delta In-Flight entertainment.  We are thrilled that they chose Edie Grace again for this.  Watch for her when you are flying Delta this summer.  If you are not flying soon – you can check the video out below.  Edie Grace is at :43 into the video. Thanks WB for always thinking of your friends!)

GEORGIA COMMODITIES FLYING THE FRIENDLY SKIES THIS SUMMER

Vidalia® Onions and Georgia Blueberries featured this May on over 17,000 Delta Airlines flights

Vidalia, GA.  April 18, 2011. Starting with Vidalia onions and Georgia Blueberries, Georgia commodities will fly high with Georgia-based Delta Airlines this summer. The produce pairing will appear on overhead and seatback monitors via the Delta Air Lines In-flight Entertainment Network the month of May, a key selling month for both. Then in June, Georgia Peaches and Georgia Watermelons will follow suit as part of the four-commodity marketing partnership.

“For several years, I and the other commodity group leaders have said that we need to pool our resources more often to spread the word about these delicious Georgia products,” said Wendy Brannen, Vidalia Onion Committee executive director. “What better way to showcase nationally our products than putting them in front of captive in-flight audiences.”

Vidalia onions and Georgia Blueberries, then Georgia Peaches and Georgia Watermelons, will be featured in 2-minute video spots that the commodity groups helped produce. The spots air during an estimated 17,375 Delta Air Lines flights, seen on overhead screens directly after the in-flight movie by more than 2.6 million passengers. They will also be an option on seatbacks as part of the Delta Lifestyle 365 show, which reaches an additional 1.5 million passengers per month. Delta’s Sky magazine and the Delta entertainment website will tout the commodities, as well.

The collaborative effort emerged through the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the “Georgia Grown” umbrella. “This Delta Air Lines alliance is the type of high profile exposure that we’re seeking for the ‘Georgia Grown’ brand,” said Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Within the inflight segment, Delta passengers will be given a web site to visit, www.gagrown.us, for more information.

The Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) was established in 1989 as Federal Marketing Order No. 955.  The order authorizes production research, marketing research and development, and marketing promotion programs.  The VOC administers the order locally and consists of eight producer members and their alternates and one public member and an alternate. More information about the Vidalia onion industry may be obtained at VidaliaOnion.org.

In 2009, the Georgia Department of Agriculture formed the Georgia Blueberry Commission to support research, education and promotion programs on behalf of the state’s growers. Georgia claims the longest season in the U.S. lasting from late April through the end of July to enjoy fresh Georgia Blueberries – our very own “Sweet Georgia Blues.” Visit GeorgiaBlueberries.org after May 1^st for more information and recipes.

In addition to our annual Halloween/Fall Portraits @ our Studio, you can come downtown and enjoy LOTS of fun activities.  Call 912.764.7274 or info@lorigrice.com for your appointment for portraits.  Like last year, packages begin @ $35 and include an additional 5×7 if you bring in Four can food items. 

(We have two other dates for Halloween portraits also!)

SANTA is coming up soon…and we are in the middle of Fall portraits…don’t miss out!

Downtown Events:  Thriller Parade Dance Practice:  Thursdays  – 6:00- 7:00 pm on October 14th & October 28th

October 30th performance

Sea Island Bank Parking Lot 2 East Main St.

Downtown Halloween 

East Main Street, Statesboro

Saturday, October 30, 2010 – 5:30 – 9:30pm

Music *** Trunk or Treat *** Kids Activities   Entertainment *** Vendors *** Hay Rides

Costume Contest

6:00 p.m. Kids/Teens 0 – 17                        

7:00pm Pets of all shapes & sizes

7:00 p.m. Scarecrow Contest

(Vote for your favorite!!)

7:30 p.m Trunk or Treat & Scarecrow winners announced

7:30 p.m. Adults 18+

8:00 p.m. Street Dance

9:00 p.m. Thriller Dance Parade

  It is so hard to believe that Edie Grace is entering the 4th Grade!  Last Friday was her first day of school at Pinewood Christian Academy – so of course, we continued with tradition and I took lots of photographs. (DeWayne and Edie Grace make me use my blog camera so I won’t embarrass them)  Our traditional photograph with her and Dad at the bus, on the first day, revealed to us how much she has grown from last year to this year (5 to 6 inches). 

You may have noticed that Edie Grace has a new addition this year, glasses.  Like her mom – she is entering into the world of glasses early.  Dr. Horace Deal was wonderful with her and encouraged us to allow her to pick whatever she wanted for her first glasses.  We did and she chose PINK.  Imagine that?

The most exciting part for Edie Grace (other than getting to see her friends) this is year is that she gets to change classes.  She has three wonderful teachers, Mrs. Dutton is her homeroom teacher, Mr. Perkins and Mrs. Bell.

For fun, here are the links to her first day of school blogs so you can see how fast she is growing:

Third Grade

Second Grade

First Grade

We hope you all have a great year this school year!

Edie Grace wants your kids to join her at camp!

There are just a few slots open each week so don’t procrastinate!  Mrs. Ann is our neighbor, our friend and just plain out one of our favorite people in the whole world!  She has put together four weeks of fun for our kids 6-7 and up.

Here is the 411:

Campers enjoy completing a variety of different art projects.  The curriculum includes techniques that are challenging and fun.  A snack will be provided.

Sessions are Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 12:30pm

• Session One:  June 14 – 18
• Session Two:  June 21 – 25
• Session Three:  July 12 – 16
• Session Four:  July 19 – 23

The cost is $135 per week for each child.  There is a 10% sibling discount.  Registrations are required with a $50 non-refundable deposit.  Balance will be due on the first day of camp.  Space is limited.

Edie Grace and Madison (Mrs. Ann’s grand-daughter) have been busy this week testing out some of the activities and they don’t think you should miss out on the fun!

If you have further questions, just call Free Spirit Pottery @ 912.489.3232

Oh, and by the way…Father’s day is just right around the corner!  So go this week and create something Dad will love!  Today, I saw some of you in there creating cool stuff with your children’s handprints and footprints.  How priceless will that be someday???  Of course, we could create some portraits to go with those he would love too!

This one image sums up just how I feel every time I get to go to the beach!  (for work or for fun)

This was Edie Grace’s “birthday eve” last week.  She built sandcastles while DeWayne and I worked.  It was a PERFECT evening with an amazing sunset.  (can’t wait to show you the client’s images soon!)  I grabbed a few images of Edie Grace while my subject was changing clothes.   

I hope you will schedule a Beach session this summer.  They truly are magical sessions!  I wouldn’t trade any of my beach portraits of Edie Grace.  The light, the sand, the water…ok…I know you hear it from me all the time…

Now that Miley has put Tybee on the map…it really is time for you to put Tybee on your wall.

Please join us this Friday night as we celebrate Edie Grace’s 9th birthday.  There will be cake, popcorn, lemonade and fun Party Harbor bounces for your kids!

Seriously, though, no gifts.  Your company to celebrate what she means to us is truly the best gift we can receive.  If you feel compelled, we will be accepting small (very small) gifts for a charity.  Edie Grace has it narrowed down to two charities…she will let you know Friday night which one she decided on.

Friday, May 7th

5:30pm – 7:30pm

in the alley behind the studio

(F1RST Friday will also be going on so there will be tons of fun things to do in downtown!)

Friday, May 7th, Edie Grace will turn nine.  Honestly, I have been overwhelmed by this.  She will graduate from High School just days after she turns 18 so literally HALF of the life that she will spend with us is over!  Some of my friends say I am being negative when I say this, but I believe what this verse says:

Psalm 90:12 (New International Version)

¹² Teach us to number our days aright,
       that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

The wisdom I seek is to make each day with Edie Grace count!  Some days I do better than others…but I try harder each and everyday.  (Yes, Edie Grace received “Gracen” a baby girl goat a little early for her birthday from her Grandmother…so watch out O.C….LOL!)

To make it easier for you to capture memories of your family, I am doing a HUGE…probably once in a lifetime… SALE!!!  This one has a ton of fine print…but what do you expect with a sale this unbelievable???

$9 Sale!!!!

• The first three people that respond can purchase a studio session fee for $9 (regularly $100) and will not be required to make a minimum purchase
• The second three people that respond can purchase a studio session fee for $9 (regularly $100).  Their minimum purchase will be 50% less than normal.  (Normal studio minimum  order is $300…these folks minimum order will only be $150) This is not 1/2 price…just 1/2 as much required.
• The third three people that respond can purchase a studio session fee for $9 (regularly $100)  Regular $300 minimum order will be required.

Here is the fine print…and this offer may be subject to more restrictions…

• You must pay in full the amount you owe…($9, $159 or $309) when you call with a credit card…you can not mail us a check, drop a check by,  bring cash, ect.  Delta doesn’t let you…so please don’t ask for an exception on this special.
• Your session will ONLY be in the studio…on-location sessions DO NOT qualify for this unbelievable deal.
• Your session must occur on a weekday, BETWEEN (not before…not after) the hours of 10am – 5pm, Monday, May 10th- Friday, May 28th, 2010.  These are use or lose.  They can not be extended unless you have a doctor’s excuse.
•  Families with more than seven members will incur an additional charge.
• Your order will have to be finalized during your place order appointment.  You will need to bring all decision makers to the appointment with you.  You are welcome to add to your order for 48 hours after your viewing.
• The time/date stamp on the emails to info@lorigrice.com will determine where you will be ranked in the offer.  
• Children three and under can only be photographed for this offer before lunch. (no afternoon sessions)

Lots of rules, I know, but for a deal this good there just have to be some boundaries. 

So…why are you still reading?  You should be emailing! 

See you in front of my lens SOON!

Santa and Mrs. Claus made their early trek down to Statesboro today.  For over 20 years they have taken a break from their incredibly busy schedule to visit with us and spend some time with a few VERY special boys and girls.   Again tomorrow, the very best girls and boys will get this early opportunity to give Santa a little advanced notice of their Christmas list.  Edie Grace and her cousin Olivia were the first to greet the Clauses on their arrival.  Edie Grace told me after Santa and Mrs. Claus had left for the day that they were both “magical”! 

I can not think of one word that describes this annual visit any more perfect than that.  Everything about Christmas is MAGICAL and having the opportunity to host this very special meeting with Santa is definitely extraordinarily MAGICAL for me – as it is for every child, parent and grandparent that experiences this with me.  There are few things in life that you will never forget – tomorrow for a few very exceptional children – I will create and document artistically one of these rare moments. 

Tonight was the ninth visit with Santa for Edie Grace and nine years later – it was just as magical as the first.  She has an annual tradition of exchanging books with the Clauses and giving them her list – this year in her own hand writing.  She also purchased the book for the Clauses this year with her own money that she earned working at the studio. 

As crazy and difficult as life is for all of us right now – this is the one experience that grounds us and allows us to step back and remember just how precious childhood really is.  We also can celebrate the incredible gift of parenting. 

Attached is the photographic journey down memory lane of the past nine years of Edie Grace’s Santa experiences!

We hope this year Santa brings you much health and happiness and a few of the most needed things on your Christmas list!

Please take a second and comment on your Lori Grice Santa Experiences….so other’s that may never have the opportunity to experience this firsthand can get a feeling of how magical it really is!  Many of our friends and neighbors do not and will never have the opportunity to have children of their own.  They share with me often how wonderful it is to get a peek into the world of parenting though this blog and through your stories.  Thanks for sharing these with them and me!