Birthday's and Banks

We went home this last weekend, in part to celebrate Dave's 30th birthday and because it was a 3 day weekend. The somewhat understated big day turned out to be a lot of fun. We went to Almira to eat lunch at the "new" Hotel Almira with Dave and Kathy (Dawson and Dan were snowboarding). (Re)Built in 1916 it sat abandoned for over 15 years, and before that it wasn't well kept anyway. We met the new owner who is an avid antique collector from Lyndon, WA who has done a great job at restoring the old Hotel. The food was better than good and we got the bonus of touring the old National Bank of Commerce across the street. That building was built in (about) 1902 at a time when there were still bank robbers and the industry was trying to instill confidence in the average American. (Thus the beautiful, ornate decor (gorgeous tin ceilings) and two heafty vaults with 2 feet of cement all around them).





We also got to visit with Grandma Claudine and Grandpa Tommy a couple of times. They are so dear to us!





Those are pics of the old bank as are these, how cool is that?

Engagement Shoot

Well, since it's Valentine's Day and all, I thought I'd post a few pictures of Love. On Saturday I had an engagement photo shoot. Scott and Brittany are a super sweet couple and I just wanted to share a few photos with you. (Scott, by the way, was one of Dave's RA's when he was at Northwest and is a really cool guy. He also happens to be recording some of Dave's music in his free time. Demo to come...)


Here are my favorite shots...you can see others on my pseudo website: www.brookwhitney.com
Happy St. Valentine's Day!!







www.brookwhitney.com

Other than that, there is not a lot to report on from this side of the state. Kelley and Dan came over last weekend and I got to attend a track clinic (with Kelley) for 3 hours on Sunday which REALLY made me miss coaching. (I think I may have learned how to triple jump!)

The Blue Spark

While Dave and I were in Spokane over Christmas break, we went to the Blue Spark to hear our friend's band, Hot Club of Spokane, perform. They were excellent as always. Lots of our friends made it...Jack (a Texan!), the Sackmann Crew and McNard Clan. We all proudly monopolized the back of the bar. If you haven't hear the swing music of Hot Club of Spokane, visit their myspace (http://www.myspace.com/hotclubofspokane).

Disclaimer: I did not take all of these pictures. I left the camera alone for a couple of minutes and mysteriously got lots of great shots as a result...hummm, maybe I should do that more often!

New Year's Madness!

Ok, ok! Here they are, the much anticipated New Year's eve pictures. I don't know if they will hold up to expectations as I didn't shoot much that night. But I took the liberty to add some fun, 70's-esque effects.

For all those who wonder at our sanity...we all took the liberty to "dress up" in any fashion we had available to us. It ended up being overwhelmingly 70's/80's themed with heavy Bronx overtones. It was one wild and crazy night!