A Rockin' Valentine's Post : SL180 Pics

Wow! These kids just keep on going! Speed Limit 180 photos, from their performance at a fundraiser for Star Charter in Austin this past weekend. More pictures on my website ... just click the link and find the gallery for Speed Limit 180!

Right now, as I post this, my little musicians are staying up late, watching School of Rock for like the oh, maybe twentieth time. No school tomorrow, so why not?

Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day! -- S




http://www.brogdonimages.com/Brogdon-Images

Birthday Wishes

Yes, today is my birthday. It is, as mentioned in an earlier post, my "16th annual 29th birthday." Not very happy about that part of the deal, but not much I can do about it either. I mean, age is just a number, you're as young as you feel, all that jazz, right? But there is a part of a birthday that's still pretty cool ... you know, all the warm birthday wishes from your family and friends.

This morning when I woke up, and I came out of my sleepy, not yet caffeinated morning stupor and realized "oh yeah, it's my birthday," I don't know why, but a specific picture from my childhood came to mind. It's from my second birthday party and I'm at my childhood home, being held by my mother, and surrounded by many family members that I love. As children, yes, we enjoy the presence of our loved ones, of course. However, in just being kids, we often focused on the fun, the presents and best of all, the cake! But as we mature, we realize that the more important part of a birthday is celebrating YOU and what makes you special to your family and friends, and more importantly enjoying all the warm wishes they extend.

At my age, a birthday is just like any other day. I don't have parties to commemorate it, but I still love hearing from my family and friends just the same. In today's times, that means phone calls, emails, text messages, and facebook posts. With this mind, today, I celebrated my birthday in style! I am truly overwhelmed by the number of messages I received to wish me a Happy Birthday! I feel so blessed and honored to have such amazing family and friends. Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes. It really means so much!

I plan to end the evening with my family just chilling out at home. Not particularly exciting, but really, I can't think of a better way to end the day. Just as in my second birthday party photo -- surrounded by those I love.

Thanks everyone for making my birthday so special. Have a great weekend, and a Happy Valentine's Day! -- S

"Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people’s' birthdays every day, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and affection. These are ways of saying: “It’s good that you are alive; it’s good that you are walking with me on this earth. Let’'s be glad and rejoice. This is the day God has made for us to be, and to be together." -- Henri J.M. Nouwen



This is me at my second birthday party, at home in Houston. My mom was holding me, and I'm surrounded by my brother David, cousins Vanessa, Claudia, Mario and Clarissa, my grandmother and my Aunt Margaret. -- Feb1967


Celebrating my birthday this year with my peeps! This is a Brogdon family photo, taken at another birthday celebration this past August. Photo courtesy of my friend and fellow photographer, Tammy Reed.

Speed Limit 180: The Bond of the Band

This past Friday evening, Speed Limit 180 performed as the finale act of a talent show held at a Round Rock elementary school. My daughters attended this school for several years, and were excited to go back and see some of their old friends. The theme for the evening was a "Starry Night", and for the occasion, the band performed the song "Fireflies" for their first time. They were really excited about it, performing for many of their classmates and friends, and all the cool special glow effects they had planned for the song.

Since they were the finale act, they got to spend a lot of time together waiting to go onstage. It's always fun to see them perform, practice together, grow as musicians. But on this night, more so than before, I really had a chance to see how much these kids have come together as a band, and more importantly, as friends. In their wait time, they hung out, laughing, seeking out one another to share a funny story, or as kids do, just play. They have been together for many months now, and it's obvious how much they support each other, and respect one another as musicians. They truly have bonded as a band!

These are pictures of their practice session before the show, and their time together before their performance. I think I was able to capture some of the friendship and camaraderie among them all. My daughters are so lucky to be a part of this amazing band!

-- S

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -- Willy Wonka


Speed Limit 180: Jon, Camila, Annie, Taylor, Marley, Mason, Kate, Nick & Daniel



A sisterly shot -- my girls Annie and Kate, and sisters Marley & Taylor.



Nick and Taylor in a fist bump while waiting in the green room. They always do this before they go on, and I've always wanted to catch it. As a photographer, I privately did a "YES!" when I finally got the shot.



Mason and Nick have their own special handshake. It's going to require video next time! :)

Annie admiring Marley's new hair color!


Nick and Mason goofing off again!



The band cheering on Camila's performance in the talent show.

Annie doing a "rock on!" sign to Camila during her performance. After Camila's solo, the rest of the band gave her hugs and high fives. It was so great to watch the band bond thing going on!

Marley, our awesome bassist, and Jon, a rockin' guitarist.

Lots of guitar & bass power here!

Taylor and Daniel -- yeah, you guys glow!!



Kate and Daniel play the same instruments. Daniel is a great drummer AND an accomplished pianist. My girl rocks a keyboard AND is doing well with her drum lessons thus far.

Annie and Taylor, even though several years apart, like hanging out together too. Annie has grown as a guitarist by watching her, and that's been really cool to see.

A Little More Birthday Fun

This past weekend, we celebrated my guys' birthdays. Jon's was just last Friday, but Christopher's was over a month ago. Because his day falls around the holidays, we usually have his celebration either way before or way after December 8, so that more of his friends can be there with him and his birthday is not lost around Christmas. Of course, we have a private family celebration on his actual birthday. He's such a good sport when it comes to his 'not quite' birthday parties ... I know it's a lot for a kid to wait for his special celebration!

On some special occasions (and sometimes just for fun), we go to Dave & Buster's to eat, and to play games. The kids absolutely love it! Since it was Jon's birthday too, we headed out for a bite and to get our game faces on! The kids like ski ball and most of the racing games. Jon and I sometimes take each other on in the car or motorcycle races. I like the shoot 'em up zombie killing games myself, but unfortunately, I'm kind of alone on that one. :(

Here are pics of Jon's and Christopher's birthday celebrations. Have a wonderful weekend!

-- S



Chris likes the racing games. Annemarie seems to make friends wherever she goes. Here she is with one of the D&B waiters. Gotta watch this girl ....


And of course, my little rocker chicks couldn't go by this and not partake, right? They rocked on Guitar Hero to ... what else? .... ooooo, Barracuda! Kate's signature song! She was singing too. The girl just can't help herself!

Christopher has always wanted a swim party, but being a December kid, that just doesn't work out. But then we thought about an indoor pool party at the YMCA, and he was all about that.



Kate, Sarah and Annemarie did a couple of races in the big pool, but mostly my girls were catching up with their "triplet sis", as they call her.
My birthday boy and his awesome cookie cake. They declared it, officially ... the bomb! It was so good!