By  Jennifer Enright

Now that the carefree days of summer are ebbing to a close, the Kehr family is ready to jump back into school and fall activities.  Roseanne and Dan Kehr live with their daughters, Jade and Jamie, ages 11 and 10 respectively, in Pine Beach, NJ and look forward to the return to routine each autumn brings.  Chief amongst the girls’ activities is their participation in the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore (GSJS).  Both girls began their Girl Scout journey as Daisy Girl Scouts while in Kindergarten.  Having progressed through Daisies and Brownies, Jade is currently a Junior Girl Scout with Troop 171, and Jamie will bridge to Juniors Troop 216 later this month.

Roseanne and Dan are thrilled that their daughters have become dedicated to such an established and well-regarded organization, as local scouts prepare to celebrate the Girl Scouts centennial anniversary in 2012.  “The girls get so much out of scouts – I’m so pleased that they choose to spend so much of their free time on this activity,” notes Roseanne.  “The lessons and skills they learn now as young scouts will stay with them for a lifetime.”  They feel fortunate that the girls are involved with the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore and the many opportunities it presents.

While attending weekly troop meetings is a fun staple, the girls revel in all the outings their troops engage in during the year.   They have attended Radio City Music Hall and Broadway shows in New York City, and last fall they toured Washington DC as a special trip.  Based in cabins at a scout camp just outside the nation’s capital (including a special cabin for the fathers who attended), the girls were able to visit the Capitol building, as well as the Lincoln and Washington monuments, and several museums.  They have also enjoyed overnight trips to a children’s museum in Mount Holly, NJ, and sleepovers at Amity Acres, the GSJS-owned camp in Waretown, NJ.

Jade and Jamie have taken part in various council events at Amity Acres and Camp Sacajawea, the GSJS’s Farmingdale, NJ facility, and visited many local business, including a floral designer and ice cream shop.  “They love to see the inside of the stores, the behind-the-scenes aspect, and learn how people do things for a living,” says Roseanne.  She continues, “I like that they get an idea of what is out there for them in the future and the careers they may find.”

Among their favorite scouting events is the “Powder Puff Derby” held each year.  The girls fabricate wooden cars and race on a track, much like the “Pinewood Derby” attended by Boy Scouts.  Both girls have worked together with their troop members to acquire achievement badges, and are now encouraged to work individually on the pursuits.  Roseanne comments that they love the badges and “they really like looking back and seeing what they have accomplished” each time they don their multi-patch festooned vests.

Above all else, Jade and Jamie enjoy the camaraderie with their troop members.  “They have invested so many years with their troop leaders, the same group of girls, and their parents that it has really become like a little family for them.  They have learned how to work together as a group towards a goal, and that is something they’ll use their entire lives,” says their mom.

As a stay-at-home dad since the girls were babies, Dan mans the fort at home.  In addition to ferrying the girls to many scout outings and meetings, Dan also devotes significant time to Jade’s troop’s ancillary involvement in a robotics program.  Run by Jade’s troop leader’s husband, Rich Morgan, the girls make robots out of Lego®-brand toys, program the robots to perform various functions, such as kicking a ball, or putting a ball in a cup, then compete in obstacle course style events against other area groups.  Dan also enjoys attending the Girl Scouts Father/Daughter Dance with Jade and Jamie every year.  Since Roseanne’s job as a teacher at Freehold Elementary School makes it difficult for her to attend all the scout activities, she really looks forward to the Mother’s Day Brunch for Girl Scouts and their moms held annually at a local school.

YCT: Tell us a little about your family and the personalities of each of your children.

Roseanne:  Jade is outgoing, energetic and musical – she plays the guitar, flute and piano and she sings.  She started taking piano lessons when she was five, and just got her first electric guitar.  Jamie is a bit quieter, more academic, and the family artist.  She plays piano but doesn’t like to perform as much as Jade.  Although they have their own bedrooms, they play together and get along really well like yin and yang.  They get along brilliantly and I feel lucky that they are such close sisters.  We are together a lot as family as we have always something going on or somewhere to go with such busy kids.

YCT: What is a typical day like in your home?

Roseanne:   During the school year, most days we have something after school, but our family rule is that they have to have one day with no scheduled activities.  I try to get that to be the same day for both of them, but that’s getting harder to do.  On those rare free days, the girls usually have a friend over to hang out.  We have dinner together every night as a family and usually at home.  Right before bed, the girls and I like to read together.  Sometimes we watch a show together like “American Idol” or one of the dance competition shows.  If the shows are on late, we record them and they watch them before school.  I have to leave for work very early but since Jamie has curly hair, she usually gets up so I can fix her hair.  Since Jade has straight hair, she can style it herself.  We always select outfits and make sure all notices are signed and everything is ready for school and after-school activities the night before because mornings are
hectic.  Dan gets their lunchboxes ready and gets them off to school.

YCT: What activities do your children participate in after school?

Roseanne: In addition to girl scouts, Jamie takes art classes one day a week at the Ocean County Artist Guild in Island Heights.  They have classes for kids and adults with a gallery downstairs and the studio upstairs.  Every other week or so, they have a showing of local artists, and once a week a group of accomplished older artists meets in the studio room to do their print making.  That is where they “lino-cut”, cutting up linoleum and making series of prints of their original work.  Jamie likes to go watch the process and the folks are friendly and like to talk, especially to interested young artists.  Jamie also takes piano lessons once a week at The Music Academy in Toms River.  Other than that, she doesn’t like to be busy every day – she likes to have time to just do her art at home.  Jade is the one that has to keep moving.  She attends Once Upon A Dance in Toms River for ballet and is adding jazz and hip-hop lessons this year.  They don’t have traditional recitals, but instead do performances of the Nutcracker Ballet at Christmas and a Spring Show.  This year the theme was “Alice in Wonderland” – the show is a combination of all the dances styles performing a different scene or part of the same show – a continuous performance.  The school provides all the costumes and props and the kids return them after the show.  Jade also attends a combination class at The Music Academy one day each week.  One week she takes piano and voice, the next week is guitar and voice.  She performs there four times a year, so she is very comfortable on stage and doesn’t get nervous at all.  In fact, the larger the audience, the more relaxed she is!

YCT: What is your favorite thing to do locally with your family?

Roseanne:  We love to go to the boardwalk in Seaside.  We start at the Fun Town Pier and walk up to Casino Pier hitting all the rides and games, and of course, all that delicious boardwalk food!  We also go to the Beach Plum Festival in Island Beach every fall.  We pick beach plums and stop at all the booths to see local artists and crafts, and get information about all kinds of environmental things, like saving the beaches, dunes, and animals.  It’s a wonderful way to spend a beautiful Indian Summer day!

YCT: Do you have any favorite local vacation spots?

Roseanne:  We always get a pass to drive on the beach at Island Beach State Park.  We love to go surf fishing, fly kites and boogie board.  The girls always find interesting shells and it’s great to picnic on the beach.  They also have various family programs and walking tours with the rangers to identify plants and birds.  One of our favorites is the seining program where families can seine on the bay side and the rangers describe what comes up in the net.

YCT: Have you ever gone on vacation without the kids?

Roseanne:  No, we tend to everything together as a family.  Childhood is so short and we want to be together as much as possible.  Last March, I had a fun weekend in Atlantic City with my girlfriends.  We got our hair done, went out to eat and saw some local bands.  The nicest part for me was not having to care for or pack for anyone else!

YCT: Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant?

Roseanne:  We like to go out a few times a month.  Our favorite places are Yesterday’s in Bayville, Chili’s in Toms River and The Music Man ice cream parlor in Lavallette.  Jade had her 11th birthday at The Music Man – we love the singing servers!

YCT: What is your favorite date night location and how often do you get to go out with just your husband?

Roseanne:  Right now, we don’t go out alone very often, but just the other night we had a nice dinner alone at the Lamp Post Inn in Pine Beach.  I’m sure we’ll do more of that as the kids get older.

YCT: What is your favorite non-mommy thing to do and how often do you get to do it?

Roseanne:  I guess my favorite thing is to go to the Oxygen gym in Bayville.  Although I don’t get there as often as I should, I try for three days a week.

YCT: What is your husband_s favorite non-daddy thing to do?

Roseanne:  Dan likes to spend time with friends – to go out to lunch or work on a project.

YCT: Do you patronize any advertisers from our magazine?

Roseanne:  The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore is a great organization and I highly recommend it.  Sometimes it’s hard to find a troop, but it is worth the wait.  Jade and Jamie’s scout troops went to Sparkle Diva with some of the money they made from their cookie sale and had a fantastic time.  We have been to Color Me Mine for birthday parties and once made a project for Jade’s teacher there.  Of course, we really enjoy Casino Pier.

YCT: Do you have any parenting advice that you would like to offer our readers?

Roseanne:  My thing is to make time to talk to your kids.  I take advantage of car rides and am sure to actually listen to what they have to say.  I want to hear their point of view and keep that line of communication open so as they become older and become teenagers we can still talk honestly about difficult subjects.  I also swear by having dinner together and just finding as much time as possible to spend together.  You know, they grow up so fast!

YCT: What is your favorite part of Your Child Today magazine?

Roseanne:  Like most families, we rely on the calendar of events – we are always looking for what we can do for that rare time we do not have something scheduled.

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By Tricia Berwick

It’s late at night, the kids are fast asleep and you find yourself surfing through the television channels as a way to unwind and relax from a hectic day with the little ones.  You stumble across a show about some trash-talking, tanned and tattooed kids from New York who are vacationing in Seaside Heights for the summer.  Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock this past year, you know exactly the show I’m talking about.  It’s okay to admit it; you really do watch MTV’s hit reality series, “Jersey Shore” every time you flip through the channels.  You just can’t help yourself!  Even though you may think the program is utterly ridiculous and you could definitely be using your timing more wisely, you still find your eyes glued to the television.  You’re not alone; the show has steadily increased in popularity since its debut last year.

The show follows eight house mates spending time partying and hanging out on the Jersey Shore. The first season was filmed in August 2009 in a summer share in Seaside Heights, but was also filmed in other towns such as Toms River, Neptune and Atlantic City, New Jersey.  The gang took their show on the road to the South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida for season number two which is currently airing on MTV.   This season’s mayhem has already included cheating boyfriends and pretty bad drunken behavior.  Some of the cast members have even been in trouble with the law.   Nicole Polizzi, also known as “Snooki” was arrested in August by the Seaside Heights police department for annoying people on the beach while the MTV crew was shooting the show’s third season which will be aired sometime next year.  She was first charged with disorderly conduct and public nuisance.

Even amid large amounts of controversy, “Jersey Shore” continues to do well in the ratings.  Since its debut, the show has received a significant amount of criticism from Italian American organizations because of the way the show uses the word “guido” to describe the house mates and for its portrayal of Italian-Americans in general.  “Guido” is generally regarded as an ethnic slur when referring to Italians and Italian Americans.

However, some people feel that the show is purely for entertainment purposes and should not be taken so seriously.  Howell resident and mother of two, Erika Decina says she enjoys a few laughs while watching the show and believes the program isn’t any different from other reality shows that are on television.  Even as someone with an Italian background, she doesn’t find the show to be offensive.

“I am 50% Italian and proud of my heritage,” says Decina.  “I think that Jersey Shore is must see reality television.  It joins the ranks of other reality shows like ‘The Hills’  which ended in such a way that you did not know what was truly real.  I think as with a lot of these shows, much is done for entertainment value; they need to get and keep ratings and what better way than to stir the pot and create controversy.  If you choose to watch the show I think you must do so knowing it is not a true reflection of what all of New Jersey is like – after all, only one of the roommates is truly from New Jersey.”

Others feel more strongly about the premise of “Jersey Shore” and cannot fathom why people make watching the show a priority in their lives.  Jackson mother Christine Sutter finds the success of the show to be extremely puzzling.

“I have never seen this show and am surprised at the amount of people who watch it,” says Sutter.   “It has taken these trashy people and given them instant celebrity status.   I believe they actually get paid around $30,000 per episode while there are many hard working people who aren’t even making that annually!  The show is also is a very bad role model for teenagers and young adults.   As for representing the town of Seaside, Heights, I haven’t been there in years but I am sure it is not an accurate description of what life is really like there.”

Howell resident and mother of two, Erin Pietsch, is outraged that a show of this nature has been so popular this past year.  She finds the show to be personally offensive and will never spend any time contributing to its success.

“I think it is a disgrace,” says Erin Pietsch.  “It gives the Jersey Shore a bad name.  I can’t stand that these kids are making all this money and getting all this attention by getting drunk and partying. Some of my friends think that I don’t have a sense of humor anymore, but so be it.  It’s absolutely gross and if I were their parents, I would be embarrassed.”

Since its inception, “Jersey Shore” has been a controversial show.  Some people find it to be despicable, but it seems like others just cannot turn themselves away as the popularity and the ratings continue to soar.  “Jersey Shore” just keeps getting bigger and bigger.  In August, the MTV hit had a steady 5.5 million viewers, and its adult demo rating rose to unprecedented new heights.   MTV has also exported the series to dozens of countries worldwide.  In addition to actually watching the show, MTV has created ways for fans of “Jersey Shore” to become involved and stay connected, too.  Through MTV’s website, fans can order the ‘Jersey Shore” soundtrack, buy songs on iTunes, read blogs from the cast members, and purchase merchandise.  There’s even a game named after one of the show’s most popular phrases “GTL” which stands for “Gym-Tan-Laundry.”  Fans can grab their hair gel and play “Jersey Shore Yourself GTL” on mtv.com.

Whether you love it or hate it, it seems the reality television series “Jersey Shore” and all of its hair products, fist pumping, and foul language is here to stay for a little while.  With such great ratings and lots of publicity, MTV will certainly keep the show in its lineup for the future.

By Tricia Berwick

On December 31, many of us break out the party hats, noisemakers, and champagne, gather with good friends, and when the clock strikes midnight, excitedly shout in unison, “Happy New Year!” We close the book on another year and make the same resolutions to eat well, exercise, and get organized.  However, for those of us with school-age children, our real new year commences as summer comes to a close.

September 1st may not conjure the same festive atmosphere with bubbly and confetti, but for kids and parents, it’s the start of a brand new school year which means new beginnings and experiences.  September allows us to wipe the slate clean and enjoy a completely fresh start.  It’s also an opportunity for organizing and getting the whole gang back onto a schedule.  While carefree summer days spent hanging out at the beach and in the pool are very relaxing and tons of fun, it’s nice to get back into a routine once Labor Day hits the calendar.  I know, I probably sound like a square with this statement, but I firmly believe that many of my mommy friends feel the same way that I do!  Part of me really does enjoy being on a schedule (strange, I know), but the other benefit of going back to school is that it’s time for some peace and quiet again!   No, we’re not bad moms for thinking this way!

Seriously though, the impending school year means new teachers, classmates, and school supplies, and the re-birth of extra-curricular activities.  My daughters and their little circle of friends are super excited to find out who will be in each of their classes and which teachers they’ll have.   In order to save money this year, their school district will provide class information via the Internet instead of mailing letters home to the families.  The kids (and the mommies, too!) are counting down the days as we eagerly await the big news which will set the tone for the entire academic year.

Going back-to-school shopping may be a bit of a chore for parents, but for kids, it’s a totally different story.  They love picking out new backpacks, lunch boxes, folders, and pencils.  September is a time to toss all of those old and worn school supplies from last year and replace them with shiny new ones.  Plus, as kids get older and mature, their tastes change, as well.  So, maybe that Hannah Montana snack pack from last year isn’t going to be too cool at the lunch table this year.  September is a chance for kids to choose new supplies while expressing their individuality and what they’re currently interested in.  Maybe your daughter is done with princesses and wants a peace sign notebook instead this year.  It may seem inconsequential to us as parents, but through a kids’ eyes, these are monumental choices.   Of course, kids love to go shopping for new jeans, tops, and sneakers too.  Even though the weather is still warm the first few weeks of school and kids are usually wearing shorts and t-shirts, it’s still always fun to get some new gear once the weather turns a little cooler.  Back-to-school haircuts are also part of the end-of-summer ritual.  By the first day of school, your child will be perfectly polished and dressed for success!  It’s all part of enjoying a new beginning and fresh start!

After-school activities resume in September also.  One of my girls just completed her first year of ballet classes which culminated in a beautiful recital at the beginning of June.  It’s been almost three months since she last wore her beloved tutu and ballet slippers, so she’s been looking forward to taking dance classes again.  With a pretty new pink outfit and shoes, she is ready to start practicing her pirouettes once again.  My other daughter misses kicking the ball around the soccer field.  This fall, she will play on her first all-girls’ team.  She’ll have practice during the week with a game every Saturday morning.  In addition to the new challenges ahead in first grade (with homework every day), it will be interesting to see how the girls will manage with a more demanding after school schedule, but I’m sure they’ll eventually get used to things and manage just fine.

For moms, September means getting the house organized, putting away the bathing suits and beach towels, packing up the sand shovels and toys, and maintaining the family’s schedule for the new school year.  I really enjoy the summer months because we always enjoy carefree and flexible days.  My family enjoys staying up a little later and not being constrained to an early bedtime during July and August.  During the evenings, we like to ride bikes and lick ice pops on the porch, watch a few innings of New York Yankees baseball on television, or take a trip to the park.  Sometimes we’ll take a ride and search for a new ice cream shop which is always fun.  These are all great summertime perks.  But by the end of August, as an organized and structured person by nature, I actually crave getting back into the routine once again.  Plus, fall is my favorite time of the year. I look forward to Halloween and Thanksgiving, cool weather, beautiful fall foliage, jumping into piles of leaves with the kids, and watching football games on Sunday afternoons.

If you’re a mom like me, September is the start of your new year.  It’s exciting to see what your children will learn this year and who they will choose as friends. What types of activities will they enjoy?  Will they pursue a new hobby or interest this year?  September is full of possibilities and new beginnings, a time to turn the page and start a new chapter in our lives (and regain some peace and quiet!).  Happy New Year!

As a parent there are always tough decisions to make. I remember taking my son to The Land of Make Believe when he was 4. There was a roller coaster especially designed for children under 6. It had two inclines and drops that were about 10 feet high. My wife had the pleasure of riding with Dak while I got an opportunity to take pictures of his first roller coaster ride. He was so excited, but that excitement quickly abated. As the roller coaster started, my son started to cry.  Those cries slowly escalated to screaming “I want to get off, I want to get off!!” My wife and I felt horrible that we pushed him into something that he was not prepared for.  How could we have known?  His cousins loved the ride. We thought we might have scarred him for life and that he would be a teenager before he gets on to another roller coaster.

We are now 3 years removed from that experience. We have taken several trips to Water Park Slides, Jenkinson’s amusement rides and there has been no sign of that awful moment that we experienced when Dak was four. Dak was getting more confident with each ride that he conquered.

So, we decided to take a trip with his cousins and his aunt to Great Adventure. We were having a great day going on all the smaller rides. I said to him “Dak, do you want to go on Rolling Thunder?” He replied with “I don’t know Dad, do you think that I will be scared?” I said with confidence, “ No, you wont be scared, it is one of the slower roller coasters in the park.” “ Okay” he said.

We waited in line and when we were next to ride the roller coaster  Dak said, “ Dad, I don’t want to go on, I will be very scared.” “No, Dak you will be fine, it is not scary and I will be right next to you to make sure nothing happens to you.” I wondered if I was being truly honest with my son. Why push him if he is not ready for this experience. It was now too late, we were taking off. Dak gripped my hand as tight as I ever felt. He put his head down and closed his eyes the whole time. He was not crying, but you could tell that he was not enjoying the experience. As we exited the ride I asked Dak if he was scared. He said, “No that was awesome, it was my favorite ride of the day.”

It’s a common scene that all parents are familiar with today: pick-up the kids from school and then head to multiple extra-curricular activities.  Or maybe it’s a Saturday afternoon jam-packed with soccer games, dance lessons, and birthday parties.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a weekday or a weekend, as there’s usually a frantic rush to get to the next place.  While kids and parents are running from one spot to another, they’ll grab something quick to eat or drink along the way.  However, sometimes these “fast foods” are not always the healthiest options for your children and can leave your kids feeling tired and sluggish; the exact opposite of how you would like them to feel.

New to the market this year is a different type of product that will remedy this challenging situation for kids and their parents.   KIDStrong Enterprises, an innovative provider of positive energy to kids worldwide, has developed KIDStrong Proactive Hydration™ Drink, a first-of-its-kind all natural hydration beverage for children.  Designed specifically for children ages 4-13, KIDStrong’s scientifically formulated products provide a healthful alternative to high glycemic index, sugar-based soft drinks that promote childhood obesity.  All of the products are 100% natural, low in sugar, packed with 20 vitamins and minerals and free of high-fructose corn syrup.  In addition, what sets KIDStrong apart from other products is that it’s the only drink formulated to retain as well as replace vital fluids and nutrients.  Although other hydration drinks may replace nutrients and fluids, they do not help the child’s body retain the vital fluids needed during sports, play, and other activities like KIDStrong does.

This new line of healthy products is the brainchild of Dr. George Murphy, a research scientist and avid sports enthusiast who works in genetics and molecular medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Children’s Hospital in Boston, MA.  The motivation for creating KIDStrong was inspired after observing the eating habits of his nieces and nephews.  While spending time with them, he noticed a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains in their daily diets.  Murphy also found that whenever the kids would reach for a drink, it was always full of sugar and empty calories.  He decided that something needed to be done for his family members and for all kids to combat this problem and to promote healthy eating habits.   He approached his brother-in-law with the concept of creating a product that would taste great to children while also containing healthy ingredients.  The combination of Murphy’s scientific background and his brother-in-law’s experience in the business world has proven to be a successful formula.

“We are a family-run business, so we have very humble roots,” says Dr. Murphy.  “A lot of thought went into making KIDStrong.  We made numerous modifications over the past few years to get the flavor exactly right.  KIDStrong is something that can be imbibed throughout the day.”

The KIDStrong formula is based on sound nutritional principles, and contains all-natural ingredients with 20 vitamins, minerals, and nutrients essential for optimal growth.  Unlike other sports drinks or other hydration drinks on the market, KIDStrong is 100% natural, with no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or stimulants.

KIDStrong also has a low glycemic index and is very low in natural sugar.  Each serving of KIDStrong contains only three grams of sugar.  Research has shown that a diet rich in low glycemic index carbohydrates results in many healthful benefits, including lowering blood glucose levels, increasing insulin sensitivity, maintaining healthy body weight, and most importantly, reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease and adult-onset diabetes.  Dr. Murphy believes KIDStrong’s low level of sugar is what makes his product unique.

“In contrast to how they are viewed by the public, products such as Gatorade and VitaminWater are high in sugar, low in vitamin content and not conducive to a healthful lifestyle,” says Dr. Murphy.  “We developed KIDStrong with growing kids in mind.  Whether playing sports, studying for an exam, or conversing with friends, we want kids to be armed with all the

vitamins, nutrients, and energy they need to be active, healthy, and filled with positive energy in order to be better prepared for life’s challenges.”

KIDStrong is currently available in three flavors-Clearly Orange, Clearly Grape, and Clearly Fruit Punch, with a watermelon flavor soon to follow.   KIDStrong is available throughout the Northeast at select A&P, Foodtown, Giant Food Stores, Key Food, King Kullen, Pathmark, Stop & Shop, Super Fresh, and Waldbaum’s stores and more than 200 independent grocers.  It is also available in over 1800 schools across the Northeast.

Dr. Murphy strongly believes in the theory behind the KIDStrong products and that is why the company has created the KIDStrong Krew, a community outreach program which teaches children and parents about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  Members of the       KIDStrong Krew speak in various locations in our area to hand out products and to talk about the importance of combating childhood obesity.

“Our goal is to continue to educate parents and children about alternative products which will resonate with kids

and their parents,” says Dr. Murphy.  “We’re marketing a philosophy, not a product.  We are here to promote vitality and optimism and to improve a child’s self image through education.”

As for the future of KIDStrong, the company is looking to expand its line of products in the upcoming months.  Each product will contain the same healthy ingredients and taste great for children.

“We are working on creating energy bars and frozen ice pops made with the same materials as in the hydrations drinks,” says Dr. Murphy.   “We’re also looking into a breakfast cereal which still tastes sweet to kids but is completely natural.”

Before you head out the door today for yet another hectic day with the kids and their multiple activities, reach for a new, healthier alternative to sugary drinks and snacks.

In addition to being purchased in stores throughout the area, KIDStrong can also be purchased online at www.Amazon.com and www.KIDStrong.com.  Or for additional information about KIDStrong, its    products and services, please call  888-302-0236.

Internally this month’s cover shoot was a challenge… between having to find new models to working around vacations to rainy weather.  However, the end result was phenomenal!  Thanks so much to the Kehr family for having such great props for our Girl Scout camping shot.  Jade and Jamie look awesome and I’m excited for all their friends and family to see them on the cover.  And thanks also to Danielle from Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.

Speaking of camping, as I write this I am packing for a weekend camping trip not too far off the heels of a week at LBI.  That was such fun and I was sure to do a photo shoot of my own kids at the beach while there.  It’s very important to capture your family at different stages in your life.  Whether your children are babies and toddlers before they change, whether they are tweens about to start their independence, or college kids still discovering themselves.  Get everyone to the beach or the park and make it happen before they reach the next phase in life.

The end of summer and early fall are great times to get portraits taken.  The weather is still pleasant but the hustle of summer is winding down, yet you are close enough to the holidays to use these portraits to show off in your annual holiday cards!   Take time from your busy lives to celebrate the love of family in portraiture.  Call Sue’s Point of View to help you capture timeless memories that you can cherish forever.  Can’t wait to hear from you!