"Mes petites muses"

52 week project: Week 3

2011-03-23T13:48:00.001-07:00

My daughter begged me to give her bangs last month. I had them when I was little and decided to change it up for my girls but secretly, I miss them. The problem is that as soon as I get them for myself they start to bug me and I end up pinning them back until they grow out again for months. For now, I live vicariously through her.

My little one deeply engrossed in a flash card activity. I was trying to capture her lips as she said "moon". They fan out and make me smile every time she says it. I ended up getting a good one of her beautiful eyelashes.

52 Week Project ; Week 1 and 2

2011-03-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

I am a little behind on my blogging these days. I promised myself that I would pick back up on my personal photo project somehow and have decided to start a 52 week instead of a 365 project, starting last week. Some weeks may have more then one photo entered then others but at least one photo a week must be included in this project.

My first of many to come is from our first family vacation last week. Both my husband and myself were apprehensive of taking the girls at such a young age since they are still so dependent on us and can be trying at the best of times but we opted to enjoy seeing those first impressions of experiencing the ocean and the tropical breeze and the sense of togetherness over the fact that it will probably not be as relaxing as we may have needed. I am so glad we decided for it. We found an amazing resort that I would highly recommend anyone try if they are bringing along a young family to a sunny destination (email me for a link if you want more info). The first couple of days were a bit of a challenge. Day one was rough catching up on lost sleep from a day of travel but after about day 3 we were all in a nice groove and enjoying the sun, beach, food and the "Kids Club" that had me breathing a huge sigh of relief. I think I needed this trip to loosen the invisible strings of over protectiveness I have on both my girls. Madison has rarely been out from under my wing in her 2 short years that it was hard to leave her behind at first but after seeing the poof of smoke behind her as she bolted happily through the gate the second time we brought her there I felt instantly at ease. It helped to know how good Abby is with her sister and see the nurturing side come out in her even more while we were there. I could still only leave them for no more then 1 to 2 hours each time but that is still a pretty big development for me.

Below are a couple of favorite pics from our small excursion about a 2o minute drive away from the resort. We opted to try for a dolphin encounter with Abby but alas, she fell asleep on the bus and was not a happy camper for the experience. Although I did not go into the encounter myself, just being around these happy creatures made both Madison and myself smile from ear to ear. The trouble was, keeping her from jumping into the water to join them, she was so excited to see them :). Dolphins have always been a favorite animal of mine. At one time I wanted to be a Marine Biologist, along with being a Veterinarian until a friend of mine started to explain all the other gory things that come along with the job aside from years of schooling. Mind you, this was at the age of 8. I still think I could have managed but the discipline in education would have required more patience that I don't think I have.

Both girls recognized that this bird was a pelican from their "Finding Nemo" movie.
The girls on day four, exploring a small sea pool with their dad. Those giant potato bug looking creatures kind of made me squeamish and I don't mind bugs all that much.

Madison curiously gazing at one of the many turtles we could see over one of the bridges to our favorite buffet restaurants on the resort.

One of the resort attractions that the girls loved to see every day.

I had every intention of getting a really nice family portrait on the beach with coordinating outfits for everyone but our hotel room was quite remote and a walk away that by the time we were all ready, the sun had set :(. Oh well, we had such a great time together and really enjoyed the warmth. This winter has been very long, longer then any I remember, but being at home has probably intensified it for me. I have to say, being a SAHM (stay at home mom) is a wonderful experience, but it is hard work and very isolating. I still think going back to an official job away from home can be easier then being on from the moment you open your eyes until the little ones finally give in to sleep at night. I am not complaining, I wouldn't trade this time for anything, but it isn't an easy experience for anyone who would think otherwise, regardless of whether you have one, two or four children. It isn't all about eating bonbons all day and chatting with other house wives...those are merely coping mechanisms for the isolation and need to keep up with the kids. It has very little recognition in our society and we have the most

important jobs that anyone could ever have. We are responsible for the next generation...talk about pressure to perform. The kicker is, no matter how well we do our jobs, we can not always predict or control how our children act or turn out. We just have to have faith that we are laying down the best possible foundation for them to build on and we make so many mistakes as we learn. Such a learning curve to have, unlike any other.

Week Two:

Our official March Break is this week. We are all on vacation mode and the girls were spoiled with up to 2 hours or more of exercise each day from our trip that I was all about the kid play places, bike riding, play dates, etc this week. It was nice to reconnect with friends that we haven't seen in awhile and to come back to gorgeous spring weather. An interlude to spring...I love it!!

Here is a snap from this week with our point and shoot camera. I am no expert at the point and shoot equipment so it isn't a great photo. The girls love going to Creative Play in Ajax. It sure was hopping with March Breakers when we were there earlier this week.

Alas, coming home to such sad news about Japan has me in deep contemplation about our world and all the natural disasters that have occurred recently. We were sheltered by the news while we were away and saw footage as we were picking up our baggage at Pearson Airport on Monday morning. My heart sank. The sad part is that while we were on the beach one of the days, the waves had me thinking about tsunami's and how scary they must be and then to learn of such devastation actually happening across the world had my heart sink. I sat down the first night and watched footage on Youtube. Unbelievable and so sad.

Testing 123 Testing....and loving :)

2010-12-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to test out a lens that I would love to add to my collection one day soon. I was asked to photograph a wedding for an acquaintance of mine who I coincidentally met at a mutual friend of ours during their vacation wedding in Tobago years ago. With the social network of Facebook we have managed to stay connected. I decided to take this opportunity to try out this very expensive lens by way of renting it out for the weekend to see how much I would like it to justify putting money forth into it. The 70-200mm which would complete my wedding kit of lenses that are a must have. It is a costly lens but I can see why...sadly, it will have to wait until a long list of other wishes come true first in my collection and will be rented out only until they all come true. Please magic camera land ferries, if you are listening, I have been a good girl this year and would love for you to put the word out to Santa to see if he is listening. I would love a new camera body, lenses, lighting, etc, etc....oh, why oh why did I stumble into love with such an expensive passion in life? Here is a sample from this lens I took the night before the wedding of our dog from the other side of the house.

Seasonal Cheer!

2010-12-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

I started reading Abby stories from this book over the past few days. There are little pictures in it so it can be a struggle to convince her but after she hears me read a few lines she gets into it. I couldn't resist getting some holiday bokeh in the background last night. So pretty. I love decorating so much for the holidays. This will be the third year that we have decorated way earlier then we are used to. I love it but have to say, I think we are going to enforce a new rule here that the tree and decorations come out after December 1st. Our little ones get so wound up with excitement and Abby has been asking every other day if tonight Santa will come. I find myself giving the idle Santa won't come threats if she doesn't do as she is told or misbehaves...I never thought the words would come out of my mouth but they do. It rarely works. We shared Santa's PNP message with her already and I can already see the wheels turning in her sharp little mind as though she doesn't completely believe in it. How do you keep the magic alive with your kids? If you don't have any, what were some things you remembered that made this season so magical?

A lesson or two or three...

2010-11-09T05:10:00.000-08:00

Our end of the weeks are so busy with play dates, swimming lessons, dance lessons and this weekend for the first time, Matt gave Abby her very first skating lesson. She was in her glory and despite being a bit chilly after protesting when I suggested she wear her new snow pants, she had a great time and was all smiles. It warmed my heart to see them together and how proud Matt was in his element on the ice.

Here are some photos from the experience. Abby was like bambi learning to walk on skates at first but did surprisingly well for her first time.

Madison was a little upset when she couldn't follow her dad and big sister onto the ice but was quickly distracted and excited to just be there, running up and down outside the rink squealing with laughter as I chased her.

365 / Day 91 ~ Positive Changes

2010-10-29T03:40:00.000-07:00

Again, this week has whirred by and I haven't managed to stay true to the project yet again. I have decided to dedicate this space to random moments in my life, little things and some of our family adventures in the Black household. I want to keep my photography work separate from my more personal blogs anyway so it works. So what have we been up to, or myself more specifically?

I have some exciting news! I finally did it...I joined the gym! Over 4 years and 2 children later and I have not really attempted a single structured work out. After Abby was born I tried to do a stroller fit class. 6 weeks after a c-section was a bit too soon despite my enthusiasm and I was so discouraged when I could barely muster half a sit-up. I also tried a mommy and me aerobics class when Abby was 3 months old. That experience had me running, not literally. I have never taken dance classes as a child and I must have looked hilarious trying to keep up with all the steps and routines. I was always a few steps behind, extremely uncoordinated and Abby was the biggest little one in the group that kept slumping over asleep in her carrier. So, after two classes, I hold my head in shame on both counts of not returning to either.

As for the gym, the last time I officially had a workout was a couple of weeks before we found out we were blessed with my sweet little Abigail. I was feeling ill with the flu that was going around work. I wrote it off. When I found out I was pregnant, less then a week later I was in the hospital with a ruptured Ovarian cyst. Both Abby and myself were close to not making it and the doctor was truly amazed that she fought to be here and continue to grow strong and healthy inside me. He did an amazing job with the surgery. I was out of commission afterward though and the thought of exercising was furthest from my mind as the pregnancy progressed. Despite having always been very slender, I gained 70lbs with my pregnancy with Abby and had people really shocked at my size at my work. I also developed gestational diabetes which is rare from I have been told for someone with a slender build. I gained 40lbs with Madison knowing I was at risk. I still got gestational diabetes but knew to monitor my eating right from the start. That is hard to do when one has a severe sweet tooth! Serves me right for gorging on sweets all my life without shame and rarely seeing side effects other then cavities or pimples...or crazy mood swings.

Why now? Well, since the weather has cooled down quite a bit and we have been inside the house more I have noticed being short of breath going up the stairs or even walking to drop Abby off at school. I have been having pretty scary chest pains for a few months now. I actually spent an evening in the ER a couple of months ago for fear that it was something worse then it was. Thankfully the tests were fine. Being at home and not exercising can do pretty horrible things over time. I am active, don't get me wrong. Running around after the kids has helped keep me relatively slim but my morning walks have slowed down with the weather and I have noticed a big change. Another reason is to clear my mind. I did a Yoga photo session with a really remarkable women recently and just chatting with her and seeing her peaceful aura and friendly demeanor really inspired me. I have been meaning to do something for awhile but talk is talk and doing something about it is entirely different. So far I have gotten a couple of work outs in and have a new zest for life already and look forward to the next workout even with the pain I am feeling today from waking up some muscles I forgot about the other night.

I am starting to focus on the positive things and help nurture my children and their zest for learning and life with fresh eyes. Starting my daughter in JK this fall has taught me a lot about myself and those around me that I haven't had to encounter in awhile since being at home with the kids. My shyness can be overwhelming at times and I almost feel as though I am the one who is the new kid at school in a sea of parents and care givers dropping little ones off. I have always had challenges with being in situations where I don't know anyone but am very rusty having been at home since a few weeks before delivering Madison who will be two very soon. Two years is a long time to be away from working out in the world with other adult human beings. Even with my photo sessions with new people I get very nervous just before I go out to meet new families or couples. The fear disappears immediately after a few minutes as my photography sessions are more intimate and more my element since I am in the mindset to create. I love the challenge and the desire is there but this whole school thing is quite different. It has me wondering, do I need to get back out in the work force? I think the gym is a good start for now ;).

So here is to a new beginning, or chapter so to speak! Wish me luck and send some encouraging vibes my way to help keep me on this track. I know I will need it! My sister has told me it only takes 21 days to make this lifestyle a habit and I am committed. Poor Matt has been trying all along to motivate me to go and like anyone with a bad habit or addiction, it has to be me or you to actually do something about it and make our own mind up about changing things. Oh, we are also getting rid of cable TV! Now that is a habit I would love to get out of our house! Oh, I almost forgot a photograph....can't forget to include one of those being a photographer and all =). Here is a snap of a festive snack I prepared for Abby to take with her to school. The carved out orange pumpkin was inspired by Jamie Schultz, a fellow photographer that has been sharing some of her healthy lunches on FB. I filled her pumpkin with strawberries and raspberries. I was hoping to get this posted sooner in case someone wanted to try it this week but got busy. Hopefully I will have some more to share from this weekends Halloween fun.

Have a fun and safe Halloween everyone!!

365/ Day 90 ~ My little Artiste!

2010-10-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

Abby started working on this picture before bed last night and this morning she was so inspired to finish what she started that as soon as she got dressed she couldn't wait to get back to it. My little artiste!! Her vision was inspired by a photo of a dinosaur eating a rice crispy square treat. I see it ;). She loves using bright colours close together when she draws and colours pictures. Having an artistic background I have really been trying to avoid teaching her to choose certain colours that match objects yet and colouring inside lines. I want her to find her own voice and vision. I know with school, this will change but in the mean time, I am enjoying seeing her visions of brightly coloured objects take shape and her pride that goes along with each work she completes.

365 / Day 89 ~ A little toe jam anyone?

2010-10-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

I came around the corner from the kitchen to find both girls sitting side by side, both sucking on their big toes. Ewww. I guess since Abby is not allowed anywhere near a soother that she has been sneaking from her little sister every chance she gets, she has taken to her big toe?! Madison loves to do everything her big sister does naturally.

365 / Day 88 ~ Back on track

2010-10-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

So last week was just a crazy busy week for me. I had 2 sessions with one being broken up into two separate days, so I guess you could say 3. The full moon tends to reek havoc amongst me and my girls as well. You know the saying, "It must be a full moon." well, that holds particularly true here and I know there is a lot of merit to it. The tides are affected, animals, plants, etc. Some months I notice more the others, but combine that with a busy schedule and voila, a crazy week of moments where I don't quite feel me anymore. You may think 3 sessions isn't much, but when operating a business PT to be at home with young children who are the FT job, it is overwhelming. At present I limit myself to no more then 4 a month to be able to focus on my family and really try to spread them out over the month if possible.

Thankfully my husband and I had planned a much needed getaway together over the weekend away from the girls. Well, one night actually, but it was perfect and just what we needed. We were planning originally on going to New York city for our 5 year anniversary but after pricing out a weekend there, decided we could plan a trip for the whole family for a week in the Caribbean in the next couple of years for the same price and actually get to relax. New York City can wait. I don't think I want to be that far away from my girls yet anyway. The thought of anything happening and me being unable to reach them for hours scares me. Here are some photos from our trip to Jackson's point on Sunday before heading home.

365 / Interrupted

2010-10-23T03:12:00.000-07:00

This week has not been a success with this project...I have an artistic soul. If something is off kilter, I can't function as I normally do and need to regroup. I have to learn to say no and stick to it and then not feel bad after. I have taken this week to pause my project. I was disappointed with myself when I missed two days due to being busy with my girls and catching up with session editing, etc. I knew this project would be harder then it seems. I am thinking of changing the project into something with less pressure on me and my busy schedule. I realize that I am not super mom and can not do everything. I have my down days and need those as much as I need the days where I feel like everything falls into place perfectly. I wish that every day were like that but know it is not possible unless I lived in a perfect little bubble and that would just be plain boring.

Until I get things sorted and feel more organized, I think I will put this on hold. Fall is always the most busy time of year for photographers. Although I am only taking on business PT at this point to be with my girls, this time of year is also the most busy for school which is a new element to our family, family gatherings, the holidays and also the colder weather looming over us, threatening to descend upon us any day now. I feel like hibernating along with all the animals or migrating south to seek out the warmth.

365 / Day 87 ~ Another Busy Saturday

2010-10-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Today was extremely busy. First stop was Abby's dance class in the morning, while she was in class we made a quick shopping spree trip with Madison. After dance finished up we stopped in for awhile at the blood donor clinic in honor of Libby John's. You can read more about her story here. I managed to talk Matt into donating for the first time too, her story touched him so much. My children and I had the pleasure of meeting Libby and her mom at a park right before she was diagnosed,which makes it so much more real and so heartbreaking. What her parents are doing to honor their child is remarkable. Out of something negative they are doing something so positive that will help save so many lives.

The last time I donated was almost 10 years ago and was told to wait a few years and pounds more should I try again as I passed out midway through donating and didn't have enough for them to use. It is not that I fear the needle and the act of the process, I have always been very petite and probably didn't have enough to eat before hand. Well...OK, I have to admit the needle does make me nervous. I did manage to give enough of my blood to make it worth while but had to put a stop before they did as the room was spinning. I had to rest for longer then everyone who donated near me and was so embarrassed. The girls really enjoyed their time at the clinic. They had lots of fun things for them to do from colouring, balloon animals and face painting. After I donated I got to see what Abby decided to be. See photo below. I don't know where she learned about vampires but she has been talking about them the past couple of weeks and chose to be one...how suiting for a blood donor clinic. We stopped in at home for naps...the morning must have been busy, Abby never naps. Once the girls awoke we headed off to my friends sons 2nd birthday party. The girls had a blast! My busy day was followed by catching up on some photo editing and emails once my girls fell asleep.

365 / Day 86 ~ Spaghetti lunch

2010-10-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Just an ordinary day full of nerves for me under the surface. I snapped a couple of random shots of the girls enjoying their spaghetti lunch. They are just like I was when I was a kid. Everything had to be so plain and bland. No sauce on their spaghetti, but they sure do love parmesan cheese. As for my nerves...as some know, today was the big day to announce my first year anniversary contest winners. I had no idea how nerve racking doing this type of contest would be on my end. The past few days have had me on edge, checking in with my email, my FB page, etc. all throughout the day whenever I had a moment. It was a big success and I am glad I did it but will be doing things differently should I try another promotional contest again. I have really found that you can't please everyone. I tried, really, but I am not perfect and I am one person running this show with a young family to focus on.

365 / Day 85 ~ There is sun after rain...

2010-10-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

My day was thrown off by my husband's announcement that he was working from home today. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy having him around, but the routine with the kids goes out the window. We had to make ourselves scarce in the morning so I took the girls to see Toopy and Binoo perform at the Oshawa Center before dropping Abby off at school for the afternoon. Here is a sunset after all the gloomy rain we had during the day. I loved the way the suns' rays glistened off the rain drops on the cedar trees.

365 / Day 84 ~ A little Halloween decoration

2010-10-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

I found this gorgeous black kitty sunning itself in our garden this morning. It seriously looked like a Halloween decoration when it was lying down. Both girls were so excited to see it and upset when it ran off...I don't blame it, my camera looks like it could be a weapon.

365 / Day 83 ~ Costume Modeling

2010-10-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

I took a trip to Value Village to check out their costume selection. Abby insisted on getting a princess fairy costume and it was too cute to resist. As soon as we got home both girls crept upstairs. I came up to see what they were up to and they were both modeling costumes. It sure was cute to see them both so excited and having so much fun!

365 / Day 82~ Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-10-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

I got a call this morning from my dear friend who was due to have her baby...her voice sounded way chipper and less out of breath then the past few weeks we have spoke on the phone. I was so happy to hear that she had her baby the night before. I was able to give her a quick visit before heading out to my parents for thanksgiving dinner. Here is a photo that her husband took of me with my camera, post processed by me (nice back lighting btw). It seriously took my breath away. Less then a day old and she was so alert and looks like she is smiling at me here. Please don't mind the messy hair on me, I rarely get a chance to blow dry my hair these days.

Here are some more photos I took at my parents place in their backyard while enjoying some peace before my family joined us. I love the colours that arrive with autumn in Canada.

Introducing Serendipity, my dad's wonderful world of whatever happens happens!

My dad, the philosopher and nature lover. Thanks for helping give me the gift of appreciation for all things to do with nature and the arts.

365 / Day 81 ~ Giving Thanks

2010-10-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a visit and a lovely dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Black tonight. I forgot my camera before heading out. This weekend was a whirlwind for us and with two young girls and packing a whole house up every where we go, it is bound to happen. It was nice to relax and enjoy the company of family though.

I did manage to snap some cute photos of the girls in the morning though. They were snuggling on the couch together. Here is one of my favorites. I give my most thanks for being blessed with two gorgeous and amazing little girls. xoxoxox

365 / Day 80 ~ Thanksgiving family outings begin

2010-10-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

I am back tracking my days and trying to get up on my 365 posts. With thanksgiving weekend last weekend, lots of family visits and my first year in business contest underway, I have had little time to focus on my 365. I have been snapping photos each day, no worries there, but my days are blending together in my memory. This project is harder then I anticipated with life's ebbs and flows. So, my first post from our very busy, Canadian Thanksgiving weekend! Family gathering number one...a long drive for a short visit due to my husbands reffing schedule. It was great to see my sister and her family settled in their new place!

365 / Day 79 ~ Purple

2010-10-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of photos from our garden of my favorite fall flowers in bloom this week.

365 / Day 78 ~ Life is a blur

2010-10-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

Ever have those days that just whir by and you forget what you did and the next moment it is gone. My days seem to be blurring together lately. With fall came a busy schedule with my daughter starting JK, a couple of lessons for the girls, sessions for my business and the light sinking earlier in the sky at night. The weeks seem to be speeding by. I snapped this by accident during a session on Thursday night of the ground. It seems to suit my mood this week. A blur. The session was a lovely break though. I got to document a yoga session in the serenity of nature. It was very relaxing and a nice break away from the everyday.

365 / Day 77 ~ Our family

2010-10-06T04:50:00.000-07:00

My daughter has started to draw smiley faces on her drawings to my relief. Before she would draw a straight line for the mouths which made me wonder if she thought we were all sad or angry around here all the time. Can you guess who mom and dad are? The funny thing is, she pointed to the largest head in her picture and said that was me and the second largest was her daddy. Hmmm...I guess I am the more powerful force in this household ;).

365 / Day 76 ~ Sleeping Dragon

2010-10-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

On Friday, while I was picking my daughter up at school I happened to see an unusual sight. The whole wall was covered in dragon flies sunning themselves. Today, I looked out and saw this little guy sleeping on the girls little tyke toy car. It didn't seem bothered at all by my presence. I love dragon flies. They are such interesting insects and hold a bit of magic, much like a butterfly does with its name and appearance. The fact that it eats up those blood sucking nuisances helps too.

365 / Day 75 ~ Knox Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-04T16:04:00.000-07:00

Today we enjoyed a birthday celebration at Knox Pumpkin Farm in Hampton. It was a perfect place to enjoy an afternoon with the kidlets this time of year. They had everything there from hay rides through the pumpkin patch, a corn field maze, pony rides, a tour in the barn and a great park all on sight. It is a wonderful spot and looks like it may be our families new annual fall tradition. Both girls were having so much fun there. Thank you to the family for hosting their sons birthday party there. We all had a blast helping him celebrate! Here are a couple of images from the fun...

Here is a turkey in time for our Canadian Thanksgiving holiday coming up next weekend...they really are kind of interesting looking. Madison was ecstatic to see it up close and personal and when it made the gobble gobble noises she squealed in excitement.

As soon as Madison saw the Moo cows she couldn't get over them and made mooing sounds for them.

The girls busy exploring the barn...

Madison taking me on the corn maze tour.

365 / Day 74 ~ Newcastle Fall Fair

2010-10-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

We spent time as a family this afternoon and went to the Newcastle fall festival with the girls. We enjoyed a visit with Grandma and Grandpa while we were there along with some face painting for Abby - Madison made strange and didn't want hers painted. Matt took both girls on the ferris wheel and Abby talked him into a ride on the swings which for the first part of the ride she was all smiles, unfortunately the ride was a bit too long and her giant smile turned into a giant frown that ended in a lot of throw up :(. Poor little one...I was getting a bit sickly just watching her go around after a couple of minutes.

365 / Day 73 ~ Fall Goodness

2010-10-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

I decided to get some wholesome exercise this afternoon. Raking leaves is one of those chores that I don't mind doing on a mild fall day. Abby was a great little helper. She enjoyed raking the leaves into piles to jump in under the condition that she helped me scoop them up into the brown bags. The yard was emerald green again in no time. It didn't last more then an hour after we managed to collect 3 big bags full but I felt amazing after the bit of exercise I did get.

I managed to make something yummy for my upcoming promo next week. This was a store bought, nicer looking item that I thought would make for a picture perfect back up. It was delicious and my face is going to pay for it in a couple of days in little blemishes. The girls surprisingly preferred the home baked, less attractive of the yummy deserts which will be featured on my photo blog on Tuesday, the fifth of October. Keep an eye out for that special post :).

365 / Day 72 ~ "Blowies"

2010-09-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

365 / Day 71 ~ Fall Promo Photo

2010-09-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

I managed to get a snap of Madison sporting the most adorable knit owl hat from Crazy Baby Accessories this afternoon just before it rained. This hat and many more adorable baby items are available for purchase at Green Baby Clothing Company. This hat was given to me by Sarah the owner of Crazy Baby Accessories as part of my first year in business promotion. It will be given away to one lucky participant in the contest. I didn't want to publish this until after the contest was announced on October 5th but wanted to get caught up on my 365 project so I am getting it up here a night early ;). I am taking the photos for my project but life has its way of getting in the way of posting, especially on the weekends.

365 / Day 70~ Sisters

2010-09-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

I love these girls with all my heart! I caught the little one climbing on her big sister and giving her hugs and kisses so naturally, my camera is never far, I had to take some photos.

365 / Day 68 ~ Lady Bug Bokeh

2010-09-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

The very first lady bug of fall hitched a ride on my daughter into the house after she helped her daddy rake the leaves. She was fascinated by it and so tender. It was pretty determined to get back outside though so it isn't as sharp in this photo as I would have liked.

365 / Day 67 ~ Pink

2010-09-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

I almost missed my 365 again! When I saw my daughter playing before bed this evening, I wanted to freeze the moment. Just recently she has taken to playing with Barbie dolls. Before this year she had all the signs of a tom boy. She now loves princesses, barbies and Tinker Belle and is loving her dance classes that she started at the end of summer. If I were to give her a choice though, 9 times out of ten she would prefer to wear pants over a dress.

365 / Day 66 ~ A day in the life of a dog

2010-09-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

I captured this before retiring for the night. She looked so peaceful. She has the composure of a cat most of the day but will do laps around the back yard or bark relentlessly at anyone who dares walk in front of our house. She is such a good friend to us and a part of our family. The girls adore her.

365 / Day 65 ~

2010-09-22T14:56:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful day for a walk this morning. The rain storm from last night caused the air to be quite humid in our home so fresh air was needed. I love all the colours of fall. Here are a couple of leaf shots as well as some portraits of me taken by my little photographer. At four years old, she managed to get some interesting angles. I had the camera set to the wrong ISO so they were blown out a bit but work in B&W.

365 / Day 64 ~ Flower Art

2010-09-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

I tried something different then my usual garden photos. I have a ton of these similar from this evening that I think I will include on Etsy when I finally get the time to post some work...time, ah, if only there were such thing as pause, rewind, ff, stop...

I kind of like how this one turned out. For those interested in photography and want to try a fun little experiment, set your aperture to f18 or f22 (the smallest opening of the camera) and play with different times to have the lens open for and move the lens in different directions around the object you are photographing or zooming in or out. The results are pretty neat and can be further enhanced with colour and saturation when post processing. This can also be done with point and shoots that have the manual feature minus the zoom option.

365 / Day 63 ~ Anyday Now

2010-09-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed a visit with a close friend this afternoon. She is due with her third child in a couple of weeks which means she can go into labour any moment. I wanted to try out my umbrellas I found at the Ex last month and needed a 365 photo so she posed for a couple of minutes in our back yard for me. My bet is on a boy for this baby. Surprises are so great! The best part is, you get a sweet baby no matter what. I can't wait to meet him or her!

365 / Day 62 ~ Pastel

2010-09-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

I had some quiet moments to myself before a session at a beautiful location in Whitby. I couldn't resist photographing some of the beautiful gardens. Watching butterflies dancing amongst the flowers in the garden was very relaxing.

365 / Day 60 ~ Blue Grass Wonderland and Pretty Things

2010-09-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

I find it so ironic that in my newborn sneak peek yesterday I boasted how I love photographing newborns and not having to stay up late at night with them...it bit me in the butt so to speak and our little one was up every 20 minutes to an hour, taking 15 minutes to lull back to sleep. Between myself and my husband taking turns, I think I got a total of 2 hours sleep. Needless to say, I am grouchy today. I managed to sneak outside and snap a few garden shots during nap time. Our little one has a temperature again today :(. My normally very happy girl is so lethargic and not herself at all. I hate to see her like this. I think a trip to the doctors is in order if it sticks around tomorrow.

Happy Friday everyone!! I hope that you all have a great weekend and lots of extra sleep!

365 / Day 59 ~ Anonymous Photographer

2010-09-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Ack!! I look like my dad with long hair here!

I couldn't resist getting these in the Halloween section a couple of days ago at my daughter's request. On the way home she was in a snit and I managed to get her out of it by wearing the forgotten purchase...they not only had her giggling away but a couple of passers by as well. I think I might bring these along to sessions with toddlers. If all else fails they may come in handy to get their attention.

I forgot to take a photo for my 365 and remembered late this evening. I ran around the house trying to look for inspiration, kind of defeated until I sat down and these were beside me on the couch. I couldn't resist.

365 / Day 58 ~ Turning a New Leaf

2010-09-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Today was my daughters first day of school. She has been more then ready for it for the past few months. She was so happy to be with her friends and meet new friends that I didn't manage to get a photo of her on her own. I picked up this tiny leaf at the park. A symbol of fall. The leaves are starting to fall and schedules are tight. I love fall. It has the feeling of newness about it.

365 / Day 57 ~ A Little Fairy Dust?

2010-09-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

My girls came downstairs this afternoon in these princess outfits all smiles. We decided to head out for an impromptu photo session, messy hair and all. Notice the chalk in Madison's hair. Abby was sprinkling some fairy dust on her to help her fly.

I'm cute and I know it!
Awww, this is what it is all about. The bond between sisters is an amazing thing to watch grow.

A few moments before they changed into these outfits I was stung by a wasp while gardening. My arm pit is still throbbing in pain from the assault. That will teach me to not wear a tank top this time of year. The wasps are out in full force these days. This didn't stop my girls from heading out in their bare feet for some fun as the suns rays started to cast a warm halo around them.

365 / Day 56 ~ Time to Relax

2010-09-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was spent prepping for our new big purchase! It arrived on Friday and we love it! I can feel the weight of the world shedding its heavy pounds off my shoulders already. All I have to say is, thank you for whoever invented layaway plans :). Hopefully we will have managed to knock it down to zero in half the time but irregardless, I am realizing after this year, life is too short to not enjoy the time we have on this earth. The girls love it!

365 / Day 55 ~ Bringing in the Green

2010-09-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

I decided it was time to bring all our indoor plants inside for the cooler weather today. I didn't realize how much I missed all the greenery in our home and already feel the air quality improving!

365 / Day 53 ~ Newborn Nest

2010-09-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

I was excited to get a package in the mail yesterday, just in time for a newborn session this weekend! It is a "Newborn Nest" bean bag for my newborn baby photography. It is rather large and since I do not have a separate studio away from home to put it and we do not live in a large home it will become the girls lounger, which they claimed before I had a choice. It is made of vinyl so it is very easy to clean if there are accidents on it and the best part is, it matches our couch set so it works with our furniture ;). I need more fill. It is so large that it requires at least 4 bags of fill that I found at Walmart. Here is a snap from this evening of the girls having a moment of down time before heading up for their bedtime routine. Pretty big, huh?

365 / Day 52 ~ Soup in a Cup

2010-09-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

I finally found the secret to get my daughter to eat soup. Soup in a cup with a fun straw! She had her 4 year shots yesterday and was complaining of a soar throat today and had a bit of a temperature so soup seemed like an excellent idea. She was excited to meet her teacher this afternoon though and was sad to go after our meeting. She really likes her new teacher and is looking forward to meeting all the new children next week, so much so that she wanted me to pack her snack bag tonight. I didn't get a typical back to school photo today because it wasn't her first day of school. Next week will be when the tears come for me and I will be armed with my camera to capture the moment. How did 4 years slip by us so quickly!

365 / Day 51 ~ Self Portrait

2010-09-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

Being surrounded with my family, my children and my husband, I am never alone. Marriage with children and the act of growing up really divides life and time when things were more simple and thoughts could be thought out without interruption, books could be read, gourmet meals attempted, time was taken for granted and the future held a question mark. Now, it is not about me anymore. I love this stage but get frustrated and often feel like I am losing myself. I know it is such a short time and try to savor ever moment with my children while they are so little. I will miss it when they don't need me as much anymore but just wish that there was a better balance for myself, my relationship and them. Raising a family is not easy.

365 / Day 50 ~ Apple Picking

2010-09-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

We had a nice visit with Grandma Black this evening. The girls and I picked some more apples to make some apple sauce with from their trees and had a chance to roam around the corn fields to show Madison the giant corn stalks. It was a nice calm evening and we had a good visit.

Madison enjoyed her very first apple picking experience last night at her Grandma and Grandpa's home in the country.

Abby was so proud of her baby sister. In this photo she was saying "Good Girl Madison!"

365 / Day 49 ~ School Time

2010-09-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

Labour day...the last day before the week of school. We enjoyed a visit with friends this afternoon and a walk after the rain for fresh air. I grabbed my camera as an opportunity to get my 365 photo. The girls were having fun puddle jumping. This photo was rather timely and perfect for the upcoming days. Big milestones for all three. One will be taking the bus for the first time and the other two will be starting their very first year in JK together. Sigh...where did the last 4 years go?! I think the slow entry to JK is more for the parents then the kids if you ask me ;).

365 / Day 48 ~ Home Projects

2010-09-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

This weekend with the chill that has descended upon us, we decided to stay home and putter. Matt started building a platform deck in the back yard for a little purchase that is being delivered this week(!!!!). Since having a young family our annual big trip that we used to do has all but stopped and we have been frugal with where we do go. Going on a trip with a toddler and preschooler is not relaxing so our trips have been close to home. We decided to bring a little oasis to us all year round to make up for it and hopefully in the next year or two we can get back on board with exploring the world as a family and the girls will appreciate it more. Here are a couple of snaps of the project in action. This brings me back to the days when I used to follow my dad around all the time and help him with his projects.

365 / Day 47 ~ Pancakes! Yum

2010-09-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

I'm so thankful for my family today. Matt made us some delicious pancakes for breakfast. A great way to start a windy, chilly day. Today I have been sorting closets and getting Abby organized for back to school. Most of our summer clothing is being put in storage for another year. We looked out this morning and noticed that our neighbour already closed up their pool. Sigh...if that isn't a sign that summer is coming to an end, I don't know what is. I hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend!

365 / Day 46 ~ Sleepy Girl

2010-09-03T05:23:00.000-07:00

Madison was having a cuddle after her nap with her favorite doll from Crazy Baby Accessories. This doll was a present from me for her first birthday. She has been sleeping with her arms wrapped around it for months now. It is her friend when she wakes up and we can hear her have many conversations with it when she first gets up.

My happy girl! xoxo

When we first moved here three years ago you could see the roof top of the house behind us. The trees grew so much this year that you can barely see that there is a house there now.

365 / Day 45~ Picture of the Day

2010-09-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

Ever sing into a blowing fan?

365 / Day 44 ~ The Subject of Time

2010-09-01T11:46:00.001-07:00

Time is a funny thing. We either feel its presence looming over us like a child waiting for that final school bell to ring after a long day, or it slips through our fingers like sand, escaping our grasp and feeling like life has been set to fast forward.

Why discuss time today? Last night I got a call from a friend with some sad news. Her best friends husband passed away unexpectedly. He was so young, just 32 years old and died of tear in an artery that caused heart failure. He leaves behind his wife (my friends best friend) and a 4 month old baby. I can't help but feel their pain. My husband is 32 years old. It seems so unreal and so close to home. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and my friend for their loss.

I can write so much more in relation to time and untimeliness but think I will leave it for now.

365/ Day 42 ~ Yummy Playdoh

2010-08-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

Durham Region Child Photographer

Today was a day of catching up on things, some relaxing with the girls, house cleaning and editing. As much as the girls love being busy they also enjoy those down days. Abby begged for a good couple of hours at points to break out the Yummy Playdoh my sister gave them last time she was visiting. She is having trouble taking no for an answer these days. I have been telling her that it is for a rainy day because it is messy. Well, what do you know, the wind picked up and rain drops fell from the sky just for Abby to play with her Yummy Playdoh. The phone rang at one point and when I came around the corner this is what I found Abby doing. Needless to say, she complained of a tummy ache later. This play doh really was yummy but needed to be baked and she ate way too much. Poor thing :(.

I had to include one with Madison. She enjoyed the yummy playdoh too, just not as much.

365 / Day 41 ~ Summer Days

2010-08-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

What did I do today? I am back tracking my thoughts and trying to remember. I am a little late on posting. My weekends are busy blurs of visits, sessions, etc. Sunday I spent lots of time outside in the backyard with my girls. I am loving this warmth as long as I have shade, lots of water and some breeze to keep me comfortable. The girls enjoyed a dip in the kiddie pool to keep cool. Here is a snap shot from this afternoon.

365 / Day 40 ~ Newborn Session

2010-08-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

Durham Region Baby Photographer

Today I had the honour of photographing a beautiful 5 week old baby girl with her family. You can see some of my photos from today's session here on my photography blog. When I got home I was exhausted and completely forgot my 365 so these will have to suffice for me to be honest to my project. Newborn, or close to newborn sessions can be the most challenging to photograph as they often need breaks for feeding, cuddles, etc. She was a joy to photograph. They always are or I wouldn't be doing this. Dad and mom worked just as hard as I did to try for some shots with her on her own. We managed to get a few but not as many as I had hoped. I had my car packed full in case she was up for more. Better to be over prepared for these sessions and overly optimistic in the event that baby is up for more though.

365 / Day 38 ~ Last Summer Days

2010-08-27T17:15:00.000-07:00

This week is a true reminder that summer is coming to an end soon. The wasps are out with a vengeance, the evenings have started to get a bit of a chill to them and the butterflies and birds are starting to migrate south for the winter. I love the crisp air of fall so I am not minding one bit and enjoying the fresh air and breeze that comes with the cooler temperatures.

365 / Day 39 ~ "I did it!"

2010-08-27T14:15:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 27, 2010

While my aunt and uncle were here they spent some time with the girls at the park. They gave Madison the courage to go down the slide and actually enjoy it. This evening, she was so happy and proud to go down the slide all by herself many times to show us her courage. Can you just hear her saying "I did it!!" in this photo. Melt my heart :). xoxo

We can't go for a walk these days without Madison bringing home a few rocks. She loves them for some reason. Must take after both her grandpa's love for rocks. Perhaps she will be a Geologist one day.

365 / Day 37 ~ Wednesday Words Durham Region Children Photographer

2010-08-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 26, 2010

Not one but two friendly visitors were having a drink outside our window this evening!!

365 / Day 36 ~ Off to the Dance Studio

2010-08-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Another busy day. Our second day into Abby's dance class for the week. Today her exhaustion caught up with her and she was not quite as enthused about dancing as she was the day before. We had a mellow afternoon and she put herself to bed at 7:15pm this evening after a small fight to brush her teeth. She hates getting her teeth brushed, won't have anything to do with it if she had her way...on the other hand, Madison will fight us not to.

Here is a snap of her excited to go to the dance studio. Madison was not so impressed as she got woken from a deep slumber so I could drop Abby off.

Below is a self portrait from this afternoon. Look at those small pipes on me! My sister pointed it out recently and I never noticed before . I guess carting an over 20 lb toddler around and all the lifting and bending has it's benefits for someone who hasn't made it to the gym since before her first daughter was born. I am working on that...one day ;). I want to feel better overall and know that there is always room for improvement. The last time I attempted a good run my chest was burning fire which was very discouraging. I have been blessed with a slim build and fast metabolism but really it is what is on the inside that counts the most.

365 / Day 35 Monday, sweet Monday.

2010-08-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 23, 2010

Today was busy and I nearly forgot my 365. At one point the phone rang 4 times in a row, twice I was on the other line, a friend came over at that precise moment and the kids, well, they were being kids. All in all, a fun day...if only my daughter, who was so very exhausted could fall asleep right away for bedtime as she was in much need of some rest. She was over tired and stayed up in tears for an hour past her bedtime.

I managed to sneak out and capture a shot from our garden, still damp from the rain.

365 / Day 34

2010-08-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 22, 2010

I am a little behind in my uploading for my 365. I am just amazed that I have lasted this long though and really want to keep at it! This was a shot of the girls on Sunday enjoying a freezie before going out for a bike ride with their dad.

365 / Day 33 ~ Let's go to the EX!!

2010-08-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 21, 2010

We decided after a gloomy, overcast morning indoors to head out to the CNE today. I am glad we did, the girls had so much fun on the GO train and we got to enjoy some sight seeing, people, watching, window shopping and sampling. I love our annual visit to the EX!

Here are some snaps from our handy little point and shoot Canon PowerShot camera.

365 / Day 32 ~ Little Steps

2010-08-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 20, 2010

I am in desperate need of some R&R. I can't seem to relax these days. Even during our day trip to Wonderland this week I wasn't able to really let my hair down so to speak because I had a sinus cold looming over making me feel like my head was being squeezed all day. Tomorrow I am going to surprise my husband with something special for family and for our anniversary. I don't know what yet but he is giving me a much needed break from the girls right now so I have about 15 minutes to think of something. Any ideas?

For now, I took this quick snap of the artwork Abby created on our driveway this morning with sidewalk chalk. She loves to get them wet and use them as paste.

365 / Day 31 ~ Back to Reality

2010-08-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 19, 2010

I woke up on my own for a change today waiting for one of our two to either cry or come bursting in wanting my attention this morning. When the realization clicked in that they were still at Grandma and Grandpa's for their sleepover visit I closed my eyes again and slept another 30 minutes. Being able to wake up at your leisure is so easily taken for granted before kids. I think that is one of the reasons in life that teenagers are prone to sleeping in all weekend...to try to soak it all in before they have families! We both enjoyed a lazy morning of puttering about doing tasks that would otherwise be put on hold and never be done with children around. I got to sort some client photos and frame new personal photos. I feel like I got quite a bit accomplished before my afternoon filled up with children. Tonight, my husband and I celebrate 5 years of marriage. A day early, but that is the nature of babysitting and planning in advance.

365 / Day 30 ~ Sans Kids

2010-08-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

We decided to get some much needed excitement and R&R into our lives today and went to Canada's Wonderland for some fun...without the girls! Yeah!! That meant we could go on roller coasters, walk around at our leisure and spend much needed one on one time together. Our fun filled day was followed by a trip to Vaughan Mills Mall for some retail therapy. This photo was captured with my husbands iphone as a combined effort. Can you see how congested I look ;). I awoke on Tuesday quite stuffed up with a sinus cold and it was in full swing today.

365 / Day 29 ~ Summer Fun, Durham Region Family Photographer

2010-08-17T16:41:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

What better way to spend a summer evening then to enjoy an ice cream cone followed by a run through the sprinkler to get cleaned off. Both girls had a blast and were all smiles and songs this evening while getting ready for bed. Here is my favorite image from this evenings fun.

365 / Day 28 ~ Birth Day Reflections

2010-08-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 16

Exactly 4 years ago I was at the Oshawa Lakeridge Health hospital having some pretty painful contractions, gearing up to deliver my first baby girl. It wasn't until the early evening that the doctor suggested I deliver via c-section 32 hours after being induced and only dilating 4cm. I was exhausted by that point, in much pain and waiting on an epidural that I decided I REALLY wanted and agreed without hesitation when asked. I took lamaze classes with my obliging husband before this and had my birth plan set but did have realistic expectations since we knew our baby was of a large size due to gestational diabetes. She was brought into this world at around 8pm. I was a blur of emotion and drugs but the most amazing feeling of all was the strong and overwhelming feeling of love I had for her when I heard her first cry and saw her for the first time. The feeling was so strong that up until that point I don't think I have loved someone more in my lifetime until she came along. You will be amazed at how much your heart grows when you have children. Our second daughter opened my heart up even more.

Today we were planning on doing something fun with the girls but my daughter was so excited for her special day that she woke up way too early and all tears looking for her Hello Kitty outfit that was in the wash. Poor thing was so disappointed to learn that it was a day with just us and not another party day. She enjoyed playing with all of her new toys and spending time with her daddy who is on vacation this week though.

365 / Day 27 ~ Summer Sunday Afternoon

2010-08-16T07:31:00.001-07:00

Sunday, August 15, 2010

We had a lazy Sunday afternoon with the girls and enjoyed a stroll at a nearby park listening to the distant thunder storm. I attempted (a poor attempt) at a family group shot with the good old self timer but my girls are really young for this to be affective, especially with wide open spaces. I think a remote is now on my wish list. After running back and forth a few times I felt defeated and gave up as each and every time one of the girls would leap into action and make a break for it. The last time I tried this was last fall and one of our girls was not walking yet.

First, my entry for the iHeartFaces.com challege this week. The theme is Sunglasses. This is Madison trying on her grandma's sunglasses from Saturday's birthday fun.

My 365 post for today:

The girls were so fascinated with their dad when he decided to lie down for a rest on the grass after seeing me over exert myself with the family portrait. Aha!! He is wearing sunglasses too! I never even thought of this until I proofed the page for typos.

I thought I would join them since I was tuckered out after a day of chasing preschoolers around.

365 Day 26 ~ Birthday Party Fun!

2010-08-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 14, 2010

We enjoyed a full day of partying fun for our daughters 4th birthday today. It began at 7am when she came into our room a ray of sunshine and excitement, all ready to party in her Hello Kitty tutu outfit and brand new running shoes. She was eager for her friends to come and to get the party started. My daughter had a blast with her friends and family. She enjoyed her Tinkerbelle decorations, balloons and cake. She loved seeing friends she hasn't seen in awhile and was sad to see them go home. Thanks to all that came out to help my daughter celebrate!! She felt very loved and special :). Here are a couple of snaps from the day.

365 / Day 25~ Birthday Planning Durham Region Photographer

2010-08-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 13th

That's right, Friday the 13th! If the superstition of this day is true, and I am not overly superstitious, then I have already had some bizarre and chaotic happenings around here that resulted in a mini panic attack. I haven't had one of those in years. After winding myself up to getting the house to perfection, the kids making a mess as I cleaned and then the dog rolled in cat poop when she escaped out the front for a romp around the neighborhood. She was so set on getting into the relatively clean and tidy house to stink it up with what I am pretty sure she thinks is the loveliest smelling aroma of pooh she has ever sniffed. Yuck! I am good now, calm and relaxed. Thank god for nap time and quiet time.

I can't believe that I left things to the last minute this year. Normally I have things planned a month to 2 weeks in advance and a cake ordered before hand. I can not top the awesome cake that we had last year. Abby has been so wishy-washy this year about what theme she wanted to go with. The themes she has come up with in the past few months (yes, months) that she has mentioned were: Tinkerbelle, Rock-a-bye Baby(?), SpiderMan, Princess and just 5 minutes ago she spewed out "Kid vs Cat", a show she that has become her fast favorite these days. That was not well received at all after I just spent 2 hours battling Whitby pedestrians, construction and a line up at ToysRUs getting party favors and a cake with the Tinkerbelle theme she supposedly committed to for the past two weeks. Oh child, harmless, innocent being, you know not what you say or do ;). I have to laugh. Really, it is cute. Thank goodness for Grandma stopping in today to take Abby out for some special one on one time and present shopping so I could do this running around and for taking the dog off my hands for the night. Abby loves her new shoes and outfit by the way!!

This is my break for the day. A drink of tea, a little blog post and I snuck outside to capture this silly image in tune with the theme of Abby's party. My mind couldn't come up with anything else for my 365 after this mornings fun. If I capture something more interesting in the mean time, I will post it instead.

HAPPY FRIDAY the 13th!!!

365 / Day 24 ~ Neighbourhood Friend

2010-08-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 12, 2010

We nearly missed this little guy on our walk this morning. The light from the shimmer in his eye caught my attention when he turned his head. What irony! Abby and I were just reading Peter Rabbit the other day. It was as though he was sneaking into Mr. McGregor's garden beyond the trees.

I have been using my 50mm mostly for this project. At times like these I wish I had a telephoto lens attached to my camera. I have to say though, using a 50mm is an excellent training tool to help you crop and compose in camera.

365 / Day 23 ~ Wordless Wednesday?

2010-08-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I think I may follow a trend I have seen in a lot of blogs. A photo can say a thousand words, well, maybe if there is a lot to say. Today is just something pretty I captured and another 10 second shot into a glimpse of me and the girls. Happy Wordless Wednesday! So much for being wordless ;).

365 / Day 22 ~ Vintage Afternoon

2010-08-10T09:20:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

This afternoon my daughter and I set up a little tea party station together while the other girls were napping. I came across my MIL's old Kodak Brownie camera she had given me in our garage this morning and wanted to see what I could do with it. Thankfully I had a willing model, for a total of 2 minutes before she was onto something else in the gardens. She takes after me and does not mind playing in the dirt one bit.

365 / Day 21 ~ Everyday Things

2010-08-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 9th, 2010 11:45am

Hello Monday! It is already proving to be a start to another busy week. I forced my sleepy self out of bed this morning at 6:45am to tackle the never ending tasks of running my own business before my daycare child was dropped off. My venture, which I am loving, is a labor of love and although I intended on starting PT until at least one of the girls are in school FT, I am finding PT just does not exist as an entrepreneur in this industry. I guess I am living by the idea that you only get what you put into it and I am channeling my efforts every spare moment I can...which is tiny bits of stolen time here or there during the day and late nights despite being mentally and physically exhausted from chasing after the girls all day. I love it! I love how overwhelming and empowering it can be and I love being at home with my girls. I am seeing so much in Madison's second year that I missed when I went back to work during Abby's 2nd year after my maternity leave was over. I wish I could have that year back but also think that my husband and I needed that experience to see what it was like with both of us working FT and juggling daycare drop offs and pick ups, etc and it helped us towards buying the home we are in now. I know he gained a real appreciation for what I go through on a day to day basis when I went back to work and he started to help out way more around the home and with the children. I have a dream husband who does laundry, changes diapers, takes out the garbage and cooks for us most nights that he is home amongst all the other things he does!! I couldn't ask for more. I love him so much and love that he is such an amazing father to our girls.

This morning it looked like it might rain so I herded the girls out front to get some fresh air. They found the smallest puddle possible on our driveway to jump in. They are such a magnet to water.

Sweet busy bees. Busy exploring, experiencing, learning!

365 / Day 20~ Rainy Sunday Projects

2010-08-08T04:07:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Today was a rainy day Sunday. We had no plans for a change and Matt decided to tackle an unfinished paint job in the hallway from March. Yeah!! I love seeing finished projects. We weren't the greatest pair at seeing household projects through before, well, until we had to sell our last house. Now with preschoolers it is even more of a challenge. I try to pull late nights trying to finish the same day a paint job starts because I know it won't happen for months if I don't finish the same day. I was surprised that he tackled this by himself and had no help from me. Usually it is the other way around since he loathes painting. Thank you sweetheart! xoxo

Nap time is over! The sisters are always so happy to see each other when nap time is over!

365 / Day 19 ~ Durham Region Photographer

2010-08-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

I thought I would take some updated photos of our veggie garden this morning. I am amazed at how well the tomatoes are doing this year. Quite the difference from last year. They taste great too! I love the smell of tomatoes fresh from the garden! I had a little visit with my big sister and her friend later in the afternoon too. I passed on the night out to let my husband get away for a bit to discover that he was staying in. Oh well, I have discovered over the past month that wine and I do not mix well at all. I had one small glass with my sister and a really bad headache, similar to the one I had in Ottawa started to brew. I think I will steer clear of wine for awhile.

Me with my sis, taken by her friend.

Bellie getting in on the photo action!

365 / Day 18 ~TGIF

2010-08-06T10:28:00.001-07:00

Friday, August 6th, 2010

TGIF!! This week has been short but I woke up this morning with the feeling that this is a Monday blah kind of feeling. I had an unlucky, rough day yesterday despite meaning to make the most of it and the past three hours have been insane with the kids. Finally, they are all, I mean ALL asleep for naps. Can you hear the huge sigh of relief coming out at you from the depths of cyber space? That was me! Miss Abigail has been super sassy today and has had numerous time outs. She needs way more activities then I can give her and more playmates to keep her happy and two days at home has her jumping on my nerves. I should go lay down myself and have a nap since my girls never sleep at the same time and Abby normally doesn't nap at all these days but I set out to do this project and that I will do. I am getting quite fast at my work flow management for this which can only mean good things for my client photography sessions.

Here are some snaps from this mornings park adventures. Have a good weekend everyone!!

Abby has taken an interest in pressing the shutter on the camera this week. Normally I am so cautious with my other camera but decided that I will encourage it for this project. This is one of the ones we both tried together at the park. I think it might go towards the iheartfaces challenge since this week the callenge is to get me in the photo too...or I might attempt to look a bit better for the photo and try another family portrait this weekend. It depends on the cutoff time.

My sweet baby. She is growing so fast and starting to say three and for word sentences such as "I did it!", "I don't want it." and "I'm silly." I love her little voice. She loves chatting to herself and singing without words. xoxox

365 / Day 17 ~ Carpe Diem

2010-08-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 5, 2010 8:30am

Carpe diem! I will steer away from my computer after this entry until nap time and get out for a walk to smell the flowers this morning and tackle my to do list of non computer related business. I have the power to control how my day goes. It will be a good one and lived as though it is my last!!! Ha! With kids, that doesn't always work as well as I would like. It is a roller coaster ride of mood swings that are either up and happy high or down with tears and upsets no matter what we have planned for the day. Not a lot of in between. Abby has already had a temper tantrum when I tried to go in her room to pick out an outfit for her. She is acting like a teen already and doesn't want her sister in there or me now :(. It is terrible. I can see it in the near future...a sign that says "STAY OUT" posted to her door (shhhh, no ideas please). We got her a nice bunk bed this year, a new desk for her future homework and this is how she repays us. The bunk beds were more for the idea that maybe the girls can share a room one day and we might gain a spare bedroom and I am not sure how well that will be received the way she is already acting.

4.5 hours later....

I love her to the moon and back and more and will always but she sure does test my patience! I have to laugh at my earlier entry from this morning. I tried, I really did try to seize the day, but today I already want to rewind and start over. I finally got one of my girls down for a nap and the other is actually playing quietly and nicely by herself for now, but this is after the turmoils and follies from this morning and my head is pounding from a mishap that involved Abby jumping while I was lifting her almost taking my head off in the process and then acting silly and talking back to me with a sassy attitude. My goodness, if this is a taste for the future teenage years I am in for it. I really wish there was a nanny McPhee to becon to our house and straighten her up some days.

Here is a pic from this mornings walk and another awesome treasure find! I think I will need a set of newborn twins to try this out on in the future!! In the mean time, the girls LOVE it and have claimed it for their dolls and barbies. I will have to borrow it from them ;).

365 / Day 16 ~ Calm before the storm

2010-08-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

Today has been stifling hot and humid. The girls and I enjoyed a morning at the splash pad in Ajax Rotary park with friends. I decided not to bring the camera along this time. I was wilting but grateful for the soft, cool wind off the lake. Both girls gave me a 15 minute break today after I unloaded their sleepy little selves into their beds from the ride home and my afternoon has been full ever since. It has been one of those days where my thoughts are my own for seconds before the demands for attention, food, drinks, freezies, questions, etc. start up again. Right now I write this up for my sanity to get away for mere moments before getting dinner together. It is hit or miss with meal time these days and I can't wait until their little taste buds develop so I can start introducing more interesting food - not that I haven't tried again and again. So, while I prepare and type, I have been thinking of what type of photo to take as the light starts to fade behind the gloomy gray smoggy sky. I really hope that means rain is on its way to give us some relief from this heat....I managed to sneak out and snap a few photos after Matt got home before getting down to work on designing an album. I got some of the girls but with the lack of naps they were very miserable looking that I decided not to share them. Madison had the biggest temper tantrum yet and has learned to use the word "NO" a lot lately :(. I am not very happy about that, but at the same time, it does sound really cute in her tiny little voice.

Here are a couple of shots I got of an itsy bitsy spider busy building a web in our garden. I long for a macro lens, but my 50mm will have to do for now.

365 / Day 15 ~ Summer Days and Apple Picking

2010-08-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

Today was a lovely surprise. My husband Matt had a floater day off from work so we got to spend some time together as a family after I got some work done in the morning. With the weather being so hot and humid it was a perfect day to spend the afternoon in the country at Grandma and Grandpa's place to have a swim in their pool and pick some apples that are surprisingly already ripe! Here are some shots I played with from this afternoon. I love using textures to add a little creative flare to my photos.

We forgot Madison's swim suit in the rush to make a break for our leave this afternoon...sometimes unplanned events are better with kids but also leave room for error when packing. She is a water baby through and through. I can barely hold onto her without her trying to jump out of my arms these days when she is in the water.

365 / Day 14 ~ Bug Bites and Baby Bliss

2010-08-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

While we were at the cottage Madison received a parting gift from a hungry bloodsucking mosquito. The poor thing had a rather alarming reaction that got worse over night. This is what she looked like when she awoke yesterday morning :(. The last time she got bit they had a feast on her arm and had around 10 swollen bites a month ago and the marks are still there. I spoke with a nurse over the phone and she indicated that this sounds like a mild reaction and that reactions can span a childs' entire face in some cases. The horror! Me, the nature enthusiast, has a child that is allergic to bug bites. She must take after her father. A few years ago he got bit by a horse fly on his hand at the cottage and within an hour it looked like he was wearing a boxing glove.

To save time, I also posted today's mini session with my nephew on my photography blog here.

365 / Day 13 Cottage Days

2010-08-01T05:25:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

Up early with the fishermen of the cottage since the walls aren't very sound proof. My little sound sleeper wasn't so sound this morning. I took Abby for a nature walk through the trails to the black berry patch while Matt stayed with Madison. I am thankful for dogs. I used to have no fear walking through the woods by myself and it is most certainly because I had the dogs scaring any large and potentially harmful living creature away for me. Unfortunately the little nature sitings such as deer aren't as frequent. Abby had fun putting finding acorns and picking berries.

Wild Turkey feather collection.

The girls playing in the sand together.

All packed up and ready to go home to give Grandma and Grandpa some peace and quiet this evening. Abby is really attached to her water baby. She is so sweet and hints every so often that she would like me to have another baby for her.

365 / Day 12 ~ Summer at the Cottage

2010-07-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 31, 2010

We enjoyed a couple of days at my families cottage this weekend. I must say that it is a lot more work with a toddler these days and not quite so relaxing as it was before children however well worth every little bit of the experience to see how much they enjoy being surrounded by nature.

Below is a portrait of myself taken by my husband Matt. I metered before hand and changed the settings and post processed the image after. I am not a fan of getting my photo taken very often but really like this one, messy summer hair and all.

Here is a little green world under foot near my favorite quiet spot up at the cottage. I love moss and the moss bokeh in this photo was the perfect green background for this little piece of nature.

Even Aspen went for a swim. Despite being a water dog this will be the second time in her life that she has actually gone in far enough to do the doggy paddle and like it. She got spooked by waves when she was a puppy with her first lake / water experience.

365 / Day 11

2010-07-30T09:52:00.001-07:00

Friday, July 30, 2010

A fairly easy day so far. The girls are in a good mood, I am well rested and we are all looking forward to spending time at the cottage with family this weekend. I took some snaps this morning of the children. I always have photos of my children up for our day to day activities. I finally captured a sweet photo of my friends' daughter this morning enjoying a freezie. I love her eyes in this photo, they are such a beautiful colour.

My little lamb was being cheekie and cuddling our garden frog.

365 / Day 10 ~ Sidewalk Chalk

2010-07-29T10:13:00.001-07:00

Thursday, July 29, 2009

What a challenge it is to chase after a couple of one year old girls to take a portrait. One in particular, not mine, is so busy that I can't even focus before she is onto the next thing. I am only going to share some detail shots of this mornings photos. I am going to have to do a computer clean up soon and start purging photos to make room for more. Shooting in RAW has its benefits but also acts like a sponge to my computers memory.

365 / Day 9 Evening Light

2010-07-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

This project has proven challenging already. When we got home last night from celebrating a family birthday I almost forgot about it. It was 9pm so the lighting outside was nearly non-existent and I was too tired to get my flash so there is a lot of noise. Note to self, look for a good noise ware program one day soon to try out. A photo of our furry family member enjoying a drink from the fountain and a rose from our gardens. I thought I would add a texture to it since there was so much noise. An excellent way to recover a photo and make a work of art.

365 / Day 8 "An ordinary day"

2010-07-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Today was a daycare day. I couldn't resist taking this snap of the three girls all sitting on a timeout together. There was a little pushing and hitting going on from all three of them that merited it. It would seem like one would start and the other would run over and get in on it by just randomly acting out. They were giddy from dancing to music and that can sometimes get a little out of control. They sure did get a kick out of being on the step at the same time.

I also had the chance to do some treasure hunting today. I ordered my very first 16x24 some time ago of the girls from one of their summer sessions and have yet to find a frame for it. I spied this in a thrift shop and couldn't resist. This frame is much more ornate then what I am used to however I felt I would try it out anyway and if I didn't use it I could try something with it for a photo session. I think it is growing on me already but my husband is a little unsure. It is just so nice to see them up on the wall like this. The photo really feels like a work of art. I decided to trim it down to a 16x20 since the size is hard to find a frame for in the end.

365 / Day 7 ~ "White Delight"

2010-07-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 26, 2010

I almost forgot to take a photo yesterday but had 5 minutes alone and took some snaps of our garden in the evening. I love these flowers that have filled the flower bed with such a soft glow the past few weeks.

365 / Day 6 ~ Morning Light

2010-07-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 25th

I woke up to a calm and silent morning with both of my girls on the last day of our trip in North Bay for our family reunion. It is so hard to chose which photo to be a part of a 365 project, I am sure I will add some more here from Sunday since there were so many great memories!

365 / Day 5 ~ "A time to say goodbye"

2010-07-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 24, 2010

North Bay, the place my dreams sometimes take me of distant memories in my childhood. Fun times, idyllic and happy. Family. Love. A place where a child can run barefoot, catch butterflies and frogs, pick wild berries, explore, learn to fish and swim. A place where we would often stay for summers and enjoy the endless days with our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. It hasn't changed much over the years. The grass and trees are a little taller, the cottage more worn and tired, but overall, the feeling hasn't changed...I have.

This weekend we congregated with our family for a reunion of sorts and to say a final goodbye to my mom. To put her ashes at rest with my grandparents and uncle. It overshadowed my Ottawa trip unfortunately but worked out to be the best weekend for most everyone that was able to join us. My girls really enjoyed being with family and feeling like part of something bigger.

I feel kind of like a photo geek for bringing along my fancy camera but grateful all the same to be able to come home with some beautiful shots of a place I have many childhood memories of. We managed to get there at around 5:30pm on Friday night to be greeted with the best happy smiles and squeals of delight from Madison when she saw us. Both girls were so well behaved while we were away, unless our family are keeping secrets from us ;). I am so glad they had some bonding time with both their Grandma and Grandpa Black and my aunt and uncle for the car ride up there. I took so many photos of the old barn we used to explore and of the lake, the girls and our family. I managed to get a mini TTD session of my niece in her formal dress. She is a beauty! I was having a tough time deciding which of all the photos to share for my 365. I will be doing a separate post this week of my niece on my photo blog though. I am trying to get samples of teens and she fits the category. A little diversity for my website ;).

365 / Day 4 ~ "Blue Eyes"

2010-07-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 23, 2010

We had a lovely visit with friends during our stay with them in Ottawa. Matt more then myself since I was at the photography workshop but it was so nice to see them again. I unfortunately came down with a migraine after the workshop on Thursday that I couldn't do much visiting that night :(. A little wine and me don't go very far these days. All it took was a couple of glasses at dinner the night before and I wasn't myself all the next day. I did manage to squeeze in a mini session with mom and her beautiful blue eyed boy before heading out again for the second part of the workshop and then continuing the last leg of our trip to North Bay to meet our girls! I missed them so much that I teared up when I heard Abby's voice over the phone that morning so I was eager to get there.

Here are a couple of snaps from our mini-session for my 365.

365, Day 3 ~ Workshop Fun!

2010-07-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 22, 2010

For my 3rd day of my 365 I had the opportunity to attend Amber Shereen's newborn posing workshop in Ottawa. I took a ton of awesome photos during the workshop of the little models she provided and the poses she demonstrated for us. She is a true baby whisperer and an excellent teacher! Thanks Amber if you read this!

Here is a little smile I managed to capture of such a gorgeous little princess and her mommy that I think I will include for my 365. The angle isn't the greatest from where I was standing but who can resist a newborn smile. I am sure I will get the chance this week to post many more on my photo blog with a write up of my experience, but for now...

365/ Day 2

2010-07-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

Wednesday evening, July 21, 2010

I was exhausted after our drive to Ottawa. It rained on the way up so my ambitions of stopping along hwy 7 to take photos of the country side were put on the way side. I nearly forgot to take a photo at all before heading out to dinner with our friends and took the opportunity to grab a snap of their beautiful little boy while he was about to get his dessert. He is such a sweetheart! This is by no means an artistic photo but an attempt to make sure I see this 365 out before it begins ;).

{Bare with me while I catch up on uploading. It is on a card that I haven't had the chance to upload.}

Alas, 2 months later I finally came across the card with the one photo I took when we got to our friends in Ottawa. This photo was of their son about to get dinner before we headed out for a night out on the town. Isn't he adorable?!

365 / Day 1 ~ "New Beginnings"

2010-07-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010.

A beginning to something creative and challenging. No particular reason but to see simple things in life that inspire a vision. Bare with me as I find a special spot to post these posts ;)....

I have decided to start my 365 today since this week I am going to be very busy with my camera. I am really excited to meet and learn from a very talented photographer named Amber Shereen in Ottawa this week and attend her newborn photography workshop. I absolutely love her work and her newborn photography is amazing! I will be armed with my camera to take some photos of her little models she provides in the poses she demonstrates and learn a thing or two about the business side of photography. While I am in town I hope to do a family session for my husbands very close friends of whom are so graciously letting us stay with them for a visit while we are there. I am really looking forward to meeting their little boy again. The year has just flown by to fast! You can find their maternity session from last summer here. I wish we lived closer to do their newborn session.

Now for my very first post for my 365! I couldn't resist taking these when I saw this little nest our neighbor's girls had found at the park. A beginning of something special and simple and beautiful and so soft.

Something new blooming in our garden this week.

Session Investment Info

2000-08-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

Creative Portrait Session Fee $150 and for Newborns $175
Creative session fee secures your session date and covers artists time and talent only. The fee includes a location of your choice (an extra travel fee may apply if outside of Durham Region) or the option to have Amber set up a studio of a simple white or black backdrop at your home* or come to her in home studio. Fees begin at $150 for groups of 4 and under based on a 1-2 hour session. From this session a gallery will be posted of 15-25 proofs from which to select images for purchase. For each additional person add an extra $25 for the session fee. For newborn sessions the Creative Session fee is $175. Allow extra time as babies tend to have their own itinerary and we don't want to rush them. Because Amber only takes on a limited amount of sessions per month there is a minimum print purchase order requirement of $250.

Session Bundles:
Bellies to Babies: $250 ($75 savings)
2 custom creative sessions. Photos of baby in utero which takes place during your 3rd trimester and the other session during babies first 2 weeks of life. Book you newborn session early to ensure there is space during the week of your due date. If baby has an agenda of his or her own, as they often do, Amber will adjust her schedule within those first two weeks to ensure babies newness is captured. Orders from both sessions can be combined however since Amber only takes on a limited number of photo contracts per month, there is a minimum print purchase order requirement of $500 from both sessions combined.

Prints and Products:

Gift Prints:
$35 each for your choice of 5x7, 8x10, 8x12 or a sheet of 8wallets (same photo per sheet).

Wall Portraits:
$60 11x14
$125 16x20 or 16x24
$200 24x30 or 24x36

Portrait Collections, Digital Collections, Fine Art Canvases, Photo Books, Greeting Cards and Birth Announcements also Available. Click here to download a complete price list.

*Pricing is subject to change without notice unless locked in with a creative session fee.

Contact Amber

2000-08-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

My name is Amber Black and I am a photographer based out of the Durham Region, East of Toronto, Canada. I specialize in maternity, newborn, children and family portraits.

You can contact me via email at amberblack@rogers.com to book a portrait session or with any other inquiries you may have. Feel free to visit my photography website to see more of my work online and learn more about my photography as a business.

About Amber Black

2000-06-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

Durham Region, GTA and surrounding areas Maternity, Newborn, Baby, Children and Family Photographer.

Hello and welcome to my personal photography page. My name is Amber Black of Amber Black Photography. I am an on location photographer servicing Durham Region, Toronto, Clarington and surrounding areas. I specialize in maternity, newborns, babies, children, family and wedding photography. You have come across my very first online 365 photo project blogged. I have attempted this project 3 times over the past 2 years and would miss a couple of days, so with the help of a blog, I am hoping to see this through.

My inspiration is overflowing with everyday simple and wonderful things that I share with my two beautiful girls, handsome hubby and our dog. They all keep me on my toes and somehow have pushed me to want to be the best at what I love to do aside from being a devoted mother and wife. My dreams are all coming true as life unfolds...with the ups, downs and in betweens ;).

If you like what you see, visit my online portfolio to see more of my work and for details on custom portrait sessions. Please feel free to contact me at amberblack@rogers.com if you have any inquiries. I hope to offer some of my fine art photography and artwork on Etsy very soon.

Thank you for stopping by!!

P.S. If you have gotten this far and you are local or living within 60km of Whitby, Ontario (or willing to travel), mention you saw this on my personal photography profile page and I will give you a complimentary $100* a la carte print credit towards your next portrait session with Amber Black Creative Photography!!

*Note: This special offer does not have a cash value and can not be combined with any other offers or promotions with Amber Black Photography :).