{week 44} visiting grama

we were in need of some sunshine and grama time so we packed up and headed to Vernon for the long weekend. My kids are amazing travelers...we had a great visit. She has these amazing trails behind her place which were a hit to explore. (Makenna was having fun really...can't tell from her expression; more pictures:(

a few more of our adventures...the kids had to play a few more games of rummikub before we were  able to come home!~

6 year old photoshoot!~CARRIGAN

she is the most confident, kindest, loving six year old girl I know...and she has style! A style all of her own. I've never been able to tell her what to wear...even if I buy her outfits she always mismatches them to make them her own. We've been wanting to do a 6 year photo shoot...well the weather has been soo cold and rainy. We decided to chance it tonight. Carrigan chose her outfits with various headbands (she loves her headbands!) We took an hour and went to various locations which she has been scouting out for a while...~a girl after my own heart!~  Yes she is wearing black and red boots!:) After this shoot she lost her other front tooth...so glad we captured this with at least one tooth. 

check out her boots! STYLE!

{week 43} school time...

a warm spring afternoon...Yay finally! Here is my crew being led by Mademoiselle Makenna...Grady is learning his ABC/123's. Makenna also made time for gym to keep Grady interersted...playing in their playhouse. (AKA schoolhouse)

{favourite fridays] long weekends....

Happy Mayday long weekend...hope everyone enjoys a weekend away!:) We are sneaking away for a quick grama visit:) and hopefully some Okanagan sunshine....we've given up camping on mayday weekend we will wait till June!

the great l'il model...Grady

he is always keen to have his photo taken....we play a little game guessing what is sitting on my head!~he has a great imagination...this day there were chickens, pigs, elephants, beetles, worms taking turns sitting on my head. (gets him to look up for a brief moment for me to catch his gorgeous eyes~)
Grady was please to be my "best helper" in the garden today. We dug up worms, beetles...which he quickly took to show his sisters who were "disgusted" (once upon a time they would have been packing these creatures around) we then planted our peas, radishes and some early spinach.

this was taken later in the day after somehow his clothes got wet...thinking it was with the hose!? so he decided to strip down...ahhhh can't wait till hot summer days!

Makenna is silly!

she is growing up sooo fast. she rarely like to have her photo taken these days. almost 8 going on 13...where does the time go? It was great to have a quiet weekend to catch up with each other; hot-tubing, reading books and chatting this weekend was great~

Carrigan lost a tooth!

we were outside this weekend playing/working...and Grandpa cruised in on his bike for a little visit. While playing around Carrigan noticed that her tooth was missing. Not sure if she swallowed it or was it knocked out on the grass...all the same she has a little hillbilly smile happening!:) She is pretty proud; excited to go to school and be able to put a tooth on the chart~

{week 42} spring hike...

Perfection is in the eye of the beholder...this photo captures their unique personalities (or attitudes!:)

Spring is here...dandelions are here!

outdoor fun today...I got some fun shots of my lovely kids today. We had a great day...we all ended up with dirty feet from digging in the garden, planting our peas, playing crochet (or hockey as per G)

Here is a sneak peak of Grady...more to come this week of each of them. check it out my blog daily for posts of them...exciting news for Carrigan too!

Spring is Blossoming {promo}

Spring is in the air...at least that is what I keep telling myself as I spent the morning cheering on my little ladies at soccer in the rain and cold. In the spirit of winter being over and as a kick off to my portrait season of 2011 I am offering this amazing deal.  Lets get out and enjoy Spring...

suggestions on how to use this promo:

                                       Happy Spring to all


***special premier packages also available as ad-ons to your package. email me for more info or use contact for on here or the old fashioned phone...(250 392 2900)

2nd Chilcotin Sparks: Success by 6

we're just finishing off our year at Sparks...tonight was our final night to scrapbook all the fabulous photos the Sparks have took over the last few weeks. They are becoming great photographers and amazing at journaling their adventures in their albums.  I've never heard these lovely little sparks so quiet as they busily worked on their project.
I've posted before of the girls using their cameras here!

Thanks to the Success by six for providing our group of Sparks with the cameras and supplies to be able to have the chance to learn the art of photography and capture a part of their life in a creative journal. These cameras will be used for Sparks for years to come....

{friday favourites} spinach pie

one of our family fav's....spinach pie! To make them each individual is a pain so I've designed my own simple version. Layers of phyllo pastry with a yummy centre!
centre; onions- usually white onion but the purple that I had on hand worked great too! fry these till soft in some butter. At least one large onion. Then mix with two packages of spinach(I use the frozen variety; thaw and drain) chop some feta cheese, one clove of garlic crushed of course, some dill, oh yes and one egg. Mix altogether. I layer the phyllo with brushing with melted butter...making lots of layers then divide mixture into 2 different layers. End with phyllo layers and more butter. bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Very yummy served the next day too!
Above was my momma's day dinner for me!~ spinach pie, quinoa salad(with peppers, onions, asparagus, feta) and souvlaki. Mmmmm...tasty!

signs of Spring...

here is some more photos from our weekend adventures at Scout Island...lots of trees budding out...signs of a beaver... and an expecting momma deer...and of course curious children exploring all the sights!

{week 41} trio

after Carrigan's birthday I realized we didn't capture a picture of the trio! So we quickly posed for a shot on Carrigan's rock at home! The sun was shining and everyone was mostly happy!~ enjoy the outtakes too!

I do not take responsibility for Grady's finger pointing...he has learned that from his father!:)

Happy Mother's Day

 How did you spend your mothers day? I spent it with my lovely 3....tis spring planting season so Kent is busy busy making sure it's all done right. We are all feeling a little cabin feverish...so thought we'd try and get in a park day between the rain. Lots of signs of spring to be had...(we did get a little rain at the end of our hike!)
I love love the image of Grady... he looks like he's really thinking while he marches up the "big hill". He loved going to Scout Island...although on the way there he wanted to go to the "purple park" I quess he didn't remember Scout island from last year. Scout Island is an amazing place to go. A large array of trails and animals to spot along the way through. We noted that some new trails were built from last year.  In the car Grady said he "loved this park" and could we come again?

{friday favourites} The Happiness Project

What if you could change your life-without changing your life!?

This is the start of the book I just picked up the other day while checking out our local bookstore while buying a gift for a friend.  The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. "Each month, she pursued a different set of resolutions; go to sleep earlier, quit nagging, forget about results, or take time to be silly. Bit by bit, she began to appreciate and amplify the happiness that already existed in her life. Written with humour and insight. Gretchen's story will inspire you to start your own happiness project" (from the back of book)

Well I'm already a 1/4 of the way through the book and find lots of great stories and insight. Love the 1 minute rule...if you can do it in a minute do it...don't leave for later. This book is broke into months of a year. Starting in January; Boost Energy (I can relate) steps, go to sleep earlier, exercise better, toss, restore, organize, tackle a nagging task, act more energetic.

So to start we needed to tackle our basement clutter/mess (known as the drop zone!) Grady was helping today by playing the fun game of tossing all the crayons around:( I don't know why boys love to throw everything. I spent the morning de-cluttering and then washed the floors and dusted....ahhhh my creative space is back. I just want to sit and enjoy it!~ I also cleaned out my "mailbox" which consists of a potato box that the girls use to put their art to me into. I went through and filed away my favourites and then purged the rest. 

I won't give away the rest of the book; I do suggest for a great read...Do you feel grateful for your ordinary day? Everyone deserves to enjoy happiness~ 

Our family of 5 for 12...

okay I missed april....but it was a cold month...so bring on sunny may!

I was able to prop my camera on a log and use some old bark to prop up the heavy lens I had attached...self timer, grab tired little Grady and catch this quick shot. After a long fun day in the sunshine, playing soccer, tennis, riding bikes, bbq on deck, and to finish the evening with a campfire and marshmallows~starting to feel a wee bit like summer! this is us at the end of a great day...just heading off for bath time and bedtime!

{week 40} soccer time

soccer time for Grady....while the girls practice riding down the driveway!:) he loves loves kicking the ball...he's pretty good at dribbling; even in his way too small "lightening"(mcqueen!) sandles...

{Happy Birthday to Carrigan} Station House Gallery

Here are a few quick shots of our set-up of our creative space for our art party. The best part is that we had our great friend and photographer Leslie Rowse capture the party. I can't wait to see what she came up with. SEE SLIDESHOW HERE!I also can't wait to capture her daughters birthday this summer (Yay! more party planning!)

Last summer, my girls did a week long art class in this space ( The Station House Gallery)...Mmmmm I thought I would love to use this space for an art party of our own. This is the first time we've done a party outside our house besides at the pool. It was fun to decorate this area~ a blank canvas to use. I love party planning...Carrigan has had some great parties...with most of the same few girls that were here today. She has had a pinata party, pool party, princess party, tea party and hippy party. 

Details: I love love details....Carrigan helped me craft most of the items for her party. Above is the items she chose for her party...ie: pink lemonade...Carrigan decorated them all and wrote everyone's names on the jars.(I LOVE that she even wrote my name on one!) We made caramel popcorn, fruit skewers, and yummy sushi candy. (sushi candy: fruit roll up;rolled out flat and place rice krispy squares on it and then roll like sushi; cut into pieces! A big hit!)

The ART: I put my camera away for the rest of the party. I taught the art project! The girls did a great job! I'm sure Leslie captured their unique project.

Thank you to Miss Maya,Miss Olivia G, Miss Grace, and Miss Olivia R.,  for joining Carrigan in her special day! xo

Below is a post party picture of her...this is such a perfect natural picture of her looking so pleased!

April 30, 2005 our Carrigan quickly arrived in the early morning...she has always been my unique girl full of spunk. 6 years old~