Day 320

Day 320

"Happy New Year"

Well, 2010 is almost over. It has been a great year for me professionally. I am so grateful for the trust people have shown in me to capture some memories for them. I truly love what I do and not a day goes by where I'm not grateful to my clients, because without you, I would not be living my dream.

This afternoon I forced the family outside to enjoy the outdoors. It's not as cold as I thought it was and we spent a couple hours just enjoying the day.

From my family to yours - Happy New Year! Wishing you nothing but love, laughter and happiness in 2011!

Cheers to all of you ~ J

Day 319

"Safe Travels Little One"

So tonight we headed to my parent's place to see my little niece Emily one last time before they leave. She, as usual, was just a little doll. She is the most settled and sweet little baby and has been an absolute joy to have around throughout the holidays. I am so glad her Mom Jolene... took this picture of her and me....she was so cute how she was having a little "conversation" with me at this moment!

If you know me, you know I detest good-byes. Ask anyone in my family - I am terrible with them, so saying good-bye to Brett, Jolene and their daughter Emily was something I have been dreading since they arrived. All I can say is that I'm so happy they brought her home from Ottawa to meet us and I cannot wait to see her again.

Day 319....my adorable niece and me.

Day 318

"Skiing with Grandma"

The boys are starting to get over their colds - finally! My parents came over to the cabin today and the boys and Grandma went skiing. I wanted to capture a picture of them skiing together, but by the time I realized they were back, they were already in the basement. I forced them back outside, but Dylan was freezing so I quickly snapped this and that was it! Oh well, I managed a picture of the three of them together.

Thanks for coming over Mom and Dad - the boys had a lot of fun, and so did we. Hope you get feeling better soon too Dad! :)

Day 316 and 317

Day 316 - "Crosby"

So, can you tell I have been a bit lazy with my 365? The last three days of pictures have been taken at night! I have had sick kids the last three days and I just have been terrible about taking pictures during the day. Yesterday my sister and her family came for the day and I was so happy to have com...pany. Even though my kids are feeling under the weather, it is still the holidays and we need to get together and celebrate that as much as we can before we get back to the daily grind of our daily lives!

Last night we wandered down to the skating pond at our cabin and I remembered that I had yet again neglected a picture for my project. Danny was skating away from me in his new Crosby Jersey so I shot it and I loved it.

You can't get much more Canadian than this.

Day 317 - "Long Live the Queen"

My niece is home from Ottawa for the holidays and is staying at my parent's place. I took a cruise over to my parent's today to see her and we had a little mini-photo shoot in my parent's living room. She is simply adorable, and so settled!

Growing up, we used to call my sister Leslie "The Queen". She is the baby in a family of four kids so she came by that title fairly easily! LOL! Emily is the first little girl born into our family in 28 years (the 'Queen' was the last). My sister gave Emily this little tiara for Christmas and told her she was handing over her crown to her! We put it on Queen Emily today during our little session and I thought it would be fun to use as Day 317!

My adorable little niece, with her new Crown.

Love Live the Queen - Day 317!

Day 315

"Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland"

Took a walk early this evening and shot this picture of the Asessippi Chalet all lit up. We had a quiet Boxing Day today. Dylan and Jackson weren't feeling great through Christmas Eve & Day so we decided to stay put today and have a quiet day at the cabin.
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Day 315....Asessippi Chalet.

Day 314

Day 314

"Merry Christmas"

This photo was actually taken very early on Christmas Day. I'm terrible for being able to sleep the night before Christmas - I think I'm more excited than the kids to see them open their gifts!

I am a day late with this post - sorry - been busy celebrating this wonderful time of year with my family.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas yesterday!

Day 313

"All is Calm....All is Bright"

My brother's yard on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Day 312

"The Three D's"

So, I'm not sure what my boys were more excited about - Santa Claus coming or getting to spend the holidays with their cousins! These three (the three D's as we refer to them as) are inseperable when they are together, they have been ever since they were toddlers. My nephew Dawson came yesterday... and spent the night last night. I have hardly seen these three, if there not skating on the pond, they're tobaganning or skiing. I'm so grateful my boys are so close with their cousins. They have been counting sleeps until they got to see Dawson again so it's pretty cool that we are up and able to enjoy unlimited time with family.

Day 312....Danny, Dylan & Dawson.....enjoying the holidays together!

Day 310

"Makin' Gingerbread Houses....and Memories"

We got to the cabin this evening - insert GIANT happy face here! So glad to finally get up here and settle in for the holidays. First thing on the agenda was to build the gingerbread house that Jack has been asking to build for a couple weeks. At first it was just Dylan and Jackson, and then Kris helped and then Danny wandered in and decided he actually might have some fun with it too! I held my camera for the duration, which was likely a good thing as it kept me from being an absolute control freak when they weren't putting the jube jubes on perfectly straight! ;)

In the end, their little mastepiece looked perfect, because they did it all by themselves.

Chalk one more memory up for the memory books.....here is Day 310.

My Holiday Home

Each year I go a little nuts decorating my home for Christmas. This year I'm not really sure why I bothered! I never got around to having friends over for a Christmas Party like I would have liked. It seemed that between hockey, volunteer commitments and everything else going on with our work schedu...les, the time just did not permit for it. I managed to have one of my girlfriends over for an afternoon and of course my Mom and Dad were here for a few days last week, but other than that - nobody saw it but me! And trust me, the kids and Kris saw it - but with three boys I don't think they really appreciate it! Oh well, I have enjoyed my home so I guess that counts for something!


Here are just a few shots of my "holiday home"....Merry Christmas Everyone!

Day 309

Day 309

"My Favourite Gifts"

So, I was supposed to be travelling up to my cabin tonight, but plans have changed and I hope to be on the road in good time tomorrow. I am so anxious to get up to the cabin and just settle into the excitement of those few days before Christmas. To me, that is the best time of this season. I love the anticipation of all the fun stuff that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day holds.

The boys gave me their gifts after school today - they didn't want to wait til' Christmas morning. Danny made me a beautiful painting and I absolutely LOVE it! Dylan made me the most adorable little snowman and I love it too. The poor guy was in absolute tears when we were driving home because his snowman's arms fell off. He was devestated - told me he "spent two periods on it" as these giant tear drops fell from his cheeks. It almost made me cry too! We got home, got out the glue and all is well!

Day 309 - my beautiful school-made gifts from my kids for Christmas! Hats off to their awesome teachers for allowing them to create these treasures!

Happy Holidays!

From My Family to Yours ~ Happy Holidays!

Day 308

"Lee Christmas"

We got together yesterday with the Lee's to celebrate Christmas before we leave for the cabin. Gail (Kris's Mom) wanted a picture of the grandkids on her staircase....and after several attempts we finally got one! The kids decided to clown around and thought it would be funny to stick out th...eir tongue just when I snapped the picture. Hmmmmm, not funny! LOL!!

Day 308....the Lee Grandkids.

My New Niece

As you know from my Project 365 I was able to meet my new little niece on Friday morning. It was a quick trip into the City to take a sneak peak at her....but it was so worth it. I was clicking away like a crazy person. Brett, Jolene & Emily had a very, very early morning so I wasn't about to start asking them to pose or do "newborn" shots, so I just shot what I saw. Here are a few of the images I captured that I love! Can't wait to see her again next week!

Day 307

So, today I forgot my camera at home. Yep, for the first time ever I forgot my camera at home! We went to Danny's hockey game in Portage, followed by a tour of the Island of Lights in Portage and through it all I kept thinking "how could I forget my camera?!?!" Anyhow, by the time we got home, it was dark out and there wasn't much to photograph so I took a picture of one of my favourite ornaments on my tree. Not sure why I like it so much....I just do.

Season's Greetings Everyone!

Day 307!

Christmas Party!

Have I mentioned that I have the best "staff" in the world?! Let me introduce you to them:

1. Kris (the hubby). He is my sounding board, my financial advisor, my mailman, my delivery person and the guy who buys me the expensive equipment I need, that I really can't afford!

2. Danny (the oldest boy). He is my "greeter". When people come to my door, he is usually the first one to welcome them into our home. He is also my cheering section, always telling me what I great job I'm doing and complimenting me on my work. He is also my "second shooter"....many of the photographs I often feature are taken by him. I think he has the "eye"!

3. Dylan (the middle boy) He is my "smile catcher" (and my charmer). If I'm having trouble getting a smile or a laugh out of a child, I often call Dylan in for the job. He never fails to get the absolute best smiles out of some of my littlest clients. He also is a "second shooter" and has taken some pretty awesome pictures for me!

4. Jackson. He is my "assistant". While I am working away on editing pictures or returning emails while the other boys are at school, he is usually right by my side doing all my very important "colouring jobs". He is also an awesome "smile catcher" too!

Last night we went out to celebrate our great year at Memories by Me Photography. The five of us headed into our favourite restaurant...Tony Roma's. We had an excellent time and let the kids order whatever they wanted off the menu. It was so much fun. We followed it up with a movie at Silver City (Yogi Bear). I can't imagine any other people I would want to have a Christmas Party with.

Now is a good time to thank my family for their patience with me this year. My boys have endured countless hours (and I mean countless!!) of me sitting at my laptop editing pictures. While I often try to balance Motherhood and my career, there were times I know I failed this year and unfortunately, my kids paid the price, not my clients. I learned a hard lesson - I took on way too much considering my responsibilities I have at "home". I am cutting back in 2011 and being a wife and mother first. My clients will still receive the same service I provided them with this year, I just won't be taking on as many bookings. So Danny, Dylan, Jackson and also Kris - thank you for coming on this adventure with me and lending me to my clients! I love what I do, but I love all of you more!

Stephanie & Dave - Engaged!

Here is a sneak peak of Stephanie and Dave! They are one of my 2011 brides and it was so great to meet them and take some fun engagement photos. Thanks Stephanie & Dave....so glad we could fit this session in before the holidays!

Day 304, 305 & 306!

"Beautiful Prairie Sky"

I was getting the boys ready for school and couldn't help but notice the beautiful sky. This pictures is shot right out of camera - no editing! This is exactly how it looked from my office window.

Day 304....

"Stephanie & Dave - Engaged"

I met Stephanie and Dave this afternoon for some fun engagement pictures. They are one of my wedding couples for 201 and are a wonderful, laid-back, happy couple. They were an absolute joy to photograph and I cannot wait for their wedding next Fall.

Day 305...

"Proud Parents"

My brother and his wife flew in from Ottawa yesterday morning and my parents and I snuck in for a quick peak at my new niece before they headed off to Somerset to see Jolene's family. My niece is utterly, and totally adorable and my brother and is wife are proud, loving parents. I snapped a few picture during our quick visit and I loved how these two turned out. Can't wait to see you again Emily at Christmas time (oh, and Brett and Jolene too!)

Day 306

Day 302 and 303

"All is calm....all is bright"

Well, I'm up at my cabin and enjoying every second of it, other than missing my two oldest sons and their Dad! Jack and I came to attend my nephew's birthday yesterday and I also took the opportunity to get everything ready for Christmas while we are here. Presents are wrapped, ba...king is done, and I'm ready! I had planned on getting a real Christmas tree for our cabin, but jack spotted my ugly old artificial one and demanded we put it up "so we're ready when Santa comes".....I obliged and we have our cabin decorated. I may still get a real one for the living room downstairs, as I put this one up in our loft.

Enjoyed our day up here visiting with my sister and her boys and time kind of slipped away on me for my Picture of the Day.

Day 302....my Happy Place....all ready for the holidays! :)
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"The End of an Era"

So, tonight was the last Nursery School Christmas Concert I will attend as a parent. All of my boys have attended Tiny Tots Nursery School in Oakville and I cannot say enough good things about that program. We are blessed with wonderful teachers and a Board of Directors who go above and beyo...nd. I am proud to say I sat on the Board for several years myself and it is something Oakville should be extremely proud of.

Tonight's concert was great, the kids sang and even put on a play - which is remarkable considering they are all three & four years old. The concert started at 7:00 p.m. and ended at 7:30 so to get 14 little people to learn all those songs and even parts in a play is definitely thanks to some incredible teachers.

I am not going to lie, I was a bit emotional thinking that "this is it"....it's another milestone as a parent that I'm not quite sure I'm ready to accept. While I'm grateful that my children are healthy and given the luxury of "growing up", there is a part of me (a big part of me) that wants them to stay little forever.

Kris took this picture of Jack and I tonight after his concert. I actually thought he was done taking the picture and I had turned to Jack to tell him how proud I was of him....and Kris captured it perfectly. I love this picture - I will actually treasure it forever - thank you Kris.

Day 303....my little man and me on his big night!

Day 300 and 301

"Hockey"

Today was my oldest son Danny's Atom Tournament in Oakville.....which meant Kris and I were at the rink all day volunteering along-side all the other Oakville parents. I didn't take my camera because I knew I'd likely be in the canteen for most of the day. It turned out to be a great day of hockey....t...wo out of three of Danny's games were sudden death overtime games (they won one, lost one) and their last game was 0-0 until two minutes were left in the game and the other team scored. If you follow hockey at all you'll know those are very exciting games to watch. They're also very hard games to lose, but our boys handled it with good sportsmanship, which we're very proud of.

As you can imagine, I didn't have much time to take my picture of the day so I figured these hockey skate ornaments my Mom bought the boys for Christmas a couple years ago would be a fitting picture to our hockey-filled day.

Day 300.....

"Bucaneer Party"

After my son's hockey tournament last night I packed up Jackson and drove up to my cabin so that he and I could surprise my nephew Reese and show up at his Bucaneer Pirate Party. I brought a bunch of things up here that I am going to need over the holidays, but the one thing I forgot was Jack an...d my pirate costumes to wear to the party today. Oh well, we went anyway and had such a good time.

Mr. Reese was born in the same year as my son Jackson and my nephew Kael so it was pretty cool that all three of them were there to celebrate Reese's entrance into the four-year old club! Reese also has another cousin Ariana who is four too!

Kudos to my sister Leslie - she sure knows how to throw a party! She thought of everything right down to eye patches and pirate hats for the kids! There was not a detail left out - thanks Les - awesome job.

Happy Birthday Dear Reese. You are truly a special kid and I am so proud to be your aunty!

Day 299

"Not cold enough for bubbles to freeze"

So, I was having a nice, cozy Friday afternoon when Jack walked up to me and said "Mom, do you think bubbles freeze in the winter?" Huh?? Then that was followed by a "let's go see Mom". To which I replied....."let's not, it's cold"! Five minutes later, we're outside with bubbles seeing if they freeze or not. (Can you tell who runs the show around here?)

Today, it was not cold enough for bubbles to freeze. Day 299! Luv you Jackie!

Day 297 & 298

"Christmas Magic"

I had a great day today, but not a great evening. Long story short, I locked my keys in my running vehicle in Portage and my husband had to drive in to "unlock" me.
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When we got home, two out of three boys were asleep (thanks Justin for staying with the kids!), but my little nighthawk Jack came roaming out of the bedroom, wide awake! I had to get a bit of work done and while I was working I noticed Jackson admiring all the ornaments on the tree so I quickly grabbed my camera and took this picture. I love it. Bad evening aside, watching him chat away and check out all the ornaments on the tree made me smile.

Day 297....

"Just call me Little Miss. Christmas Today"

I woke up with a mission to get a bunch of "Christmas Stuff" done today. Not the brightest idea on a Thursday with Nursery School and hockey...but oh well, I work best when the mood strikes.
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My picture is big-time lame....but I honestly was too busy being Little Miss. Christmas today to fire off anything too creative. I managed to wrap my presents (and no, those are not ALL for my kids - I should have stacked them so they look nice for the picture, but heck....I had no time!), reorganize my studio from a "wrapping room of chaos" to a "studio" again and also get the majority of my Christmas cards done! At about 9:00 p.m. tonight I remembered I had to do a bunch of baking for my son's Atom Tournament on Saturday, as well as my son's Nursery School Concert next week. I figured might as well keep on rolling. Not the brightest idea at 9:00 p.m., but I did it. I baked five items, and will attempt to bake more tomorrow (ran out of vanilla - every flippin Christmas square I want to make needs vanilla!! YEESH). As you can see my kitchen was a "kitchen of sheer chaos" as well. I'm not really one of these people who "enjoy" baking....I usually end up doing it out of obligation....but it does taste darn good!

Anyhow, here is my lamo-picture for the day....proof of my accomplishments.....Happy Holidays everyone from Little Miss. Christmas! ;) (please insert "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" song here)....LOL!!

Day 296

Day 296

"Hockey Pics"

So, I know I said I would never do hockey pictures again, but it happened. Never say never. I actually had very good intentions. At the start of the year I sent out an email to the coaches in Oakville advising them that I would not be doing them and suggested a local photographer that does (First Class Photography). I was at practice the other day when one of my son's coaches came up and asked me if I would reconsider. I stayed firm to my no.....for about two minutes. How can I say no to a guy who has volunteered countless hours to coaching my son for the past six years? To make matters worse, my son Danny also wanted me to do them. So, needless to say I found myself out on the cold ice surface at Oakville arena last night yelling at a bunch of nine & ten year old boys to smile, but look tough! LOL!

It's actually not that big of a deal, there are only ten kids on the team and they are all a bunch of great kids, but it's more everything that is involved. Oakville rink by far has the worst lighting on the planet....and it's cold....really cold. Then you have to get home, sort, edit, make Memory mates, etc. Anyhow, it's done....it's over...and I guess I'm glad I did them! Danny is, and that's what really matters.

Just for fun I had the kids "do something fun" at the end of our team shoot. It's always my favourite shot when I do these!

Day 296....Oakville Seals Atom Team having fun. And wow, Danny is pretty much as tall as me on skates....YIKES!

Families of 2010

Wow! I was quite surprised when I went to upload a picture from each family session I did in 2010.....I didn't realize I had done so many. This isn't even all of them as there are a few families that opted not to display their family pictures on my blog. I ran two specials this year - a "Mom & Me" special and a "Sisters" special. Both were lots of fun and I hope to do something similar again in 2011. Here are a few of the many wonderful families had the honour of working with in 2010. I am truly humbled that you chose me to capture these memories for you.