blog circle – ALLYSON ELL PHOTOGRAPHY

February 29, 2016February 29, 2016

Letters to my Littles | February 2016

Welcome to another Letters to my Littles post. After reading my letter please go to my friend Christine’s blog and read her letter to her littles. Keep following the links to see glimpses of motherhood from everywhere. Thanks for joining me as I write these love letters to my children.

Dear Caleb and Liam,

It’s been another busy month in our house. We’ve all battled colds and sniffles. Ugh! Between daddy’s snoring (from his stuffed up nose) and you crawling into bed with us because you feel unwell, it’s also been a bit of a sleep deprived month!

We did manage to get out and get some fresh air during family day. We went out and did the Lego Fest again in Sidney, then enjoyed some time at the water. It’s been wonderful to see sunshine hitting your faces again.

We also celebrated Valentine’s day. This year we started a new family tradition. We set up a little Valentine tree on our dining table and we left little love notes for each other.

Caleb, this month I attended a parent info night at your middle school./ It still shocks me that you will be in middle school in September. Meanwhile, Liam this month you celebrated the 100th day of kindergarten. You had to dress up like a 100 year old person. You also had to do a project with 100 items – so we made a monster with 100 googly eyes! I’m so thankful we don’t celebrate 200th day!

We also went on a photo walk together out to Whiffin Spit. I took along my digital and film cameras and let you play with the G12 Caleb, and let Liam play with the Instax mini. It was fun despite the rain. I took these…

Caleb took these…

Liam took these…

At the end of that day we say this beautiful rainbow!

But by far my favorite photos of the month are these family ones we took over valentine’s weekend. I love these photos – they remind me of how much I love you both!

Here is our February film about how most of our weekends are:

Love,
Mama
XO XO

December 31, 2015February 28, 2016

Letter to my Littles | December

Welcome to my monthly Letter to my Littles. After you enjoy my letter please continue on through our blog circle to see what my wonderful friend Christine has written to her littles here . Keep reading through the circle – it’s a wonderful glimpse of motherhood from various corners of the world.

Dear Caleb and Liam,

Another year has come to an end. 2015 has been a roller coaster year of highs and lows. It has also been a year of milestones for the both of you. I am so glad that I documented this year through photos and letters to you both. I hope that one day you look back on these memories and can appreciate not only having tangible memories of your childhood, but also the memories of your childhood through my eyes.

December was once again a busy holiday month for us. We once again did our 25 days of Christmas – pulling an activity out of our advent calendar each day. Jack the Elf was back again too! (and he was up to some mischief again this year!) I love how magical the Christmas season is for the both of you. The joy in your eyes, and reliving childhood magic through you both, makes it my favorite time of year.

This year I had the honor of photographing your school pancake breakfast with Santa. I had such a fun time being there to watch you both with Santa. In fact this year we had multiple Santa encounters. Liam I believe you got to see Santa 5 times in the same week – but each time was special for you. Each time you smiled hard.

We also did our Christmas light drive – three times in fact, our gingerbread house building, our card making day and lots of Christmas crafts. You both helped me with baking too. Caleb, I loved how you and I talked about traditions and how many of the things we do, you are excited to one day do with the children you will have. Liam, I love that you remembered so much of last year and you made sure we did certain things: reindeer pancakes, outdoor ice skating, and making gifts for your teachers. You are both learning to cherish our times together, and I am so glad these are memories that you both will always hold dear.

This was the first Christmas without Poh-Poh. It was sad not to have her there to hug us all and celebrate Christmas Eve with. But I am so happy we got to spend it with all the rest of the family. While Christmas Eve will never be the same without her – we are all remembering her in the best of ways. I love that the two of you honor her memory so well, and have helped great-grandpa to find joy too.

Santa definitely spoiled you both. So did all of your family! You both are so lucky to be loved by so many people. I’m glad that once again you both went shopping and bought gifts for children you don’t know, but were happy to give a Christmas to. Your generosity is part of why others are so generous with you.

Caleb, it only took you a few days, but you managed to complete the Millenium Falcon that your Grandma and Aunts and Uncles bought you. You finished on the day we went and saw the new Star Wars movie – Liam you were so very excited to see this – probably more than the rest of us. I’m glad we have that memory too!

Thank you boys for making what could have been a hard and sad holiday time into one full of love, joy and glee. I can;t wait to see what the new year brings for our family.

I love you both,
Mama

XO XO

November 30, 2015February 28, 2016

Letters to my Littles | November

Welcome to my monthly Letter to my Littles. After you enjoy my letter please continue on through our blog circle to see what my wonderful friend Allie has written to her littles here. Keep reading through the circle – it’s a wonderful glimpse of motherhood from various corners of the world.

Dear Caleb and Liam,

It’s hard to believe that we are reaching the end of the year already. It’s been such a big year of big events for our family. In November we managed to slow down just a little before we ramp it up again for the holidays.

We took some time to get family photos done and I am super happy we did this. It’s wonderful to be in the photo with you boys! Thank you to Jesse for these images.

I very proud of both of you boys. This year you both marched in our community Remembrance Day parade and stood at the ceremony. We missed seeing great-grandpa who also marched with the veterans in the bigger parade. But we will go and be with him next year.

Liam you have had some important milestones in your life – you have started to read. It’s very impressive to hear your list of site words growing and to hear you read short books.

You have also been on your very first overnight camping trip with the Beaver Scouts. You got to spend the night at the Nature House in Goldstream Park. Unfortunately you forgot to bring your jacket on a very cold and rainy day. I had to rely on a new friend to drive it out to you. (This did prompt the final purchase of a second vehicle.)

Liam, you have also gotten increasingly silly… some days you drive us all bananas!

Caleb, while your brother was at camp we had a Men in Black movie marathon. It’s fun to watch you growing up and starting to enjoy the things that I liked at your age. You recently got your grade five grad hoodie. When you put it on you suddenly looked so much older.

We still been trying to spend as much time as we can outside. The days are now shorter and it’s dark when we get home from work. So weekends are outside in the sun whenever possible. The doorbell is constantly being rung by all the neighbourhood boys asking if your two can come out to play. I love that you have so many friends nearby.

The month has ended with us having a split weekend again. Caleb, you and Dad were at Cub Camp while Liam and I watched the Santa parade and got some Christmas shopping done.

It’s funny how we end up splitting up in order to spend time together. But I am looking forward to the next month and our annual 25 days of Christmas. Spending time together each day doing something special is what makes the holidays magical for me.

Love,
Mama

XO XO

October 28, 2015February 28, 2016

Letters to my Littles | October

Dear Caleb and Liam,

It’s hard to believe it is already October. We’ve had a very busy month. You are both fully into the school routine now. During our recent parent-teacher interviews, both of your teachers had only positive things to say about both of you. Caleb, two of your teachers have recommended you for a role as a peer counselor. Liam, you are starting to move ahead with your phonics program into sight reading – your teacher says she will keep challenging you, even if you move ahead of the class!

Caleb you and I participated in the Run for the Cure for Breast Cancer this year. I am so proud of how much you are enjoying getting physically active and helping with good causes.

You both participated in Scouts Apple Day this year – you rocked the Tim Horton’s drive-thru, and got lots of donations. Liam you are so proud of the badge you got for this! Caleb you are now a sixer – a leader in your cub den.

In addition to all our weekly busyness, I had a little get away to San Antonio, Texas for a photography conference. It was wonderful to spend a few days with my photography friends getting inspired. But I sure missed you two and your dad. Liam you were so excited to get a cowboy hat!

I returned home, after some lengthy delays, on Thanksgiving Sunday. Between being really overtired, really missing your great-grandmother this year, and being happy to hug you both again, I was really emotionally overwhelmed.

So I decided I wanted us to each write down what we were thankful for this Thanksgiving. No one look at each other’s answers. We all wrote our own – even you Liam. You only had to ask me how to spell “friends”. Caleb, the maturity of your response really made me realize how much you are growing up and how much of the world you now understand.

Caleb you currently completed a project at school on democratic reform. You had to present to the fourth graders, and then the grade 4 and 5 classes got to vote in a mock election. You have been so intrigued by the federal elections. It was great to see you so excited in politics and current affairs. You made me pay more attention so that I could made an educated vote on your behalf. It really is amazing how mature you are. I can’t get over how fast you are growing up.

We went on our annual pumpkin patch trip in search of the best pumpkins. I love that these traditions have become so important to you both. The two of you chatted about last year’s trip and last year’s memories as you walked through the patch together. I hope you will always remember some of these fun times that are interspersed among our too busy work/school days.

As the days get colder, I know our morning walks to school are going to get a little wetter, colder and harder on the spirits. But I love that we have ten minutes every morning together to walk, talk and enjoy the pretty forest that surrounds us. I cherish these days, as I know they will pass quickly.

Thanks for making more memories with me this month boys. I love you both.

As an added bonus to your letter, here is a little video I made of our pumpkin patch trip. I kind of love it!!

pumpkin patch 2015 from Allyson Louie Ell on Vimeo.

Love,
Mama
XO XO

September 30, 2015February 28, 2016

Letters to my Littles | September

Welcome to my monthly Letter to my Littles. After you enjoy my letter please continue on through our blog circle to see what my wonderful friend Christine has written to her littles here. Keep reading through the circle – it’s a wonderful glimpse of motherhood from various corners of the world.

Dear Caleb and Liam,

How has the summer ended and fall begun already? We finished our summer with a fantastic adventure and dream vacation, and then headed right into the school year. It is a milestone year for both of you. Caleb you are in your final year of elementary school, and ready to rock grade five. You are a lunch monitor this year and a leader at the school. Liam you are on the other side of things. This is your first year at the school and you are finally in Kindergarten. (You’ve been waiting two years to get yourself into the big school!)

Another exciting thing that has happened this month, is that Island Parent magazine contacted me to use one of my photos for their September issue. Caleb -it was a photo of you! I was trying to keep it a surprise for you to suddenly see as we walked past the magazine rack. But while we were in Florida I kept getting Facebook messages and shots of the magazine cover so I had to tell you early. It was a whole week later that we finally got to see it in person!

They also gave me a quarter page ad, so of course Liam I had you and daddy end up in the magazine too.

September means that we are back to swimming lessons – Swim Kids 5 and Red Snapper. Caleb you are in your final year of cub scouts. Daddy is a cub leader again. Liam you are now a Beaver and so excited to finally get to officially join into Scouting. Daddy is now also officially a Beaver leader too.

You both are trying to squeeze in as much of the end of summer as you can. Until today Caleb, you were still wearing shorts everyday. And both of you are still outside as much as possible. Lately you have both been obsessed with finding insects and bugs with your friends. Recently you ended up relocating a slug that you and the neighbourhood boys named Yo Sluggity. Caleb you are reading all the time and Liam your imagination takes flight more often than not. It’s a good well rounded mix. Now I just need to get you to stop fighting so much with each other!

The finally hooray for September is another milestone of mine that you have both been a part of. Back on January 1, 2013 I started taking a photo everyday – with my big camera and my iphone camera. This photo a day project was documented here on my blog as well as Instagram. Well, I haven’t been very good at editing and sharing pictures from the big camera as much as I wanted. But I am still taking a photo everyday – sometimes with both the big camera and the iphone, sometimes just with the iphone and sometimes with the point and shoot. But every day I have gotten a photo – and 95% of the time one of you has been in it. This last Sunday I took photo number 1000! It’s hard to believe I have been taking a photo everyday for 1000 days! I know you both have had times were you really didn’t want to take a picture. But you are both also really good at coming up with ideas and asking me what the “photo of the day” will be. So thank you both for keeping me inspired and helping me to document our days.

I’m so glad that this was photo 1000…

Here’s to our next 1000 days and the wonderful journeys those days will take us.

Love,
Mom

XO XO

August 25, 2015February 28, 2016

Letters to my Littles | August

Welcome to my monthly Letter to my Littles. After you enjoy my letter please continue on through our blog circle to see what my wonderful friend Melissa has written to her littles here. Keep reading through the circle – it’s a wonderful glimpse of motherhood from various corners of the world.

Dear Caleb and Liam,

August was another month full of adventures in the sunshine. And the adventures are continuing!!

We went up to Tracy’s cabin on Shawnigan Lake. You were both water babies this year. Aside from eating, you two were permanently in the water!

Liam- August is the very first month you haven’t been in daycare. After over 2 1/2 years at Magoo’s you have said goodbye, as you move on to Kindergarten. A few weeks ago we threw together a little goodbye to daycare party for you. You have been so sad that you are the only one from your daycare going to your school – all your buddies are going to other schools. So we wanted to cheer you up with some help from a few extra special guests. (Special thanks to Heroes Inc. for donating their time and talents to make both of you happy. Deadpool is still thrilled you are his favorite superhero, Caleb!)

Mom and dad have been working most of the summer – and feeling like we have been missing out on summer fun with you both. So we have spent lots of nights wandering in town enjoying the touristy things – like Darth Fiddler, the breakwater, Beacon Drive-in ice cream and the buskers. Liam you even got to be part of a busker’s show – and earned $5 which was promptly spent on a minion balloon.

(above photo taken by Caleb!)

We also took you up to the forestry museum to ride the trains and have some fun. I had to bribe you with cotton candy to get a photo with both of you. But it was worth it!

We love all the time we can capture with you, and the memories that we make in those moments we manage to steal away with you. Some times it is exhausting for all of us – but it is totally worth it.

We are so excited for the next few weeks and the surprises we have in store for you. We hope that you enjoy the extra fun family time we have planned before the school year starts. I still can’t believe I will have a 5th grader and a kindergartener. You two have grown up way too fast!! Cheers to our adventures as we wrap up summer!

Love,
Mama

XO XO

July 25, 2015February 28, 2016

Letters to my Littles | July

Welcome to my monthly Letter to my Littles. After you enjoy my letter please continue on through our blog circle to see what my wonderful friend Christine has written to her littles here. Keep reading through the circle – it’s a wonderful glimpse of motherhood from various corners of the world.

Dear Caleb and Liam,

Summer is here and in full swing. The sunshine is bringing us all smiles again, and we are all embracing life a little more fully.

Our days have been jam packed. Caleb you are enjoying a variety of summer camps – you have learned computer coding, customized your own computer game app, created your own animated comic and spent a week doing canoeing, forest games and beach yoga. And your summer is only half done. Liam you are finishing your last month of daycare ever. It’s bittersweet to see you leave the place that cared for you from over 2 1/2 years.

You are both in an accelerated session of swim lessons twice a week. But you have also learned to love the outdoor pool near us. It’s great to have such a fun place to enjoy time with you.

We’ve been enjoying lots of summer fun with friends and family too. Your dad has mastered the art of s’mores dip. With all the forest fires happening around the province, it’s nice to have a safe (non-campfire) version of our favorite summer food. We did it for dessert during one of our beach BBQ hang outs with Austin and his parents. It was another great night together with them at the lagoon. Not to mention the light that night was perfect!

While we haven’t made it to the petting zoo in town for a while, you are both loving the goats at My Chosen Cafe. You are both learning to wait patiently for dinner and our family meals out are going smoother.

I had such a blast with you a few weeks ago Caleb. We ran our first 5k together, and did a Color Vibe run with one of my work friends and her son. You, Cohen and Victoria kicked my butt at running. But the dance party and the experience was so much fun. Liam, you didn’t run this year, but you still got yourself so dirty. Next year we are going to do this as a family!

Liam, you have been practicing your skills for kindergarten. You are so quirky these days. During the super hot weather you decided you weren’t wearing shirts anymore. You are so good at persisting with tasks. You are definitely kindergarten ready.

You two love being outside after dinner playing with the neighbourhood kids. It brings back memories of my childhood. We’ve had a few late bedtimes as a result – but I remember late bedtimes were one of my favorite things about summer days when I was your ages.

We’ve also kept up with our Sunday dinners, just the way Poh-Poh wanted it. We recently did a picnic at the park – it was nice to see your great-grandpa smiling.

It’s still hard to be working all day – and feeling like I am missing out on your summer days – but we are certainly making up the family time in the evenings and weekends. Our summer is only half over, but the next month of summer promises to be even better. Your dad and I have a few surprises for you both before kindergarten and grade 5 start. We are one month away from an adventure of a lifetime… but shhh…. you two still don’t know yet!

I love you both – thanks for bringing sunshine and joy to me!

Love,
Mama
XO XO

June 25, 2015

Letters to my Littles: June

Dear Caleb,

This month I am celebrating you and the things that make you an amazing kid. It’s so hard to believe this little squishy here…

,,, is now this kid here…

Today is your last day of grade four… in September you will be in your last year of elementary school. How in the world did this happen so fast? You celebrated your tenth birthday this month. I can’t believe it has been a decade since you made me a mom – the most incredible title I could ever be given. The time has gone by so fast.

You are still my sweet little boy yet you have matured into the incredibly caring, empathetic, kind soul. These last few weeks especially, you have shown maturity and bravery that has made me gasp. A few days after your birthday, your great-grandma – my grandma, our poh-poh – lost her battle with cancer. She passed away only a few minutes after you kissed her goodbye. As the oldest great-grandchild, the two of you had a very special relationship. She was so proud of everything you did. She loved having a part in your growing up. For four years she took care of you a few days a week while I was at work. And you have grown to love our Sunday dinners at her house as much as I do.

But I think what she would be most proud of, is that you volunteered to speak at her service. You wrote a little speech and you read it out in front of everyone. You spoke with such clarity and warmth about what you loved about poh-poh, and how you are going to miss her. Watching you deal with her death has shown me how much you have grown up. How emotionally mature you have become. Through your own tears, you have brought me so much comfort. You offer me hugs and have done your best to help all of us. I’m so proud of you. Great-grandpa is proud of you. Poh-poh is so proud of you. You are an incredible boy.

Are you sure you are only ten?

Ten has brought some big responsibilities. You have trained to be a lunch monitor at school next year. Ten is also the age that your dad and I felt that you were mature enough to have your own ipod touch. I love the texts you send me when you are connected to wifi.

You are loving being a Cub Scout, and have finished your second year of Cubs with an armload of badges. You are ready to take on a leadership role in your final Cub year. I love how much it has helped you become more confident.

You had a Minecraft Wild Play birthday party this year. I chicken out at Wildplay. But you… you were up in those trees ziplining with your friends, running across plank bridges and climbing ropes. It’s hard to believe in the first five years of your life we had to work so hard at physiotherapy and occupational therapy to get you learning how to move your body through your environment without falling into things. You used to be so scared to try things. Now you are confident and adventurous.

You have a real zest for life right now. You love to read and will read to me at bedtime. Years ago we struggled to get you talking. It’s amazing to hear you read passages from Harry Potter to your dad; and hear you chat about Diary of a Whimpy Kid or the Origami Yoda books. You are always reading these days. You are also doing incredible artwork. Your teacher has been so impressed with you. In fact she said it best in her write up to you in the school yearbook: ” You have the force in you Caleb”. Indeed you do – the force is strong in you. It is helping to lead you to do so many good things for yourself and others.

It has been my honor to watch you grow up these last 10 years. I am looking forward to the bitter-sweetness of the next ten years. No matter what you will always be my squishy. The one who cuddles with me, rubs my back and tries to make things right and fair in the world. You are a wonderful son, a patient brother, a loving grandson and great-grandson, and a true leader to your little cousins.

I love you Caleb! I will always be your biggest supporter, your loudest cheerleader… I will always be your mom.

Love,
Mom
xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo

May 25, 2015

Letters to my Littles | May

Dear Caleb & Liam,

It’s been a very busy month for us all! But we’ve had some great family time together.

Now that the weather is nicer, we are embracing the outdoors. We have gone on a fabulous, and also harder hike through part of the Finlayson Arm trail. You were both troopers!

We have also enjoyed going for more family walks. This sometimes involves food trucks and almost always involves ice cream!

Caleb you and Dad went to Minecraft Wolf Howl camp with all the Cub Scout troops. I love that you are really into cub scouts now, and that you are working hard to earn your badges and to learn. It’s been so great to watch you and dad do something together that you both enjoy. You are off on one more camping adventure this weekend – and it requires a 40 minute hike to and from the beach you will be sleeping on. You are so excited to do it.

Dad and I went to see U2 in concert in Vancouver. You two spent the night with grandma and grandpa. While we were gone we did a trip to Ikea and finally bought you a proper bed Liam. It was a group effort from all you boys to follow the pictoral instructions and get it assembled. At first you were just really wanting the boxes to build forts with, but then you loved your new bed.

Both of you are also back into swimming lessons and you are both loving it. You are both so active now – the bikes and scooters are still always going. The climbing and “parkour” has also begun.

Caleb you balance your physical activity, screen time and socializing well. You are also super into reading right now – and I will often catch you will a book under the dining room table or while you are supposed to be cleaning your room! You are also really into art – and I find origami, drawings and doodles everywhere. You make my heart smile with the beautiful cards you made for Mother’s day. You made Poh-Poh’s extra special.

Liam we are going for your kindergarten orientation in a few days. I’m still in awe of the wonderful, inquisitive and charming little boy you have become.

Thank you both for making me smile all the time. I love how much we laugh together. The two of you bring you dad and I such joy. I can never thank you enough for that. You remind me to slow down, to enjoy the little things and to make time to play each day.

mothers day

Love,
Mama
XO XO

April 25, 2015

Letters to My Littles | April

Welcome to my monthly Letter to my Littles. After you enjoy my letter please continue on through our blog circle to see what my talented friend Christine has written to her littles here. Keep reading through the circle – it’s a wonderful glimpse of motherhood from various corners of the world.

This month’s letter is dedicated to my little Liam Bean.

Dear Liam,

I’m not sure how it happened so quickly, but you are now five… five!!! That’s one whole hand. How did you go from this sweet face…

…to this one so quickly?

You are so full of life! You have a joy and mannerisms that people gravitate too. You have become this kind, compassionate little boy. Recently you had a trip to the ER after having a bad reaction coming off your asthma medications. When you got a sticker, you asked the nurse for an extra one to bring home to your big brother.

Your life has been quite an adventure. You started out so sick with reflux as a baby. Then you had such a bad respiratory illness at a year old, it has done some permanent damage to those lungs of your’s. You now require seasonal inhalers. You are also one of those kids who is deathly allergic to peanuts – you manage this so well. You are so good at reminding others about your allergy and checking in with grown-ups before you eat anything. It breaks my heart to see how sad you get sometimes when you can’t have the cookie or ice cream at a party. But you very seldom complain. You are my tough kid. And my little kid. The steroids for your lungs, and likely the cream for your eczema, have stunted your growth a little – you are in the 3rd percentile for weight and height, and have low iron levels. So you truly are my little bean. But you don’t let your size stop you from trying everything!

For your birthday you asked for a bike – and you are so excited to now graduate from your strider to a pedal bike with handbrakes! I know that you are going to get the hang of this bike in no time!

It is such fun being your mama and watching all the wonderful things you do. It magic for me to see the happiness you have in everyday moments, the wonder as you discover things about the world, and the connections you make with people in your life.

My birthday wish for you is that you will always go through live with your positive, energetic and caring attitude.

You are going to go far my sweet little Liam Bean. You were born with such tenacity. Your first five years have been incredible. I know the next five and beyond will be amazing.

I love you – for always!

Love,
Mama

XO XO XO XO XO

March 25, 2015

Letter to my Littles | March

Dear Caleb and Liam,

March has certainly been a busy month for us. Spring has arrived and with it, spring break – which this year was 2 whole weeks off of school. (Liam you did not get 2 weeks off from daycare, much to your annoyance!) We have really been trying to focus on spending more family time together – unplugging and enjoying new places or exploring the great outdoors.

We took another trip up to “the mansion” at Morningside Estate with Poh-Poh and everyone. It was nice to have some quality time with you Liam- we went exploring, tried to catch a humpback whale and find the koala bears and pandas that you swore were roaming in the area. We also snuggled together at the campfire and roasted marshmallows together. And Caleb you caught 16 fish! You got to fish with great-grandpa and it sure made him happy (even though he didn’t catch anything!) We got to eat the lingcod you caught for dinner. It was delicious! I’m so happy you both ate it. How fantastic is it that we made dinner from something you caught Caleb!

We have been trying to make use of Daylight Savings time. It is wonderful to come home after work, school and daycare, and have it still be light out. We have been trying to go for walks or scooter rides.

During the first week of spring break, I took a few days off work and we kept you home from daycare a few days Liam. The three of us went and had a picnic together at Beacon Hill Park. I discovered that you are officially the duck whisperer Caleb. You called out to the ducks and they all crossed the street and came over to stare at us. It was pretty awesome! Then we went to visit the goats at the petting zoo, and had a run through the cherry blossoms before finishing up at the playground.

Caleb, you and I had some quality time together on our Mommy-Caleb day. We don’t get these very often. We went to the library, had lunch together, and then went for a walk through Sea Bluff loop. We did some photography together. You are slowly learning how to compose and set up your shots. I love how much you want to learn photography.

The three of us had one more special day together. We went out for Mexican food – which you both loved. Then went to the Lego exhibit at the Sidney Museum. Of course all you wanted to do Liam was play with the duplo. Caleb, you were all over the scavenger hunt, and pointing out every Lego Star Wars set you were hoping to one day own. I think we have enough Lego to start our own exhibit!

photo (37)

We then stopped at the book store and toy store where you each got to spend your money on a few things. Liam you insisted on getting one of those grabber toys. You then proudly used it to pick up all the fancy rocks and pieces of sea glass from Sea Glass beach. We finished this day with a walk along the pier, and of course an iphone selfie!

photo (38)

I am so glad I got to take a few days away from work to spend with you boys. I know it’s hard to have a mom and dad who have to go to work everyday. If I could pick you up from school every day Caleb, I would. If we could spend your finally year before Kindergarten together, Liam, I would be with you everyday. But the reality is, mom and dad have to work for all the things we have – our house, our car, and all the things inside. We want to give you both the best lives possible. So although we don’t get as much time together as we would like – I’m happy the time we have a good times, fun times, quality time!

I love you both!

Love,
Mama
XO XO

March 17, 2015

Life in Black & White | March

Welcome to another Life in Black and White blog circle post. Here’s a glimpse of my monochromatic life. Be sure to follow the blog circle to see some more amazing images from my photography friends. You can check out Meredith’s post here.

This month I wanted to keep it simple and just take a few images in the gorgeous morning light we get in our dining room. These two were mostly willing subjects.