Connected – ALLYSON ELL PHOTOGRAPHY

September 20, 2016September 20, 2016

Fall Mini Sessions

Hello poor neglected blog…

Life has thrown some really big curve balls at our family. It’s made me pause in my business and really reflect on life. It has also made me realize the importance of creating and holding on to memories, and leaving a legacy for our children. So I am once again offering mini sessions this fall to give you a chance to capture a snippet of your life.

Personally, I am not at my prettiest… I’m out of shape, a little stressed and have some tired looking eyes. But my children love me any way. Life can change in an instant. Although I don’t feel like putting myself in front of the camera I realized that if I kept waiting, I would miss out on the opportunity to save moments that show me loving on my family, in this moment. I would miss out on sharing with them how I feel about them. I would deprive myself the chance to look back at our life and have all the feels come back. It’s not perfect, but it’s life. The good, the bad, the moments that will forever make you crack a smile.

This summer I invested in a really big family photo session for my family. I can’t wait to fill my walls with some of the incredible images. My photographer was fabulous. The beach setting was beautiful. But those aren’t why these photos make me smile and cry at the same time. It’s the people in the photo that make me love them. Because I love those people. They don’t see my flabby arms – they see me wrapping them in a hug. I see the way my older son teases my youngest, as he changes from a kid to a young adult. I see the charm my youngest has and how he was such a goof that day, trying to allude the camera. I see the way my husband adores me as he holds me from the wind. I can still hear the laughter!

So let’s do this for you. Let’s make you feel something every time you look at your family in that frame on your living room. Let’s make some magic.

I know not everyone can afford a full session, so that is why I have chosen to do some limited mini sessions again. This is your chance to get in the frame with your children, your loved one, your people! See you there.

April 30, 2016May 3, 2016

Letter to my Littles | April 2016

Welcome to another installment of my letters to my littles – a glimpse of our life with two busy boys!

Dear Caleb and Liam,

It’s been another fun and busy (and slightly stressful) month. We celebrated two birthdays – mine and and Liam’s! Mine was spent picking out a new kitchen at Ikea and chasing you both around Science World. The day trip to Vancouver was fun, but exhausting!

Caleb you learned a very hard lesson about being responsible for your things. You left behind a small backpack at Ikea with a book, your iPod charger, your Nintendo DS and a few games, and $25. We called the Ikea security desk several times but these seem to be gone forever. Sorry Caleb – a tough life lesson for sure.

But we did end up with a new family pet – a unicorn named Agnes!

Liam, your birthday celebrations were much more fun. In addition to all the cakes you had with family, you had all your friends help you celebrate with a big Lego party. Every person you invited came. This also meant that we now own every Lego set in existence! You are such a well loved little boy. It’s hard to believe you are 6 already. Thank you for filling our lives with so much joy. I love your zest for life. The other day I found you lying on the front lawn professing your love of Spring time! Then later you told me you often have trouble falling asleep at night and waking in the morning. You said that you thought you were nocturnal and that maybe you should become a bat. Seriously. You crack me up!

Your new cousin Ethan was born the day before your birthday Liam. He is the cutest little baby! You are both smitten with him. Me too!

Caleb you went with your best buddy Bryson to BrickCan in Vancouver for his birthday. It’s shocking how much you have grown up that you are now leaving the island on trips without us! You are both so well loved by your friends. In fact, everyday the doorbell rings with neighbourhood kids asking you to come outside and play. It warms my heart to see how much others enjoy your company.

Thanks for all you patience as we start our big renovation project. I can’t wait to cook and bake with you both in our new kitchen!

And here’s this month’s video – all about you Liam and all your birthday Lego!

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

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

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

July 15, 2015February 28, 2016

Family of three | Victoria BC Family Photographer

“In the happiest of our childhood memories, our parents were happy too”. — Robert Brault

A month before her second baby was due, Karen contacted me to take some photos of her growing baby bump and her current family of three. They wanted to make a memory of their time with their oldest daughter before she became a big sister. We had such a fun afternoon in their home. I’m so glad Maddie will be able to look back and have these memories – a special treasure just for her of her playtime with her parents.

I also captured a little video of their playtime:

Thank you W family for letting me have some fun with you. I can’t wait to do it again with both of your girls!

Interested in having me be your storyographer and capturing the story of you? Send me an email.

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

February 25, 2015

The Q Family | Day in the Life | Victoria BC Lifestyle Photography

In the fall I had the pleasure of photographing the Q family – in their home, with the kids doing what they loved: playing with their trains, jumping on the bed, snuggling with their parents and walking around outside. What made this session wonderful for me was that the kids were relaxed, and the smiles were real. Mom and dad really love these boys, and the love they have for these two really shows. The love they have for each other shows too. I hope when they look back on these images, they remember how fun their kids were at the ages of 2 and 4, and despite the hard times, the busy schedules, the long list of appointments, and the stress of being working parents – they were also four people who love one another, love to play together, and love to laugh together. Thanks for sharing a morning with me Q family.

I’d love to capture your family this way too. If you are interested in booking a family playtime session or a day in the life of us session please contact me. I’d love to help you showcase the love you share with your family in your everyday moments.

February 10, 2015

Life in Black and White | February

Once again I am participating this year in my Life in Black and White blog circle with an amazing group of photographers. After looking at my post please following along in the circle to my friend Pamela’s blog post for a glimpse into her monochromatic life.

This past weekend my boys learned some fishing tips from their great uncle. They had a great time out on the water, and my oldest even caught a ling-cod. I’m so glad they get a chance to have this connection with their extended family. (More photos from the family day weekend to come).

January 5, 2015

Happy New Year | Victoria Family Photographer

Happy 2015! I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday season with their loved ones. This year I am once again trying to complete another 365 on my big camera… third try will be the successful attempt, right? I am also doing a 365 on my iphone through Instagram – this will be my third year, and the previous two were successful. I’m squishyprints on Instagram if you want to follow my 365 over there.

Here are my first four days of my 365. I will be posting them every Sunday night.

day 1 day 2 day 3 day 4

Thanks for joining me on this journey once again! I’m excited for this new year and all things coming for Squishy Prints Photography in 2015.

December 9, 2014

Life in Black & White | December

It’s hard to believe we have reached the end of the year already and December is upon us. This December is different from last year… we’ve recently lost a loved one, and will be losing another in too short of a time. So this year we are trying to cherish each moment even more. In many ways, though, this December has been much like the others. We have our family traditions that we do, and our holiday routines. As I have gotten older and become a mother, I have learned to really appreciate the significance of tradition. This year my children seem to really value and appreciate it too. And while we may see the same Santa at breakfast each year, and my children will always order the same things for breakfast, there are so many other little details that I can see within the sameness. Each year, I will see my children physically growing bigger. I will watch their mannerisms as they eat – how they start to refine their grip on their forks, how they sip their drinks, how they order their meals. I will watch as the magic gets questioned, as they seek to find the truth and hold on to belief. And I will watch as they bicker and bug each other. As they try to push in each other’s photos and compete for our attention. But I know that my children watch too. They watch how we do things, and remind me when I forget things. They tell me about the traditions they find important. They remind me that these traditions are creating lasting memories that they love to share with others, and that they will grow up to cherish as much as I do.

Thanks for following the Black and White blog circle with me this year. I have truly enjoyed it.

Please follow the circle to Jennifer’s post.