family playtime – ALLYSON ELL PHOTOGRAPHY

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

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.

July 8, 2015

The story of a box | Victoria BC storytelling photographer

Whenever my print orders arrive, a big box lands at my doorstep. To my little guy this is often much more than just a box… it is the gateway to his imagination. This particular time it was his way of transporting himself through space. I loved watching him diligently work on his rocketship…

It was all about the details…

These countdown numbers of his… I watched him patiently print those numbers … I melted a little! IMG_7529-1 IMG_7529-2

Time to take off…

IMG_7529-3 IMG_7529-4 IMG_7529-5

This is where I had to put the camera down as someone demanded I push in his rocketship around so he could fly.

These are moments I cherish. What do you enjoy watching your children do? I’d love to document those precious moments for you.

May 25, 2015

Letters to my Littles | May

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 & 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

March 25, 2015

Letter to my Littles | March

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.

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

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.