grandparents – ALLYSON ELL PHOTOGRAPHY

March 31, 2016March 31, 2016

Letters to my Littles | March 2016

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

Dear Caleb and Liam,

March has completely flown by so quickly! This was the month I left you all to spend a few days with some fantastic photography friends. (But you two hardly missed me). Thanks to the inspiration and renewed energy I got from that trip I took a million pictures this month. So this letter has a lot of images (fair warning!) March was also the month of the world’s looooooooooongest spring break ever.

We did a lot of fun things! During my time off with you we went and explored some beaches. We hike the Pike Road trail of East Sooke Park and had some fun in the tide pools of Iron Mine Bay. Caleb you were like a mountain goat climbing up to the top of a rock. You were so good at helping your brother and I up too. The view was amazing!

We also had a Beacon Hill park day with the goats at the petting zoo. (Those photos will have to wait a little as I shot them on my film camera). We had peacocks circling our car that day too.

We then had another day at East Sooke Park with dad. It was fun to run through the shore line, try to build castles and have you both creating things in the sand. We ended that day with dinner at My Chosen Cafe.

Unfortunately when we got home we found out our washing machine had flooded the house. That’s a whole other big story. But it is also the reason Spring Break kind of went down hill from there. Dad didn’t get to do as much fun stuff with you both as he wanted to during his time off with you.

We did manage to get a few hours in Sidney to explore the aquarium and the park.

We also did a day trip to Salt Spring Island. Although you both weren’t sure at first, you did like looking around at the Salt Spring Market and Ruckle Park. You both loved the sheep farm, the taco truck and the toy store!

We also found some time to just relax at our local beach spot, dig in the sand, climb the logs and fly the kite.

So all in all, it was a pretty fun spring break despite the chaos in the house.

We also celebrated Easter! We glittered the eggs this year. Fun while we were doing it, but messy as we are trying to eat the eggs. On Easter morning you were both thrilled by items the Easter Bunny left. When you opened up some gummy bunnies Liam, you exclaimed “These are just like the ones we used to find at great grandma’s house”. I’m so glad you remembered her. Easter egg hunting at great-grandpa and great-grandma’s was definitely not the same without poh-poh. This is the last of the hard holidays. You two are both so sweet to me still whenever I get sad.

I’ve put together another little family film. This is all about our Spring Break adventures. I’m so glad to have these fun little snippets of our life together.

I love you always,
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

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. This month is dedicated to my oldest little one.

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

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

July 30, 2014

Apple | Victoria BC Photographer

I am so lucky that I am part of a large family. We all meet every Sunday for dinner at my grandparents’ house. This is a tradition that started when I was a baby and has continued on. My children now spend Sunday evenings at my grandparents’ house. I love watching them get the same love, attention and experiences as I did. Right down to picking those apples off the trees. I know one day there may be a day when we will no longer be at that house and in that backyard; where Sunday dinners at that house will be only a sweet memory. But until then, I am going to suck up every delicious moment of these nights with my family.

February 28, 2013

Maki’s Family | Victoria BC Family Photographer

I’m blogging a little out of order here… But wanted to share my first family session of 2013.

Maki contacted me just before Christmas to ask if I had any sessions available while her sister and her sister’s family were here visiting from Japan. We managed to find a time to get together just before I went on vacation and before they went back to Japan. It was a wonderful extended family shoot on a very cold and frosty day. The two little boys were so excited by the frost which they had never seen before. I hope they liked their visit to Canada, and I’m so glad that I was able to capture these memories of the whole family together.