Join me as I take one photo a week for the next year, each one capturing a specific aspect of our family life and my kid's childhood that I want remembered. You can read the introduction post here, an FAQ post here and all related posts here.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and family!

The second week of every month I'm photographing the relationships in our life.

Assignment 15: Photograph the relationship between your two-legged kids and your four-legged ones - aka, photograph your kids with their pets.

You may notice the my littles aren't actually in this photograph with our kitty. Yup, that about sums it up.

Bella has been part of our family since long before the kids came along. She has always been so affectionate with us but has always hated other people. Not in a hissing, attacking sort of way, more in a run and hide if anyone came over sort of way. Our family called her the mystery cat for a long time because no one ever saw her.

Because she loved our family so much, we didn't think it would be that big an adjustment when Angelo was born. Wrong. She has never really gotten used to Angelo and, while she won't scratch or hiss at him, she will run away as soon as he tries to get close to her. If we're hanging out in the family room she'll hang out with us, as long as she's out of reach of little hands.

Grace she doesn't mind. No idea why, Grace grabs at Bella way more than Angelo ever did yet she's okay with her and not him. Except that where Grace is, Angelo usually is too.

If you don't have any pets, you can always photograph your children with an animal they love - the squirrels they look at out the window, the neighbour's dog or maybe they have a thing for cows and point at every cow they see, in which case you can photograph them reading their favourite cow book or cuddling their favourite cow stuffie. Or if they're anything like Gracie, you could photograph the really cute face they make when they're telling you what a cow "says".

I decided to go with two spreads again this month, one for my weekly photographs and then another one for my favourites. Mainly because, even though I did try to keep it down to one favourite, I ended up choosing a favourite of Angelo, one of Grace and then one of the two of them together.

Join me as I take one photo a week for the next year, each one capturing a specific aspect of our family life and my kid's childhood that I want remembered. You can read the introduction post here, an FAQ post here and all related posts here.

I'm photographing another room in our home today. I'm just finishing up with my September album pages and I love the way they're coming together. I think I'm going to be squeezing in an extra favourite but I couldn't resist. I should have it ready to share on Thursday.

Assignment 14: Photograph your bathroom.

This was a tough one for me just because I really don't love the kids' bathroom. The light in here isn't very pretty and it was the last room we chose all the finishings for when we were renovating and by that point we were so sick of picking out cabinets, tile and granite that it just looks really cookie cutter to me. I haven't done anything else to it since because I find it so uninspiring. So if you have any brilliant decorating tips for me, I'm all ears.

But both my kids love this room. They absolutely love brushing their teeth (they may have picked up my slightly compulsive teeth-brushing behaviour), washing their hands, brushing their hair and having baths. We have to keep the bathroom door shut just so Gracie doesn't go in and climb up there and turn on the water so she can play.

So even though I may not love this room, I'm glad I have this photograph. Oh, and don't worry to much about making it a bath-time photograph. That just may be a time of day assignment before our 12 months is finished.

Comment below or send me an email when you've posted this week's photograph - I'd love to see yours!

The day my eye started twitching was the day I figured my caffeine intake was getting a little out of control. But it's just so easy to press the button on the coffee machine and get that extra little boost of energy. I know some level of tiredness is to be expected with a 4 year old and an 18 month old at home plus a full-time photography business, but still, there was a time when I had plenty of energy all on my own.


I do a lot of things right when it comes to staying hydrated and generally eating healthfully but I know there's room for improvement. So over the next month or so I'm going to see what I can do to get some bounce back in my step.

Here's what I'm thinking...

• Drop my afternoon coffee. I never drink coffee after 2PM or else I'll be up all night. But I think even my 1PM coffee might be affecting my sleep a bit.
• Get 7-1/2 hours of sleep every night. I'm pretty sure 8 hours isn't going to happen for me but I'm going to really try for the 7-1/2 hours (heck, I'll be happy with 7 hours).
• Supplement with iron and vitamin D - every day. I'm anemic and should be taking my iron every day but I'm terrible about remember and if I take it once a week, that's a good week.
  
• Turn off the computer by 9PM on nights I'm not working. Even on nights I'm "off" I get sucked in checking emails when I come down to turn off the computers. So if I shut them down before 9PM, everything else can wait until the morning.

Not everything all at once, of course. But as I sit here drinking my caffeine-free peppermint tea, I may have a withdrawal headache but I'm not any more tired than usual.

Have you done anything to increase your energy levels? Any tips for me? Something I could try?

I know, it's September 28th and this is my second holiday post in a week but holiday deadlines are quickly approaching and there are a few dates you need to know about.

In order to receive your custom art albums, canvases and prints in time for Christmas, orders must be received by:

Albums - November 30th

Canvases - November 30th

Holiday Cards - November 30th (in order to receive them by December 15th)

Prints - December 12th

If you are looking for a weekend session, I have 2 dates left in 2011 that will ensure you receive your order in time for Christmas. I also have limited space remaining in the Christmas mini-sessions running October 14th and 15th. Call today to reserve your space.

Join me as I take one photo a week for the next year, each one capturing a specific aspect of our family life and my kid's childhood that I want remembered. You can read the introduction post here, an FAQ post here and all related posts here.

It's the last week of the month so we're photographing the details of our life.

Assignment 13: Photograph your children in their favourite clothes.

Can you tell they love their outfits?

Last week we had a "day of yes". I didn't tell the kids, I just made the decision that when they asked something I was going to do everything within reason to say yes.

It's not that I'm a mean mama, really, I'm not. It's just that there always seems to be so many things to do and so many things on my list that I do find myself saying no just a little too often in order to get to the next thing on the list. Jim is really good at sitting and playing, I'm not. I'm definitely a multi-tasker. But in all my multi-tasking, I think I miss out on on some of the special moments that come from slowing down just a bit.


Like saying a prayer for "the spiders who make their webs and live for around 20 years" - no idea where that came from but if he wants to thank God for them, he certainly can.

Like wearing a cheap plastic Percy ring to swimming lessons - don't ask why I was going to say no to that because I really don't have a good reason for that one.

Like the first time he actually drew feet on a person (he drew them on Superman actually) - which I almost aid no to because how much printer paper can we possibly go through in a day and because I didn't want him messing up my stuff when he went to get the paper off the printer.

Like reading Click Clack Moo three times today like we used to when it was just Angelo and I at home and we seemed to have lots more time for those sorts of things.

Like a surprised look, a kiss on the shoulder and a "you're the best mama ever" all just for saying he can go watch the hockey players after swimming without starting the sentence with "sure, but we can't stay long because we have to...."


And while I meant the day to be more fun for them, in the end I think it was really more fun for me. Because saying yes and seeing their smiles is just so much better than saying no.

I'm excited to be offering Christmas mini-sessions this fall. You can take care of your holiday cards as well as presents for the grandparents in one fell swoop.

The mini-sessions will be taking place on Friday October 14th and Saturday October 15th with the following times available:

Friday October 14th : 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00
Saturday October 15th: 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00

I have three packages available that have something for everyone. Choose your package and then call to reserve your space. The session fee is due at the time of booking.


And on a personal note, can I tell you how great it feels to have my Christmas cards ordered in September? Check and mark.

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