Kamille's First Date!

This past Friday, my big girl had a big date.  She was off to a Father Daughter Dance (or Fodder Dodder Dance, as Kamille was saying).  The dance was originally going to be the weekend before Valentine's day but it was postponed.  My two loves looked forward to their special night!  

It was a bit of a gong show getting home from work, picking up the girls from daycare, getting dinner on the table and keeping Karis entertained with enough time to get Kamille set up.  Kamille wanted to skip everything and just get her hair curled, get dressed up fancy and get out the door.  Her excitement was a bit difficult to contain at times, and the experience was less than what I had imagined it would be for this special occassion, but when she was fed, washed, brushed, curled and dressed she was back to her delightful self....and modelling like a pro.  ( I swear I do not force these poses! Its all her!)

It wasn't until days before that I had found out that it was a fancy event.  And sadly, I have never had reason for Kamille to have such a fancy dress, so I did a call out to a girlfriend who's daughter has quite the impressive wardrobe and I asked to borrow something!  It all worked out!  Kamille had a few options and this is what she chose!  Dress, shoes, tights and shirt all compliments of Jenn and Terina!  Thank you girls!

Practicing some dance moves while she waited for her date, who was upstairs getting ready.

Her first look at her date who was coming down the stairs!  Love and excitement!

I just love Kamille's expression in this photo!  Subtly bursting with excitement!  

They practiced some dance moves together.....

Kamille learned her first rule of dating.  Never have garlic hummus for lunch the day of your hot date.  Once Kevin noticed her "stinky breath" she thought it was funny and kept breathing on him.  Thank goodness it was Daddy or I am sure her date would have walked out the door.  Stinky!

Fodder Dodder love!  xoxo

One more photo...then you can go.

"Seriously Kristin/Mom, just let us go!  

I sent them off with excitement and wishes for a great time.  There went my big girl in the safety of her Daddy.  It was easy this time.  I knew that she was with the "best guy" for her.  I can only imagine how this might play out 12 years from now.  I imagine that I might be sending her off with a fully charged cell phone, reminding her of her curfew over and over, and pleading with her to call me if she needs ANYTHING!  I will totally be nervous - unless of course she is going out with Gus!  His mom knows a thing or two about raising a gentleman!  ; )  Tee hee!  

Anyway, they returned happy and all danced out.  Kamille's eyes were half shut she was so tired.  It wasn't until the next day that all the stories started to come out.  Lots of people to see, ballet and tap dancers showing off their skills, candy, cupcakes, pink juice that was "a little bit spicy" and treat bags to bring home.  She had a great time!  And so did Kevin!  xo

My One Year Blogoversary! (Its a word, I Googled it!)

Last January, after the birth of my nephew Kingsley, I figured out that my sister had tapped into something pretty amazing by writing a blog.   Jill had found out that Kingsley was going to be born with Spina Bifida the previous September and had started a blog about the path that this news was going to take her and all the changes that this brought to her seemingly normal motherhood experience until then.  By the end of January Jill had introduced me to a beautifully written blog post that was discussed in one of her parent support groups that she was attending.  I can remember being prepared for tears before reading this post, but I had no idea how how this blog and my sister's blog would inspire me!

In blogging I saw a way to marry my love of photography and telling the stories behind the photos that I took.  Up until one year ago, I had stacks of diaries and paper documenting the milestones of my life, through dating, marriage, pregnancies and parenting.  I also had hard drives full of photo files, boxes of printed 4x6 photos in paper envelopes, and a gorgeous stack of photo albums that I had promised to give life to many times over.  It never happened.  I always continued to write and snap, but never allowing these passions of mine to meet - to tell the full story.

In the early weeks of last February I spent time clicking through hundreds of Blogs on Blogger.com and continued to "check-in" with both my sister's blog and Kelle's blog.  The inspiration was building.  I was discovering a whole new world.  A world of people I would likely never meet, yet felt so connected to through their own journeys in parenthood, 'enjoying the small things' of everyday, sharing photographs and exposing the real experiences of life.

One Year ago today I took the step into this world and started this little blog.  I have finally found a way to marry my passions to create lasting stories.  My girls will always have these notes that I write for them, about life with them.

Being a part of the Blogging World allowed me to grow my skills in photography, to find new creative ways of looking through the lens and displaying what I capture.  As well, I have learned to expand my vocabulary, evolving in my way of writing, daring to use the exact words that bring meaning to my experiences, and all with the click of a button.

But more than anything and much to my surprise, blogging has reminded me to sink myself deep into the everyday experiences with my family.  It reminds me to be good to my girls and yet also reminds me that we all have those days when being good to ourselves is hard enough.  The online relationships or connections that I have with others through blogging inspire me to reach out and make contact with those that I can touch and hear on a daily basis - to share life and life experiences with the people I am closer to.  I have the best of both worlds.  I am so fortunate to be able to sit with friends over tea or chat with my best of friends on the phone, yet when the night hours come or in moments when I may find myself alone I can continue to reach out to this online community of bloggers to learn from and perhaps inspire as well.  I thrive in being connected.  I thrive by having quality relationships.

This is my 130th note to my girls.

Me, my girls and my camera, posted on my blog!  

I love my collection of memories!
Happy 1st Blogoversary to Me!

If You Give A Girl A Tissue....

She's gonna want another......  

Note to self: NEVER, ever buy tissues that come in this self-serve, take 'em-all-out, kind of box.

 Because if she's got lots of snot.....

"what???"

 She's gonna need all the tissues

And although the next two photos don't capture her best faces, they capture her satisfaction with her accomplishment.

What a monkey!

Many boxes of tissue have been attacked and re-stuffed since I made this bulk purchase of  PUFFS-all-you-can-grab tissues.  It had to be captured.  I think this is the last box.  Next time I am buying KLEENEX - with the plastic protector-thingy.  Surely it can't be as easy to pull the entire box's contents through that plastic slit!

Inspired

I knew that getting my Masters in Counselling Psychology would be a big deal for me, but I was certainly not expecting how it would change my life, outlook and my perspective.

I suppose all along I have been scratching the surface in the ways that I have helped people in the jobs and roles that I have had in this field of work.  

I've been scratching the surface, believing that I was pretty knowledgable and competent in particular areas of the field.  

I was and I am.

However, I have so much to learn.  There is just so much to learn.

All along I've been scratching the surface, but doing my Masters is going to get me going deep.  Deep into learning, deep into critical thinking, deeper into understanding.

I've just spent 4 days in my "in-class" learning environment where I was surrounded by inspirational educators who have brilliant ways of thinking, a passion for giving us knowledge and whom spent time sharing their life's work and experiences in connecting with others.

I'm feeling inspired by new ways of working with people; new ways of understanding, new ways of questioning, connecting and being present in the lives of others.  

I am only 4 months in on a 6-year long journey and already I am that much more aware of how I have changed through this educational experience.

I cannot imagine how my mind will work at the end.  How exciting to think about the possibilities of who I will become and what I will do for my community.

AMAZING!

I am so inspired to grow!

I had no idea just how much I would.  

My Little Loves

Valentine's Day is super cool with kids!  Since my girls have come along, having an extra special day of LOVE is really really fun and a great excuse to wear red and pink, eat chocolate and suck on cinnamon hearts.

This past week Kamille has been busy making Valentine cards for her friends at preschool.  Last year we had the same idea and managed to complete them in a crunch, so this year I knew that I would need to start at least a week in advance to get all 20-something of them done for today.

Kamille would do a couple after breakfast one day, a few in the afternoon on another, a handful of them before dinner and then yesterday morning she had an all out "get 'em done" blitz.  I cut out a bunch of rectangles for her and to keep it simple, we opted for stamps, punches, stickers, and pencil crayons.  Anything with cutting and glueing would have taken forever!  I suggested that she print her name on the back of each one and today we have 22 gorgeous hand made Valentine cards for her friends!  Now looking at it, I realize that she put a lot of effort into these.  What a proud mama I am of my little crafter!

Kamille's gorgeous cards - she really did each and every one of them all on her own! 

The cards that I made for Karis' classmates!  

The girls were excited for daycare today.  Kamille was wearing pink and white, with a heart embroidered sweater and socks with a heart pattern on them.  Karis' class had a jammie day and her teachers were serving up pink heart-shaped pancakes for a special hot lunch!  So much fun for my little gals!

  

When my girls and I came home after our day, we were gifted with plants from Kevin!  He had picked up special treats for his girls and decorated them with a little touch of love! 

Daddy loves his girls!  xo

Our Valentine's day was great.  The girls sorted through their Valentine cards and treats before dinner and then we followed dinner up with some "attack Daddy on the carpet" nudie style!  I love watching them pile on Kevin or riding his legs like a horse!  So much excitement on their face.  Definitely a moment to capture in my mind.  We tucked our little loves into their warm beds just as the wind and rain pounded down on and whistled around their bedroom skylights.  Lots of kisses and snuggles.

We love you, our little sweet hearts!  Happy Valentine's Day

In Our Big Backyard

Behind our home is a trail - one of many in our town that is used by runners, hikers, bikers and dog walkers everyday.  

In the summer we can't see the trail through the trees, but in the winter we can see the trail and the water behind it.   If the water doesn't freeze over we are able to watch the ducks swim around right from the comfort of our carpet at home.  Last year I can recall seeing the odd swan, but this year the swans have been consistently there to entertain us.  

Watching the swan from the carpet

This week we decided to get a little bit closer to our swan friend Jenny.  Of course Kamille named her. 

There she is....

The Super Girl costume was a prerequisite

Karis spent most of our walk hanging from my back but once we got back on smoother ground she decided it was time to try her walking feet on the trail. 

Snack time

Karis has this new look that I just love.  Its an ooh-ahh-with-excitement kind of look.  I am trying to capture it.  This is the best so far.  

 Enjoying this ordinary day with my girls and Jenny......