Cell Phone Summer

My passion is photography. I love the creative freedom. I usually carry a camera with me everywhere....until recently. 

One of my hubby's pet peeves is the fact that I am always stopping to take pictures. Not that he doesn't appreciate the result, more that it takes away from whatever it is we are doing in a given moment. When I say that I am going to stop to snap a picture I usually go overboard and snap a few...okay, maybe more than a few...a LOT more. It is a curse! I just love to experiment and try a new pose...better light...a cool backdrop. I have to admit, not only does hubby sometimes get annoyed...but the kids do too. They just want to carry on with what they are doing and truthfully, the girl child HATES to have her picture taken (despite being very photogenic). 

Admittedly, my desire to turn everything into a photo session isn't my most desirable quality. I certainly can understand their point of view. This summer I vowed to do better. To enjoy the moments right in front of me rather than behind a camera. Being in the action and snapping a quick cell phone shot gave me the satisfaction of having a little memory preserved while allowing me to enjoy every second of our summer. I know I don't need one hundred pictures of every little thing we have done or every little place we go. It's more important to be in the moment than turn the moment into a photo marathon.

So, do I have nothing to show for the summer besides some crappy quality cell phone pictures? NO, of course not! But, I did take the camera out less. I planned more days when we were out specifically to take photos and spent less time complaining about not getting a good shot when we were out for the sake of being out! 

The result of my summer hiatus from being a total camera junkie is one I am proud of. I've got some great memories captured with my crappy little cell phone camera.

Enjoy a little peek into my world!

Taking Lara to see Beauty and the Beast on stage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Preforming Arts

My little model on her special day in the city with Mom and Dad.

We had a TON of ice cream this summer after our weekly visit to the library.

Lara taught Owen all about being in Kindergarten (despite the fact he doesn't go for another year).

We swam....a LOT (like all of July).

We went to the Toronto Indy with Owen...he loves race cars!

We took a VERY long drive. 17 hours (one way), non-stop to Thunder Bay.

We went to camp (a.k.a the cottage if you live in Southern Ontario)

We took the kids to see Kakabeka Falls in Northern Ontario

Lara opened an art gallery in our back yard (she even sold some of her work).

SO much corn was eaten. Delicious McKenzie Sweet Corn, that is.

Owen went to see his first Jays game.

We went to Great Wolf Lodge and loved it!

We had a glorious time at the beach!

Owen's natural ability on the tennis court resulted in us decided to get him a coach. (He is CRAZY good for a 3 year old).

We went on this Ferris Wheel.

We spent the entire day at the CNE.

We (hubby and I) went to the rally for education at Queen's Park to protest the government's plans to dictate our new contract rather than collectively bargain with teachers.

So there you have it. My cell phone summer. It was amazing!

It's all downhill after you turn five!

I don't do a lot of personal posts...mainly because my life seems rather boring - working two jobs and being a mother means the most excitement I usually get is when one of the kids comes down with an unknown virus! Exciting, not so much...therefore personal posts are far and few between...that being said I rarely have time to squeeze in regular posts....sigh....when did life become so busy!?!

Now, I really don't have time to be doing a personal post (it is report card season for this full time teacher) but I just had to share the excitement (yes REAL excitement) that surrounded Lara's (my daughter) 5th birthday.

This kid is no ordinary kid...and after much debating she decided that the theme for her birthday should be BT, as in Breakfast Television. I laughed it off, made a Facebook status update about it and suddenly a BT birthday party was in the works!

A friend from high school recently took a gig at CityTV and saw my post...she liked the idea...shared it at work and offered us the chance to go and be in the BT audience....with a possible chance to have Lara interviewed. When we asked Lara if she wanted to do this she nearly flipped out! So, with a plan in place we celebrated with a BT themed party...and sent the pics in to my friend.

The morning of her birthday we had no idea what we were in for. After a LONG night with little sleep we were all getting ready (with BT on in the background) when suddenly we heard Kevin Frankish announce that coming up shortly they would be meeting a little girl who had a BT themed party. That was the moment when my hubby and I looked at each other and got very excited realizing that our visit was going to be better than we could have imagined. Lara and Owen on the other hand were just excited to see the picture of Lara that they flashed on the screen!

When we got to the studio everyone was amazing and welcoming. They treated Lara (and Owen) with so much kindness. It wasn't long before Lara was invited up to sit with Kevin and Dina...hubby and I were in shock that this was happening! She chatted along side these Toronto icons and grinned the entire time...as if she wasn't happy enough just to be there they surprised her with a bike to top it off. Hubby and I were now gobsmacked! Did this just happen? Then, while on air she got to test it out. I couldn't believe what I was seeing...apparently I wasn't the only one because I promptly got a text that read "holy S*#@!, your kid is riding a bike around the BT studio"! What a whirlwind and such a blast...Lara just beamed! It was an experience she was so thrilled to have...until wait...it got more outrageous!

After the segment with Dina and Kevin, you know the one where she was given a bike (WTF?), we went up to tour the news room. Somehow, while Kevin was showing us around he included the kids in some on air antics. Out of the blue I was watching my daughter do the weather with Frankie Flowers...then Frank had Owen join in and help out...then Lara was throwing to traffic and transit! The moment was so surreal....nothing was planned...everything was off the cuff...and it was amazing.

Lara got to experience something most people never will...and she is only FIVE! The kid has many birthdays ahead...but I fear they may be all downhill after the larger than life one she just experienced. Not only is she still talking about it (she may or may not think she and Dina are new BFF's after Dina told her to come back and go for ice cream) but she relives it daily by saying things like "over to you mom" after she is finished speaking in a conversation. This once in a lifetime experience was nothing short of amazing. I can't thank Apryl enough for even considering sharing the idea of our strange little 5 year olds birthday dream with her colleagues, if it wasn't for her none of this would have happen! Apryl, you are a hero in our house!

So...now to share some photos (some screen shots and photos we managed to snap in the chaos)....and a video link too (only part of Lara's appearance)

Link to video

http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/1628323820001.000000/bt-birthday-party/

 Here are some photos from the BT party....

Our morning begin very early....

...but we were excited to be on the BT set...

OMG...Lara is on BT....

...the view from my seat...

No bigs....just hanging out in the newroom...

...doing some weather....

On the BT couch with Kevin and Dina!

The card for Lara from the BT gang!

And after the show Dina spent a solid 20 minutes just chatting with Lara...she even tweeted a picture!

So there it is....Lara's 5th birthday...a birthday like NO other! :-)

FOUR

Four years ago today (yikes) my daughter Lara made her much anticipated appearance into the world. The day started off rather early and as dawn was approaching on a hot and humid spring morning my hubby and I left for the hospital. We listened to music, laughed and talked. We were so excited to meet this little person. I was one day past my due date but still wasn't convinced that this was "it"...but to appease my hubby we continued to the hospital. As we drove something happened that took us both by surprise...we saw a star shooting across the sky. It was right in front of us...and almost seemed meant for us (who else would be up so crazy early?). It was at that moment I knew I was ready to meet this kid....it was going to be a good day!

So, on Mother's Day today I celebrate my daughter's 4th birthday,  my sweet little boy and being a mom! Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and moms-to-be!

Summer

As you may have noticed this summer my blogs have been far and few between. A hot summer meant lots of vacation time for me and my family...so I spent very little time on the computer. I did take a pile of photos this summer though, of families, babies and weddings...but instead of sharing those with you I decided to make this post a little more personal. These are a few of the moments I captured this summer with my family. I like to capture our life in photos...and they don't have to be stunning, posed or perfect images...they just have to capture a glimpse of a memories we have made as a family! Enjoy!

Making Tomato Sauce

Beach

Play

Mini Session Fun

Rogers Cup - Andy Murray (2010 Champ)