Easter Fun

This year is a milestone.  Everything that happens this year is going to be memorable because everything that happens will take place 1. with Malcolm and 2. at our new home.  For our first Easter at our new home we dyed eggs!  We did it a few years ago but the kids were much younger and do not remember doing them.

They turned out absolutely amazing and were so fun and easy to photograph with their vibrant hues and textures.  I feel like we might just start doing egg dyeing as a year round fun-thing-to-do so that by next Easter we will be pros.

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I couldn't help myself

My mom came over for dinner on Holy Saturday.  Moving has brought many exciting things to the table.  One of those things is experiencing the natural light of the neighbourhood and of our property as we have been cutting and clearing the 20 years of trees and shrubs that had been neglected by the precious owners.  The other exciting thing is seeing the plants and trees come to life with the arrival of Spring.  We have cherry blossoms lining our street, plus two magnolia trees (one white and one purple) and a giant pink dogwood.  

We could not have asked for a better neighbourhood.  The kids have learned to ride their bikes in our cul de sac where a handful other young families are living.  We were invited to partake in their annual Easter Egg hunt which started at 7:30AM!  I was overjoyed and said we would as long as we were awake that early.  The 2 Fathers head out around 5-5:30am to hide these eggs to make sure animal don't get them first throughout the night.  A deserve a huge applause for that sort of dedication!  Hot coffees in hand, they take in the annual excitement as the morning light creeps up through the trees.

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It is a beautiful life!

Like I said, it's going to be a memorable year for us!

 


 

Project Bloom 2015

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since Project Bloom 2013!  This year I was in charge of hosting the Photobooth.  The backdrop was a collaboration between Our Little Flower Company and myself which turned out absolutely perfect!  

Emily Hastie of Collect & Cultivate, Rebekah Logan of Clark's Audio Visual and Khara Robertson of Showkraft Events

Emily Hastie of Collect & Cultivate, Rebekah Logan of Clark's Audio Visual and Khara Robertson of Showkraft Events

Lisa Robinson, Advancement Officer at KPU flanked by our two lovely hostesses

Lisa Robinson, Advancement Officer at KPU flanked by our two lovely hostesses

Rob Lowe of Stir Coffee

Rob Lowe of Stir Coffee

Sonia MacNair of Turtlenina

Sonia MacNair of Turtlenina

Erin & Kerstyn of Our Little Flower Company

Erin & Kerstyn of Our Little Flower Company

A very well-behaved Little Malcolm joined me and the 150+ guests in the festivities.  Laughter, tears and delicious food were enjoyed by all!

 

CLICK HERE
to see the rest of the gallery

 

xo


 

Wren Verona: 6 Months

Life has been quite the blur since the arrival of our Littlest O'Brien but it's also been a whirlwind of joy and gratitude for all the love that has been showered on us from friends and family.  We've had an enormous amount of generosity in the form of meals (fresh and frozen), babysitting, cleaning + tidying, renovations, gifts and hands-me-downs and everything in between.

Our winter has been its usual mix of everything: grey rainy skies, frozen clear days of rolling blue sky, warmer overcast days, and occasionally a beautiful sunny day reminiscent of early Fall.  We had a spoiled visit of cozy chicken soup and gluten free treats from my high school friend Ashley, and with the sun just pouring into our home, there was no amount of "tired" that could stop me from taking a few snaps of Little Wren and her balmy blue eyes.

Wren - Newborn

Wren - 3 Months

I was blown away how much she had groans since her last visit which was only a few weeks ago when Ash and Nicole came to meet Feather for the first time.  My heart went into panic mode realizing how different Feather will be in 5 months time and, after having two kids, knowing how fast those 5 months are going to pass.  Feather will be sitting up, laughing, trying solids, rolling around and being a little menace with his rowdy older siblings.

*melt*

Chloe jumped in for a few shots with her little buddy

How fast time is flying.  

These little beauties are going to be rebel teenagers before we know it.

 

xo


 

…We had a Baby Boy!

It's taken us just a little over 3 weeks, but we just might have a name for him too!

We've been calling him Feather for the last 3 weeks since he was born.  Chloe suggested the name because he was sooooo sooofffftttt.  He was born 6:19pm on December 26th at Women's Hospital where he was welcomed by Kevin, the kids, my mom and my dear friend Lindsay who not only photographed the birth, but also assisted as a midwife throughout my labour.  

I didn't think I would or could miss this belly, but I do on occasion

We are an unstoppable team.  This labour thing is "old hat"

My Doctor broke my waters at 2pm hoping to have this baby in the same two hour period that I had Chloe when they broke my waters.  With only a few mild contractions throughout the first two hours, it was suggested that we induce with oxytocin.  This was not the route I had planned for.  After having them attempt to hook me up to the IV and missing my vein, I opted for some time and space in which I let go of my anxiety and nervousness and courageously embraced my inner ability to get my contractions started.  After a quick snack and my newfound energy, I got my contraction rolling and after about 2 hours, my little baby boy was born!

My darling husband

Big Brother Momo gently feeling his newborn baby brother's tiny tiny toes

Big Sister Chloe conceding to the fact that she has a little brother instead of the little sister she had been hoping for.  Even at the tender age of 4, she couldn't help but fall in love despite not getting what she wanted.

A joyful ME, so happy, relieved and proud of myself for getting through labour one last time and so grateful for a healthy little baby to fall in love with.

We stayed for two nights in a tiny corner room where we were virtually left on our own as veterans to enjoy our peaceful time alone with Baby before heading back home to chaos.

Feather has been a gem.  He is the best little baby of them all.  He sleeps so much compared to the other two, allowing me to accomplish tidying and cleaning the mountains of mess that spread like wildfire between the juggling of school schedules, meals, toys, and renovations.  The nights, so far, have been a breeze with only a couple of feedings a night and once he is done he goes right back to sleep.  I never have to get out of bed to walk or bounce him around for hours on end.  He is the sweetest most darling little guy!

Our first Family Photo from New Year's Eve

 

2015 is off to a beautiful start!
Looking forward to the joy this year has to bring!

xo


 

Our Holiday 2014 Families

After our brief hiatus from updating the blog, I've got a lot of catching up to do here!  Better late than never may I present to you the families of Holiday 2014!  

What a very memorable year it has been.  Thank you to all my lovely friends for being a part of this year's Holiday photos, I am so very lucky to have clients I can call friends!

 xo