“You know you're in lOvE......

 ....when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
― Dr. Seuss

I've had the pleasure of attending a few photo sessions with the very talented Sarah Amaral. She is an amazing, loving, inspiring, creative, talented, beautiful young lady.  Her photography skills are da' bomb! (and I'm not afraid to say so!). So when I get the opportunity to learn a thing or two I jump at the chance! My instinct is to always hang back and watch her, support her and listen. She is always nudging me forward, telling me to be confident in my abilities and encouraging me. It's nice. And it IS always a learning experience but it's also fun and laughing and laid back and sometimes it's getting lost. In the woods. On a wedding day. haha!

This was not that day BUT I did get to meet these two. They are SO in love, you can tell. Both of them just lit up when they looked at each other.. and the venue they chose to take pictures at was plucked right out of my dreams.. the whole thing was so amazing..

 

Didn't these photos turn out great? I absolutely LOVE them! And I'm so thankful that I had such an opportunity! <3
 

 



 

 

~ Teresa Marie ~

 

 

Teresa is my smallest sister, the smallest of 5. She is 17 years younger than I am, so we haven't always had a ton in common, although lately I notice she shares the same kind of weird humour that I have (it MUST be genetic!). She is now taller than I am, has bigger feet than I do and is a tad smarter. She's hilarious in her own weird unicorn kinda way AND she's cute as a button. She's also quite the artist and is musically talented too.. Now too "big" (or cool, or maybe just busy) for sleepovers and not quite big enough to drive over any old time just yet.. maybe she'll start driving before my brother does and visit more often, but until then...

 

Congratulations Missy on your accomplishments and behave yourself in high school!!

(as I'm sure you will ~ you are the golden child... ;) ~ xo)

 

 

 

 

 My mum and sister on graduation day

 

 My brother, Matthew, and sister doing weird loving things. Do siblings really act this way?

 

 Teresa and her equally amusing friends

 

As you venture onto high school and wander out towards "real life" here are a few of my favourite quotes... found, just for you. They've kept me grounded and sane when everyone around me was getting sucked into the drama of life.. :)

 

 

 

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.”
― Bernard M. Baruch

 

“You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?”
― Dr. Seuss

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
― Oscar Wilde

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”
― Marilyn Monroe

“Just be yourself, there is no one better.”
― Taylor Swift


“About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for what you can do for them, and some won't like you at all.”
― Rita Mae Brown

The MaGiC of a mini

 The magic of a mini still amazes me. It's the quickest session that I do, yet I always walk away getting to know clients as if we have always been long time friends.

 

 

This was the first mini session that I held waaay back in June of 2012.

 

 

"Family, where life begins and love never ends"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I always feel so blessed to be able to capture these moments... <3

 

Getting into the groove..

WOW.

I have a lot of catching up to do! Looking back I can see that I have neglected to update pictures that were taken in 2012. TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE! I thought being on maternity leave would give me a TON of time to update, catch up, RELAX. Haha.. I was delusional. And nobody out there felt they should enlighten me. Maybe I should have known better.. after all, this is baby number 5. And after I update TWO years worth of hard work I would love to introduce you to our newest addition..

 
 
OK. Here we go...

Blogging after a year hiatus feels kinda weird... yet freeing. I'm glad to be back. It feels normal and it gives me a little "me" time. Much needed me time..

 

We are an outdoor type of family and field trips are our favourite. Every year we go to a local farm and pick berries. Blueberries usually, but we also like to pick raspberries and strawberries.

Don't these look delicious?!? Yummmmm. And they taste the most delicious off the bush!

 On this day we left with five 4 litre buckets of blueberries, a flat of strawberries, a container of raspberries and a small container of Saskatoon berries. We also left with a giant homemade fruit pie! Krause berry farms makes THE BEST 10" mixed berry pies.. I wish I had taken a picture of that but I'm pretty sure I was too busy stuffing my face... :)

*Krause berry farms also makes a deeeelicious corn pizza pie. I'm drooling just thinking about it... Give it a try, I guarantee you'll love it too!!

 

Hailey taking a break in the shade. The sun is SO hot during blueberry season and there's not very many places to hide from the heat..

 Madelyn showing off her bountiful basket as Gabe sneaks some from her when she's not looking.. lol

Keyrah, following her brothers lead, takes part in 'quality control'.