dinner was amazing

on saturday we went to our good friends house for dinner. it had been way too long since we had seen them. we had both had a busy summer and we now realize how much we missed them. more friends joined us and there were three couples, and five kids. those kids played for hours, hours of laughing and climbing and giggling, cards, making mud soup, playing on the swing, the treehouse, colouring, games. it went on and on for hours. we pulled them away hours after their bedtime and they were still sad. 

i could post twenty or thirty amazing images of the kids from the night. so happy to enjoy the wonderful summer-like fall weather we are having but maybe only i find them amazing. maybe because it reminds me of such an amazing night and how amazing our children are.

doing what i love...

taking images of families. i have come full circle and am starting to focus more love, more time and more passion in photographing the connection of a family. it fuels me, it makes me happy to capture the love that i see between siblings between mom's and dad's and just the way they watch their children play.  the whole chaos of a family outing gives me so much spirit and happiness. here is a sweet family from last week. three children, so different from one another but so completely connected to each other. love.

the top of the mountain

it only seems like yesterday we tried this hike with the kids. i know it was actually years ago that all four of us went on this same path. the kids tiny feet could hardly get over the tree roots and the rocks. there was no way we could get too far. we heard giggling, and branches breaking and the usual i'm tired. but today, it was crisp and cool and after the kids finished school we went back to the mountain. the sun was shining, it was pretty and the kids surprised us. they wanted to go to the top, they wanted to explore, and they wanted to tell us all the names of the trees and ferns and other such fun things they remembered. we picked the soft lime green moss for fairy beds, we made mustaches out of the green moss that hangs from the garry oak. we had snow berry fights as we came down the hill and we made it.. all the way to the top. it was wonderful. it was something we have to do way more often. i can't believe in 2 weeks my kids will be seven. and they can already climb mountains.

seasons of change

its fall, what a better way to celebrate then to get a friend, a favorite cousin, a daughter who has more energy, spirit and joy then any mother could ever ask for,  and plan a picnic/photo shoot outing. 

sound good, yes in theory. then you get the call. friend in hospital, tripped on lamp, sliced foot open really bad. needs lots of stitches. friend is an artist. she recently painted her whole apartment white. all white furniture, all white carpets, bedding, white everything.. you get the picture, massive injury, white apartment....

but friend is so determine to come out, come out and enjoy wine, take photos in the golden sun. so we go. (late)  they were late. not me, i sat in parking lot watching that golden sun drop lower and lower and lower.

late to a photographer means sun is almost setting. but what ever, these photos are just for fun, for us, random. so we go. then we see the spot, a perfect field, full of sheep. pretty sheep grazing. there were  people sitting around having drinks together in the sun. we ask if we can borrow their golden field for a few moments. they say yes. we like them a lot. they are very good people. they have sweet little puppy dogs, beer and frisbee's and glasses of wine (so do we) 

my friend hobbles around still not knowing how much pain she is going to be in when the freezing wears off. my cousin plays the part of fashion model, she is stunning. my daughter is the assistant. she moves to her own beat. she stops to read a book, to play with the bugs, to wrap herself in one of our sweaters, to pet one of the puppy dogs. to watch the sheep, to get me something from the camera bag....

it was good. it was fall, it was perfectly unperfect. just like me.

tara is a knitter and talented artist check out her blog!

adam and alicia

head on over to rubyjoon's blog for a full post of adam and alicia's most beautiful wedding. most people who follow my blog know that adam is my husbands little brother. i think adam happened to marry the most incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out.  we all totally and completely adore alicia, my children are giddy around her and love the playful loving attention she shows towards them. and then there is  adam, i could write a whole post on adam and his gentle, kind spirit. his peaceful nature that surrounds him. he is also a wonderful photographer, amazing musician and  both of them are so amazing and inspiring to be around. i want to wish them an incredible loving journey as they start this new part of their life together. here are a few extra photos, not on rubyjoon's blog, a few that show just how wonderful they are with children. there were so many at the wedding, the kids were following adam and alicia everywhere and it was evident that they wouldn't have wanted it any other way! 

i love you both, so so much and wish you all the best. 

xoxo

m