Every year I do photos with the kids for their birthday. The last couple years we’ve done the pictures with their balloons!
Morning after the princess party!
Morning after the party lol!
Family celebration with our lil girl!
We had a nice family celebration with our birthday girl the day of her birthday – we are all SO excited for her party tomorrow!!!
Yes our kids LOVE dancing!~ Its a regular thing in this house hehe. They were thrilled when mommy wanted to take pictures of them ;)
Its been Happy Birthday week here in this household, being a princess its the way its meant to be I suppose haha. She truly has, since the moment we found out I was pregnant with her, been amazing us, such a surprise blessing that we honestly couldn’t have asked for to happen in any better way.
Every day both our kids continue to remind us just how much we have to be thankful for. Most of all, that good things do come to those who wait. I am so very blessed to be their mama.
Happy Birthday Princess !
Happy Birthday to our Princess!
It is almost hard to believe just how much time has passed. The day our daughter was born and our family became complete.
I remember each of our children’s birth story’s like they were yesterday. With our Mady labour was nothing like Cars, contractions began while I was at the hospital in Guelph, waiting for my stress test. Oh and I was alone. My exact words to hubby, nothing will happen, even if he “helps” me along I will be fine. Of course hubby did know otherwise, but was not about to disagree with his very pregnant (red headed) wife.
I had went to my Doctor appointment that Thursday, the Doctor had my c-section scheduled for the following Monday, he asked if I wanted him to “help” me go into labour and see how things progress naturally to have a VBAC. He then sent me over to have a stress test at the Guelph General. My stress test showed baby was doing great and that I was having mild contractions. I got into the car and headed home and thats when it hit and hard!
Oh and I forgot to mention my poor mom had been diagnosed with Shingles and could not come near me OR the kids… thank god my sister was in college and could skip classes if we needed her.
I will never forget my drive home, on the phone with my husband off and on the entire way home, crying, in so much pain but persevering to get myself home to him and my son. Crazy I know. Something about redheads and being stubborn… haha! I got home and my sister rushed home from KW to stay with our son. Contractions continued but like I said were nothing like when I was in labour with Carson, with him it was horrible back labour. Around 11pm that night when contractions were still about the same I had a shower, the contractions stopped, I felt defeated haha I was ready to do this and now. However they slowly started up again. Around midnight I finally called the hospital and described what I was going through, to then learn that labour could be totally different with each child… hmmm perhaps we shouldn’t have dropped out of pre-natal classes!
So off to Guelph we went, thankfully they werent as busy as they were when Carson was born and I was admitted. I laboured through the night until I finally began hard labour around 3am, once again the epidural did not work (same as with Cars) and I felt everything… and of course remember it all too.
I will never forget seeing her after she was born – again something that is engraved into my memory of both children! Looking up at my husband and him saying to me “you did it shes here!~” SO amazing.
We are SO excited to truly celebrate our little princess this weekend … however on her birthday we had our very own celebration with our little family <3
Green grass
This morning we woke up to green grass. There was barely any snow left on our property – was awesome to see! Even kf there was rain washing the snow away. It’s hard to believe that just 4 days ago we had this much snow! At least it gave our kids a good workout ;)
Just last weekend
There was SNOW! Snow angels were being made… Am I sad that the snow is now gone – nope! Come on mother nature bring on spring, sunshine, green grass, kids laughter filling the backyard while the dog runs around and we enjoy lounging on our deck! Ahhhhh yes let’s hope Spring is on the way!
Never sacrifice yourself
Living with PCOS, endometriosis and hypothyroidism can really dampen someones spirits… if you let it. After our daughter was born my husband and I began planning and talking about when I would be able to have my surgery we both knew I required, to live much more comfortably and most important have a much better quality of life.
As many parents, and full time working parents especially, you can plan all you want, but there will come a time that it just has to work. This is what happened to me this fall, I merely said to my husband, who had been telling me for over a year that I needed to have the surgery, that I was calling the doctor to book the surgery. I didn’t think twice about it, didn’t really even “plan” how we would make things work when I was out of commission. Never did I think I would get in so fast, but how thankful I was!
Looking back, I do wish I had done this sooner, would it have worked for us, with the kids being that little bit younger, mmmm probably not, The age they are, they were perfect little helpers to both hubby and I, it was wonderful. For years I put off my own health and sacrificed myself because I didn’t want to inconvenience others.
Never will I do that again.
Finally putting myself first was a break through for me as an individual, a mother, a wife, sister, daughter, friend etc… I felt immediate relief, immediate comfort upon my return home. Even my husband and I reached a new level in our relationship, there were countless times he just laid with me in bed and we talked, many evenings for hours upon hours, until we realized just how much time had passed. We have always had a close relationship, but this truly allowed us a great opportunity and time, as I spent most of my time resting, to truly reconnect on a level that we honestly hadn’t since our babies came into our life!
All of the wonderful times we have had as a couple and family for many more years before, when those times felt so wonderful – sure we had our good times and bad like every couple and family does – now finally feeling so much better, even though its been winter and we do not do as much, we have had SO much fun that we are even more excited for the summer, a summer that I will truly be able to enjoy my time with hubby and the kids!
Although I know the can and can-not’s for food, I still do not like to inconvenience if we are eating with others, the passive part of me. In the end though it only affects me and when it comes to food affecting me, its not good! With PCOS I must stay far away from anything made from white flour or white sugar – which yes makes it hard if I am eating somewhere and they serve pasta… I can only eat whole grain pasta, same with rice. Even potatoes I must limit, cooked carrots and sweet potatoes, even corn – all naturally full of sugar! And all affect me badly!
When I feel good, I feel gooood and its such a difference that I just love life so much more. Its amazing how one little slip can cause domino effects for days – its just not worth it. These are health issues I live with day to day, they are a part of me and there is no cure other than eating properly, getting lots of sleep, living a very happy and purposeful life … oh and exercise lol which I enjoy much more in the summer ;)
No I will not sacrifice myself. I will BE ME!
deck weather in march!
After celebrating our lil girls birthday we enjoyed a drink on the deck!!! SO nice out even at 10pm lol!!!
This is what I want to do…
When you can’t see the forest for the trees… you will miss out on so much !
Seeing my photo published in the Confederate representing the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival truly filled me with honour and re-ignited my passion!
This is what I want to do.
This is where my passion began, with my kids and our community. I provided these photos to the Chamber of Commerce for use in promoting the community. I co-created the Mount Forest Camera Club to bring photography enthusiasts together to not only learn from each other, enjoy being with other photographers but also to bring this enjoyment and art to the community.
As I took on sessions last year I began putting pressure on myself, pressure of what I “should” do or what was the “next” step. When really, there is no pre-determined “next step” in life – its what I CHOOSE. Truth be told last fall I felt the pressure come down on me hard – also with an upcoming surgery, the pressure was two-fold.
What do I want to do…
I want to thoroughly enjoy my custom photography. I will set limits and follow them. I will not feel bad for saying NO – this is a word that is so hard for me, I like to please. I will love and enjoy my photography. I take great pleasure in photographing our community and assisting in the growth and promotion with my photography. I enjoy being a part of the Camera Club without feeling any sort of competition at all, its a great feeling. Each of us as photographers, not only the ones in the club, but also photographers in general, we each have our own artistic eye which is true to us. If you put a group of photographers together and asked them to photograph a scene, everyone’s shot would be entirely different – and this is so amazing to embrace as an artist!
I want my photography to be custom, when I take on a shoot I want to truly be able to embrace my clients and provide them with what I stand behind as my style. Ironically this also has to do with a post I have been working on… Never sacrifice yourself. Also working in my family business, a business that has a very deep meaning to me as well, which I also am so fortunate to bring my photography into to showcase our work with the plumbing and heating, also family business that I am the 4th generation in! Business that one day I would also be honored to have my children joining us in. A full time business that will always be a part of my life.
In life setting limits is necessary, at times this can be very hard to realize and actually admit. Ironically I had been talking to my husband about this for a couple weeks now, I have even blogged previously about not taking on as many sessions this year and setting limits as to how many I would. Since making this decision I have had so much enjoyment in photographing my kids and family, capturing their moments, processing our photos… all without the pressure of pushing for more. When something I love and enjoy, begins to feel like work… you can begin losing the passion. Ironically this can relate to any relationship, always have fun, always feel passion!
When you take away the unrealistic misconceptions you are fully able to enjoy what it is you are actually doing. I admitted to myself that the more I felt I had to push my “business”, the less passion I felt. All of which had nothing to do with how many sessions I was actually getting, it had to do with my own mind set of what I thought “should” happen.
As an artist, I am unique and so is my photography.
This is how I want my photography to be showcased and known. I dont want to create a big grand business, I want my photography to represent ME, my family and my community. This is what makes me shine, this is what brings out the best in me. In life there is give and take, am I any less a photographer for making this decision, No. In actuality it is much like many of the other photographers around our area, I never wanted this to be a full time job for me, unfortunately I began putting pressure on myself to build a business all while working full time AND being a wife and mom. Something had to give. Anyone that has chosen me as their photographer I feel greatful, they value and appreciate who I am as a person and as a photographer, my style and artistic eye. This is what I will be known for. I treasure all of them and their images I have captured and created.
2012 truly is a year of change and opportunity for me… and for my family!
Fireworks Festival “Top 100” @FEOntario {Mount Forest}
For the fifty consecutive year the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival has been recognized as a “Top 100” Festival in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO)!!!
http://www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca/
I am honored to have had my photo chosen to represent this wonderful Festival in our town and community of Mount Forest! Photo can be seen in the Mount Forest Confederate on page 4. Once the online guide is updated with the current years guide 2012-2013 (it is still showing April 2011-March 2012) I will post the link!!!
Fireworks Festival, Holstein Rodeo in the ‘Top 100’
March 7, 2012
Lynne Turner
www.mountforest.com
For the fifth consecutive year the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival has been recognized as a “Top 100” Festival in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO).
Committee members on hand to pick up the award on the weekend were Debbie Hunter, Linda Spahr and Helen Kestner and Township of Wellington North Mayor Ray Tout. April Marshall, the township’s economic development committee tourism manager also attended the conference in Niagara Falls.
FEO (www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca) is a non-profit association, representing, over 3,000 events that happen across Ontario annually. The “Top 100” recognition puts Mount Forest on the map through national and international media releases. The annual Festivals and Events guide, highlighting the “Top 100” festivals, is also direct mailed throughout Ontario.
…read more in this week’s Confederate.
