She just turned one!  She’s grown so much since I took newborn pictures of her!

Meet her sisters…Madison

and Rylee…

She climbed a tree on our last family session too

We first met for family photos before the big cake smashing in honour of Brynn’s first birthday.

They are such a beautiful family full of love and laughter.

Madison’s a little artist as well!

Jackie, who I am also blessed to count as a friend of mine, makes the job of Mom to three girls look effortless.  Madison and Rylee wanted to take a few pictures with my camera, so here’s a little behind the scene’s look! They are already little photographers!

Now onto the cake smashing!  Jackie made the cake. What a special memory to give to her girls!  Is there anything this Mom can’t do?!

Brynn’s patient sisters were waiting in the wings for a chance to join in!

And to end it all…the token “I’ve had too much, I’m overwhelmed, come save me” cake smashing shot…

Happy birthday Brynn! Thanks for the fun!

We just returned from holidays with our family.  My nephew Daniel recently asked his girl friend of many years, Diana to marry him.   I am happy to report that she said yes!  She’s a great girl, and we are enjoying getting to know her a little better with each visit.

While we sat at the beach with our feet in the sand and the sweet background noise of the kids playing in the water, they asked me to take their engagement pictures.  They were more than willing to make the trip to Leduc for pictures.  As I looked out at the lake, it suddenly dawned on me that I should shoot their session right there on the beach at sunset.  Since patience really isn’t one of my virtues, I wanted to shoot it that evening.  You see, my family has been vacationing at Makwa Lake, Saskatchewan since we were kids and now we take our own kids there.  We have a BIG family and we sort of take over the beach when we are there.  Days building sand castles with the occasional dip in the lake, are followed by evenings of home cooked meals, campfires, trips to the Dairy Bar for the BEST ice cream you’ve ever tasted, and water sports on the lake.  We all come together as a family at the lake, and amazing memories are made every year.

The lake is very special to Daniel, and it’s where I first met Diana.  They both treasure their time at the lake and bring along with them the spirit of adventure and enthusiasm. What a perfect location for their engagement session! The only problem was I forgot my reflector at home which I always use for sunset sessions.  My resourceful sister Darlene (Daniel’s Mom) ran to Annie’s store in Loon Lake and wouldn’t you know it she found a beach mat with a silver side. Reflector found.  I enlisted the help of my sister Brenda to be the holder of the reflector (she may kill me for posting this picture, but I’m bigger than her so I’ll take the risk).

This is Daniel and Diana’s connection.  It’s fun…really fun.  It’s full of love, respect, adoration, and zest for life.  I love you both.

The boat in the background belongs to my Brother-in-law Duane.  I wish you could hear the noise the kids made as he whipped them around in circles on a tube with little area to hold onto.

Congratulations!  I’m looking forward to the wedding next year!

It’s been a year since she smashed a cake as I clicked away and how she has changed.  For starters, she can talk now and she’s good at it!  I met with Maya’s family at their home to explore her neighbourhood of winding walking paths, natural parks full of birds and flowers, and even a forest within the city.

This is what it looks like to go for a “walk” with Maya….She’s fast.  Really fast.

She’ll stop on a dime when she sees something that interests her.

We reached our destination in the forest and wouldn’t you know it, the sky opening up and it poured.  We walked back in the rain, but Maya didn’t seem to mind at all.  In fact, she fell asleep on her Daddy’s shoulder just as the rain stopped and the sun rays kissed her sweet face.

We returned home to her house, and as her parents were deciding if they should lay her down for the night or not, she bolted up and started talking once again.  She was proud to show me her kitty.

I think this picture should be called “Stare Down”

Thank you so much for showing me around your neighbourhood.  It was an amazing way to spend an evening.