May 30, 2010

Wow, life just gets faster and faster! This is my meager attempt to record a few of the happenings in my life. So much has happened since my last post when I got back from Ontario. I will record some highlights.

We had a BIG girls sleepover at my cousin Crystals house the weekend after, and a triple bridal shower for 3 of my cousins who were engaged. (I didn't take any photos unfortunately because I just didn't want to lug it around) So here's a pic I took out of an email from my Mom. Kaitlyn got to come with me as well, and had a blast. It was pretty cool having all of my cousins and Aunts from my Moms side, my mom, my Grandma and my daughter altogether like that. We had a very yummy breakfast of crepes. Who doesn't love crepes?!!!

I went down to Cardston the next weekend for my cousin Jennie's wedding. I stayed in a hotel overnight with my Mom and Dad and my youngest sister (18) Shawna. We had a fun drive down together. We scouted out the area for spots to shoot for the next day. We ordered pizza from a yummy pizza place called "Pizza's and Cream" or something. It was a 50's themed place, and was so awesome! We played with the juke box while we waited for our pizza. Shawna and I went into the pool area of the hotel after we ate, and relaxed in the hot tub.

(No my sister is not giving me goo goo eyes, haha...but that's how it looks in the pic)

We watched some tv in the hotel and then drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, my Mom and I decided to go to the temple for a session before the wedding. It was a nice opportunity.

Here is a pic I took of the Cardston Alberta temple:

Gorgeous isn't it?!

My cousin Jennie then got married here, and I took the photos afterwards. Here are a couple:

It was a beautiful day. We then went to my Grandma's house for lunch and headed back into Calgary to go to the open house reception. It was fun seeing all of the family and spending some time with them.

My daughter, Maiya, just recently turned 5 years old. We took this picture of her on her birthday.

She is growing up so fast. It was funny because her Nanny and Grandpa sent her a card with some b-day money in it. Grant took her out and asked her if she wanted to go to the toy section, but she said "no, the shoes". and these are the shoes she bought (she has good taste, I couldn't have chosen better myself)

My birthday is the day after hers. Grant took me out for lunch at a chinese buffet. It was really good. Grant and the kids also gave me some gifts. I got a book from a series that I like to watch called "Castle", a photoshop magazine, an acoustic guitar and hard case AND 3 months of guitar lessons. I was beyond excited!!! I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, and now I have the chance. YAY!!! I will have to get a picture with me and my new guitar at some point. Grant is always so thoughtful. He really listens to the things that I want. I never ask him for things, he always just seems to know...

So I had my first guitar lesson. I didn't think I was nervous, but then as I walked into the room, I felt a tinge of inadequacy. I have no musical background, and had no idea how to play the guitar and then had that little thought in the back of my head that asked me "do I seem too old to be JUST starting out?....I quickly crushed those feelings that prevent you from progressing and was determined to do my best and have fun with it. My instructor was awesome!! He was extremely patient and encouraging, and it made me feel a whole lot better about the whole idea. I am excited for my next lesson and have tried to devote a little bit of time each day to practicing what I have learned.

I kind of let my photography business sleep over the winter, so I have been getting that going again. I had my first paid session of the new year recently. I actually brought my guitar along as a prop (I only did it this once, as I know it is risky to bring it along on shoots when I want to keep it in the best condition I can) Here is a sample of one of the photos with the sweet little guy and my guitar:

What a cute little guy.

We had Maiya's party on the Sunday. A BBQ with Grandma, Grandpa, uncles, aunts and cousins and even Great Grandma. She got some beautiful gifts. It seems as though there are a ton of family things going on these days, as my brother Seth just got home from his mission in Provo, Utah. As many of us that could, met him at the airport when he got off the plane. My Mom had given all of the kids Canadian pinwheels to wave around and we all "woohoo"ed when he came walking out. So exciting (and maybe a touch embarassing?? oh well) Here he is:

and here he is with all of the kids to greet him:

We went back to Charity's house for a dinner/get together to see Seth a little more. It was fun!

Anyways, I think that's enough catching up for now.

ONTARIO!

So Grant and I had the opportunity to head out to Ontario for a 5 day trip. It was my bro. in laws wedding. My sister and sister in law took our kids for us, so we would be able to make it. (Thanks guys). It was a fun and very busy trip. We dropped off the kids the night before because we were leaving Wed. morning at 5:30am. Since we didn't have any kids, Grant took me to the movies (The Losers) and then we headed home to finish getting our things ready and try to get to bed early....that didn't happen. I ended up falling asleep at 12:30pm and had to wake up at 4am.

The flight was great, and we were greeted at the Hamilton airport by Marcus and his fiancee Jessica. We got to know Jessica a little better (I had not met her before this). She was fun and very easy to get along with. It felt like we already knew eachother...no awkwardness. When we got into Fort Erie, we were greeted by the delicious aroma of my mother in laws famous roast beef dinner. YUM! My bro in law, Jason, was also down to visit for the wedding. After dinner Grant wanted to go across the border to get "American Cereals" (ie. Fruity Pebbles, Cap n' Crunch with crunch berries, cookie crisp etc). This was the beginning of the border drama. I hated crossing the border every single time. The customs officers were pretty much ornary and accusatory every single time. Made you feel like a criminal I tell ya.Grant filled a mini suitcase with just cereal...but hey, as long as I was allowed to fill one with clothes, he can fill one with cereal, hahaa!!

Thursday morning, Grant and I went for a walk by our old house. A bit had changed, but it was mostly the same (including the part of the metal railing that I had begun to spray paint white, but never finished....ya, that was still like that, haha) We went to the Lake to enjoy the view and smell of the water. We wrote our initials in the sand (pic above). I miss the water. We walked along the "Friendship Trail" and enjoyed the peace and time alone to just talk. After we got back I went to Jessica's parents house with my mother in law for a "spa day". It was fun to meet her family. They were so welcoming and friendly. Amazing food to snack on too, what a great spread. I got to also meet Jessicas and Marcus' dog Bronx. What an adorable little guy. Funny too. He kept getting in the cupboard to hide in the garbage to try to eat chicken bones..

Later that night Jason, Marcus, Grant and I went to "The Barrel" for pizza and wings. Just as yummy as I remembered, and we ran into some people Grant used to know from work. When we got home my stomach started bothering me a touch. We set up a game of Risk to play together, but after a few turns, I had to call it a night. I felt awful (not sure if it was the food from the barrel, or something else altogether). Anyways, I ended up ALL night vomitting etc. Not fun, especially when you need to wake up early to get to a wedding in Palmyra, NY and be the photographer.

Friday, I received a blessing, and though still not feeling great, I was much better off than I was during the evening. It was a beautiful drive into Palmyra, and the temple there was just gorgeous.

It was so great to see everything so green, flowering and it was a gorgeous +22 that day. Jessica looked gorgeous, and Marcus was so handsome. What a perfect couple. The ceremony was beautiful, and I am so happy that they found happiness in eachother. Afterwards I got my camera all set for taking pics.

I was feeling a little weak from being so sick and up all night, but everyone was so good to me. Holding umbrellas over me to keep me shaded when I got really hot, and offering me water. I really appreciated that so much. These 2 were so in love. I barely have any photos of them looking at the camera. Most of my shots have them looking at eachother or kissing. There was not a lack of kissing that day, haha!!

What a perfect day! We drove back to Canada from Palmyra and then headed off to the reception hall. It was beautiful. Lots of good food that I was unable to enjoy because my appetite was non existent. Such a shame. It was overall just a really nice day (minus me feeling weak). Jessica and Marcus headed off to Cuba for their honeymoon (so jealous).

 As soon as I got home, my head hit the pillow, and I was OUT.

On Saturday, Grant and I went into Buffalo to go shopping at the Galleria Mall and also to check out Target for the first time. I could`ve spent a whole day looking around just target alone. I found some great buys for shoes. I got Tyson these adorable high tops that just look so cute on him. I found lots of cute clothes for the kids and 2 swimsuits for myself that don`t make me look like a 12 year old girl (my previous swimsuit was rather unflattering. Accentuating certain bulges and flattening others). It was a fun day spent together, and a very satisfying shopping experience. We were invited to our friends, The Nighs, house for a BBQ that evening. It was so nice to see them again, and to meet their kids. Great food, great company and a delicious pastry cake for dessert. Janine makes amazing cakes. She made Marcus' wedding cakes.

This was one of them. The other one had these cute little tuxedo strawberries on them.

Sunday was our last day. We packed before we headed off to church. After church, we went for dinner with Grants parents at "Swiss Chalet" on Lundy's Lane. THE best Swiss Chalet ever. No other swiss chalet compares to it, and my opinion of it still stands, it was really yummy. We had some more time to kill before heading to the airport, so we went "hiking" (and I use that term loosely). I forgot how gorgoues all of the trees and water in Ontario are. It wasjust wonderful.

A beautiful view of the water too...

Then we headed over to Niagara on the Lake. What beautiful town, and they have preserved it so well. It feels like you're stepping back in time, and it is sooo beautiful.

Who doesn't love seeing a horse that looks quite close to a unicorn prancing down the street pulling a carriage with trees hanging over from the sides of the streets?!

We also went to the Botanical gardens in Niagara Falls, and they were filled with blossoming trees everywhere. Paradise.

I love lilacs. They remind me of home. They would bloom in my backyard around my birthday every year when I was younger.

It was time to head to the airport to go home.

(Grant with his Mom and Dad)

We went to the Hamilton airport (so fun because you get to walk on the tarmac to get to the plane. You feel like a celebrity, haha!

It was a fun trip, and we were happy we were able to go.There was tons more we would've liked to have done, but we also couldn't wait to see the kids again.

Oh, and we played a little joke before we left. Grant kept complaining the whole time we were at his parents house that it was like a shrine to Marcus. There were tons of pictures of Marcus everywhere. So before we left, we had taken a bunch of silly pics of Grant and as we were leaving we taped all of these pictures of Grant overtop the photos of Marcus on the frames. After his parents got back from the airport, they got to come home to a sea of weird Grant photos swamping their livingroom, hahaha!!! Here are a few samples

Don`t you wish these were framed in your livingroom?????