Happy Mother's Day!

Before I share my exciting news, let me share a photo of my two favourite girls & the reasons why I love being a mother:



I am really really excited today because today I found out that I won a Mother's Day Contest!

Amanda of Living Proof Photography hosted the contest, and when I read about it, my heart was thumping at the thought of winning a photo session.

I have this problem I've decided to call WSOC... Wrong Side of the Camera. It is that even though I can take photos of my family, I will always be on the wrong side of the camera, so I can never take photos of our whole family, together... SAD!

So, today when I found out that I won Amanda's contest, I had to do a little happy dance with my daughter- hurray! I get family photos with me in them!! What a wonderful surprise for Mother's Day!

Since I'm on the topic of Mother's Day, I thought I'd share a little part of my entry with you:

I started to think about motherhood and how it often seems like a job without recognition. I sometimes miss the report cards of school and the recognition that came with a job. I’m a stay-at-home-mom, doing everything I can to stay home and be with my children as long as I can afford to. I don’t receive much recognition from those in the world around me, but I choose to be with my daughters if at all possible because I feel I should (and of course because I love them like crazy!!)
So as I was pondering this lack of recognition, I wrote a little poem and I realized that I have been getting recognition, just not from where it used to come:

In the time I’ve been a mother…

I’ve never made the news
Unless you count the reports my daughter gives my husband of the fun things she did with Mommy while he was at school

I’ve never received an award for my efforts
Unless you count the smile on the lit-up faces of my daughters when I show them how much I love them

I don’t get to go out to eat just for fun very often anymore
Unless you count the “pink milk” & cookies tea parties with my three year old

I don’t get to sing in groups for fun very often anymore
Unless you count the songs sung before naptime, bedtime, and just for fun

I have noticed a decline in my vocabulary
Unless you count “babytalk” (in which I am now fluent!)

I don’t have to write exams or pop quizzes anymore
Unless you count the many spontaneous questions of an inquisitive 3-year-old

I can’t perform a beautiful dance with applause from a crowd
Unless you count the undivided attention and smiles of my 5-month-old when I bust a move for her while pulling faces and making weird noises

I don’t get to the gym to lift weights and I don’t get workout time
Unless you count carrying around a very scrumptious, 17 lb 5-month-old

I don’t get to attend special performances
Unless you count my little girl in her tutu or fairy costume with ballet shoes, prancing around the living room to a CD of nutcracker music

My girls are too young to explain why I’m a good Mommy
Unless you count the little hints of explanation in the everyday moments

And those are the things that count the most

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Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there, may you have a wonderful day tomorrow!

Baby Evelyn

As soon as I started talking to her on the phone, I could tell that I liked Evelyn's mom and I wasn't disappointed when I showed up at her house a couple of weeks ago, for her session. Maureen & Sean, it was fun to get to know you a bit during the session, & I hope you love the photos of your precious baby girl! It was a privilege to meet Miss Evelyn. She is such a sweetie! (Even though she was sooo not interested in sleeping for us ;)

Here's a little preview for you- your proofs will be ready soon!

Evelyn Maeve
April 7th, 2009
7 Weeks Old

Brittany's Bridal Shower

Just over a week ago, I attended a bridal shower that my aunt threw for my cousin's fiance. She's a super-cute girl who's always smiling and totally nice. At the shower I learned (and I'm not surprised) that she's also a great sport. Here are a few pictures from the shower. We're glad to have you joining the family, Brittany!


Brittany's Bridal Shower
March 30, 2009

What bridal shower could be complete without a good game of Toilet Paper Bride?






Apparently Brittany insisted against the traditional bow-hat for her shower. So at the end of the night, she was greeted with a lovely wrapping paper bow bra :)

De Jong's Furniture Retirement Sale

My dad and his brothers are retiring. My grandfather started the business when they came to Canada from Holland when my dad & his twin brother were 3 years old. The store has been a big part of my life and the lives of all of my family members, so it's a pretty huge event for us all.

I was in town for the start of an early opening to their retirement sale where I got a chance to take a few photos. Here are just a few of them:

This was taken the day before the sale:

People waiting in line for the doors to open:

There's still equipment in the back room from when they used to build their own furniture:

A shot of my uncle in the office, as I'll remember him there. (I worked at the store when I was younger- so many memories in this photo!)

First People!

The first time I felt inclined to snap a picture of my daughter's artwork on her 'magna doodle' was two weeks ago when she drew a pretty good "happy" face. She's been drawing happy faces for a long time, but this one struck me as an especially well constructed one ;)



Then a few days ago, she presented me with a drawing that floored me. I was convinced that Ken must have taught her to draw people sometime when I wasn't around. He later confirmed that he had not.

So, I'm pretty proud of my little 3-year-old for figuring out how to draw people without help! They even have hair & "shoes"!

Girly Shoes

Yesterday I dressed Katrina in a little outfit (this usually only happens when I put her in a little dress for church on Sundays- I prefer to dress her in a snuggly sleeper most of the time). I felt that this was the perfect opportunity to squeeze her little baby feet into some little baby sneakers.

The shoes lasted long enough for some pictures & then she kicked them off & I put them on the stairs to be taken up to her room later. A little later I noticed Talia's shoes nearby & thought, huh, how cute, all three of us have pink & white shoes... photo op!



Apparently I'm on a pink kick (oh, that's punny) lately- with the shoes & the laundry, but that's the reality of the life of a mom of girls.

...who am I kidding? I'm wearing bright pink pajama bottoms right now and that has nothing to do with being a mom ;)

Here's one of the photos from her cute little outfit (I know a certain aunt who wouldn't let me get away with just posting the photo of the shoes ;)