Tiny Trendsetter!!

A couple of weeks ago we made friends with a lovely mama of two twins girls who lives here in Toronto who recently started her own online store, Tiny Trendsetter, for fun unique children's clothing!!  I am always searching for unique kids clothing--something different and unique with fun designs. 

So I am really, really excited about this new venture of hers and for a whole new world of fun kids clothing we can get ourselves into.  Not only that, but we have already started collaborating on photographing the spring line!  I cannot wait to do it and share with you!

We stopped in for a little bit to her pop-up shop on Queen St. at Yummy Stuff Bakery, rifled through her clothes and picked out some fun stuff for ourselves.  Maggie was right at home trying everything on! 

So excited for this new venture and a possible chance to work with you on this!!  Yay!!  Thanks to everyone who popped into the Tiny Trendsetter Pop-up shop to support this fabulous woman!

Pretty Winter Morning Light

It's been a really, really strange winter here in Toronto--although I feel like we say that every year.  It's oscillated between frigid temperatures where mere minutes outside puts us in tears and balmy weather where you wonder if it's skipped spring altogether.  Remarkably there seems to be a lot of regular "flurries" that come and go and sometimes never amount to much.  And then there has been the occasional day that it snows and stays for awhile.

The rink has thawed and refrozen and so we have been out there enjoying it when we can, and cursing the amount of space it uses up when its a big soupy slushy pool of water too cold to step in and not cold enough to skate on.  But we are still happy we made it.

My parents were here for a week or so and the kids kept them busy with their high level of energy--everything from Gabriel's big birthday bash to a trip to see St. Jacob's Market in Waterloo.  We were sooo happy and relieved to have them around since both Jordan and I have been nose to the grindstone since September last year.  A lot of time spent around here with my parents--playing in the yard, hide-and-go-sneak, boink, hungry hippos, Paw Patrol, making amazing melt in your mouth valentine's day cookies and out for a couple of walks in the beautiful morning winter light.  Here are just a few of those shots.

L. O. V. E.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day from our two little ones!  Yesterday, I was off doing a photoshoot all morning, but the moment I got home, I flew out the door with the kiddies and we were off to get goodies to surprise daddy--flowers and cupcakes and BALLOONS!!  Nothing seems to be more exciting than that these days! 

One of the benefits of being a photographer is that I also seem to have a ton of props around so decorating for holidays is made nice and easy.  (Including the balloons which I used for a shoot the day before).  I might have to start hiding all these things or my kids are going to grow up thinking that this is all normal!!  Oh well, as I always say, there is always a reason to celebrate!!

The kids help to make a card for their dad (thanks to an idea Jenn Hembruch gave me, THANK YOU INSTAGRAM for keeping us in touch!)   We love daddy so much, we just had to tell him so. Gabriel is nearly bursting with excitement to share our special Valentine's day party with dad.  All this excitement and pure pleasure over little things--don't you wish you could just bottle it up and save it forever?? 

It sure was cold yesterday, but we cuddled up inside and stayed warm together.  I feel so lucky to have two littles who love each other and are soo cuddly and lovey with us.  I really, really hope they don't grow up and lose that lovey affectionate nature.  It is such the sweetest thing.  Hope your Valentine's Day was cozy and spent with those you love!

Happy Birthday Gabriel!!

Whew!!  Just finished a great party for Gabriel who just turned FOUR this week!  Sometimes when I look at him, I think of him as a little little boy, those pictures from when he was two and three.  But he's a "big" guy now with real opinions, likes/dislikes, interests and passions and real friendships.

We are so proud of our little guy in so many ways.  He is such a vibrant, fun-loving, intense guy who has a really big heart for his friends and family, especially his little sister, his shadow and forever playmate.  All his spirited-ness and energy mean we collapse into bed at night and almost completely fall asleep the second our heads hit the pillow.  But we wouldn't have it any other way, really, for that joie to vie and enthusiasm for life is one of his best and personal favorite qualities about him.

So with all of his personally chosen closest friends filling the house, we celebrated as he turned 4, incorporating his long-time (3 year) love of "Lightning McQueen" into his birthday theme.  There was plenty of shrieking and running and jumping around, balloons and toys everywhere, kids running a-muck.  But it was the happy chaos of children having fun.  And for some reason, nothing makes me happier than having a houseful of happy, rambunctious little people having a good time.

Thanks again, Sophia's Sugar Rush, you continue to amaze us all.

And thank you to our wonderful group of friends who came and my parents (who traveled all this way to be here and spend time with us and who did almost all of the behind the scenes work for this party).  Thanks for celebrating with us.  We love you dearly and cherish the friendships we have with you.  Thank you for making our day special with your presence and conversation and generosity.  Gabriel told me, "Thanks for my party, mom!!  It was the best birthday ever!!!"