Despite my rumblings in the morning yesterday was a day that I would happily live again.
It brought a wonderful baby session, a trip to my amazing chiropractor (past McKinnon bride Dr. Robin Rae), a work meeting, a trip to the compost session with Maggie and Selah for One Big Earth's gardening program and then the school fun fair.

When I finally returned home one of the most extreme flower bouquets I have ever received (mom, it rivalled the one you sent me five years ago in Victoria - the one that was so big I had to buckle it in a seatbelt on the drive home,) awaited me.

It was from the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation as a thank you for some volunteer photography work I have done for them.  It is stunning and I would have taken a photo of it but my gear is at the studio (this is the first time I have done this and it is a lame idea I will not repeat. ) So you will just have to imagine a bouquet which is way to big for any vase we own. I love it.

I do however have some Today Present Party photos to share.

While I was setting up Selah made her own little sign

My Favorite photo of the day. Andi and her wow face when she came in the new studio. Thanks Andi, I will look at this photo when I am having a bad day. On the right is a photo of Oliver with a photo of his sister behind him - these two kids are easily two of the most photogenic in the valley.

Future cupcake decorators take note - in order to snag all the sprinkles, decorate your cupcake with icing and then turn it upside down and collect sprinkles using a stamping motion.

I have no idea who took this photo, but it cracks me up

Thanks again to everyone who came by and all that supported the event.

I have had trouble blogging this week and wasn't able to pin-point why until this morning. See, I love signing in and posting on the blog. I wake up, bounce out of bed, grab my coffee, do my emails, blog while listening to the just right music, then I head back to the house at 7:30 and parent then come back to work around 9. It is what I have done for the last two years.

It was perfect. It isn't anymore.

That was then, this is now.

For the last few weeks morning comes, I open my eyes and lay there, and then close them and lay there some more. I eventually realize that I have to get up - work, kids, coffee, there are many reasons. Then I hobble to the kitchen, if John is there I lean on him, kind of pathetically - I don't really talk (for which he is thankful I am sure.) Then the coffee and I come down to the office. I think of blogging, but still there are no words ready.

By 9 a.m I am ready to head out to shoot or hit the to-do list - the office is buzzing and the phones are ringing - the blogging window of opportunity is gone.

This morning though I decided that was enough! Time to take on the morning blah's and write something. So I did.

And because posts are better with a photo:

Your coupon cups from the party had a McKinnon Photography coupon in it (first time we have ever done this!) and you need to use it by the 31st. You need to call us and book by the 31st and the session can take place anytime before October 31st.

The response to this coupon has been big, however, I know a few of you who wanted to use it and haven't called yet. Don't forget and end up being sad.

Also, if you aren't using it you are welcome to pass it on.

Okay - one very last thing - May 31st is a Sunday, so we won't be in the office but leaving us a message works and we will call back on Monday and book you in.

Oh one very last, last thing - yes I will blog photos from the party. Just not this morning.

Yes, I do take photos, despite the fact that it has been awhile since I blogged a session.  Here are the top five reasons that I haven't blogged a session recently:

- many of the subjects are nude or partially nude. I have been photographing lots of boudoir and maternity sessions and these are not for the blog readers eyes.

- I planned and executed a big studio party and then had a cupcake hangover

- I am working on a new blog, it is almost complete, so close

- I had four family members in a week long dance recital, and managed to serve them all healthy meals each night using no plates, bowls or cutlery

- we are still putting finishing touches on the studio, like the blog, it is almost complete.

Yet this post isn't about my excuses (or should I say really good reasons,) it is about Ellie. In the middle of setting up for our big weekend event I settled into one of my favorite things - photographing a new baby.This one was special as I photographed her big brother when he was a newborn and Ellie's parents are just fabulous people.

Ellie, is pretty darn fabulous herslef, not mention stunning

I have a thing for baby hands and arms, I love watching how they flail about and how a little one works so hard to try and get it where they want. These little fingers make me feel good.

Thank you sun coming through the trees, thank you perfect place, thank you awesome laid back mom of Hannah and Braiden, thank you field for being empty of other people, thank you Hannah and Braiden - for a double whammy tasty session.

We rescheduled many times due to bad weather, and our patience paid off and because they waited so long for their session they should be rewarded with many sneak peek photos.

Love the move bustin'

The girls are dancing this week and it makes me cry (and want to get  a puppy, but that is a whole different story.) It's a happy, proud, amazed, and a how the heck do we stop time so they can always be this age kind of cry

Selah, Gabby, Rowan, Mikhayla and daddy- O are all part of the Pantuso Groove 2009 Performance happening this week. I saw the two dress rehearsal's and cried, I cried at the dress rehearsal when bursaries were given out to kids I didn't even know.

I live for this stuff.

Really though, it has been a great experience - they are loving performance week - and as I mentioned John is even taking part, which in my mind ups his already super handsome cool dad status. I spent the last two nights there photographing so it felt like a real family affair (minus Maggie who was happily eating lots of ice-cream at our awesome neighbours - thank you awesome neighbour) 

If you are looking for a positive community environment, with passionate teachers who strike a healthy balance between challenging the kids and throwing in the fun - Pantuso is the place.

Kids joy, pride and excitement + watching all the parents who love them = a little bit of magic.

Check it out.

This is our youngest, Selah - so excited to see John in the Dad's dance

And of course John, in the Dad's dance. The ironic thing about this is one of our toilet's happen to be broken.

John has received SO much cred from the kids for taking part in it and the best thing is that I think he has had tons of fun. After their practice he would always come home with the kind of silly smile that made me think they were drinking in the parking lot after.

Pantuso also offers tap and musical theatre for grown-ups. This musical theatre numbers gave me goosebumps - way to go ladies!

 Do you know who the woman on the right is? It is fair to say she is well known in the community - but I wouldn't have recognized her.

And of course Pantuso Owner and Leader Lindsay Sterk

Way to go everyone and thanks to all the teachers and parents who make this happen!

 More on the McKinnon Photography Facebook page.

Meet my lawn:

We bought our house two years ago. I saw it and knew that it was ours.  We were looking for a house on a family friendly street in Comox, with an  open concept kitchen, that could accommodate a family of seven and an office. We also wanted a good yard and a playroom. With kids in three different schools it was important that some of them could walk to school.

The pickings were slim.

We were touring with realtors and driving side streets regularly. Just when we were about to throw in the towel I drove by our current abode. It was one of those houses where you purchase it for it's potential. It fit the requirement that nothing had to be done, but in order to love it the paint cans would come out.

The previous owners had kept it in immaculate shape and not cut corners on quality. However, they had also made the house pink - pink blinds, pink walls, pink counters and pink carpet. Now of course our five girls thought it was soooo pretty however, we made it very clear to them that the pink was veeeery temporary.

First to go were the blinds, then some of the carpet. We have done a bit of painting as well. So, we're were slowly making our mark.

Yet, I still cringed  when I dove up to it. See the house is still baby blue and badly in need of a paint job. We also have a huge parking area, half cemented and half rocks - it makes NO SENSE. I think we were kind of the house on the block that made our neighbours wonder.

So in a fit of frustration I called on our super landscaper friend John Petty from Caden Lawn Care and asked him what he could do.

Sensing a damsel in distress, him and his team got right to work planting grass over the rocks and adding some gorgeous Japanese Maples.

Despite almost driving on the new grass out of old habits, I am much happier pulling up to my home now, and love that it was easy to get done. Next step is painting the house, maybe deep blue?