The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! Thought I heard popcorn popping and giggling last night, but figured it was just a dream…guess I’m a cotton-headed ninny-muggins after all!!
Shona xo
Yup, Jack outdid himself the previous night, then followed up his fun filled night with an “Elf Open House”, so by the time he got back to our house, he was plum tuckered out and just felt like “hangin’ around”! However, our 7 year old’s reaction was pretty funny. “Mom! Look where the snowflake is!? That’s GOTTA hurt!”
Shona xo
ps. I’d like to say I used a texture to make the streaks on my windows in photoshop, but nope! My sliding glass windows are that dirty…what’s it to ya? 🙂
Poor Jack must have been a wee bit chilled after his trip to the North Pole last night (temperatures dropped in Ottawa and we even have a skiff of snow now!)…He pulled the Adirondack chair off the tree, grabbed a make shift “fire pit”, a toothpick and roasted some marshmallows! I do believe he acquired the hat and toque off of a wine bottle 🙂 Ya outdid yourself this time buddy!
Until tomorrow!
Shona xo
Apparently the little monkey was hungry last night! I love waking up to the giggles and chorus of, “Oooooh Jack!!!”
Shona xo
Of the Castle, You’re the Dirty Rascal! Oh Jack, you saucy minx you!!
Shona xox
Dare you to say the title of this post without doing “jazz hands” like on Will & Grace….I miss that show…
Here’s Day 13: He looks like he’s saying, “I can’t see you, so you can’t see me…” Uh, right Jack….
And today’s antics, Day 14: The little man is swinging from the tree top and he ousted the reigning angel and tossed the poor thing to the side…poor girl!
He’s probably saying “nana-nana boo boo” to the playmobile across the room 🙂
Till tomorrow!
Shona xo
Oh Jack…he arrived from the North Pole to check up on our wee ones daily and report back to Santa. Elf on the Shelf is an adorable little guy whom we named Jack. He provides great entertainment for the whole family and is a fabulous visual reminder (aka bribe) on how to behave over the holidays. The only problem is between the Playmobile advent calendars and Jack, we have been getting up awfully early (backfire!). However, it is like Christmas morning everyday for a month, so I won’t whine too much 😉
Here’s an overview of the first 12 days with our new friend:
December 1: We found Jack cuddling with Santa and we were all curious as to who he was. So we read the book and officially adopted him by naming him Jack and promising not to touch him again (he loses his magic to fly home nightly if we do!)
December 2: We learned a couple of things about Jack today…he’s not so good with the toilet paper and he’s awfully messy!!
December 3: I think Jack was hiding from me because of the mess he left…
December 4: Today we learned that Jack likes to read…a lot! The kids weren’t too happy that they couldn’t read any of their Christmas books that day! Poor babies 😉
December 5: Jack cuddled with “Isabella” our friendly snowman that was named by our friend’s son when he was little…he was confused between our niece and the snowman 😉
December 6: Today we learned that Jack could share his magic with some friends…we caught them sliding down the banister!
December 7: Jack and his new found buddies had a “snowball fight”…first question my son asked, “Can we eat them?”
December 8: One of these kids is not like the other…
December 9: This has got to be my favourite so far…poor Jack was held hostage by Campbell’s playmobile and tied up in Christmas lights! My ever conscious fire prevention expert (Isla) decided that the lights should not go on that day!
Day 10: The kids were very distraught when they couldn’t find Jack this morning…they thought the playmobile might have got him again! But alas, we found him drinking syrup in the fridge…ewwwww!
Day 11: Jack still must have been terrified of the playmobile as he hid waaaay up in the ceiling fan!
Day 12: We learned that Jack loooves shortbread cookies and he’s not the neatest eater either! Look at those crumbs!
It has been a magical and fun 12 days and I will be sure to post the next 12 in a more timely fashion 😉
Shona xo
Sitka May 2000 – November 2011
Sigh…it’s been one week. One week since I felt his soft ears, had warm feet while editing and was tucked in by my 80lb “lap dog”. It happened so fast and we weren’t ready for it…and there are so many things I miss that I can’t even begin to write them down. Instead, I will share a story my very dear friend shared with me about the purpose of dogs…Her pup passed in September and our dogs were BFFs way back when in Northern Alberta.
A Dog’s Purpose (from a 6 year old)
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued,
“Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
It is so true and it is what I hold close. He saw me at my worst, he saw me at my best and he loved me all the same…I hope he’s sticking his head out of a ripped screen window on someone’s truck canopy in heaven and enjoying the breeze of a wonderful ride…We will miss you, dear pooch…so so much.
Love,
Your Humans xoxoxoxox…
(ps Please forgive the scanned photo…but it’s one of my favourites…)
This year I have so much to be thankful for. My family is all healthy, we have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies (too much, one might say…). What makes me even more thankful is that I have the clarity to see how lucky I am, which wasn’t always the case. Ya things are tough sometimes and sure I’d like that new tv so I could ditch the circa-1996-400lb-makes people’s faces orange-box in the corner and get apple tv, but really…not overly important in the grande scheme of things.
Professionally this really has been a banner year for me. I am so thankful that I started my business during a time when life wasn’t all that fun. Why? Because I persevered, I went at my own pace and, well, I did it! Being stubborn has some positive attributes! 🙂 This venture has brought people into my lives that I never would have connected with from YOU my fabulous clients to the amazing photographers I have met both near and far who constantly support me, push me to be better and cheer me on when I succeed. Really, it doesn’t get any better than that!
So thank you. Thank you for being in my life, for helping to give me clarity and for supporting me. What more can a girl ask for?
Shona xox
…for Chrithmath is my two front teeth!
Yup, both teeth gone in a matter of days and I’m so relieved as she was taking immense pleasure in grossing me out twisting them around and around. In fact, I was teasing her about how she was talking and she even said, “Well, I guess it’s only fair since I bugged you so much with my teeth…Karma, you know!” Yup. 7. Too smart for her own good!
Now my son is trying to pull out his teeth because he wants to get money…poor boy!
Shona xox
PS October is pretty full now, but there are a couple of spots left on the 16th for mini sessions. If you’re at all interested in being photographed this fall, get your name in right away! And potential Maternity/Newborn Photography clients…stay tuned for a very cool promotion I’m working on! Details to be announced soon!