Blue walls and smiles

Old one

Sending love to a Birthday Boy!

(that would be my Dad!!)

Santa is coming to town

Santa's photo workshop is starting to get decorated.   I wonder if the kids would like there photo taken sometime after school?

Owen's snow adventures

 Checking out the snow at the school in the morning.

 A snow storm is starting to blow in and I'll explore the snow drifts while heading to get the girls from school

 Pink cheeks,  and cold wind but still smiling!!

 Have to help mommy shovel the deck in the morning after the snow storm has finished.

 Hey this job isn't that bad!!!!   And mommy let me do it in my PJ's!!!

Now if only someone would come and help me push this thing.  I'm tired.   It's been a big snow adventure. 

More Snow Angels

Woke up to more snow.   Back to putting the 4Wheel in gear to get through the streets, or just down my lane way.      Ran into town to get a few things (milk and my new winter boots!!!)   now I'm just cuddling in for the rest of the day.   But I bet the girls will be making more snow angels in the back yard when they get home.  

Do I really want to do this?

White stuff

I do dress them better then this.    But the first taste they are ever so excited so they don't dress very well.   Now after school it's snow pants,  neck warmers,  etc etc,  so they can sled down the little hill at our house.   It's good for an hour of fun before they come in to get warm

Burr

It's -12 degree Celsius today with a wind chill of -18.   It's is suppose to be -15 tonight with a wind chill of -29!!!!!!   Agh!  I am so not ready for this.

Murals

This mural is painted on the outside toilet block by our local park.   Very colourful and great way to make an toilet look better.    And yes this photo was taken before the snow and cold weather had really set in.   I think the snow is here to stay.

Signs

Now when there is a snow storm in Canada we have to put signs out to warn people we will be snow shoveling.   Ha Ha Ha.  Not!    I'm just kidding.   This sign was just up from the school the other morning as the poor Electrical/Hydro guys were fixing the lines.   Nice cold morning to be doing that.   It has been minus 10 for the last two days and if that wasn't a sign then........

 watching Eric pull the fish pond pump out of a frozen snow covered pond was a big sign that maybe we should have had the pump out long before it hit minus 10!!!

Birthday

So Birthday's!!!   Celebration and colour.   Happiness.   We took Eric out for dinner at a new pub.  Called the Noble Pig.   Great atmosphere and nice to be able to take the kids to a pub again.    Then home for Ice Cream Cake.   Good day. 

Creative or at least Trying

Now you may have seen this before on someone else's blog.  (though granted I suspect their carpets were cleaner looking!!!)    My photography teacher  said there was nothing wrong with copying other photographers.    Practice with one you like till your photos are almost the same.   You are learning, studying light,  creating.    Then when you have mastered copying that photographer try another or you might have learned what you do and don't like and start creating your own unique work.    
Well last year was the first winter back in Canada.   I forgot that it gets a little bleak and dull.   And I didn't miss that at all while in Australia.   So this year to prevent myself from getting sucked into the bleakness and get a little down.  I have decided to create everyday with "colour".   So I feel cheerful and inspired during this long winter season.     The next photos to come will be an idea copied with my touches thrown in.    Keep an eye out. 

First Snow Fall

Oh how they cried with delight when they looked out the window this morning.   They got a little play in this before going into school.  (this is at the school)   Now it has melted away but it is so great to have fun things to photograph again.   I also created huge yesterday and have some fun photos to show for the rest of the week.  Unless there is an snowfall again tonight and the snow stays!!

Trying to get some inspiration

 On a cold rainy day.  No sun and taking shots of dull, earth toned subjects!!!   Some thing is wrong here.  Inspiration.  Colour?  Light?   Got some ideas after blog looking for a few hours.  (yes the kids homework is done and the pj's were on!!!)

So instead of looking through holes in the fence.   I might have some ideas at last.

Chasing Canadian Geese

So it's that time of year the the skies are full of migrating Canadian Geese.   The kids shout out the "v" formations  are coming.   We had gone down to McArthur Island to have a run and there were hundreds of geese resting before heading to their next leg of their trip.   Hannah just couldn't resist running at the birds and making them fly away. 

We have a Mexican Visitor!!

Zwat has come to visit us.   My girlfriend and her family have gone away for a little trip so we are taking Zwat and watching things.    He's a Mexican Hairless.    And because the weather is turning cold he only goes outside to do a quick pee and then heads straight back into the house under the blankets by the fireplace.    My kind of dog!   Somedays I wish I could do that!

Laundry Day

Enough said I think.   It's raining and cold and so laundry is on the order I'll get caught up and have a nice clean laundry room for the start of the week. 

November

We don't have any red leaves.  So bare with me.   Needing some inspiration.   Needing no chill November winds that pervent Owen wanting to stay outside for more then 30 minutes.   Went this morning to get Winter Tires on but missed the walk in time by 5 minutes and it was all booked up!!   So there went my exploring with the camera and Owen while we waited for the tires to be put on.    So instead we picked up some "Cow Pee'  aka "Choclate Milk" and we are now doing a Curious George Sticker Activity book while sipping our Cow Pee!!!

Remembrance Day

My family, both my mom and dad's side.  Have come from a long line of farming families.   So when war broke out.    Farmers were exempt as they had an important job of feeding the nation.   Not all farming sons did this.   So that is why we have a few veterans in our history.

 This is Keith Clark.   My mother's Great Uncle he died in the battle of the Somme in 1916 during WWI.  He was just 19.  (on my list to do is to go to France and see his grave as no one has gone from the family to do that)

 This is my grandparents.  My mom's parents.  My grandmother Margery and my grandfather Jack Curtis.  Jack went to war near the end and helped in Germany after war finished cleaning up and collecting tanks.  He was a tank mechanic. 

This is my grandfather's brothers and my grandmother.   George,  Margery and Crawford Curtis.   George was based in Italy for 2 years and Crawford was a 1st Lieutenant based in Africa for 2 years as well.

I remember today.  

Last Time

I think this is the last time you will see photos with the kids running around with short sleeves and bare feet.   The weather is turning very cold.   The leaves are almost off all the trees.  It is minus at night.   They have been talking snow tonight.   So I think it may be the end of the last warm spells.  It is after all November.  

Eric's baby

Well Eric got the right axle fixed.  Took it out for a drive and realized the left side has blown too.   So more parts and more time in the garage fixing it before we can get out in it again.  Plus he's putting a better bumper on the front.    Oh so fun!!

My Monday Mornings

Every Monday morning Owen goes to a preschool morning.   After the little ones are dropped off a group of the moms goes for a long 2 hour hike through the Barnhartvale trail system.    November and it is still sunny and nice out.   I finally remembered to take the camera with me this time.   Would have liked to take some more photos without rushing but we only have 2 hours and then we have to return and pick up the little ones.    So here is a taste of what we do.  Sometimes there is 6 of us.  Sometimes 6 dogs.   But we always talk and laugh and get a good workout. 

What you looking at Owen?

Autumn is still clinging on

I know I know everyone likes the people shots better.  

Ready set go

Enough said.    They have energy!!!

Sunshine and Warmth

I needed the girls under the tree.   Boys just move to fast sometimes to try and get the shot you are visioning in your head.    Well boys 3 and under that is!

Peek a Boo

Playdates with three little boys. Trying to keep them entertained but not beating themselves with rocks and sticks!!    I have some good ones of them in the fall leaves but I'm still editing

Candy

We got a care package in the mail from Australia last week.   All the goodies we have missed.   The kids polished off these candy pizza's like there was no tomorrow.   Now after Halloween we have pounds of candy left because the kids just haven't developed a taste for Canadian candy.   They still prefer the Australian plan chocolate or caramel filled stuff.   So now mom and dad have lots of leftover stuff that I just don't want in the house.    Oh for some Koala Caramelo's!!  

Halloween

It was a very busy day yesterday so I forgot to post.   We stayed up too late on Saturday night so we slept in and no one was really ready to go until 11am.  Then there was a lot of pumpkin carvings,   trick or treat planning.  It was a good day.   My friend came with her little boys and their pumpkins and we got some good loot.   I forgot to get photos of them.  It was so cute.   Good night and lots of neat houses decorated for a good scare.