Calgary Fall Family Photography Sessions

Just a quick note to let everyone know that NOW is the perfect time to book your fall family photography session. September and October are the most popular times for family photographs so my schedule for those fills up quickly. I only have three possible spots for a weekend session left. So, don't wait too long.

Thanks!

Dana

Friday's Favourites--My Favourite Boy

Yesterday, my favourite boy in the whole wide world graduated from elementary school. The school had a little celebration--nothing over the top, just a lovely little ceremony in the gym. The kids from the younger grades all line the halls and cheer them on as they walk to the gymnasium. The girls clearly take it more seriously than the boys. Many of the boys hadn't even dressed up at all, but the girls pretty much all wore pretty summer dresses. Some of them had make up on...a glimpse of the teenagers they are becoming.

I asked Jack if he wanted to dress up. He took this as an opportunity to angle for a superhero belt buckle and a new superhero t-shirt(he was without a superman shirt if you can imagine...oh the horrors).He topped it off with his Christmas dress coat. I begged him to wear converse, but he assured me that converse were not cool. So, he wore his big clunky shoes which...if I'm completely honest...are not my favourite but apparently they are cool.

Elementary school was far from a smooth ride for this boy...my favourite boy in the world. But, he showed maturity that shocked us and has grown from the experience into a tween who is embracing his geekdom in a major way. Always bright, he scored top marks in his class on two of his final exams(including a perfect score in Science). Not to fear, he came in second in all the other ones. I am proud of his achievements, but I shed a few tears today because I am thrilled that he has found a group of incredible friends who share his enthusiasm for off the wall humour and comic books. I love that these kids can see just how awesome he is even if he doesn't know anything about sports ;)

I meant to dig up a picture of Jack from his first day of kindergarten, but time got away from me. I did manage to find this oldie from around the time he would have been in Kindergarten. Just so you can see how much he's grown.

I took him out for a solo photo session to mark the end of elementary school. These are the images we created. I can see glimpses of both the child he was and the man he is becoming. That, my friends, is what makes this age so spectacular.

Jack, if you ever do read this one day, I want you to know what an extreme honour it is to be your mother. I know that I have made mistakes at times, but somehow...you have managed to become the coolest 11 year old I know. I love you to the moon and back my favourite boy. Always.

~ Dana

Mozi Magazine Feature

I am super excited to announce that I have been featured in the Family/Child Issue of Mozi Magazine. Woo Hoo! The amazing cover image is by Orange Anchor Photography and below that, you can see the tear sheet of my feature.

If you go to my Facebook page, I am giving away a free digital copy of the magazine!!! Here is the link to go and enter: http://tinyurl.com/ormazgt It is a wonderfully done issue filled with amazing pictures and articles. Worth checking it out ;)

~ Dana

Friday's Favourites--Village Ice Cream

For a good long time, my favourite ice cream cone ever was this amazing soft serve ice cream cone I had in Denmark when I was 16 years old. My travelling companion had purchased it because she thought the dark sprinkles were chocolate. Luckily for me, they were in fact salted black liquorice. If you know me at all, you know that I am a liquorice fanatic. The way the salt mingled with the ice cream and the liquorice. It was pure heaven. Add in to that the fact that I was in Denmark...and you get my very favourite ice cream cone. Until now.

This week, after a crazy session(which I promise to share later), I suggested that we meander over to the Village Ice Cream shop downtown. I had heard the rumours of it being incredible and I am happy to say that it surpassed the hype. I indulged in the salted caramel with a waffle cone. My advice is--GET THE WAFFLE CONE. I think the cone was what made it. Simply the best cone I have ever had--worth the extra dollar. The salted caramel was utterly divine. I would have tried the 'earl grey' but they were sold out. Next time ;) This has become a must stop destination for me the next time I am downtown with my kids. I like to think that we are raising mini foodies--especially Georgia who has extremely expensive food tastes. They will go crazy for this place I'm sure. We actually make our own ice cream and are pretty picky about ice cream we purchase. This ice cream is the real deal for sure. And, now that warmer days have arrived--I suggest you all take a trip down to the Village Ice Cream Shop.

~Dana