Arwyn

Arwyn and I had a great afternoon yesterday dressing up like fairies, splashing in a huge puddle and running through open fields. Oh, to be 4 again! I'm sure you'll agree she is as cute as a button :) After all our hard playing I'm sure she she was out like a light...Arywn could barely keep her eyes open by the end of our date. So adorable!


It felt great to be outside in some sunshine...now I can't wait for spring to get here!



Lots of hugs,


Kelsy

Quote of the Week

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.

Elbert Hubbard

April 20

Pleas'd look forward, pleas'd to look behind, And count each birthday with a grateful mind. - Alexander Pope

Today is my Birthday. I love birthdays. Truly, getting older isn't a bad thing when you consider the alternative. It's another year at the doorstep waiting to be lived and appreciated. I've got lots of goals and big things in store for my 26th year including my goal to really soak it all up. This is the only life I have, I might as well take it all in.

For my 26th Birthday I have compiled a list of 26 things about me to share with you.

I know it's not wedding pictures, but don't worry, wedding season starts in a couple of weeks and I can start showing off what your actually here for :)


26 Things about Kelsy

1. I love love love Tim. He makes me laugh ALL the time and although he could be the strangest person I know, and I love him for that.

2. I love to travel. I have been to 27 countries and plan on going to all 7 continents sometime or another. Backpacking is the best way to see a lot on a tight budget and really experience people and cultures. The stories we have from getting off the beaten track still amaze me when I think back at them.

3. I am always writing lists, perhaps 4 a day. I like the sense of accomplishment crossing something off, even if it is just simple things.

4. I am turning into my mother. Not sure how it happened, but all of a sudden I realized I do so many things the same ( hence Tim's new nickname for me, "Pat"). I do not find this a bad thing since she is the most amazing person in the world.

5. I have had my own full time Photography business since January 2007. I completely love it and I am learning more and more everyday.

6. I like to listen to the music of Jack Johnston, John Mayer, Ben Folds, Rob Thomas, Matt Huchinson, Bedouin Soundclash, Donavon Frankenreiter and Matt Nathanson.

7. I go to the William Lutzky gym classes every morning...but mostly for the post work out visit with Claire, Brandy and Michelle. Feel free to join into the fun...9am :)

8. I love the Oilers. Not just a little bit, but a slightly crazy amount. I know the stats and yell at the TV on bad nights…which was al ot this year. However they are the only thing that gets me through an Edmonton Winter and can't help but adore them.

9. I don't like any sort of clutter, knick knack or trinket. Even buying throw pillows was a stretch for me. I'm into simple Lines and clean design...

10. I love deals almost as much as I love my Birthday. A sale is pretty much the best thing ever. People wonder how we can afford to travel so much ("how can you afford not too?" is usually my first answer) but if you have ever seen my grocery shop you'd be amazed at all the money I save :)

11. I have 19 nieces and nephews and they all crack me up. It is so much fun watching them grow up and become amazing these little people.

12. I will never be good enough for myself, but my drive is what gets me up and makes me work harder at my business, go to workshops and seminars, and never stop learning.

13. I go out to eat way too often and could write a top 50 list for favorite restaurants in Edmonton. (please feel free to add to this list, lol)

14. I concussed myself my first time skiing right when Tim and I started dating. After the ride of shame in the ambulance I decided I was going to be a really good skier, and now I am very proud to keep up on nearly any hill.

15. My family is the most important thing to me in the world. It is awesome having 7 older siblings and the fact we fill an entire house with kids and love at Christmas.

16. Our new house could not be any more perfect for us. I adore it and relish the fact that we put a lot of sweat and tears into making it 'ours'.

17. I would like to have children, but share in a fear with Tim that I might not love them like everyone else LOVES their children. What if they pass me my baby and I am like "okay, this is a nice baby" not all blubbery and not "she is the most amazing thing in my life!!"

18. I really enjoy a bowl of Lucky Charms in the morning. They're just so magically delicious.

19. Mexico is my favorite place in the world. Been there 7 times. I love a lot of beautiful countries, but can't get enough of Mexican food, people, beaches, & sun. It could be because Tim and I were married there and it just a special place for us.

20. I make up nick-names for inanimate objects like remotesky and lensy-lens.

21. I love ice cream. Really, any flavour will do.

22. My favourite TV shows are The Office, The Soup, Criminal Minds, Flight of the Conchords, and reality TV like Survivor, Amazing Race, DYTYCD and my guilty pleasure show Rock of Love (yes, I am aware of how horrible it is, but I just can't stop).

23. Forgiveness is the key to happiness.

24. I only get my hair done, like once or maybe twice a year. It's long so it doesn't need to be done as often, right???

25. I still cry at my clients weddings especially when they write their own vows.

26. Not a day goes by where I don't count my many blessings.

Quote of Week

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”

-Henry Miller

April 13

Today is our anniversary. 3 years ago today we were on the beach in Tulum, Mexico, saying our vows to each other in front of 50 of our favourite people in the world. I can't believe how time has past so quickly from that day to now. I also can't believe how much more I love Tim now. I know it's an old saying at weddings to hope that "today is the day that you love each other the least", but couldn't be more true. I thought on that day that I loved him more then anything, but that love has multiplied a million zillion times since then. I can't image my life without the guy who makes me laugh every single day and does crazy things just because he loves me. Life just goes by so fast and I'm so glad I'm with someone who also understands the importance of making every day matter. Together we tackle trying new things, new foods and new countries. Together we are the perfect team to experience (to really experience, not just live) life together and try to make our moments count.

We don't remember days, only moments.

And the fleeting snippets of memories from our Wedding are ones I hold on too and cherish.

Like....

My brother walking me down the isle as I stared at Tim waiting at the end with that beautiful smile on his face.

Messing up the first line of my self-written vows. Laughing at the mistake (it was a good one). Crying through the rest of my vows. Then being stunned with the beauty of Tim's well thought words. My jaw dropped and my eyes filled with tears. I knew he loved me, but I couldn't believe the sincerity and the depth of his promises to me.

The hugs after the ceremony. Especially from my Mother.

The speeches at our simple reception and the song my nieces and sister wrote and sang for me. I can't even think of that without getting choked up. I had never had anyone write a song for me and it was more thoughtful-hilarious & tear-jerking then I could have ever imagined.

And of course, our first dance poolside just under the full moon. At that moment I couldn't image life getting any better. But it has and I'll be eternally grateful.

Weddings are beautiful & magical but marriage is even better.

Thank you Timmy for everything, I could never put it into proper words.

Love,

Kelsy

Baby Leela

After first meeting Jess and Yatin a few years back to photograph their lovely wedding I got a email announcing their expected arrival of their beautiful daughter Leela. It was a wonderful surprise to hear from them and be asked to photograph little miss Leela. She was an absolute treat!! She barely made a peep and spent the session sleeping away to the sounds of rain. I was in baby heaven :)


So Leela, How do you know you've got the coolest parents in the world? You live downtown in the hippest condo, the nursery is full of vintage-modern design & clean lines, there's a book on the table about having a "green" baby, you're cloth diapered, and your change table has a ipod dock (what cool baby wouldn't have there own ipod?) Love it!


Thanks for letting me in your home again. It was such a pleasure to meet the new center of your world.


Hugs,
Kelsy

Beautiful Family

Mom and Leela, such snugglers!

This is Dad's trick to get a smile :) A little tickle under the chin. Adorable!

Quote of the Week

Nothing is more beautiful than
the love that has weathered
the storms of life.
- Jerome K. Jerome

Okay, so this image deserves an explanation....
It was taken 'sneakily' with my point and shoot camera in Punta Cana a couple of years ago. This couple had matching suits for every day of the week. I can only hope this is Tim and I in 40 years (minus the speedo thong!). Any couple that wears matching swim wear is obviously beautifully in love :)

Wising I was on the beach too,

Kelsy

More exciting news

A couple of weeks before I left for Santa Fe I received a wonderful notice in the mail from the Professional Photographers of Canada. I have been awarded my Craftsman of Photographic Arts, also know as my CPA. This award is earned through points awarded in competitions, education within the industry and involvement within the PPOC. I am pleased to be awarded this prestigious title. What makes it more special is that at my age of 25 years old I am one of the youngest professional photographers in Canada to EVER receive this award. So that is kinda exciting!

Anyway, I'm off for my beautiful sister Natalie's milestone 40th Birthday this weekend. We are taking a Banff weekend to celebrate getting older, wiser and more awesome....and she still looks about 22 so all the more reason to celebrate!

Have a great weekend,

Kelsy

Quote of the Week

So I have decided to start a Quote of the week on Wednesdays. Middle of the week is always a good time for a nice pick-me-up/laugh/deep emotional rethinking of you life. (lol) So I'm starting today and hoping to sometimes connect the quote with a photograph too (but that may be asking a little much some weeks....like this one!)

So to start things off:


Leap and the net will appear
-Zen saying


This is how I started my business head first with nothing but faith that I could do it. Sometimes it's awesome to just do things on faith alone and trust in yourself and the unknown. Every time you scare yourself you grow a little bit more....