"Zhouzzz"

Should we be concerned?

Avery's first word was "bah" (or ball), and her second word was "Zhouzzz" (or shoes).

First of all, will Cinderella ever get enough of her shoes? And secondly, I am beginning to feel a little hurt that "mama" and "dada" aren't even on the list yet!

But in all honesty, I really don't blame her. She has always had the cutest shoes since she was born. I'll post pics of the other two sets later.

Here are her current "Zhouzzz."

Her second pair of shoes. I should have taken a picture when they were new and still had their label filled in with rhinestones on the buckle.

To Starve, or Not to Starve

What do you do when your preschooler refuses to eat anything that isn't candy-coated or out of a cereal box. (And I mean right out, without milk.)

Last night I made chicken pot pie. Jackson refused to eat it. Any of it. My current rule is that you can choose not to eat one thing on your plate at any given meal, but you need an extra helping of something else (usually a vegetable).

Jackson refused anything. And the only things on the table last night were the pie and salad.

It might not have been so bad except that he refused to eat lunch earlier that day even though HE chose hotdogs.

Instead, he went off to bed . . . until he snuck out later to steal some cookies.

What fun I had scraping them out of his mouth so he didn't get to enjoy them.

This morning he awoke to chicken pot pie and salad. Obviously, this is not what he had in mind. After hearing him scream and whine about it--even with a bribe of a chocolate chip eggo, I finally tried to force feed him. You would have thought I had put him in a torture chamber that was ripping his body apart.

When I did get something in his mouth, he began dry-heaving and threw up all over the floor.

So now we are at a stand-still.

Do I starve him all day, or give in and put something in his tummy?

I'll tell you, preschool isn't coming early enough today!

Family Albums

Nothing takes more time than putting together an album.

Especially a yearly "history" that I do each October. (I always do them in October because that is when mypublisher offers a 50% discount.)

Sometimes it seems like a bit of a waste of time. Okay, a big waste of time as I am probably the only one who cares. Certainly I would be the only one to notice if it was perfect or missed the mark, but it doesn't stop me from aggonizing over every tiny detail.

But this morning I came downstairs to find my two little boys looking through last year's album and our Europe album. They were thrilled to see photos of themselves when they were little. And when Avery was "a baby."

Jayden was amazed that we actually saw the Eiffel Tower. The whole thing too.

It was at that moment that I felt all my time and energy was worth while. It gives me extra motivation to undergo that long process.

And not a moment too soon since I am beginning work on our 2008 album.

First Day of Preschool

Somebody had their first day of school today.

It was bitter-sweet. Not because I was sad to see my little boy "grow up." He is only three after all. Still very little to me.

But, I feel somewhat guilty for sending him away. Like I should be able to take care of his needs at this young age. How can I turn my baby into someone else's care and miss out on all those wonderful moments?

Of course, my moments with him aren't always wonderful. They do make for good stories later on, but when you can no longer give your actual identity to poison control, well, you've got a handful.

Gymnastics was fun, but it wasn't enough to wear him out completely.

In the evenings I sit down to do reading lessons with Jayden and much less involved "preschool" workbook/lesson for Jackson--both simultaneously while watching Avery and keeping her from ripping either book. With very little help, Jackson would tear through each lesson. And he still wanted more.

More lessons, more worksheets, more.

This little busy-body is just too bored.

I must admit, I am relieved that it is boredom and not ADHA. But unless I can find about a million times more energy to keep up with him, Jayden, Avery, the house, and photography . . . I will have to accept the fact that preschool will be very good for him.

And after today, it seems as though it will be very good for us all.

Jackson went in without a problem. In fact, three of the ladies who work there had to physically help him turn to us and say "good bye." When I picked him up they said that it was as if he had been there forever. He had no problems.

Jackson came home with his art projects and worksheets, beaming with pride and told us snippets of what he had done. (The rest was apparently "classified" information that we couldn't hear about.)

And I must admit, it was nice to have a bit of peace and quiet in the afternoon, spending time with Jayden and getting things done. When the boys did reunite, they played together famously and didn't fight at all.

When bedtime came, I heard Jackson mumbling, "I big boy. I go to preschool. No Jayden, it's my preschool. I'm big. . . . " as he drifted off to sleep.

It was fabulous.

But a little sad too because, in spite of what I tell myself, I think he grew up just a little.

When A Mom Gets Tired of Headstands on Couches . . .

. . . she signs her able-bodied preschooler up for gymnastics.

I had to do something. He was driving me nuts.

(Sorry for the poor photos. The gym was dark, he was far away, I didn't have a flash, was using a point and shoot and had Avery wiggling in my arms while I was trying to shoot a moving target.)

Boys are notoriously busy. They don't walk like girls would. They bounce, leap, climb, and swing instead.

But this little boy was a few steps above that even.

He was doing cartwheels, headstands, and front rolls both on and off of the couch. He was jumping off half walls, trying out new twists and turns in the air.

I knew I had to get him busily involved in something outside of the house.

Something that would suck his energy up and leave an almost-limp boy in its wake.

Judo, I thought, might promote more martial arts fighting between the boys. Swimming was a big NO when I thought of cold temperatures, soggy boys who both needed help changing in a gross change room while I juggled Avery in my arms. All for a measely 30 minutes. Absolutely not.

So, gymnastics it was.

The program seems great. There is only one other child in his class so he gets semi-private lessons . . . and even more time to be running and exerting energy for that full hour.

I knew he was in the right place when they did suicides for a warm up.

Ahhhh. I had some marvellous visions of Jackson sprawled out, unconcious on the couch for an afternoon nap. I could get things done without wondering if I needed to worry about laundry detergent being used to wash his stuffed animals in bed. I didn't need to worry about calling poison control. (By the way, am I the only one who has a 24 hour hotline for poison control in their personal--friends and family--phone directory??) An afternoon of not breaking up fights between the boys.

My dream looked even more like a reality when I watched him going through his rotations with less and less energy. His little legs went up lower and lower in the air on every headstand.

By the time he got to the tramp circuit he could only do 3 runs of jumps, seated landings, and "gymnast crawls" before he just gave up and started walking it. Not even the thrill of jumping could entice him to move his body to jump anymore.

(Of course, he somehow found more energy for the afternoon and forewent the nap.)

But he did absolutely LOVE gymnastics. And I am glad that he has something fun to do. Something all to himself, that Jayden doesn't do.

And maybe (I mean, hopefully) the program will get so energy intensive that my dreams will come true too.

Cover Shot

Guess who's photography will be featured on the cover of a magazine??

Yup!

Okay, so it is only a magazine for a private school. But still . . . it will be sent out to 2000 of the most influential, wealthy families in the area!

The wedding that I recently shot was held at this private school. I have done a lot of shooting for this school, so I already have work being published in it. But then they called me to send in a few shots so they could do a double page spread of the wedding.

I sent them to my "Sneak Peaks" to get an idea of which types of shots they wanted and they really liked what they saw. So, they asked for more and told me that they will be using one for the featured cover shot!!

Unfortunately, it will come out in November, just missing holiday portrait season. But I guess exposure is exposure and maybe some of the alumni will be planning weddings for next summer?

I Can Fly, I Can Fly, I Can Fly

Our two boys have been taking a keen interest in practicing their "flying." Not that they ever walked anywhere. Or sat still. They always seemed to be climbing, jumping, leaping or running to get anywhere.

But now they fly.

The other day I caught Jayden in the backyard climbing up the fence with a plastic shopping bag secured over each arm, like a parachute. He was practicing to fly.

I catch Jackson almost hourly standing on our half wall in the living room, swan diving onto the couch. Again, practicing his flying skills.

Nightly, I argue with them to just go to sleep, but instead they stare out their window, trying to stay up all night for just a glimpse.

A glimpse of what??

Peter Pan, of course!

Brad found the old classic movie and oddly enough they have been watching it over and over and over. (Usually those old classics just don't cut it for them and they are out of there in under 10 minutes.)

But I think it needs to stop.

First of all, I can foresee several broken bones coming their way before they realize that they absolutely need their special fairy dust to fly.

And, the plain fact that when they aren't Peter Pan or Lost Boys wanabes, they are pirates. Pirates who are up to no good.

Pirates who not only make Mr. Polar Bear and Big Dog walk the plank . . . but also subject innocent bystanders like Guillermo and Avery to do the same.

Poor things! (Guillermo and Avery, that is.)

So, while I am grateful that an old classic has finally held my boys' attention, and that they could be stirred to such extensive imaginative play, I am afraid Peter Pan will have to be laid to rest in our home.

At least until Avery can fend for herself and we move into one of those air-filled, bouncey houses.

And He Looked Up At Me and Said,

"Mom, I need a napkin."



Slightly an understatement in my opinion. A huge understatement.


Never mind that he already had a napkin . . . and it was virtually spotless.

Obsessions

Yes, our family knows about obsessions.

Take Brad, for instance. As soon as he hears the word "tennis", he is completely out of commission for anything that doesn't require a racquet and ball. Don't even think of having a conversation for about three hours after he has heard that word.

My brother jokes about my fettish for Pottery Barn anythings. He quips: "If it isn't Pottery Barn, it's not for Mel."

That's quite a strong accusation.

But shamefully, it appears true.

Our kids are no different when it comes to obsessions.

Jayden is obsessed with cars and art. And drawing cars. He has had it since he was two and it doesn't look like it is going away.

Jackson is obsessed with food. Okay, junk food--candy, chips, anything sugar or unhealthy. And he can sniff it out of the best hiding places like a police dog. Seriously, you can't hide anything sugary from him.

So, now an obsession has appeared with Avery.

Along with a new word.

Her first word.

"Bahh!!"

(I think Brad is secretly relieved that it isn't Pottery Barn or credit card.)

Anything round needs to be in her hand. Guillermo is no match for Avery's demands either.

In fact, she has a special ball that she must hold at all times. Even while eating, crawling, sleeping, and while holding or trying to obtain another ball.

Obsessed? Perhaps we are. I prefer to think of it as "passionate" though.

First Day of School

Last week Jayden had his first day of senior kindergarten.

He was excited. At first he told me he wouldn't miss me at all. He must have sensed my disappointment so he added, "Okay, I think I might miss you a little bit."

On the morning walk to school, he told Jackson that he could come too, if he would follow all the rules like putting your indoor shoes on and hanging your bag on the hook.

The poor little guy was just so excited to go with his big brother.

When we arrived, Jackson walked right up to the gate with Jayden. He would have made it in if I hadn't grabbed him at the last second.

"I want to go to school with Jayden!"

"I know you do, but you can't. You're not allowed in there."

"But I'm big enough!"

"You might be, but you're not old enough yet."

I dragged him away, kicking and screaming. I could see that trying to use logic with him wasn't going to get me anywhere but a nuclear meltdown. So, I used the "distraction" technique.

"Why don't we go home, I'll pop some popcorn and we can watch "Peter Pan"?"

A quick moment of thought.

"Okay."

Whew! That was close.

Summer 2008

It's hard to believe that our summer has finally ended.

In some ways, I don't feel as though we did anything spectacular.

And, we really didn't. (Except for Europe, but that was technically in Spring.)

Brad started working just about as soon as he had his diploma in his hand. That meant that any family vacation time--outside of Templeman Cottage Week--was out of the picture.

But we did carve out a few days of the summer for fun around home.

We bought a season's pass to the local amusement park and had many great days there. There is something to be said about having a season's pass. It seems like kids don't make it for longer than 2 hours and it was really nice to be able to leave when we needed to--guilt free.

Some of our memorable moments:

Seeing the difference between the boys in terms of how they viewed rides. Jayden liked the "safer rides" and of course loved "Bumper Cars." However, he was such a cautious driver that he would wait, swerve, or avoid any other cars coming in his direction. We usually found him driving around the outside of the track, always looking around for other drivers.

Jackson, however, will not be getting his driver's licence until he is at least 21. He would look around for other drivers, and then put the pedal to the metal and ram into them as hard as possible. When he recovered from the crash, he would look around again for someone else to bash into. When the ride was over, he would stand up triumphant in his car and point at everyone else, yelling, "I won you! I won you! You lost."

When it came to roller coasters, it was much of the same. We took Jayden on his first "big" roller coaster and he went white. He decided that five was too young to go on such a scary ride.

Jackson, we had to sneak on because he was just under the height restriction. Naturally, he loved it. And wanted to ride it again, and again, and again. Not only that, but he started pointing out to the adult roller coasters and begged us to take him on them. As we left the park, they had a three-person bungee ride and I had to take him out kicking and screaming, "I want to go on that ride!!"

The most ironic moment of the amusement park? One day we were on our way out and the boys wanted to play a game. We picked one that said "winner every time" in the kiddie section.

It had a 4x4 blue game board with holes every 6 inches, just large enough for a ball to sit in it, without falling through. In each of the four corners was a small pink triangle. To play, you got three balls to throw onto the game board. If your ball landed in the blue, you got a tiny little hacky sac, but if it landed in the pink (which was really hard) you got a large stuffed dog.

So, we bought three balls. Jayden went first and landed in the blue. Jackson went next. It landed on the blue, but then kept going, rolling all the way around the game board until finally, it landed right smack in the middle of a pink triangle. Our little boy who walks into walls, spills every single drink, and drops just about anything he holds . . . won without breaking a sweat.

Brad finished off the game, thinking it was going to be easy to repeat Jackson's win.

Unsuccessful, we ended up buying another three balls for him and Jayden to try to win another dog. Again, all three balls landed in blue. The game keeper started to feel bad for giving Jayden a little hacky sac when his little brother had this big, cool dog so she asked if he would like to switch his prize for another dog.

So very nice.

Cottage highlights of the summer included:

The kids playing with their cousins on Grandma and Grandpa's beach. They loved to splash around in the water, testing out the new skills they learned at swimming camp. We also put on a pirate's treasure hunt on the beach and that was a hit too.

Mom and Dad enjoyed some tennis and spa time, in addition to relaxing on the beach with the kids.

It was nice and quiet since this year dogs weren't invited. However, it was hard not to think about poor Guillermo (sitting in a tiny kennel in the "Happy Hound Hotel" amidst all the pitbulls) and how much he loves the cottage--and how we wished he was there.

(This thought especially crossed my mind as we had several kids in high chairs who were experimenting with gravity and tiny, chopped up pieces of their meals. In the past, we never saw traces of this because the furry vacuum cleaners would take care of it right away. This year though, there were certainly traces of it. Smushed traces of it after the other kids would accidentally step on it.)

One of my summer highlights, was day camp for the boys. What a productive week I had. Jayden went to art camp where he experimented with all sort of art mediums--from clay, to water colour paint, to making his own puffy paint. They even went to the museum for a day to admire some mater artists. Jackson was placed in a half-day "Mini-Adventure Camp" where the activities were so "top secret" he couldn't tell me anything about them. I did see some craft projects come home and heard that they went to a splash pad.

One of our favourite things to do was go to parks and picnic. We found some really beautiful parks along the lake shore that we enjoyed and frequented. Most of the ones we went to had splash pads for the kids to cool off on.

The summer ended off by going to a farm to do a corn maze and pick up fresh vegetables and driving down town to watch an air show.

The air show seemed a bit of a waste for our kids. They didn't really care. All they wanted to do was play in the dirty sand and mud.

Our Top Five:

Highlights:
5. Discovering a "Cold Stone" imitator 25 minutes away from home.
4. Spending time with extended family, including at the cottage. (Of course Guillermo would have to differ and say that this was his low light since he was sentenced to the "Happy Hound Hotel." )
3. Swimming lessons and camps.
2. Picnics at the parks.
1. Amusement park days.

Low lights:
5. Wasting time on house hunting. We've been on the fence about whether to buy or keep renting, where to move to, etc.

4. Cleaning out our garage. It wasn't fun, but I must admit, it was nice to see it all organized finally.

3. Brad's commute. It has started to get to him and he has just barely begun.

2. An attempt at the drive in. We tried to see "Batman" at the drive in. Since it started at 9pm we figured the kids should fall asleep in the car. Just in case the boys had extra energy we brought along a portable movie player for them and set up a comfy place in the back for them. After ten minutes of: "I need more popcorn!" "I need more candy!" "I need a drink!" "Whaaa!" "The movie stopped." "Arf, arf." (Of course, we had to bring Guillermo.) "Why won't our movie work??!" "Whhaa!" we packed it in and left. It was an unfulfilled way to lose $40.

1. Taking the kids to the air show, trying to convince them to stop playing in the dirt and sand, taking Jackson to the disgusting bathroom--twice, and then having to retrace our steps because we lost some articles of clothing on our way back to the car.

I think the kids enjoyed it, and that's what counts. Fortunately we have a few more years before their expectations will be high.

(Keep checking back, I will add more photos as I get them done.)

Christmas Cards

New Christmas Card designs are starting to roll out!

Check out:
melanietemplemanphoto.com and go to "Sneak Peaks"

or, you can bookmark:
melanietemplemanphoto.blogspot.com if you would like to constantly be updated on new studio news!

Crazy to be thinking of Christmas this early . . . but with family portrait sessions and trying to get things ready for Christmas delivery . . . I kind of have to.

Good thing my mom prepared me well growing up. She'd have carols started on the cassette player in July.

Heartbreak Flash

I have been pretty busy these days, trying to live up the last bit of summer and working hard!

I had a wedding a few weekends ago and it went really well. Photo-wise anyway. I blew out my flash and have been in mourning ever since.

I keep pulling it out of its case, hoping that maybe it was just "tired" or "overheated" and after this break it would magically work. Unfortunately, each time it doesn't and I well up with tears again.

It is just heart breaking how fast $350 can leave your pocket. I think I need to go off and cry now.

To check out my "explosive" new work, see:

melanietemplemanphoto.com follow the links to "sneak peaks".

Count Down to School

I already posted about just how much I love the new school year. The chance to "turn over a new leaf" just gives me so much hope.


Hope of being more productive, more frugal, more stylish, more loving and kind towards my children, more--you name it.


But at the same time I have been dreading it.


With fall comes a new year of school for Jayden. I know he is only in kindergarten, but this is his last year in kindergarten . . . next year will be the first day of First Grade . . . and that will mark the start of real school . . . for a very long time.


It's sad to think of your little baby growing up. As much as I try to "live in the moment" I can't help but to think of how each year of grade school will start to fly by and the next thing I know, he will be in university. Away from home.


It also makes me sad to think about the "lost time" from this summer.


What did I do to make it really special for him? Did I make the most of our one-on-one time together? Was it fun enough or exciting enough for him? (Because, let's face it, as parents, no matter what you do during the summer, you really don't have a lot of fun. Taking three kids out day tripping to an amusement park, the cottage, out to movies, whatever, always requires so much more work and refereeing than what we have energy for.)


I started to drag my feet for school to start. I wanted to have more quality time. I wanted my kids to wear their cute summer clothes for a little bit longer (which they probably will since it's still so hot here). I wanted more time to read and just play.


Until last week happened.


I don't know what was in the water or if there was a full moon or something. The kids went wild.


And I mean wild. Like needing-to-be-caged wild.


So, without having a cage handy, and thinking of the social punishment for such an act (wink, wink), I decided to put them in their room.


I thought that they couldn't do much damage to house--or themselves--in there. (All the pennies were collected so they couldn't blow up the electrical outlet again.)


Clearly, I was wrong.


This is what met me when I opened the bedroom door.

So now I am definitely counting down to school.


How much longer do I have to wait??


Unfortunately, it is the wrong kid going away for half of the day and so I am looking around for some programs for Jackson. Apparently art classes would be fitting.

Attack of the Fudge-E-O!

Do I really need to explain anything?

Jayden's school starts every year with a "get to know you" lemonade party.

Today we went for some refreshing lemonade on a hot morning walk to school.

Only, it wasn't lemonade. It was apple juice. (Which only makes a difference because Jayden was so excited for lemonade since he "hasn't had a refreshing glass of lemonade in a long time."

And the room was so packed that I could hardly move around with a stroller, baby in my arms, and a Jackson on the prowl for new toys to mess up--or worse, more juice and cookies to steal.

Surprisingly this year, Jackson busily played with the puzzles instead of tearing around the classroom like the year passed. Deciding to leave while we were in good standing, I got them their juice and said they could each take a cookie for the walk home.

I thought a cookie was safe enough to eat without making a huge mess.

I obviously thought wrong. Very wrong.

We we on our way back home, walking ever so pleasantly when out of nowhere, the Fudge-E-O jumped out of Jackson's hands and smacked his face.

How dare this little boy try to eat a chocolate cookie! This tough little cookie wouldn't stand for it.

And smacking his little face was only the beginning. The cookie began assulting Jackson in the stomach.

Well, if anyone knows Jackson, he doesn't take things sitting. He threw a few punches, but that cookie must have studied karate because he turned around and drop-kicked Jackson from behind.

Fortunately, all the wrestling that Jackson does with Jayden paid off. He flipped the cookie over on the ground, bit his head off and then polished him off . . . Wiping his sleeve on his mouth.

Okay, so maybe that isn't exactly what happened. It could have though, since I never did see anything.

How it got on the back of his shirt, I will never know. This boy has some serious talent. I'm not sure what it will be useful for . . . maybe he could the be test cases for new stain removal products?

Sigh.