Bike Ridin'

We finally have a two wheeling bike rider! It was way more stressful than potty training this guy, that's for sure. Super proud of you, Kai Bear!

(Like his free `side of the road' bike?)

In other news, we bought a (second hand) Wii for Gary and Kai. Gary has been convincing me that it is good for hand eye coordination and is much more social than television. We'll have to see how this goes....

Guess we'll be packing Kai's bike for our holidays!

Date With Gary

Last night we celebrated all the Chapman August birthdays at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Then, the kiddos slept over there:)

{Koen enjoyed his smoothie!}

{Koen with great grandma and his new best friend, Stewie the dog.}

Being that the kids were gone, Gary and I drove out to Chilliwack to hike to Lindeman Lake this morning. I always forget how long it takes to drive there! The hike itself is supposed to be 3 hours total but it took us under 30 minutes each way:) The last time we did that hike, Kai had his first sleepover at grandma and grandpa's at 11 months old.

I wasn't the best companion as I've been a bit stressed about work lately. Let's be honest. A lot stressed. The amount of work and the fact that I'm starting to feel less creative and more formal portrait-ish which is not my desire at all. Also, we are only going to book weddings with people that we know from this point on, I LOVE the personal connections and it just makes it more fun and enjoyable for me. I am totally looking forward to our upcoming vacation (Oregon Coast!) and am looking forward to spending some time reading and playing on the beach with the kiddos.

Have a great week!

Love, Louise

Kai's Birthday Party

I'm exhausted! What a great day, but wow, I am tired!

{Koen's first outing with Opi one on one. Took the convertible to Starbucks. Koen LOVED it.}

For Kai's birthday, we had a party at a local water park. It was hot out so it was perfect. We set up a tent to keep the food cool and gave all the kids some great water guns that are easy to use. Koen spent the first hour soaking me.

This morning we had given Kai his two gifts. A 3 in 1 Lego thing that he loves. Gary does too.

We also gave him a nerdy science kit with 9 activities (grow crystals, weather station, model of the earth and moon etc). He loved that too! These pictures show him trying to get gemstones and minerals out using a mallet and then he had to identify them with a chart.

We usually have parties at our house but our yard is not conducive to a lot of fun with so many friends. Kai had 7 friends (and their families) come. It was great to just hang out and watch the kiddos run around with water guns. I won't post pictures of his buddies but I'm glad they could come!

We didn't really have a theme but I just put some of those terrible pure sugar Transformer toppers on cupakes and also made some chocolate 5's (just melted chocolate chips piped out and put in the freezer!.

We had some yummy tarts too and it ended up being a dinner/dessert type thing.

Kai is having Izzy sleepover now and I think they fell asleep around 9:15pm or so which is late for them!

Tomorrow we will celebrate Gary's 36th birthday. I feel bad that we always expend all our energy on Kai's birthday but Gary and I are going to get out for an hour or two....hopefully!

Bon nuit.

Louise

PS There was another post earlier today:)

Kai Turns Five!!

Kai Bear turned 5 today! Born three days early, after a whole long labour ending in a C-section, and coming out 9lbs 11oz, he has truly blessed our lives. I had no idea what being a parent really meant and he has taught us so much.

He loves lego, Tranformers, swimming, geocaching, Mario Kart, games (Snakes and Ladders, Memory, Guess Who, Battleship, Old Maid etc) and eating. He is very social and would play with other kids all day long if he could.

He loves learning. It is so exhausting. `How are new blood cells made?' `In what grade will I learn all about the brain and nerves?' `What do beetles eat?' `What number comes after one thousand one hundred?' `How do you say `thank you' in Japanese?' etc all day long. He is particularly interested in science but maybe that's because those are the questions I can answer. Mostly.

He looks a lot like Gary (little guy in front in the blue) and is well on his way to being a major freckle face. He has my dimples and my personality. He is tall and solid. He isn't the most coordinated and doesn't love a particular sport all that much, but likes to try everything. He has enjoyed his swimming and skating lessons. I was not athletic at all either, but determination will take you far!

He loves Koen so much and it's so cute to see them interacting. And yes, they fight. A lot. They know how to drive each other absolutely bonkers. In the morning, they wake each other up (usually at 6:30am) and head downstairs. Kai will get Koen a sippy cup of milk and sometimes get him breakfast as well (toast or cereal). He loves to help take care of his brother. He told Koen today that when they are older, they will live in the same house and play Mario Kart together every day.

He loves playing at Ani and Izzy's house, especially in the backyard. He loves going to grandma and grandpa's house to enjoy her pantry full of snacks (and the after dinner ice cream loaded with sprinkles). He loves having pillow fights with Opi (my dad) and going out for coffee with him. He loves playing in the neighbour boys yard, digging and exploring.

Kai still has his blankie, Bubi. He sleeps with it every night but I do think he would be okay without it. He sucks his thumb at night when he is falling asleep. When he is hurt, he wants me. Kai and Gary have spent a lot of time together this summer and their relationship has really grown.

Kai is not shy and loves meeting new people. He doesn't really get in trouble anymore, except when using `bathroom words'. We had to start watching it because words he was allowed to say at home, he wasn't allowed to use at preschool...so, we had to get a little more strict on the words:) Kai is REALLY looking forward to kindergarten.

Oh Kai Bear. You are awesome. I was so nervous to have a little boy and I have since realized that I LOVE being a momma to boys. I love your inquisitive nature, your passion, and your zest for life. I hope that when you are an adult you will still want to visit and talk with your Mommy Bear. I love you so much, forever and ever.

Before and After

Before I show you our house's before and after picture...just a couple from this afternoon. We took the kids to the Honeybee Centre. It wasn't as cool as we had hoped but they loved the fish in the tea room. Koen kept saying, `Look at the fish! They are so cute!'. Kai decided that he wants a fish for his birthday. I think next time we will do the actual tour and see a demonstration...we were just there at the wrong time. Bought some honey though!

And now for the house! Gary has been working hard to get rid of the green trim and those green stripes that have driven me bonkers for the past 5.5 years. It was time to paint anyway as it was starting to chip. Gary pressure washed the whole house, caulked all the cracks and then painted all the trim. Now, we are pretty much like every other house in the neighbourhood. I don't like being like everyone else but I have to say, I love the way our house looks! Thank you to Gary for climbing those super high ladders. Being that I don't climb ladders, I helped him a bit with the posts and railings:)

{Apparently our hanging basket hasn't done so well over the last 3 days?!}

We celebrated it being finished by going to Tim Hortons:) Now...to try to level out the backyard a bit....

Fartie Blizzard

Today it was summery!! We had a beautiful engagement session in West Vancouver that Gary and I did together. It's a fun date for us when we have an exciting location to check out. Good thing Gary came as I needed him to hold the diffuser half the time, it was super sunny out! Thank you to Jackie and Trish for babysitting last minute!!

{Isn't that so cute? Should have this session posted at the end of the week on our photo blog:)}

After meeting with some other clients, Gary painted and the boys played with the slip and slide. It has been confirmed that Kai is not the most coordinated person in our family:) Also, check out his swim shirt. It's supposed to be size 8. Seriously? I bought him a size 10 one so hopefully that fits better:) He got his kindergarten shot on Friday and he weighs 52lbs. I actually shed two tears while he was getting his shot and he was totally fine. I blame hormones.

Kai had a fun date with Opi on Friday night. They went to check out the Red Bull racing car, but more importantly, they went to McDonalds where Kai got a Happy Meal:) I realized, with Kai gone, how much the boys actually bug each other when they are together. It was so quiet for the two hours he was gone!

It is a strange feeling that Kai is so independent. He really doesn't need me for anything and I can't explain how it makes me feel. I want to be needed but I appreciate the independence. It's a strange feeling to go from being someone's whole world to just being a part of it. I guess I'm glad it happens slowly.

Koen is a goofball. He is way more out of control than I remember Kai being. However, he is the sweetest little boy and I love him so much.

Tonight we went to DQ and the boys got their first blizzard ever (snack size). Koen at the counter?

`I WANT A FARTIE ONE PLEASE!!' Apparently he can't say `smartie'?! The girl at the counter thought he was pretty adorable. I guess he is:)

I'm looking forward to Kai's birthday party on Wednesday. I know it's a random day to have it but it's his actual birthday so why not? We are doing a super simple one this year and I hope it goes well. We're just meeting with 6 of his friends at a local water park. The kids will run around and then we'll have dinner and dessert together there.

I can't wait to show you the before and after of our house! We (Gary) should be finished up in two more days. We just had a slight change of plans so need to buy some new paint:) Goodbye green stripes!!! They have driven me CRAZY since the day we moved in.

Bon nuit.

Love, Louise

PS It seems like all 300 friends of mine on facebook are pregnant or having babies. When I found out I was pregnant this last time, it felt like the same feelings as when you fall in love. Just giddy and excited about the future. Like my heart was smiling non stop. Now that it's gone, I just want that back again. We've got to be patient with it though as we have 3 weddings in 9 months from now:)

The Boys

I take about 1,500 to 2,000 photos a week for work so I'm not pulling the camera out so much for the day to day stuff:) Here are the boy pitting cherries. Koen's job was to pull off the stems but I think he thought his job was taste testing too. Kai loved using the `gun'.

Gary is busy painting the trim of our house (goodbye green!!!) and I'm busy working. I just have two more sessions, then we have one more wedding, and then it's time for holidays (Oregon Coast)!! I will be taking my editing with me but I won't be doing any sessions for two weeks.

Kai is turning 5 in one week. So exciting for him and I just feel like he's been 5 for a while, he just seems so grown up to me. He is a good kid and has definitely distanced himself from me a bit this summer. Not in a bad way but I'm not really his #1 anymore. Friends are just as good. He's pretty independent and loves to know everything about everything. It's great but exhausting. He is pretty close to three neighbour boys which is so awesome...always a friend to play with! Gary has been reading Tin Tin to Kai each night.

Koen is getting a bit more of the stereotypical terrible twos. Often he acts out (starts saying words he's not allowed to or running away) when he's tired but we can't let him nap or he's up too late at night. He is doing okay in underwear and usually will pee his pants when he is tired around dinner time. Kai has taught Koen all of the sounds for every letter. Kai didn't learn that until he was 4 so it's pretty crazy to me! I can sound out a word like `bug' and he will spell it. Another thing I've noticed about Koen; he has Gary's calves. Big strong calves. I know, random.

So great having Gary home. We are getting so much done and the kids get to have fun with one of us, or both of us, every day.

Okay, time for dinner and Gary made it, that means it's bound to be very good!

Love, Louise

Photo Time!

Hey team, thanks for all of the support and prayer. We are doing well.

In other news, today was a day that I was waiting for for a long time! This afternoon I had my make up done at Spa Utopia, then I came home and Kim did my hair. Then, Gary and I went to Granville Island for a photo session with Megan. It was so good in so many ways. First, it was fun to feel pretty. I have decided I love my hair curly. Secondly, it was good to see what a client feels like. Thirdly, it was great to see how other photographers work. Such great professional development! I am really looking forward to seeing the photos and I'll let you know when they are posted.

{Quick picture of me before we left.}

GC Photography

Hey team, you may have noticed that the link for GC Photography isn't working. What a fiasco. Our account expired without letting us know. So, for now, you can find us at www.gc-photography.co or www.gc-photography.blogspot.com.

Hopefully that works for now! If you have a link on your blog to GC Photography, thank you, and could you please update it. For some reason the feed isn't working but hopefully it will soon. I need a vacation:)

Louise
PS Can someone tell me how I can get it to show blog feeds, what I mean is, how to show that a session has been posted.  I don't have time for this stuff!!

Some Personal Stuff

Gary and I have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride over the last few weeks. I don't want to share too much info because it is so deeply personal, but, this is one place where I like to journal and process and just share life.

In this picture, I was ecstatic. I had a baby on my back and one in my uterus! Gary and I got pregnant right when we started trying. Unbelievable, shocking, and probably the greatest surprise of my life. Our week in Whistler was amazing and I felt the stereotypical pregnancy symptoms immediately and strong. It made me feel reassured that all was well. I was so excited that I would be having a baby just 3 months after two of my sisters. Did I mention yet how incredibly excited I was? I wanted to shout it to the whole world.

Last weekend, I started bleeding. I knew immediately it wasn't good and emailed several friends that had gone through it to get an idea of what was ahead. I don't know why I always assumed a miscarriage just lasted one day, because it doesn't. It was a long, tiring week. Sunday was the hardest emotionally and I felt quite empty...sort of like after my mom died. The boys helped me more than they'll know. They cuddled with me, were extra cute, and just made me smile. At one point, I was going through the toughest part and Kai was in the adjoining room just singing songs for me. He had no idea what was going on but it was so sweet and helped me through. I am so incredibly thankful that Gary has been home. It allowed me to just step back from a few things and he picked up those pieces.

How do I feel now? I'm doing well physically and emotionally. I just needed some time to myself. I am really hoping and praying that it wasn't my body that did it. What I mean is that I hope it didn't have anything to do with my hormones, due to my thyroid. We are looking forward to hopefully being pregnant again (and remaining so for 9 months!!) one day.

In the meantime, I'll just cuddle a little more with those extra cute kiddos of mine.

Love, Louise