Holiday Moments Captured...

We had an amazing Holiday Season! Always busy. Always loud. Always full of love.
Here are some photos I captured through Christmas.
Thank you for all that were apart of our moments and memories. I feel so blessed for all I have and all I love. My family and friends mean more to me than I will ever be able to express in words.
Where does the time go...our kids are growing so fast...please slow down!
To another year- more memories- lots of love and laughter-xo

Gotta love cranky kids that make photos with Santa, family photos with Santa :-P

 Road Trips to Whistler:

(Thanks Jodi for capturing this fun tobogganing day!)

A Call from Anderson...Anderson Cooper?

In the blog world, you never truly know who reads your blogs...and where they come from!
This morning I received an email from Anderson Coopers office with regards to his new talk show "Anderson."

The fellow asked me to call and/or email him. He stated:

"After reading your blog, I was interested in speaking with you about an idea I had for a story about the holiday season."


Okay...interesting, you have my attention.


I called, with skepticism up...who knows these days what is real and what is a ploy. Anyways, it sounds legitimate and an interesting topic...without spelling out the theme of the show, the concept was Holiday Tensions / mishaps in family.


I am not sure there are too many people that wouldn't have at least something to speak of on this topic...and yes, our family would have things that would match this criteria...but sometimes some things are better left un-said...or at least un-said to people other than your family.
In a way it sounds a little "Jerry Springer Show-ish" in the sense that if they are digging for some dirt they are obviously digging for some emotions.


Anyways, to settle an interesting possibly hazardous topic... potential Anderson Cooper meeting (too bad though!) ... and blogger mom appearance, the show tapes next week. Therefore, me plus ready to pop out this baby doesn't make it possible. I am thinking that this in the long run is likely a positive thing for the sake of family issues and relationships.


It will be interesting to see if the show they are conspiring on comes to light for the Holiday Season. If I end up seeing it air, I will let you know!


Funny, I thought Anderson Cooper was more of a politics, news media, journalist type of a man; not a Jerry Springer, Dr. Phil bring out the conflict type. I guess ratings sell!




I looked on the site...and this is what they are looking for:

BE ON THE SHOW

Do You Hate the Holidays?

Is family making you dread the holidays? When the family gets together, does it end in a fight? Was there a conflict from a previous holiday that remains unresolved?

Between family screaming matches, kitchen fiascoes and certain family members drinking too much and getting out of control, do you wish you could fast-forward to January?

Apparently, they like how candid us Mom Bloggers can be...the way we can write and be relate-able. I am grateful for that. I write what I feel for the most part. But all in all, there is still a line that I dare not cross. And this topic... has bad new written all over it.

Crafty Momma's...

Last week was Mom Club night. This post is a little late but better than never!
We had a great time talking kids, wine, breastfeeding...oh where conversations will go when a group of woman, let alone mothers, get into one room.

We sat and talked while decorating Holiday Goody baskets... and wine for some ;)

I must say, there are some pretty crafty moms in the group!

Now to fill them up at the next meeting :)

Friday "Fun-day"... (Contest)

Like I mentioned the other day...I have a Giveaway coming up! And now is the time to announce it!

It is a great prize, and perfect for this time of year as it can help you make some pretty awesome gifts just in time for the Holidays!

MyMemories.com asked me to do a product review... and in return, myself and 1 lucky reader, will receive FREE SOFTWARE for their program!
It is a download-able program, so it is literally in your hands the day your name gets announced... no mail, no waiting!

MyMemories is a type of digital scrapbooking software.
To be honest, I am not a big "scrapbook-er" but this is something completely different. It gives you the feel of a scrapbook without the time and hassle of cutting, pasting, finding the cute scrapbook accessories etc... You can take design completely into your own hands and design pages from scratch, or you can choose a pre-fab design from one of the 100's of designs they offer...and it becomes as simple as a drag and drop for your photos to the scrapbook pages.

I love the layout of the MyMemories software. It is VERY easy to use; Yet, I get the sense it can be quite intricate if you choose it to be by customizing ALL of your own options. Really that is up to you! If you aren't wanting to build an entire book, you can build by the pages and save them as individuals as well. With the pages, you can print them, email them or even share them in a blog post! Below is a VERY beginner level page that I quickly made as I was exploring what the scrapbooking software had to offer.

The pages look so nice on their own as well as in a book. A fun gift idea...my thoughts, Christmas!

MyMemories has many easy ways to learn how to use their products and all that they have to offer!
Check out this video on YouTube. You will be blown away by all that this software can do.
DVDs with music, books, cards, calenders...honestly the list goes on.



I have been using a different photo book software in the past to build our memory books; I am excited for the change and all that MyMemories has to offer.

For more help and examples of MyMemories, check out their site by clicking the links throughout, or like them on Facebook...or again, check them out on YouTube!

Okay so the CONTEST!!

The details and how you can be the winner of this AMAZING PRIZE!!

- Contest winner will be drawn one week from today. Friday October 28, 2011.

To Enter... like While They Are Sleeping on facebook and make a comment (either on FB or on the blog comments) as to what you think of photobooks and/or what you would like to use it for!

BONUS ENTRIES: Want more ways to enter? After you've answered the question above, you can do any of the below. Each comment counts as one extra entry.

- Refer a friend by having them like us on Facebook (have them note who sent them)
- Vote for While They Are Sleeping on Topmommyblogs (just click the link on bottom of this post!)

- Like MyMemories on Facebook!
- Register your vote for my bump...boy or girl!? On ExpectNet


Contest winner will be drawn by random.org and announced next Friday October 28, 2011.
Good luck!!


ANOTHER FREEBIE and DISCOUNT!

If you cant wait for the contest draw, or want to get started sooner than later...or you don't win the contest, there is still another way you can receive this great Software at a discounted rate!

Just visit MyMemories, and use the PROMO code : STMMMS70467
This code offers my readers $10 discount off the purchase price of My Memories Suite Scrapbook Software AND  a $10 coupon for the myMemories.com store.
A great deal!
This code remains valid after the contest as well...so just be sure to use my code for additional savings!


PROMO CODE: STMMMS70467

Holidays are here!?... Photography!

Hard to believe this, but the Holidays are upon us... and since there is still some nice weather, its time to capture some moments just in time!
I have been busy with work and kids lately, so posts have been farther apart! But I wanted to do a quick promo post...
Next up, a quick post of a recent shoot I did!

Holiday Photo Sessions Are Here!

Hard to believe, but the season is closer than we think. 

Before the opportunity is missed, book your session now

to ensure you capture those moments in time for the 

Holiday Season!

If you are looking for something different, please inquire!

Boudoir, Pregnancy, Newborn, Pets, Parties... endless possibilities!

Emotional Ride to Whistler...

Wow. I cannot believe it is already Wednesday. Nearly a week since I last blogged. So much to write about and so many things to express, yet my mind and body have not been linking together well these past few days and I have not found much time, nor the energy, to type... I am dying to get things down, but am having problems finding the right words to express myself.

Lets start easy and see where it goes.

Thank you again to Kristi Gordon for her interview last week for the featured Celebrity Mom Interview! It is always fun to catch a glimpse into the busy lives of other woman (mom, mom to be, or not at all!). I find sometimes glimpses of other peoples lives helps to put our own lives in perspective in some odd way.

As for life and what has been going on over here. Well, my husband is officially 3-0! We celebrated last weekend with the family as he rang in the new digit. Too much food, good wine, some amazing gifts...and one not so great one.

Unfortunately, the art of surprise to my husband isn't really a good thing. I am not going into any great detail here, lets just say, I thought that a surprise trip to an undisclosed location sans kids would be an amazing gift for him...and us.  A nice thought and gesture wasn't received the way I had "expected" it to...and thus, a weekend blow-out and emotional exhaustion for the two of us, beyond any we had experienced in a long...LONG...time.
Life can be full of surprises. And his birthday came with one for both of us. Never in my wildest dreams did I think my plans would cause any form of argument, sadness or anger. And it did all of the above. That is the funny thing about expectation. Even when you know someone, you cant necessarily "expect" things. Be it a reaction, an outcome, a gesture or a gift. The minute you take your own expectation out of the equation, you wont get hurt, saddened, angered or disgruntled along the way. It is something that seems so simple, yet is the hardest thing to accomplish.

Putting the past behind us, we picked up our bruised hearts and broken egos and continued on with time for just the two of us; only looking a little different in location to me...but with the same intent. To spend time with my husband...just the two of us.

And so, here we are in a wonderful part of our province, even more beautiful on a hot sunny day, spending time together:laughing, talking and re-kindling the love that was hiding behind anger over the past few days.

It is amazing what you can allow to escalate and argue about when feelings get hurt and exhaustion takes over.

The tears are gone and the smiles are here.
The clock has been reading 8:30 am..instead of 6:30 with the kids. The work emails and phone calls have been minimal. The food has been made for us. I have only done one load of laundry. We are relaxing.

And so we are enjoying our mini-vacation. With the kids never too far out of thought. They are in most of our conversations.
Once a parent always a parent. Always wanting a mini moment to yourself, but missing them the entire time you get it.

To Life. To Love. To Happiness.

Private Parts

It's the things that come out a child's mouth that can truly brighten your day. Children seem to make all the sense in the world and at the same time, no sense at all! They are so innocent and yet so guilty. And one thing that is for sure, they are VERY honest...and at the best of times, those honest moments lead to a smile, a laugh, and maybe a much-needed conversation.

Kai is quickly creeping up to 3! Hard to believe that in April I will have a three year-old. And with growing, his vocabulary as well as questions are starting to fly out of his mouth. I thought a few recent ones had to be shared. I hope they brighten your moment as much as they did mine.

A few days before Christmas, I was in my closet getting dressed to head out. I had our nanny that day, and the kids were both with her...until I heard a pitter-patter of feet running up the stairs. Kai was going to hang out with me until I left, apparently. So I started to get dressed. The next thing that happened...

"Mommy...?...You have no pee-pee!??"

Oh my gosh! Before I could respond with any form of an adult like answer, I burst into an abundance of laughter. And with the laughter came another

"Mommy...?...You have no pee-pee!??"

And after the second time, he ran out of the closet, hoped on the chair in our room, and continued watching cartoons.

This left me with many thoughts in my head. The first being, I guess shower time and dressing time is over in-front of my two and a half year-old son! The second was, wow what a great observation. And third was how maybe next time something like that happens I should have a prepared answer opposed to a morning ab workout :-)

He hasn't said anything again since, and he hasn't asked, but I have said "girl" and "boy" a lot more often and using his sister as an example to being different then he is. It is a funny thing, private parts and kids. And with both a son and a daughter, it is amazing how different they are in observation. Sienna is almost 16 months and I swear has noticed differences since the time she could walk, around 11 months. I have this time frame as a note because it was when I would be changing Kai's diaper that I would hear her little feet  making their way down the hall in enough time to attempt to grab Kai's "privacy" as he would call it, before the diaper was put back on. Yes, she made us both laugh with this attempt, but also made be realize that she was being very observant of the differences.  Until lately, Kai hasn't given any thought to his own "privacy," as Sienna will always try to grab her's as I change her diaper. Kai's form of self discovery lately has been with toys being shoved down his pants! What!?? Oh the things they do! 

So my lesson, to answer more questions for my kids and to maybe read a few more books on the subject of girl vs boy.

December 16th brought another moment for me when I had to take Kai to the Doctor's office. We had a morning just me and him, which was so nice because that really doesn't happen very often. We went to Starbucks where he enjoyed a hot chocolate, that I am sure was 50% whip-cream! Then with his backpack back on his back, we crossed the street in time for his appointment. On a side note, Kai never thought much of his backpack until his amazing Uncle came over to visit him one day, and he was wearing his backpack. Now, Kai will not leave the house without one. So now in the waiting room, with a CLEAN diaper, I am trying to keep Kai entertained as we await the arrival of the Doctor. And then, just as I began to smell something, Kai came out with a comment:

 



 

Taking Back Christmas

What is it about the Holidays that makes us run ourselves ragged? Whether it's to the mall for that last gift, sitting in traffic to get OUT OF THE MALLS PARKING LOT, being out almost every single night of December for an event of some form, baking the holiday cookies, entertaining, pictures with Santa, the Christmas Train, okay my point is made. Why do we do it?  For me, I do it because, somewhere in all of its chaos, I am loving every minute of it.

Case in point, our annual tradition of pictures with Santa...



What does the photographer not get about "just take the picture." Here he is trying to wait for Sienna to smile for the camera not realizing that it is only going to get WORSE by the second and not any better...clearly not a dad himself, and maybe could have helped if the photographer was a female...?? Just a thought. But really, as my husband and I are standing back laughing at all that is going on, we wouldn't care if BOTH kids were crying, somehow it makes it all the more entertaining! On a side note, the amazing thing in kids growing up, Kai was able to actually tell Santa what he wants for Christmas this year.  A dump truck...a RED dump truck. And Santa's search began.

And then the rest of the minutes without agenda, I love turning on our Christmas tree lights, and sitting. There is something to be said of the song "Its the most wonderful time of the year." It is remembering to sit and enjoy the minutes, the moments, the memories through this crazy holiday season because when you actually relax, you remember what it is you love about this time of year. This year is our first Christmas in our new home and the first Christmas that we  have a REAL CHRISTMAS TREE! So in all efforts we got the tree up the first weekend of December...and with daily watering it is holding out! Here is a tradition I thought could be a lot of fun and another thing for us to do with the kids. There are several Christmas Tree farms in the Valley where you get to go and cut down your own tree, or even buy a tree that they cut fresh that morning. Something fun and different! Well, I guess you could say at least the thought was there!



We ended up at the North Vancouver Rona parking lot sale instead :-)

In the midst of all the things we have to do and all the things we want to do, slowly my husband and I are realizing that the only ones that have control over our time is...us.   Sometimes a lot of what makes the holidays so busy is based on expectation.  Expectation is a hard thing, but as you are able to let go of it a little, life becomes more of what you want of it. To me, and to us, family and friends are what matter and you learn quickly those who feel the same way and that will make the efforts for you as well.  "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~Dr. Seuss

We are taking back Christmas. Making sure that in all the hustle and bustle the Holidays bring, the most time spent is with the ones you love. So as I sit here typing this new post, the Christmas baubles are being removed from the tree by a set of very tiny hands, the centerpiece is being torn off of the table by another set of slightly larger hands and there is still a certain someone still "snug in their bed." So let go of the things you cannot change and embrace the half-decorated Christmas tree that is sitting in your living room. Merry Christmas from our crazy family to yours!

xo

If it's not one thing...it's another!

Why does it feel like life is always, "if it's not one thing, it's another!"

Lately, LIFE begins to settle in one area and then LIFE begins building in the OTHER. If it's not you it's another that you are affected by.

My question, when does life become your own...for a year, for a minute, for a second...

I am quickly learning...it never does. If you have family, in ANY FORM, it never completely resides in your own hand; because, the minute you care for someone, family or friend, you never know where life will take you.

If it is not your life experience and learing, it is someone elses...

To the tears, the laughter, the love...

To learing...

To life... 

Thank you for tomorrow.

xo

Photography!

A passion, a love, a hobby...an expensive hobby my parents would tell me =) Photography was a love that I ventured through school for to follow as a career. Becoming a Professional Photographer, I have photographed people, places, babies, families and events (weddings, parties). Somewhere along the way I ended up on another path...Real Estate. And now, I have two passionate career fields, and why not use them both if I love them both!

I would be honored to capture some of your moments! And my dates are booking fast for Christmas, yay! So book soon =)

Christmas Promotion:

A cup that means so much...

There are few things that are so simple yet stand for so much...

A sign that the Holidays are right around the corner :-)

Thank you Starbucks Red Cups!

fall...

Fall would have to be my favorite time of year. Finding new routines and schedules, family times (thanksgiving, Halloween, pumpkin patch), the beautifully sunny yet crisp and cold fall days, the clothes!

There are so many beautiful aspects of fall that really make you stop and realize what is important to you and all that you have. Living each day is such a simple concept but such an easy thing to let get away from you. I feel guilty for allowing this to happen in my life; and all though i know it does happen, I have decided to start living more consciously and enjoy what I have right in front of me.  Currently, I have two of the most adorable kids sitting on the floor in front of me playing together. A sight that can only make me smile and feel full inside.  As kids we come out not knowing anything other than living each moment, each day...it is time I try to revert back to some form of that thinking...i mean, besides the tantrums, hair pulling and diapers!!

This past Thanksgiving Weekend we made our 3rd annual trip to the amazing Pemberton Pumpkin Patch.  When Kai was born I decided we were going to make this an annual tradition (a pumpkin patch somewhere!) and this year was his third year and Sienna's second. What a day. The sun came out and shone, the kids made their way through the patch in search of the perfect pumpkin, rode a horse and carriage, played on old tractors and had a great lunch before packing back up in the car for the drive home.

Life truly is amazing.

 

Real Estate, Here I Come.

I sent out a Thanksgiving Email along with my Market Update this past Friday before the long weekend.

I must say that getting organized and sending it out really helped to motivate me. It is exciting when you receive the positive response from things like this!

It only keeps me wanting to push forward and see where I can really go!

Here was what I emailed followed by a link to my monthly market update.



 

http://www.macrealty.com/macnews/newsletter.aspx?agent=brittany_anderson