tis the season

you might have seen the images from our family christmas here.

i also wanted to share some of my favourite images from the festivities

and events that led up to december 25th.

parades, gingerbread house building, decorating the tree, 

and family gatherings helped us get into the christmas spirit!

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we had a wonderful time celebrating christmas with the people we love! 

 

wishing you lots of love and memories in 2013!

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(thanks to jude and christine for contributing a few of these images)

design project donation

a huge thank you to all those who participated in my 

christmas design project this year.

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i decided to put the funds raised towards stocking a health clinic in Uganda

(our sponsor child, Peace, lives in Uganda).

"when you stock a clinic you'll help provide life-saving 

medicines for an entire community"

-world vision

our donation of $100 multiplies to $1400 worth of supplies...

thanks for helping to make this happen!

if you're looking for meaningful gifts under your tree this year

here are two great places to start:

world vision

mennonite central committee

christmas design project - year two

so i mentioned a week or two ago that i was going to do my design project again, 

but i didn't give many details...

that's because i had not decided who will receive the funds that are raised.

we've always embraced the gift catalogues that MCC and World Vision organize each year,

but i would love to hear other suggestions of other places to give to...

(i'll let you know what i decide)

since i've designed 6 cards already, I have $60 to donate.

and even though it is almost december - i could still do a few more designs...

in fact, i would love to!

it's $30 for a design with $10 going to charity.

you send me your photos, i'll work them into a 4x6 or 5x7 design
(your choice).

i'll save it as a jpeg and send it to you to proof.

once you love it, the design is yours to print 

as many as you like through your local photo printer.

you can send payment by cheque or email transfer.

sound good?

fun.

here is a design from last year:

(sorry, no sneak peaks this year!)

i would love to get the total up to $100 this year!

that means 4 more designs...

big thanks to those who have already contributed to this goal!

(if you have ordered a custom bamboo christmas card
you have contributed as well)

so please leave a comment and link below with your suggestion(s)

of who you'd like to see receive these funds.  

design project - year two

do you remember my christmas card design project from last year?

i have been busy this fall with my new photography business,

but the family sessions are winding down now.

this will allow me to do something similar this year!

please stay tuned...

if you already know you're interested in a christmas card design for this year

(and you've just been waiting for me to offer!)

leave a comment below or email me:

cheryl (at) bamboolifephotography (dot) com

more details on this year's project to come.

photos from christmas

hard to believe the christmas season has already come and gone...

here are two photos from christmas eve:

playing rudolph and putting out cookies for santa.

 we had a great time on christmas morning checking out 

our stockings and opening presents.

jude got online guitar lessons and lots of sour candies.

selah got petshops and an umbrella hat.

emery got flairies and new earrings.

and this momma got some great new gadgets for her camera!

another cool gift for selah - stilts!

and my favourite moment captured...

emery loved the gift that selah got her -
playmobil princess set
(these girls are so thoughtful
when it comes to gift giving)

after having fruit loops for breakfast, 

and a few hours of play and packing we were on the road 

to new jersey to spend the week with my family.  

hoping to be back soon with photos from our time away,

and some favourites from 2011.

happy new year friends!

christmas...

hope yours is fabulous!

favourite things

back today with favourite things friday!  

good timing, as i hear that the sound of music will be on tv tomorrow night!  

hopefully i'll catch at least some of it.

here are some other favourite things to check out:

• loving creativelive today as they share clips of some of their best photography workshops throughout the day
• jude's blog has some great tips for dads (and moms) this week if you haven't checked it out already
• one of my favourite recipes for the holidays
• a fun blog that a friend sent me the link to this week
• and lastly another video to get you in the christmas spirit, if you're not already...

mini cupcakes

i made mini cupcakes for my girl's classes for christmas.

love that one cake mix makes enough for two classes - super easy.

interesting experience for me as i worked away on this special treat.

the cupcakes stuck to the non-stick pan. 

(will find liners for next time...)

they didn't want to stay together as i removed them from the pan.

i was tempted early on to give up and make something else...

they weren't looking pretty 

and i'm usually hesitant to share my work if it's not 'pretty'.

the people pleaser (and slight perfectionist) in me.

but then i thought to myself  that 4, 5 and 6 year olds 

are not going to notice that some of the edges are crumbly...

they see chocolate frosting with a tiny silver ball on top.

to them, they'll be special and delicious.

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it's easy to share the things we're proud of:

like getting a strike on your first ball (oh yeah!)

 or pretty chocolate treats created for special teachers.

but it can be hard to share the things in our lives

that we're not so proud of.

as i think back to the moments when i have made myself vulnerable 

and shared my worries, weaknesses, or mistakes with others,

most often those things have been received with love and respect

and resulted in strengthened relationships as a result of my honesty.

so over the holidays, share your 'not so perfect cupcakes,'

it just might feel good.

and try to look at the world through a child's non-judgemental eyes, 

looking past imperfections and seeing what makes it 'special and delicious'...

merry christmas friends!  

(all photos posted today were from my iphone)

christmas memories

here are few photos that are special to me from christmas so far

because they hold memories and tell a bit of our story.

this is nana and grandad watching their 

great grandchildren opening presents.

here is selah

(still wearing her antlers, as seen in the last post)

working on her christmas cards for her classmates.

she's wearing her new dinosaur sweater that she got for christmas from nan,

and yes, that is a tower of mini wheats in the background (big sale!).

 these next two are from the girls seasonal concert at school.

their school always puts on a fun show that included everyone.

both emery and selah were beaming up on stage singing their songs.
emery sang 'up on the house top...',
and selah's class sang 'frosty the snowman'.

 this is the moment when selah saw her daddy in the audience.

 here is emmy and selah checking out their goodie bags 

from another christmas party.

every year, my aunt and uncle have a party at their country club.

it's such a fun night to dress up and 

reconnect with family.

the food is always excellent and they even bring in a magician to entertain the kids.
it's a special night for both the adults and children.

lot's of great memories so far and more to come.

i wonder which of these moments will stick with the girls as they grow...

what do you remember most about christmas as a child?

on the first day of christmas

here's a glimpse of what we did at our house 

earlier this month to get ready for christmas:

 decorated the christmas tree

 attempted a family photo

 created some christmas crafts

 (this is the craft selah and i made)

and shared icing, while putting together a gingerbread house.

such a fun family day and great way to get into the christmas spirit!

we are counting down now to christmas morning 

and our trip to NJ with my family.

what traditions do you have as you anticipate the christmas season?