Father's Day 2021

 

The tradition continues! That makes me very happy as these photos have documented these fabulous kids through the years...and not because they love me and are happy to be photographed at the drop of a hat (far from it), but because they love their dad. We are a very blessed family; there is a lot of love and a dad who has always been willing to go the extra mile and keep going.

Happy Father's Day James from your crew and to all the other daddies out there we hope that you will get the recognition and gratitude you deserve too.

Father's Day 2020

So many of our traditions seem to have fallen by the wayside, between all our moves, or the kids getting older. But I am so glad that they are still up (just about) for posing together to make our yearly Father's Day card. I love that we have been able to keep it going through the years and they tell such a sweet story. Of course hubby knows to expect it by now, but we make sure to take the photo when he's not around so it's always a little bit of a surprise.

They sure love their daddy, he's the one who has a crazy side and makes us all laugh. He's not always as strict as I am and they have sneakily learned that sometimes it's best to ask him first, or just bypass me all together. Thankfully we're all in it as a team and there's nobody I'd rather parent with, or be a parent to than these.

All the love, and wishing life would slow down a little. Happy Father's Day!

And just for fun and all the feels....the photo that started the tradition all those years ago, they were so little...waaaaaaah!!!

At Home Portraits

Like many, the world over, we in the UK are now in the midst of stay-at-home-measures in an attempt to slow the spread of covid-19. A few weeks ago we were hearing about the deaths in Wuhan and we appeared far removed. Now, we are asked to stay home, work from home, leave the house only for necessities or as a key worker...although currently we are allowed to walk locally or exercise once a day. Many older people and those with underlying health conditions cannot even do that and have been told to self-isolate for at lease 12 weeks, although it will likely be for much longer. A few months ago none of us could have envisioned how much life would change.

Extra time at home has meant many things; a different way of doing school or work, bouts of boredom, spurts of creativity, an increase in reaching out to others by way of technology as our connecting in person has been increasingly restricted.

Our girls have been experimenting. Our youngest asked our middle to cut her hair (big gulp)...and actually, thankfully, it did not turn out awful. Then they took it a step further and begged for hair dye, which daddy dutifully found on one of his grocery trips.

I talked them into letting me take a few photos, to document the outcome. It's rare to get more than snapshots these days so I just had to do a bit of editing with all this extra time on my hands and then of course, share. These girls are beautiful, inside and out and growing up far too quickly. I cherish this bit of extra time together, and as a homebody have not had as hard a time as I'm sure most extroverts have.

2019 My Life Project - Week 1

I have decided to continue documenting our life this year, at least one photo a week. Maybe there'll be other opportunities or ideas along the way, but the discipline is good for me, so here is the first week; two of my children having a sweet moment, playing around together on a friend's piano.

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 43

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

Although this is very similar to the photo from just a couple of weeks before, in spite of the grain I just love the expressions and it had to be this week's photo.

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 42

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

It's always a bummer when daddy has to be gone for some reason at the weekend; between school and work schedules it seems family time is reduced enough as it is. This was a weekend where he had to be gone though and I literally had to force the kids to leave the house as there was zero motivation. It was one of those autumn afternoons that had an unexpected warmth and I wanted to catch the end of it so forced them to the local park to walk the dog. There were leaves everywhere and it didn't take much to persuade the girls to throw leaves in the air for a few photos. This early one really captured their glee...love it. It's almost always worth the battle to get them out...almost always!

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 41

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

Sunday afternoons are for downtime. For my kids, more and more that has meant electronics, which doesn't thrill me, but hey, at least they can play games together still, even if it is on screens.

Happy Father's Day - 2018

Happy Father's Day to my husband, Daddy to these amazing kiddoes of ours.

My Kids - 2017

So...the Cannans are on the move again, back to the UK! Daddy has gone ahead of us and we already miss him terribly and I realized that I had never taken this year's Father's Day Photo. Since the kids were really little, the youngest just over a year, I have always taken a photo of them for his card, it's been a fun tradition and I love looking back over previous years' photos. So even though it's not Father's Day, these kids have an amazing Father every day, not just one day of the year and this particular photo tradition will continue.

James Cannan we miss you and love you and can't wait to be reunited, lots of love, your kids and wife (and of course Scout). xxx

Father's Day 2016

These three (four) are so blessed to have the best daddy. They were each so excited to work on their own projects for father's day gifts and did a great job. They woke us this morning (a little too early, did I mention they were excited?) with tea and coffee and took our breakfast in bed orders, yay for them getting older!

Then they each proudly presented their gifts. They all know that they are loved and were so happy to show their love in return, each in their own way.

I am so grateful for the man that is their daddy, for the great example he is and the way he takes cares of us all. It's not a role he takes for granted and we are raising wonderful children together. Some days may seem hard but all you are doing is so very important, so to all the father's out there doing the same, but especially to my love, Happy Father's Day!

February Photo Project - Photo A Day - Day 26

A lot happens in our car; games are played, songs are sung...there is a ton of bickering! They really are such great buddies but a confined space can get old. Still, I know I'll miss these every day moments and so I choose to record them.

(As in years past, I've decided to do the February photo project and take a photo a day. It never hurts to have a bit of discipline and with all our transitions my creativity has been sorely lacking, so I'm looking forward to jumping back in. No real rules, just our life documented a little. Maybe there'll be captions, maybe not, there could be the occasional phone photo thrown in on busier days and sometimes it may be hard to narrow things down and there could be bonus photos. I'd love for you to follow along, or even join in. Let me know!)

February Photo Project - Photo A Day - Day 22

These three. My heart!

(As in years past, I've decided to do the February photo project and take a photo a day. It never hurts to have a bit of discipline and with all our transitions my creativity has been sorely lacking, so I'm looking forward to jumping back in. No real rules, just our life documented a little. Maybe there'll be captions, maybe not, there could be the occasional phone photo thrown in on busier days and sometimes it may be hard to narrow things down and there could be bonus photos. I'd love for you to follow along, or even join in. Let me know!)

Happy Father's Day - 2015

Many of our traditions have had to go with our international move, but I'm not letting go of this one any time soon. Each year for Father's Day, since our youngest was about 18 months, I have taken this shot of the three of them. I love to see documentation of them changing and it is one of my favourite traditions.

These kids adore their Daddy and I do too! He is a wonderful man who knows how to love well. Not just us, his family, he loves everyone. Nobody is beneath him and no one is more deserving of his love than another. You could be the Queen of England, or a homeless man on the street and he would still show you love and have time for you.

I am so grateful to share my life with the man who passed down the 'crazy' in these kiddos, because they certainly don't get that from me! Happy Father's Day James, I am so very proud of the father you are and we are blessed to be your family.

Happy Father's Day!

 

My littles are blessed beyond the feeble words which so inadequately try to express all they have. A Daddy who is fully present for them, who laughs and listens, who has always been there and always will, unconditionally loving and supporting them and cheering them on. A daddy who is not afraid to show his emotions, who is setting an example of how to live and love, fully and unabashedly. For me to know that we are a team in this parenting journey, that we are partners in this life we are so fortunate to be living together is truly an honor and a gift. I could not have asked for more of the father of my children. Happy Father's Day James Cannan and thank you for who you are and all that you do, you are truly amazing!

52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 41

I am currently in England for a week, for my brother's wedding and boy do I miss my family. They couldn't come with me and are at home in California. Those sweet smiles brighten my day, every day and the hugs and the kisses and the little hands. I miss them all. I know they miss me too, but I am only one person to miss and I am missing four (counting my husband too). Sigh.

I am happy to be here but so wish they were with me. Can't wait to be home with them again.

Happy Father's Day!

It was ten Father's Days ago that I slipped a Father's Day card onto my husband's music stand at church. I had waited until that morning, after he had left, to take the test, wanting to surprise him on that day of all days, if it was positive. It was!

He opened it and at first was confused, thinking somebody had maybe not realized we had miscarried months before, then he saw that I was the one who had signed it. I huge grin lit up his face and when he got to stand with all of the other fathers to be recognized, we were announcing it to everyone.

He was ready to be a father long before he met me, he has so much love to give! Yet he waited patiently, for seven years in fact, until I was ready to finally be a mother, to realize his own dream. He is the most wonderful father I could ever ask for for my children, I love to watch as he builds them up, from the inside out, instilling confidence as only a father can. They know without a doubt that they are loved and important!

To my husband, I love you immeasurably and am so grateful for all that you do for us. You continually amaze me. I love you!

Happy Father's Day.

Goodbye 2012...

And just like that, the year is almost over! I have no idea how it happened, I swear time is somehow speeding up, please let me know if you know a way to slow it down. I notice it most in my kids; this time last year both of my girls had all their teeth and were definitely inches shorter, my boy too, was much shorter and maybe a little quieter and more reserved. This has been a year with highs and some low-lows.

Parenting is no easy task and that saying about wearing your heart outside of your body once you have children has felt very true. There are hard things that they have to go through, that we just can't fix for them and as a mother, with all the love that I have, it breaks my heart. To share in their joy and excitement though, is just so much fun. This week of celebrating Christmas, remembering Christ's birth and how that has changed our lives forever; the best gift...time together as a family, the anticipation and the presents and their exuberant gratitude, it is priceless!

As I reflect on this year I see growth, I see and feel the ways I have changed and I have hope for the coming year.  I know that at the end of next year we will be moving and I have no idea where to. My husband will have finished with his degree so we will need to move off campus, even if we remain in the general area. The uncertainty and unknown can be scary, especially for a planner such as I, but for now I am content to take it one day at a time and cross that bridge when we come to it.

Heading into 2013 I plan to continue my Day In The Life Series and am thinking of doing another 52-week project as I feel I have not been shooting as much as I would have liked to this year and want to get back into the habit of carrying my camera around with me more again. Let me know what your plans are and where I can follow along.

If you are on Facebook, I would really appreciate you 'liking' my photography page if you haven't already (http://www.facebook.com/JuanitaCannanPhotography). I would love to start picking up more work and 'likes' not only help get the word out but provide legitimacy. Thank you so much for reading and following and enjoying my photography as well as your ongoing support and encouragement.

Special thanks to my husband for being my biggest fan and always being prepared to jump into photographs with me and my son for capturing this one once I had all the settings correct :)

 

From me to you, Happy New Year!

Happy Father's Day

These three have got to have one of the best fathers out there! I am so grateful for the father my husband is and the relationship he has with our children. They know they are loved, they know they are safe, there is no fear. I do not feel like a single parent, we are parents together. My children are so blessed (as am I) with the love and encouragement that is poured into their lives - every day!

James you are appreciated and loved by us all! I hope that is something you will never, ever doubt. Thank you for who you are and all you do. Happy Father's Day!

Just for fun, here are the previous three years :)

2011

2010

2009

52 Week Project - Week 41

*Just as a reminder, this is a personal project I am undertaking this year, in order to shoot more and share more. Each week of 2011 will have a corresponding favorite photograph; snapshots from my life.

The end of the year is far too rapidly approaching and I need to catch up on posting for this project. Keep checking back, you might see a sudden flurry of activity. This was from week 41.

My three little ragamuffins. They fill my heart! Of course we have days with whining and fighting and telling tales on one another (no pretense here of a perfect family, with perfectly well behaved children at all times) but they are the best of friends. They really do love each other and what more could a mother ask for?

Their relationships with each other will change over the years, but I will have the proof of the love. As I look at this photograph I can almost fast forward to the teenage years and I have high hopes that they will look out for one another when we cannot be there. The big brother with his arms around his sisters, fending off all his friends who are vying for their affections. He is a great brother, but I am far from ready for those days. It kind of terrifies me!

One day at a time, living in the now...sometimes that is all we can, or should, do.

52 Week Project - Week 34

*Just as a reminder, this is a personal project I am undertaking this year, in order to shoot more and share more. Each week of 2011 will have a corresponding favorite photograph.

Well I have had week 34's photograph picked out for a while...but I am stumped on a quote for this one...and have been getting nowhere fast! So I decided to go ahead and post it anyway, instead of holding the rest up and I need YOUR input! I can come back and add the quote later.

In the last few days of finishing up at our old house, the house was pretty much empty. They did a great job of keeping themselves entertained for a long stretch, and then we would set up the laptop and let them watch a movie. Arran is here, playing a game on daddy's iphone and I think the movie had ended, based on the fact that nobody is actually looking at the screen anymore.

They are so wonderful at just hanging out together and truly enjoy each others' company (for a good 70% of the time, I would estimate)!

So if you have any ideas for a suitable quote, please let me know in the comments, or facebook or e-mail me. Let me know if it is something you have made up, or if the quote is credited to somebody, so that I can include that too. I'll keep my thinking cap on as well and hopefully week 34 will be complete before the end of the year, as I finish up this project.