Ben at the Beach

At the beginning of our vacation, I took tones of pictures of Kate walking along the shoreline with Boris.  I’m often drawn to one of my children over the other when I have a camera in hand.  It’s always something simple that I’m attracted to; a particular mannerism or the way the light falls on them.  I often feel like I’m posting lots of pictures of Kate and very few of Ben.  Kate tends to be easier to photograph.  She’s younger and less aware (and she loves the attention).  Ben has never enjoyed being the subject of my photographs.  He dislikes being told to sit here or look there but if I keep my distance and I’m quiet, I can often catch him in his element.  It’s just the type of child he is.  So on this particular evening at the beach, as Ben played in the sand with his monster truck and danced as if no one was watching, I couldn’t keep my eyes off him...

These Two

A (Timmies) Lunch Date With Ben and Kate

Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

One evening we walked at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge...

Mix Tape - Ho Hey

On repeat.  All morning long...

Ho Hey by The Lumineers
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At the Pool

We spent countless hours swimming at the pool during our stay in Maui.  Both Ben and Kate love water, so two or three visits a day weren’t uncommon.  

Ben’s swimming skills improved a million percent throughout out trip.  On our last day in Hawaii, Ben ditched his water wings altogether.  He would jump into the pool and swim to me under water (I wish I had taken a video).  On the days Ben napped, Boris would put Kate to sleep after sunset and Ben and I would sneak out for a “midnight” or “goodnight” swim.  I loved those moments alone in the pool, beneath the stars with my son.  

Kate, on the other hand, loved the stairs at the pool.  She would climb up and down, splash in the water and blow bubbles.  If it was early enough in the day (and the deck wasn’t too hot), she would walk back and forth waving and flirting with everyone.  

Between the sunshine and all the swimming, Ben and Kate slept like rocks in Hawaii!  Here’s a video of Ben and one of Kate on a typical morning at the pool.

Another Evening at the Beach

One evening, about half way through our trip, we lingered at the beach long after the sun had set.  Slowly, everyone disappeared, until it was just the four of us.  Boris walked back and forth along the water’s edge while I sat beside Ben and Kate as they played in the sand.  Everyone was content.  I knew then, that I would remember this moment forever.  I felt so present, so alive.  If only I could have pushed pause for a while. 

As I sat there digging my toes in the sand, I thought about time.  About how some things change.  And how some things stay the same.  This was our third time vacationing in Maui.  Eight years ago, we came on our honeymoon.  The second time, I was six months pregnant with Ben.  And now, here we were as a family of four.  Our lives have changed a lot since we got married.  I couldn’t help but wonder what life would look like next time?  Will our family have grown again?  What will Ben and Kate be like a few years down the road?  Life is so uncertain; anything can change in an instant.  So in this perfect moment, I closed my eyes, drew a deep breath and sent a silent “thank-you” out to the Universe and to God.  Because you see, the first time I sat on this beach I dreamed of the moment my life would look like this.  And now, it does...  

On the Steps That Lead to the Ravine

This Little Lady...

Makes me smile.  Every.  Single.  Day.  And I'm so incredibly grateful to have her in my life.

The Hawaiian Dumpster

When we were in Hawaii, there was a dumpster in the middle of a neighbourhood a few blocks away from our condo.  The paint was peeling and it was all rusted.  The colours were really quite remarkable so one morning Ben and I walked down for a little photo shoot.