35 Years later.

Roger was invited to make a presentation at the OURA conference this past weekend. He travelled to Niagara Falls early Saturday morning and made a whirlwind trip back to Vancouver the next day. Suffice to say the presentation was a success and Roger made it home safe and sound. While he was there, he was lucky enough to visit Niagara Falls, you know he was there in February 1978, exactly 35 years ago! Here's a dyptych with Grandma Janey and a self-portrait he shot.  In retrospect, Roger should have taken the picture with him to try and re-create the photo, he did his best with what he could remember. Here are some other shots from the trip.

Skating marches on...

Whew, we've had less guff about skating lately. Malcolm has actually been pretty good about it. Either he's resigned to going or perhaps he's having fun. He has gotten a lot better from Roger's accounts. He's gaining speed and definitely able to keep up better. Melody is doing well too, despite the couple of weeks of resistance, she's been very good about going. Here are some pictures from this week's session. She's doing a lot better than Malcolm did at the same age.

Happy Birthday Mel.

Happy Birthday to you Papa Mel, 82... that's so awesome. I know Roger has said it before, but you make our lives richer in every way. I for sure know lucky I am. The kids especially love their Papa so much. You bring them so much joy with your funny stories, playfulness and your infinite wisdom. Here's to you on your Birthday, best wishes from the bottom of our hearts.

Snow White and Obi.

I don't know how it happened, but I had to go back to the vet. It seems I've picked up some kind of skin infection. This time it's on my left, hind leg. I'm back on the anti-biotics and will be for the next week. I guess the saddest part of this whole situation is that I have to wear this silly cone again. Roger and Tracey want it clear up quickly, and hopefully not come back again. The vet isn't exactly sure why it's happening either.

The daycare wanted a new picture of Melody, so Roger set up the home studio last night to shoot a couple of pictures. One of the fringe benefits of having a photographer in the family. It's especially nice when the kids are compliant. They obviously have to be in a good mood to have their picture taken. You be the judge, was she happy?

Skating continues.

The opportunities that the kids have today are limitless. Although they don't realize it yet, they are exposed to so much more than Roger and Tracey were at the same age and even more than Roger and Tracey's parents when they were young (whoa we're going back a few generations now). Teaching children that they are lucky to have what they have is a difficult thing to do. Roger and Tracey try their very best to instil a sense of appreciation and gratitude with the kids, but I have to say that it's difficult. How do you teach a child that an activity, and outing, a toy, clothes, a meal out are treats and privileges.  These same opportunities aren't the equal for children everywhere. Recently, the skating has been met with some resistance by both Malcolm and Melody, more so Melody. You can chalk it up to being young, you can attribute it to stubbornness or immaturity, but again how do you make them realize that they should be thankful. I guess you don't realize what you have until it's gone or the other side of that is, if you've always had it, what other reality would you really know?

Recently Roger bought a photo book called, "I Was Always Beautfiul". It's a photography essay on India, mostly pictures about kids with Aids living in an orphanage. The photographer, Rocky Braat documents some pretty great images in Chennai, India. Anyway, Roger showed Malcolm one of the pictures from the book and it was of a girl playing with a old hoop she found from the dump. He explained to Malcolm that some kids in the world are too poor to buy toys and can't afford to even eat most days. I think this image did strike a chord with Malcolm. So Roger finds himself reminding Malcolm of the image when he's being especially ungrateful, it seems to work somewhat at least temporarily. As parents, Roger and Tracey will continue to encourage, promote and even push the kids into trying different things. They just hope that it gets easier as they get older. Here are some pictures from a skate Malcolm did with Uncle Albert, Jayme, Ally and Rowan last night. Just in case you're wondering Jayme and Malcolm are the same age. Maybe he's just a late bloomer.