When my {amazing photographer} sister-in-law tagged me in an Instagram post letting me know that her good friend {and fellow photographer} was going to be in Vancouver and had time for a couple of shoots, I jumped at the opportunity. Now truth be told, I sort of detest having photos done, but with our last portrait session being when Miss G was two and this being our first chance to have photos done with our sweet Sam, there was no way I was passing it up.
We met Amy of Modern Nest Photography {based out of Calgary} down at Kits beach – one of our family favourites – early on the morning of Brad’s birthday and sort of just hung out and walked around while Amy snapped away. She was absolutely lovely and despite Sam being on the verge of a total meltdown the entire time {poor guy fell asleep in the car about 10 minutes before arriving and was not pleased about having his nap cut short}, I just adore the images she was able to capture… Us, as a family of four, in Vancouver – our current home and one of my very favourite cities in the world.
Here are my favourites…
There’s no doubt that I’m a huge fan of kid-friendly cafés and restaurants. And though a great kid’s menu is a good start, in my opinion, a kid’s play corner of some sort sets a restaurant apart from the rest when it comes to family-friendliness. Needless to say, when I heard that 
The next thing I noticed was the kid’s menu. Grae and I normally share a dish when we’re out for a meal (partly because one dish is plenty of food for both of us, and partly because usual kid’s menus are filled with deep-fried junk and processed white carbs), but with a menu that includes meals made with wholewheat, organic, and locally-sourced ingredients, I was more than happy to let Miss G order something of her own. She picked the margarita pizza on a wholewheat honey rosemary crust, then was off to play. 
The play area, which is right in front of the big open window at the front of the restaurant, was well stocked with a play kitchen and pretend food, a workshop filled with plastic tools, wooden toys and puzzles, board books, mega blocks, and art supplies. The best part, however, is that it’s fully enclosed. No escaping kids here.
Gracen’s food arrived in no time at all, and she dove in immediately. After polishing off her third piece, she paused for a moment and I assumed she’d had her fill. When I went to wipe off her hands and face, she looked at me confused and said, “But Mama, I still have more!” The girl ate six pieces. SIX. 
My food was just as good. I ordered the red wine braised organic chicken panini and it was delish. And the green salad? It included dried blueberries, pine nuts, and wild rice. Yum.
After lunch, the kiddos got back to playing while us mamas finished our meals and got to visit a little bit (not easily done when out to lunch with a bunch of toddlers at a normal restaurant).