This summer, I photographed Mike’s older brother Ken, his wife Kim and their two little cutie-pies. Two year old D. is about seven weeks older than Lilah and I get such a hoot out of watching the two of them together. Four year old Miss I. is a little princess through and through. I am so in love with these kids. I have been blessed to watch both of them grow up before my eyes.

Being the eldest of three, I always wished I had an older sibling to look up to. I always thought that maybe if I did, someone would have stuck up for me in grade nine when I wore my school uniform exactly to the code in the student handbook, or sang “O Canada” on the morning announcements, or wore a shawl as a fashion statement when shawls weren’t actually in style.

Ken has TOTALLY made up for my lack of an older sibling, but not in the ways I thought.

He constantly picks on me, is horrified by my butter addiction (he thinks I’m “fancy” for choosing butter over Becel) and refers to me only as his “nemesis.” Ken, I am on to you. I know you only tease me because you like me (and maybe also because I am such an easy target). I also know that if it comes down to it, I can always count on you to have my back.

You’re okay with me, big brother=)

Ken, Kim, Princess I. and Little D. …I couldn’t ask for a better family. I love you guys so much and my life is richer (and way more entertaining) because I have you in it.