8/52

A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.

Tom: The water child, having a 'surf' while Gracie and I watched on
Grace: Those soft peach lips with the devils peak, button nose and super long lashes.. her little characteristics haven't changed much since she came into this world

Oh how I love this time of year. The weather has cooled down, the smell of autumn is in the light breeze that comes by in the afternoon and the leaves are beginning to gently fall to the ground in warm hues of colour. The best.

Linking in with Jodi x

6/52

A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.

Tom: This week he received his new specs, his headaches have improved and reading is much easier now
Grace: An outtake from a 'set-up' shot, she looks much like my grandmother did as a little girl

This week challenges have been:

1. Getting back into school routine
2. Getting back into work routine (as much as shift work allows for 'routine')
3. Working out what extra curricular activities we will undertake this year - soccer is a given but hip-hop is on the cards
4. Gracie's cold - return to school means the germs go back as well
5. Tantrum central - Tom pushing the boundaries +++.

Linking in with Jodi x

5/52

A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.

Grace: Her messy waterfall braid illuminated as she watches the last of the light slip behind the mountains

Tom: We don't have a bath in our little house so this was a real treat

This is my last day of my 4 week break before I have to get up at 530am and fumble my way into my uniform in the dark tomorrow. I feel so refreshed. I needed the break from shift work and irregular hours. My body soon found a summer rhythm -  late rises, beach trips, coffee, visiting family, cooking, gardening and completing housework (sad I know). Having my life not bound by time constraints was such a relief.

This week was one I will always remember. "Will you marry me? You make me so happy"...looking down at Ian's face as he stared back at me with the most genuine smile (and glittery rock to boot!), I knew that this is the man who I was mean't to share all this world with.

Stoked.

Linking in with Jodi. xx

4/52

A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.

Tom: Little boy in the big city - sometimes he would walk ahead, led by the different smells, colours and sounds

Grace: Post wrestle with Tom in our hotel room

This week we were supposed to head up to South West Rocks. That was, until Ian's appendix decided it wanted out and landed him in hospital for three days. We had to pull the pin on our adventure, which we had much longed for. Instead, we went to Sydney and stayed the night. Walking through the concrete jungle, we explored back alley's and looked up at the tall buildings. Tom's hand was constantly interlocked with mine; Grace always a few feet ahead. We caught the Ferry to Manly, watched a SLSC competition on the beach and found Gracie some cool pink kicks. We ate Turkish Gozleme's and got lost in the history of The Rocks. At the aquarium he Dugongs brought the biggest grins to the kids faces (but not as big as the grey nurse sharks - eeek!) and escalator after escalator we reached the top of the Queen Victoria Building. About 40 mins into the trip home I had two absolutely exhausted children sleeping in the back seat.

Linking in with Jodi.

2/52

Tom: "Did you see that Mum?????" Of course I did. How could I not watch your little face light up as you rode the wave in (for the 27th time)..
Grace: She received 4 pairs of swimmers for Christmas. I have a problem.

Salt + Water + Sand = pure, clean, fun. We took a drive down the coast this week and found ourselves in a little place called Narrawallee. The beach was dotted with beach umbrellas of every colour, parents chasing young toddlers and groups of teenagers hanging out with their surfing paraphenalia. I found myself people watching in between the distant nods and waves to the kids: confirmation that I saw their nose dives, wipe outs and successes!

I love that this diptych of images has the other sibling in the background in each portrait. It sums up my duo perfectly - where one plays the other is never far away.

Joining in with the ever beautiful Jodi x

no through road

Today we got in the car and headed south.

Grace: "Where are we going Mum? What do you mean you don't know? You're driving!"

We found an abandoned house and a patch of "prickly purple thingy's that look so lovely but hurt my butt". We found a view across some farms and listened to the echo's of the cattle. We stopped in the little village and had a flat white, caramel milkshake and a mango smoothie. We poked around in antique shops looking for an old mirror and found old glass milk bottles instead.

We laughed and laughed and laughed.

We rang Ian at work and told him that we loved him and wished he was with us. He wished he was with us too.

I like to get in the car and just drive. Down dirt lanes. No through roads. Streets I've never been before. Because I can.

1/52

Tom: Aint it the biggest home grown cucumber you ever did see?
Grace: Oh my heart. She hates pink but man does it suit her.

And here we go, head first into twenty fourteen. After a crazy first week, ending with a 16 hour double shift... I am now officially on one month holidays! This year I will try and stick to my 52 project with more commitment than last year. I loved looking back at what I did manage to accomplish last year but think it will be even more awesome over a 12 month period.

This year is going to be big, I can feel it! I love years with even numbers!

Joining in with Jodi once more. x