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Maggie: My post is running late- but the photos were on time! Rob took this photo of Maggie on their visit to the botanical gardens over a week ago.  They love going there, especially this fountain in the Japanese garden. You might remember a similar image of Elisabeth earlier this year. The girls started ballet this week. I was slightly worried Maggie would be overcome with shyness, but as soon as they saw the dance studio and the big mirror she was completely fine. The girls were so excited to be there they gave each other a big hug whilst looking at themselves in the mirror! Not to mention the excitement over the leotard/tutu and the ballet slippers. Made me so proud to see them confidently interact in the class.
Elisabeth: She was particularly happy when we went shopping on Monday for their outfits, she kept peeking in her bag and smiling. She even carried it herself on our walk around the shops. She was in awe of all the other little girls at the class, and kept exclaiming "look at all the ballerinas". They were very ready for this class! I took this photo when they first tried on their leotard.

Joining in a bit late with Jodi's 52 portrait project- but I am feeling virtuous as I already have taken this week's portraits for tomorrow's post.

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Maggie: watching the rain pour down outside while they ate a lunch of cold sausages and warm mash potatoes. They are practising using spoons at the moment. Often most of the food is flicked over their shoulder or dropped into their bib before the spoon gets into their mouth but we cheer them all the same. This week she has started singing along to songs on the radio, her cute high-pitched voice makes me smile every time.
Elisabeth: after walking last weekend, she still prefers to crawl or be carried. She will walk but it isn't her preferred method of transport yet. They can both recognise a growing list of words and point to the object or part of their body. We made an appointment this week to see an eye surgeon about her blocked tear duct, as it has been badly infected for a few weeks, despite eye washing, breast milk, and antibiotic eye drops. It has been blocked since before she left the NICU. But we have been hoping it would unblock itself like Maggie's did. Of course as soon as the appointment was locked in, the eye has improved dramatically, but we will go along all the same.

Joining in with the 52 portrait project at Practising Simplicity. 

Cabin fever has set in at the hut. I do keep meaning to take the girls outside to take their weekly portraits, but their cold and the dreary cold weather has prevented it. Last week I made a list of activities that make either Rob or myself happy; as varied as a neat and tidy garden, to visiting Mt Field National Park to see the autumn colours of Nothofagus gunnii. Even though it was raining yesterday we packed the pram with the rain cover, sleeping bags, polar fleece suits and beanies. We headed to the botanical gardens and took a walk around. The fresh air and getting out of the hut did do wonders for our state of mind.