4/52

Maggie: I took these portraits yesterday- we had a weekend away and spent time at the beach but I still feel nervous about taking the camera to the beach, terrified of sand. We hired a truck on Monday to move some furniture from one end of the state to the other, the girls and I followed in our car. Maggie got very excited when we drove past the ABC studio and declared "Papa is picking up Emma". Wiggle love is new and exciting for the girls still!
Elisabeth: The direction of the light through the window made such a difference between these two portraits, but Miss Elisabeth declined to move for me as she was doing her puzzle. Elisabeth took a bit of tumble in the sea, and needed Ron to pick her up again. She swallowed a mouthful of seawater and was very unimpressed. I talked to her later and said next time she should try to stand up at least. She answered, "I don't want a next time".

Joining in with Jodi's 52 portrait project.

3/52

Maggie: a beautiful portrait of Maggie taken by Rob. They love their new cubby which is all but finished (a few door knobs and half the roof to be done). The girls discovered the wiggles this week- and they have been dancing up a storm to all of the songs. Maggie in particular loves to move to music.
Elisabeth: I took this photo, and was so pleased to capture her smile, her real smile, not the one she puts on when requested! She picked flowers for me this morning as it is my birthday.

Joining in with Jodi's 52 portrait project.

2/52

Maggie: The girls caught our hideous cold, so have had a couple of quiet days at home during the week. On Sunday they were feeling a lot better so we headed to a friend's shack on the coast (about 45 minute drive from our home) for lunch. They had such a great time, playing with these old toy cars, listening to shells, rock hopping (the shack is right on the water) and paddling around. Maggie told me she could hear the sea in the shell.
Elisabeth: The girls suddenly seem so long. She had a fantastic time playing with the cars. When one of our friends asked her which was her favourite, she replied "the camper van, because you can put all your people in it!"

Joining in with Jodi's 52 portrait project.

1/52

Maggie: I'm sure every parent does it, but we often find ourselves marvelling at the girls bodies. The strong little legs, the straight backs, tiny muscular arms. They are so capable. Rob has caught Maggie after coming down the slide, off at a run for her next activity.
Elisabeth: She took the measuring very seriously the other day. The girls thought the tape measures were actually cameras. 

Rob took these first portraits for 2016. A whole new year awaits. A new album to fill with their faces, their antics and our hearts.

I was pretty glad to see that Jodi had changed her mind and decided to continue herself with the 52 portraits project. I made short flipagram compilations of the girls 2015 portraits, and I am not sure until you see them all together like that do you truly realise their worth. Yes, sometimes it seems a chore to take the weekly photo (or indeed our monthly twin shot), but in the end the images we have collected over the year are my most treasured possessions.

I might even try to write here a bit more frequently too.

52/52

Maggie: The photos were on time, but I'm afraid despite being on holiday, blogging took a back seat to life. Apart from Christmas, we headed up to the north of the state for a quick visit, and then returned and succumbed to a terrible head cold. Luckily the girls seem to have escaped it so far, but Rob and I have been coughing and comparing sore throats all week. Energy and enthusiasm for anything but reading or watching DVDs has been lacking. I took these last portraits for 2015 down at the dam in the late evening. Maggie is most definitely my muse, looking into the lens with her direct gaze. They were playing games with their dinosaurs and feathers.
Elisabeth: Gazing off no doubt at the antics of the dogs who usually follow us down the path in the grass and take the opportunity to romp and wrestle around the girls.

Joining in with Jodi's 52 portrait project.

I think the final portraits of 2014 were down at the dam in the grass too. The girls have grown up so much this year. Losing much of their babyness, Maggie is reminding us every day that she "Is going to be huge"! Their conversations and play games have us grinning like loons, their protectiveness and care for each other (for the most part) have us swooning, and the way they still need to cuddle us most of the day is endearing. I know I feel frustrated that they still depend on us so much and that independent play still seems a far-off dream (that doesn't involve hair-pulling, squabbles and one of us stepping in to mediate!), but I will probably miss these days one day.

Farewell to 2015. We hope 2016 brings new adventures for our little family.