52/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Dear Audrey and Henry,

Watching you grow over this past year, through both the photos shared in this space and the time I've spent with you, has been a beautiful privilege. So often the days seem to run together, and so easily they slip by, their uniqueness unnoticed for their ordinary camouflage. I know one day I'll lift my head from these days and realize they've changed all together, and the things we all so take for granted today will be things of the past.

The reason why I joined this project (albeit 2 weeks late) was to try just a little bit harder to record these early, fleeting moments of your childhood- for us all. In doing so, I was able to find a smile on days when there was overwhelming struggle, a laugh on days when there were too many tears, a connection when we were feeling pulled and tugged every-which-way, and a way to reach out and save a few extra moments in these Good Old Days.

My wish is that some day you both will look back and remember special things from these photos and find those smiles, laughs, and connections again, and remember how much you were loved then, now, and forever after.

Love,
Mama

51/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Audrey in this past years' Easter dress and new short 'do.

Henry completely absorbed in play, not even aware of my camera (or me).

50/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Walking to the mailbox, we find woolies crawling out from underneath thawing leaves.

Audrey is content to hold one for the sake of a photo, then let it go.

Henry will hold his- tightly- until there's nothing left of it to hold.

49/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Tree trimming time.

48/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Henry sliding down the stairs in the morning.

Audrey sporting a fat lip from falling out of the bathtub, not wanting to smile.

47/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Quiet, stillness, focus. Christmas project time.

46/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Henry in our woods, looking for fall colors.

Audrey in the grass, trying not to smile.

45/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Audrey helping to make pumpkin scones with her "cooking helmet" on.

Henry with his "wrolly cart" in the field.

44/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Henry dragging a branch around the field for reasons only he knows.

Audrey with a pillow on her head and look of mischief on her face.

43/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Henry... well, being Henry... with a bucket on his head.

Audrey trying to make a hay bale.

42/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Audrey at the zoo on the brass kangaroo that stays polished by kids like her.

Henry contemplating the vehicles we pass while out and about.

41/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Audrey in the morning breeze, making castles out of sand.

Henry on his Radio Flyer tricycle.

40/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Audrey walking the invitations to her fifth birthday party out to the mailbox,

and chatting with excitement about the party details.

Henry back with the neighbors' horses, where he could stay for hours if allowed.

39/52

 A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Henry watching a trail of ants, looking so small even though he's getting so big.

Audrey in her hoodie for the first time this season, despite the fact that it really wasn't that chilly.

38/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

A few more from our rainy day- the first one since mid-June.

37/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Henry in the morning, catching me trying to sneak up for a picture from behind.

Audrey in the evening, looking for signs of autumn.

36/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

A green bubble wand diptych today,

photos by Aunt KK.

35/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

A particularly hard day today-

Henry after bath time, trying to hide from his pjs under the yellow bean bag in Sissy's room.

Audrey with her new smile- her tooth busted out by Bubba's head while running around the night before.

34/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Audrey in the quietest room in the house, having a cracker, escaping the tile installers.

Henry in the driveway, talking about his "crazy hair."

33/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Audrey after bath time, trying to keep herself from smiling for the camera.

Henry just before bath time, making sure every inch of skin is covered in sand or grime.