10/52

This week I only have one photo to contribute to Project 52 - The Lad caught this shot of the Lily Bug as she sailed through the air towards him, expression fierce as she was impersonating a T-Rex at the time. As she so often does. To our youngest daughter, playing on the trampoline is not so much about jumping as high as she can, but about cage fighting. Far as she's concerned, the tramp is a fighting ring, and the opponants are all dinosaurs. With her sweeping kicks, swift claws and savage teeth, B-Rex will get you every time.

See what I mean?

9/52

If you had been in our crazy house on Sunday afternoon and seen the kids smear green paint all over their bods then run it through the kitchen (... the hallway... the bathroom... the don'teventhinkofgoinginthatlounge!!) you would never have guessed Guy Smiley had been in hospital with breathing difficulties during the wee hours of the previous night.

But, despite being awake from 1-4am, and then up for the day from 6am - which we can probably thank a 1am dose of Redipred for - our little dude was a box of birds through most of the day. The kids got it in their heads to do some painting. Of course, they weren't talking about painting on paper. When do they ever actually paint on paper in this house?

It was at around 5.30pm that Guy Smiley (in the guise of Hulk) made his way to the computer and became very very very quiet.

Turns out, even superheros have to sleep.

The Lily Bug - As usual, she was the instigator of the madness. As usual, she kept the household upbeat, made her little brother laugh and kept the ball rolling. The messy goopy paint ball, that is. Sure, the kitchen floor may keep that green tint forever and ever, but it was all worth it.

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

8/52

The Lily Bug - when Granny Greener came up to Auckland for a train trip, we hung out in Devonport for the evening, took loads of snaps, watched a couple of huge ocean liners cruise out from the harbour... And all that time, our dog mad girl couldn't take her wistful eyes of this lil fella running up and down the beach.

Guy Smiley - taking time out to enjoy a refreshing drink during  the second of two birthday parties we attended on the weekend.

Backdating like a mad woman to join in on...

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

7/52

 The Lily Bug - the best way to overcome the nerve-wrecking adrenalin-pumping mortifying terror or hurtling face first down a water slide is to think (and act) like a T Rex. That'll scare them drops of water!!

Guy Smiley - making himself at home during the Lily Bug's school visit. He had been standing on the edge of the fort and, using a long plastic hockey-stick-like-thing as a fishing rod, caught a dozen fish of every size and colour. Most he threw back into the ocean, one or two he ate.... It was a gorgeous game led by his own imagination and initiative. I flicked the camera to video but - idiot me! - Accidently deleted it. :(

6/52

Guy Smiley - our adventure to the relatively new park at Tui Glen fell a little flat when we realised the climbing frames were high and huge, and completely intimidating to our little dude who could only stand on the smallest platform and gaze about in frustration.  I love this photo so much, but could only surprise him into smiling when I told him I had a poo on my head. He looked up and laughed. Fleetingly.

The Lily Bug - climbing the rope at the playground near Narrow Neck Beach. Love the determination.

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

5/52

At the end of another postcard Summer afternoon spent jumping off boat ramps, chasing gulls and dogs and struggling in vain to pull out the ocean's plug, the kids stopped for a quiet (and oh-so-fleeting) moment to stand side-by-side and admire the deep blue, arm in arm. For all the pics that I snapped of them laughing in mid-air as they leapt from the ramp, or in deep concentration as they balanced along its edge, this moment was the one that defines just how beautiful their friendship is. I'm so glad to have managed to caught this scene just as it was, before one of them had a chance to look over shoulder and poke out a tongue - or shove the other one on to the sand ;)

Furiously backdating to join in on the Portrait a Week project at...

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

4/52

The Lily Bug - accustomed to Auckland beaches with long stretches of sand and rock pools at low tide, Waitara's shoreline laden with smooth round stones, driftwood and the odd sun-bleached or cooking-fire charred animal bone, initially worried her. Soon enough, she had discovered a beach stone's purpose in life is to be stacked. Stacked and stacked and stacked.

The Teen - would you believe it? I caught a photo of her. Admittedly, this whole walking-along-the-tracks-hand-in-hand-with-beloved was ever so slightly set up...

Guy Smiley - devastated because he's too little to keep up in a friendly game of ball. Don't worry little peanut, it won't be too long before they'll be chasing you around the field.

Furiously backdating to join in on the Portrait a Week project at...

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

3/52

I love Guy Smiley's lovely soft expression as a friend paints his face. Batman. And once the make up is on, he totally believes it.

The Lily Bug demonstrates her handstands on the trampoline. She's so proud of herself, and refuses to let me back inside even though dusk is well rolling towards bedtime and I'm swatting mosquitos as I stand at the entrance of the tramp, click click clicking...

Furiously backdating to join in on the Portrait a Week project at...

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

2/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Best friends, and not afraid to be seen frollocking through the wilderness (aka overgrown lawn) in fairy wings.

Furiously backdating to join in on the Portrait a Week project at...

1/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

New Years Day 2013 and the Lily Bug and Guy Smiley are trying out their skateboards on Nan's driveway. Just as I used to, once upon a time... :)

Furiously backdating to join in on the Portrait a Week project at...