52/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Christmas morning smiles

You were up before the sun, and down to the living room to see what Santa had brought, before racing back up the stairs to get Dad and I out of bed; your excitement was contagious. The morning passed in a blur of unwrapping gifts, Christmas wishes coming true (the ice cream truck and the camper for your dolls), and intense playing. Despite the excitement in the air, there was a peace about the morning, a sense that right there in the living room, with my girls, us all in our pajamas together, was the best and most perfect place to be.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

51/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017"

Quietly reading....together

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

50/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

It's bitterly cold outside, and after walking home from school what better way to warm up than with a mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.

Look at those smiles! I love you girls so much.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

P.S. Can you believe it - only two weeks to go until the end of the year!!??

49/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Decorating gingerbread cookies!

It's hard to know what you girls love more - the decorating of the cookies, or the eating of the cookies. It's a toss up for sure, and for good reason.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

48/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017"

I stumbled upon the two of you having a top secret "Sister Conference". What are you girls whispering about?

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

47/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

My girls and I in the kitchen, all wearing aprons, and making dinner together.

I love the moment captured here: an ordinary Saturday night in November (hence the darkness), good food on the stove, funny comments and questions from my favorite girls, Bridget stirring the sauce, Claire adding the spices...a simple and happy evening.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

46/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Bridget: Looking stylish and fab (your word, not mine) in your new outfit; I love the necklace. (And at the risk of sounding like a complete and utter cliche, why do you suddenly look so grown up?)

Claire: This week you got to bring home Brooke and her friends from Brownies. You were so happy and excited and there was some serious doll playing going on.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

P.S. I miss the summer when it was still warm and sunny at 4:30 in the afternoon; we were all freezing cold and chasing the last bits of natural light to get these photos...

45/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Bridget: loving being ten and in grade six, loving school, loving synchronized swimming, loving your red jeans, loving singing in the choir.....just loving life!

Claire: carrying on a family tradition - wearing the dirndel that Oma, myself, and Bridget wore before you.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

44/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Claire: The Snow Queen

Bridget: American Girl Doll, Grace

Halloween was fantastic this year. Claire was delighted to be the Snow Queen and Bridget created her own costume - Grace, her favorite American Girl Doll. After hours of trick-or-treating both girls burst through the door with rosy cheeks, wind blown hair, tired eyes....and an enormous load of candy (so much candy!!!).

Much fun was had....and plans for next years' costumes and trick-or-treating strategies are already being discussed.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

43/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

We spent Saturday exploring the forest at Hilton Falls: climbing rocks, walking along leaf covered paths, and feeding the birds right from our hands. The weather was perfect - warm and sunny with just a slight breeze - the perfect fall day.

Bridget was intent on climbing over every rock we saw, while Claire could have fed the birds for hours....

Time in the forest can be so therapeutic; the perfect thing to help you breathe deeply and reset.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

42/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Bridget: Happy Mail - new Star Wars stamps for your collection! (Thanks, Opa)

Claire: ready for the Brownies Enrollment Ceremony where you got to be a helper and welcome all the new girls to your unit. You were so excited, and a little nervous (as usual).

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

41/52

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"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

"Girls, what are your favorite things going on in your lives right now?"

Bridget: making American Girl Doll crafts, synchronized swimming, Girl Guides, swimming lessons, doing announcements at school, lunch room helping, reading, drawing.....

Claire: piano lessons, Brownies, making American Girl Doll crafts, swimming lessons, being in grade three, doing puzzles, reading, spending time with my family.....

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

40/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

On Thursday afternoon you girls headed out into the yard, got the rakes out of the shed, and began raking the leaves. It wasn't long before there was a huge pile in the middle of the yard, and not long before I heard screaming and giggling and saw leaves being tossed into the air. Playing in the leaf pile is one of your favorite things to do: jumping in the pile, throwing leaves at each other, burying yourselves....it is a treasured autumn tradition and "so much fun".

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

39/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Nothing but love for these sweet girls of mine...

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

P.S. The weather has been absolutely bizarre. According to the calendar and the crunchy leaves on the ground, it is autumn, but at the same time, it is so hot. We were all sweltering as I took this picture, wanting desperately to head back to the house and the air conditioning; we didn't have heat like this all summer long, and now we have it at the end of September!!???

38/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Claire: You did it! With fierce determination and whispered words of encouragement to yourself (and after a few tumbles and splats), you learned how to ride your bike without training wheels. It was a happy day, a good day, a proud day.

Bridget: Always crafting. You never stop thinking about what to make for your doll, today it was a boat.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

37/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

The first day of grade three and grade six; two very happy and excited girls.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

36/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

We spent an absolutely beautiful day at Crawford Lake Conservation Area: exploring the longhouses, hiking the rocky trail to the lookout point over the escarpment, walking around the lake, chatting as we wandered along the shaded paths...

Both you girls loved each and every moment we were in the forest. You loved scampering up the rocks, choosing the most difficult path to walk, pointing out berries growing on the forest floor, and counting the number of white caterpillars that we saw.

We had a great family day, for sure.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

35/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

For most of the summer you girls have been in hyper-crafting mode, making everything and anything for your dolls, Jackie and Willow. Using foam, paint, glue, modeling clay, and whatever you scavenge from the recycling box, you have made beds, a kitchen, burgers, lattes, canned food, shoes, couches, pet hamsters, homes for the hamsters, artwork, mermaid costumes, rugs....really anything you can think of. The basement floor is littered with craft debris, a little paint got spilled on the carpet, and there have been a few glue-gun burns, but I have never seen you two more excited and absorbed in anything; crafting is your happy place and you have had a happy summer crafting.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

34/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

A day at Canada's Wonderland. The best part of the day was when we went on the Dragon Fire as a family: a big hill, two upside down loops, a corkscrew and a lot of screaming - our first big roller coaster together. So much fun. We all walked off the ride windswept and laughing.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

33/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Summer fun: running through the sprinkler on a hot day, giggling and screaming.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.