JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY THIRTY ONE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison & Noah: You are best of friends, worst of brothers, fight pals, lego creators and minecraft addicts. How similar you are, how different you are.

(And growing up quicker than we ever imagined.)

Thank you for letting me document this month - road trips, wet days, warm days, lazy days, full days, school days. And thank you for being part of our one month journey.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY THIRTY

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: Here you are making the family Saturday night dessert. You insist on doing it all by yourself. So helpful, you are. So insistent, you are. So adorable, you are.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY NINE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: when you sleep, there you are - cuddling your favourite teddy, breathing heavily, long lashes sitting on your cheeks, tulip lips, upturned nose. Just a bigger version today than you were nine years ago.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY EIGHT

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

The Lads: "Go on... a big kiss and say how much you love each other!" Ah, first-day-of-school photo fun!

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY SEVEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: To celebrate the last day of holidays, we had our annual trip to the movies. This year, our local shopping centre cinemas have been renovated, and everyone gets a leather recliner. You looked so comfy sitting there, but so small! During The Peanuts movie, I kept looking over to make sure you hadn't fallen asleep, but there you were, making your popcorn last and holding my hand whenever you could.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY SIX

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: This is our dining room wall - filled with your art. It's your very own art gallery. When visitors come, you show them your favourite pieces and describe what each one is. You love drawing, painting, decorating. You become lost in the art of colouring-in, and when playing Pictionary, once the picture is guessed, you want to keep drawing because, "it's not finished yet!"

How we love you, our creative, arty boy.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY FIVE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: Before-school-starts-haircuts. We didn't cut much off today as you'd like to grow it long again - just like Dad, just like Madison. But while it's still short, today we went for a sideways spike!

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY FOUR

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Today, we did some lunchbox cooking, put down the Christmas tree and enjoyed family visitors, but mostly it's been an indoors day. So we took a sunset ride to the end of our street where there's a lovely trail and back home again. A perfect way to end the day. 

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY THREE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

The Lads: Today we spent the afternoon with Aunty Lindy, and what fun you had. There is always so much laughter when she comes to visit. We all love her to bits!

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY TWO

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: So cultured. So proper. Today, you made yourself a little afternoon tea - cheese, biscuits, salsa, watermelon and raspberry herbal tea in a cup and saucer. "This is the nicest afternoon tea," you said as you sipped your tea.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY ONE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: We are home. You and your brother squealed with excitement, raced straight into your bedroom, jumped on your bed, and picked up toys that haven't been played for what seems like months. The first thing you picked up? The blow up baseball bat that you won at the Port Fairy Carnival three weeks ago. (It clearly needs to be blown up as it didn't hurt when you tried to hit me!)

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWENTY

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

The Lads: This morning we are beginning our journey home. The last 10 days have been spent on the road, sleeping in cabins, and spending long days in the sunshine. You are both brown as berries, and have a healthy holiday glow about you. And as I pack, and glance at you through the hotel's plantation blinds, I love how you sit together close by. You are never too far away from each other.

(Now, back to packing.)

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY NINETEEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: Turns out you love Coolangatta and all it has to offer. Today, has been spent swimming and sleeping. You're sunburnt and tired, but oh so happy.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY EIGHTEEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: It's the last day of ATSIM National Camp, and you've had so much fun. Each day has been filled to the brim with activities, crafts and playtime - not only for you - but for the other 400+ people who came too. You're sad that it has to end, but you carry with you the memories on your wrist (yellow band - camp pass, pink band - Aussie World, silver band - Kings Beach).

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY SEVENTEEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

The Lads: Today, you were part of a bus tour that went to Kings Beach with 80 children your age. I have loved watching you and your friends interact. You've made so many friends - new and old - picking up where you left off. It seems you all have the wonderful gift of uncomplicated and beautiful friendships. It reaches without fear, does not recognise differences in colour and culture, and knows no bounds.

(Children have so much to teach grown ups.)

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY SIXTEEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: It's no wonder you sleep so well. You don't stop during the day. Each minute is filled with movement and laughter, interaction and play.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY FIFTEEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: Each day this week has been so full - early mornings, late nights, warm sunshine days, and oodles of fun. Tonight, after your shower, you fell asleep on our bed, right under the air conditioner. Evidence of wonderful memories being made, and sleep that is welcome.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY FOURTEEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: You are our Evil Knievel. You love adventure and aren't scared of a thing. Today we went to Aussie World and you wanted to go on all the scary rides, but alas, were just too short to do so. Of all the rides you were able to go on, this was your favourite. Four turns wasn't enough.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY THIRTEEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

The Lads: Now that we have arrived in Brisbane, we have made new friends, played outdoors, swum and run. There hasn't been much time to stop and rest, except now. This very moment.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWELVE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.
 
The Lads: This is scene happens often throughout the day. There will be play-fighting, there will be wrestling and karate. There will be kicks, punches, slaps, pushes and shoves. Mostly it's happy. And sometimes it even ends there. Sometimes it doesn't.

Ah, boys!

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY ELEVEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Like love, how can you explain this warmth, this feeling? Or seeing this and having your hear hurt from the happiness.

Love Defined

What is love, but an emotion,
So strong and so pure,
That nurtured and shared with another
All tests it will endure?

What is love, but a force
To bring the mighty low,
With the strength to shame the mountains
And halt time’s ceaseless flow?

What is love, but a triumph,
A glorious goal attained,
The union of two souls, two hearts
A bond the angels have ordained?

What is love, but a beacon,
To guide the wayward heart,
A blazing light upon the shoals
That dash cherished dreams apart?

And what is love, but forever,
Eternal and sincere,
A flame that through wax and wane
Will outlive life’s brief years?

So I’ll tell it on the mountaintops,
In all places high and low,
That love for you is my reason to be,
And will never break or bow.

- Matt Dubois -

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

The Lads: Memories are made of this. A motel pool where we played Piggy-in-the-middle. Dad even played too. So rare to have us together with minimal work calls and time just to be. This day was very warm, and as the sun was setting, it was a perfect time for a dip in the cool water after another day in transit.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY NINE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: Another day in the car, another playground to visit. For a boy who has visited many, you still love each swing, each slide. But when I see you lost in thought, I'd pay much more than a penny for them.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY EIGHT

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: As a family, we take road trips A LOT. You are a wonderful little traveler. You transfer from bed to car, sleep in your pajamas, entertain yourself, and generally are a happy spirit. But today you were reticent about changing out of your pajamas into your clothes in the car where someone might see, and said, "I just want to be in Brisbane already!" (We were only three hours into our three-day trip when you said it.)

Lucky you are always ever-smiling.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY SEVEN

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: When you hear the camera bag opening, and the click of the camera, you pull faces like THIS!

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY SIX

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: These holidays we have discovered that you have a gift for pictures. For three nights in a row, you've pulled out Pictionary, set it up, and waited patiently for the fun to begin.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY FIVE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: These shoes - they've been everywhere in the past nine months. The problem is they're his favourite and he won't let them go.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY FOUR

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: Dad finds these old comic books in his favourite second-hand book stores. He finds the perfect ones and brings them home for you. Hours of absorbing then begins.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY THREE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Noah: There is something funny that happens when you start to eat. Suddenly you think of every song in the world you want to sing. Not a meal goes by where you don't hum something whilst chewing on your food.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY TWO

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

Madison: sometimes just looking isn't enough. Our real life laughing clown enjoys an evening at the Port Fairy Carnival.

JANUARY PHOTO A DAY | DAY ONE

PHOTO A DAY PROJECT | A personal project for an entire month taking one photo a day of my family.

It's a new year, and how I celebrate is to pick up my camera and record some special family memories, push myself to a new level, and record some amazing moments. In years to come, I know I will treasure these photographs and be so glad we took the time and effort. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Us: we may be welcoming in a new year, but after eating to capacity at Christmas, a week of outings, long walks, hours on the boat, days at the beach, and staying awake until the new year came in, we are a little weary and taking the first day of the year slowly. This is also the last day that we are all together before our adult children go their separate ways.