This year was full of challenges. We needed to get our renovating to a point we could rent the house and move closer to Matt’s work as travel for him was 3 hrs a day minimum.
Some highlights from this year were –
In January James our nephew turned 18. Justin received his op score of 5 and Bridget 2 awesome result for a lot of hard work! So very proud of you both xo. Finally met Matthew’s Aunty Ngaire.
In February Caity turned 15. Justin started his double degree at QUT and Bridget started her double degree at UQ so proud of them both what a huge commitment.
In March Curtis moved out into the big wide world. Justin and Bridget moved to Brisbane together made me sad and proud all at once. Caity finally got to play paint ball and absolutely loved it. Douglas graduated puppy preschool. Caity and I also went to the Mind Body and Soul Expo and got our first henna tattoos.
Went to the Woodfordia Planting Festival and took Caity it was not as big as the Folk Festival but great all the same. We did a few workshops which were very informative and fun. Caity and I did a plant dying one and dyed a silk scarf then one on upcycling clothes. Matt did a writing workshop then we all did a native bee rescue and Spurtopia which was awesome. http://spurtopia.blogspot.com.au/
In May Justin turned 18 and we had a lovely family dinner at a Turkish Restaurant. Grandad went to Tasmania for a holiday and broke his leg so Thomas and I travelled to look after him. Whilst there Which was our first time, I finally got to meet some of my grandfathers family and got to get some more information on our family tree. I got to meet met my mums cousins from one of the 12 branches of my grandfathers siblings. Four of the McGann branch Colleen, Jeanette, Peter, Sandra and her husband Geoff. Sandra and Geoff very generously took me to New Norfolk for the day so see two of our family’s past homes regretfully are not in the family anymore but I grew up hearing about them and then met another cousin Pat whom my great grandmother raised and my Great Aunty Margaret which was so amazing spending time with her.
In June went to Port Macquarie for Matthews Birthday weekend. Aihyanna and Nathan, Caity and Toms friends joined us. We went to two Micro breweries, fudge factory, and the Bago winery which had a maze and was amazing LOL. Swam in the heated spa which was lucky that the evening we went in was sunny that day cause the next night the kids went down and it was cold. We didn’t know it was solar heated.
June finished with some very exciting new for our family. Lachlan proposed to Tiffany and they got engaged so exciting we love them both heaps couldn’t have been happier with their news.
In July Thomas turned 17 and I made him a pokeball Cake. In August Bridget turned 18. In September Grandad came to stay with us until Lockies wedding. Caitlin met someone special Dylan.
In October Matthew and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary. Family visited, Nanny Zee, Dominic, Zachery, Tahlya and Mikayla came for a weeks holiday. Nanny Lorraine and Poppy John also came to stay for a week. So for the first time we had 3 of the kids grandparents at our house for a sleepover. We also had a small engagement party for Lachlan and Tiffany. Tiff’s Bridesmaids arranged a High Tea Bridal Shower which was stunning.
In November Caitlin finished year 10 and farewelled Lockyer District High School in preparation for our move. Lachlan and Tiffany got married at Canungra Showgrounds which was perfect and beautiful, and then went off on their honeymoon at Port Macquarie.
In December went for a weekend stay at Golden Beach with Thomas, Caity, Dylan and Nathan. Was great the boys went Kayaking and we all played a lot of card and swimming. This month was on of the most stressful ever so the break away was nice. We are blessed to have another niece little Ivy cant wait to meet her. Dylan’s first xmas with us. We went on our epic 24hr shopping journey also Dylan’s first time. Had an op shopping tour for xmas presents which was awesome and we are doing it for next years presents. Matt work Xmas party was a lot of fun we had a trivia night which was great. Looking forward to 2017.