One week till Christmas, school has just finished for the year, Michael Buble is singing carols in the background, and I am finally sitting down to write a Christmas letter! (I think this is the most disorganised I’ve been…) 2014 has been a year of highs and lows, but December especially has flown by, filled with end-of-year events, presentation nights (5 in four days!!) and festive occasions that have filled our days and nights until now.
The year began as it will end: many social events, cricket matches, a little work and a few days away. The biggest event this year was Belle starting Kindergarten. She was very happy to finally be at school like her siblings. Nik had mixed emotions about no longer having babies at home, but soon learnt to cope. Actually, Ross and Nik felt they should make the most of the suddenly-free time, but after several brunches, lunches, movies and days at the beach, we realised we needed to get back to work and a sense of routine!
Before we managed that, Nik had a sudden kidney stone attack and went to hospital for a few days. Specialists and hospitals was a theme until the second half of the year – as the kidney stones were dealt with, a scary diversion was caused by an episode of migraines and vertigo, that left Nik in hospital for four days in pain and unable to see clearly. Scary! But thankfully tests including an MRI reported no underlying cause, and specialists decided further investigation could only occur if another episode did. I don’t intend that to happen again! Apart from all of that, we are all healthy – honestly!! The migraines might have been a delayed reaction to turning the big 4-0, which Nik did at the end of May. May was also a big one for Ross, who received a medal in a ceremony at the Fire Brigade College for his involvement in the Bankstown unit fire in 2012.
Jarrod had more success in public speaking and debating this year as well as academically, and is still enjoying his part-time job in website design. He has even set up a Jones family website, to which next year we intend to move the Christmas letter. Ross wants us to do a Christmas letter in pictures (inspired by you, Alex Macdonald), so we will work on that over the next twelve months too! His school sends year 10 on “Global Education” each November, and Jarrod really enjoyed working with a team out at Broken Hill.
Tim, Zac and Sam all had some success in competitions at school, and loved their soccer seasons this year. I group them together here because of something else they share in common: they all had braces or jaw expanders put on this year. (Yes, orthodontic work times three…if anyone is looking for me, I’m at work to pay for this…) Zac and Sam continued to enjoy their extra-curricular sports and activities, including the school dance group. Girls were a focus (as was being rejected by a girl of interest, or being dumped for not paying a girlfriend enough attention!). The two boys also started playing baseball this year, with Zac’s new life goal being to play in the US for the Washington Nationals or Boston Red Sox (any excuse to get back to the USA!). Tim’s focus was sport, friends and maths (in that order). He is gearing up for extra responsibility next year after being voted in as a Year 9 school leader.
Abi has had a massive year. Being Prime Minister of the student parliament at school has given her a lot of responsibility and opportunities, as did public speaking and spelling bee finals. She was also successful in auditioning for the regional band playing flute, which gave her the opportunity for extra performances including at the Opera House. She is looking forward to going to high school with the older boys next year, but will miss primary school and all her friends and the people there immensely. And the little three are not sure how they will survive without her, always checking up on them and looking after them in the playground. And Belle has already announced she will not be able to get ready for school on time without Abi to help her!!
Our holiday this year was to Hamilton Island for a week in November, which has been on the childrens’ wish lists since we ducked over there without them for Ross’ 40th in 2010! We had a wonderful time as a family, and with extended family and friends as the primary purpose for going there was to attend Nik’s cousin Erica’s wedding to Sebastian. Abi and Belle were both very privileged to be a bridesmaid and flower girl.
Since then, Ross has been kept busy with house renovations. We are finally replacing our leaking roof, which created a good opportunity to extend our master bedroom at the same time, which identified some flooring which needs fixing, which means there are doors that need replacing, etc etc… Ross will be kept busy for months! He is working Christmas Day, which defines where and how we celebrate this year. Best wishes as you celebrate this season and its reason.
PS. I had photos interspersed in the letter, but it makes it longer than Ross will allow (he limits me to one page so I don’t bore you all), so the photos can be found on the website next year! ☺
