It is the last day of spring as I write this, feeling very smug and congratulating myself for being so organised. All Christmas gifts are purchased and wrapped, and to-do lists achieved. Before you feel an urge to smack the smug out of me, let me explain…..we head overseas this time next week, so being organised had extra incentive this year! We are ditching a whole month of summer and summer holidays to visit Europe and the UK and survive close to zero temperatures.
The photo on the Christmas card is from this year’s family holiday to Fiji last January – we had a lovely week on Denarau Island just before school started. The kids are hoping next year’s card will include photos from a 2015 white Christmas…we will be spending Christmas Day in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the little three have never seen snow. We took a short break to the Blue Mountains in the June/July school holidays to begin to prepare ourselves, and very quickly realised we are not really ready for the cold!!
Nik had more issues with kidney stones this year and volunteered for day surgery in the hopes of warding off any trouble when overseas. Ross will not want it mentioned, but he has also had some minor health issues and injuries this year, some as a result of the constant home renovations and major house projects he undertook. The man works hard and pushes himself physically like he is in his 20’s…and then soon remembers he is in his 40’s…
Nik thought she would stay out of the way of the renovations and fill up some free time created by all children being at school and return to studying. She now has a Graduate Certificate in Careers Counselling, and is convinced that uni courses are another thing easier to attempt in your 20’s….
Jarrod will be Nik’s first careers client. He has just started year 12 and has no idea what he wants to do beyond schooling. He had more success this year academically and had opportunities such as being able to participate in Young Leaders Forums and put that into practice as a School Prefect, but has given up his part-time job in website design because of school commitments to bands and his focus on 4U Maths and 4U English. Tim has also started to think about his future as he looks forward to work experience next year – he is now the favourite child as he is leaning away from physiotherapy and towards accountancy ☺ Tim went to soccer grading after I told him he was a really solid B grade player, and enjoyed announcing he had made it in to the A team. This gave him an opportunity to play in the State Cup and make it to his grade finals…and prove his mother wrong…
Zac and Sam also loved their soccer seasons this year and are now right into baseball season. Sam hopes to play soccer professionally and Zac still has his sights set on playing baseball in the US. He is training hard for a Little League tournament he has entered next weekend. Both continued to enjoy their extra-curricular sports and activities, including the school dance group which enabled them to perform on the Opera House stage and at the Seymour Centre in the State Dance Festival. Their parents would love some enthusiasm to be channelled in to their school work…
Abi has had another massive year, leaving the security and popularity of primary school and starting high school where she knew no-one. She actually asked me to stay with her on the first day as she could not see anyone she recognised – I was too concerned about this new, shy, less-confident Abi to enjoy that request at the time, but wish I had as she has not really needed me since! She has made a lovely group of friends and loves high school. She has continued with flute, piano, netball, softball and public speaking. Her only absent day was when I took her to the Netball World Cup for her birthday present.
The little three managed to survive at school without Abi, and Belle manages to get ready for school on time without Abi to help her…most days…although Abi then does get home from school most days to find a bomb has hit their shared bedroom. Belle started netball this year and gymnastics with Sam, and after seeing Matilda the Musical for her birthday present has decided her future may lie in musical theatre.
Jarrod has put his work experience to good use and collated photos and holidays on a website he developed. We hope to add some from our upcoming trip over the next month. As we depart for the other side of the world, we wish you the very best as you celebrate this season and its reason.
