2019 Huckers Tournament

This year's Huckers tournament participants were Grandad, Michael, Henry and myself.  

It was a short tournament with Henry winning the first game and Grandad winning the second.  The third game was a nail biting one, with myself and Henry both with one piece left to get in the house.  It all came down to who could roll the right number.  It was Henry who ending up being victorious in winning that third game, which secured him the trophy.  

With Henry present at the table, there seemed to be less drinking and swearing than in previous years.  Corin was also Facetimed in to observe the dying minutes of the games.

Congratulations Mister.  His first Huckers trophy.  Hopefully, the first of many.

Dog beach

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On our way back to Newcastle from Toowoomba, we stopped again in Coffs Harbour for a few nights.  One place that is now a permanent visit when in Coffs is taking Minnie to the dog beach.  She loves the running in and out of the water, chasing and being chased by other dogs, and the freedom of being off a leash.

The travelling Christmas

This Christmas was spent on the road with visits to Coffs Harbour and Toowoomba to see both sides of the family. 

With three kids and a dog in the car, we decided to stay with Dad and Tracey in Coffs Harbour for a night before as a stop-over on the way to Queensland.  The kids were greeted with snow.  (disclaimer:  it was fake).

TOOWOOMBA

  

Tennis trophies

The tennis centre the kid's have lessons and compete through had their end-of-year party.  Both Milly and Buster received awards for their efforts.  The kids were both chuffed.

Coaches Award

Players of the Year
(yes it was a plural on the award, one of a few players of the year)

Milly - goodbye to primary school

It has been a huge year for Milly and one we are so proud of.  Her personal achievements have seen her end her final year of primary school on a high and proven just what kind of character and determination she has.

She has had a very busy year.  She was school prefect, represented the school at leadership conferences and workshops, represented the school in public speaking, a member of the skipping team and skipping demonstration team, member of the school girl's cricket team, had a lead role in the school's whole-school production, performed to sold out shows with her theatre school, started learning tennis and competed in her first tournament, auditioned for the CAPA (Creative & Performing Arts) class for high school selection and secured a place, went to Canberra on a school excursion and saw snow for the first time, was a peer support leader, and ran the school parliament.  Yes, I'm boasting, and why not?  I'm a proud parent.

Her year culminated in her graduation formal where she could celebrate with her friends and teachers and say goodbye to primary school.

Below is a snippet of her teacher's comments in her end-of-year school report:

"Milly has enjoyed a stellar year of success throughout year six and continues to produce stunning results and personal bests in her vast portfolio of completed work samples throughout 2019.  She enthusiastically approaches all learning tasks within the classroom setting and continues to develop a tremendous desire to consistently expand her comprehensive knowledge base.  Milly contributes to all classroom discussions, group work scenarios and informal forums with an insightful and informed opinion.  Her future success in high school will be as a result of her diligence to academic success and aspiration.  Milly has excelled in the prestigious position of school Prefect and not only enjoyed the responsibilities of this position, she consistently seeks new ways to offer her services to the school in a genuine measure of her natural talent in leadership.  Milly is an outstanding student who has demonstrated a positive attitude towards learning in all key learning areas and she always displays a high degree of respect towards her peers and teachers alike.  She leads by example and should be congratulated on her consistent effort in 2019 and her exemplary record in class and the playground.  Milly is a critical thinker who functions best when being challenged with enriched learning tasks and this is coupled with her talent as a public speaker."

Minnie

Double digits for Boo

The youngest has made it to 10 years old and we celebrated by letting him have a birthday party.  Truth be told, we are not great at organising birthday parties for the kids.  Don't read into this that we don't celebrate birthdays.  Of course we do.  As a family, we always go out for dinner.  It's just having a party with all their friends is something we are slack at arranging. 

It had been four years since Buster had last had a party with his friends.  Plus, as the kids get older, parties just seem something done for younger kids.  Henry and Milly both prefer sleepovers or movies with a select few besties.

With a variety of party venues as options, Buster chose Ninja Parc to unleash himself and friends on.  It's a great indoor obstacle course with lots of physical challenges and for a bunch of 9-10 year old boys a perfect place to use all that energy they seem to possess.

Happy birthday Boo!

First trophy

Boo loves his tennis.  He could hit balls all day.  He has a private coach and plays in a Friday night competition that goes for a school term, with players earning points based on the amount of games they've played and their results.  At the close of the last term, he received a trophy for coming first with the highest point score in his division. 

He had been desperate to win a trophy since he started competing at the start of the year.  He was always hoping to get the Coaches trophy for Most Improved, he never dreamed he'd get one for winning his division. 

His smile says it all.  So proud. 

Big Mister

He was once our Little Mister or just Mister, but now that he's almost as tall as Michael and he now has the longest feet in the house, "Big Mister" seems an appropriate title.  I now get his hand-me-down jumpers, and Michael get's his hand-me-down football boots.

So what has Big Mister been up to this year?  Well, he's a typical teenage boy.  Doesn't say much and keeps to himself.  He goes about his day without any drama or fanfare.  He's our quiet achiever.  He loves his dog, friends and family - and probably in that order too.

He played soccer this year with a terrific bunch of boys and is lucky to have a coach that thinks highly of them and is all about them having fun and being respectful young men.  His team made the grand final again this year, only to be beaten in the dying minutes of the game.  He's made some great friendships with these boys and he's signed on to play summer soccer as well.

He's in Year 8 now and has adjusted to high school life, and is still learning how to manage his time with school work, assignments, soccer and gaming.

Other than the usual school subjects, his two electives this year were Computer Graphics and Film Making, and Food Technology.

According to his school report, he is "highly skilled" in the kitchen and we are only now just starting to see his confidence grow in our home kitchen.  He's made himself a few things on the stove top and is good with an oven, but we are still waiting for him to cook us something.  At least now when he gets home from school he can make himself a decent snack to keep him going until dinner.