Matildas

Quite a strange thing happened the other night.  For the first time in two years three of us left the house to attend an actual event.  Our national women's soccer team The Matildas vs the USA in a friendly match being played in our home town.

It was slightly odd to be out with over 20,000 other people.  The weather was blah but it was so nice just feel some sort of normal again.

The game was a 1-1 draw.

 

Boo - Twelve

 

It's hard to believe the little man is now 12.  He celebrated his birthday the way he likes to, with his family.  I didn't get a chance to make him a cake, so he came with me to the shops and selected his own - a multi-layered rainbow cake.  The traditional family birthday outing was for his favourite meal - breakfast.  Normally he is a poached eggs on sourdough boy, but he seized the opportunity to devour some waffles instead, when he saw they were on the menu. 

Fifty

 

I made it.  There was a time in my life where I couldn't see myself living to 21, so to make it to 50... I'll take it.  My work surprised me with a cupcake tower morning tea (breaking the rules, as no sharing of food or gatherings allowed due to COVID), a gorgeous bunch of white flowers, and an enforced early mark.  I scored on the flowers.  Getting home I was greeted by more flowers from my in-laws and my brother.  

Normally, we would have gone out for dinner; however, Milly wasn't well (terrible hayfever).  We postponed for a Saturday breakfast outing instead.    

The big celebration was meant to be a family holiday to Hamilton Island.  I'd said earlier in the year I wanted to celebrate my milestone on Whitehaven Beach.  Alas, COVID foiled our plans and Queensland's border was closed to us.  We have rescheduled our holiday but will have to wait another year and we can celebrate Michael's fiftieth instead.

Lockdown life randoms

 

Lockdown really became the year of The Oodie.  The kids lived in them during winter.  I even slept in mine on really cold nights.

Minnie has loved lockdown.  Having the kids home all day has meant more walkies and plays on the swings at the playground.

We are lucky to have lots of bush within walking distance from our home.  We discovered some new trails.

Mister finally got a desk and put it together himself.

Uno life.

Boo.

School photos

A bit late in the year for posting the school photos, due to differing photo schedules for the high school and primary school, and of course... COVID lockdowns.  But here they are for 2021.

No, he's not wearing sunglasses.  The photographer was just hopeless.

Randoms - prior to lockdown

 

Thought I'd share some random photos taken prior to lockdown, when we could go out for dinner, go bowling or I could walk the golf course with Michael.

Sporty Mister

Our least competitive child just so happens to be our most active child.  He's gone from a very quiet boy who spent most of his time gaming, to still being a quiet boy who plays both basketball and soccer.

Basketball is a new sport for Mister, introduced to him by some school chums who encouraged him to join their team.  It's fair to say, Mister is the least experienced on the team, but he shows up for training and games every week and is improving all the time.  He's even scored a couple of baskets.  Unfortunately, his team have not won a single game all season.  A few times they've been close, but that has deterred Mister and it's wonderful to see the different kid he is when he's with his mates.  

Mister's soccer team are a terrific bunch of lads.  He plays in defence, usually on the left, sometimes in the centre.  He's not shy of the ball and has a solid kick on him.  If not for another round of COVID-19 lockdowns, his team were a chance for the semi-finals.  We wait to find out the decisions to finish the season.

Big girl bed - sisters doing it for themselves

 

Isn't it amazing what you can assemble with an Allen key?  Milly's bed has always been a hand-me-down from Nanoo.  It was a mattress on a bed base with the castors/legs removed.  It just sat on the floor.  It had served it's purpose since she moved out of her cot as a toddler and she had been asking if she could get a "proper" bed.

Like any savvy consumer, she researched online what style she wanted and we took her shopping so she could see the beds for herself.  With selection made and delivery it was time to put this big girl bed together....and I did...all by myself...with assistance from a laundry basket and pillow.

Birthdays - 14 and 16

The two teenagers lapped the sun again.  They are such great kids, very different in personalities, and both getting exceedingly tall.  The usual celebrations of birthday cake and going out for dinner were followed.

Easter

 

It would seem you are never too old for an Easter egg hunt, with the kids just as keen this year as any year past.  Each year Nanoo holds an Easter egg hunt and she has the perfect garden for hiding the eggs.  It still amazes me how the kids still struggle to find the eggs hiding in plain sight.  

We have a rule that all eggs are divided equally at the end.  The kids get to decide if they'd only like to find their quota of eggs or find as many as they can and then share the spoils at the end.  Usually they choose to limit themselves to their own allocation.

The egg hunt is generally followed by a short game of backyard cricket - as Aussie as you can, played in a pair of thongs.  Photos are also taken with Nanoo to prove now how much she is shrinking but how much the kids have grown since last Easter photo.  Just look at the size of Henry's feet.  Buster has a decent sized foot as well, so maybe there is a growth spurt coming soon.