Christmas

We had the traditional Christmas eve at Oma & Opa's home and stayed overnight, allowing the festivities to stretch into a relaxing evening without needing to bundle tired kids into the car and go home. It was a full house with Dave & Sara over (with her mum), Tim & Amrit, and all the cousins.

Opa receiving a gift, with much anticipation
Jenna sorting her loot

Ben and Uncle Dave on our forest walk to Silvan Dam

Michelle & Rachel receiving a scrapbook lesson as part of their Christmas gift from Aunty Sara - a bit of a gun with scrapping.

Ben & cousin Megan

The Moule family, Christmas day. Seemed a bit quieter with a couple of cousins in WA but it was great having Peter & Lee here. Our last Christmas at Belgrave Heights, with the house sold. The family is probably going to spread out again with Ian & Julie about to move to northern NSW and Peter and Lee moving on again in a couple of months. Bit of a milestone really. I grew up through my teens and early 20s there and my own kids have absolutely loved hanging out with the cousins there too, disappearing into the bush or somewhere in the house getting up to who knows what. Wildlife & birds, Brothers, Motorbikes, Ash Wednesday fires ripping through, Music, Wood fire hot water, family gatherings, church gatherings, Trees..... great memories

End of school

I am going to jump back to last year to catch up on a couple of posts...

Well its the end of the school and kinder year. Here is Jenna with her teachers at the Christmas performance.

2009 will have all 4 kids at primary school together in grades 6, 4, 2 and prep. We have been very happy with the local school, not least for its local community atmosphere, and Annemarie has been quite involved. Here the families are assembled for the typical end of year Christmas do.

Rachel and her teacher for 08, Mrs Broecker, who she also has again for 09 (grade 6, her final year at primary school)

We said farewell to Mr Rose, the principal for the last 5 years. We can't speak highly enough of him.

Ben and Miss Paton, his grade 1 teacher in 08

Michelle and her grade 3 teacher in 08 Mrs Nicol