What a Sweet Boy

Toby you are such a sweet boy! We had a lovely time at Sam and Lu's for Christmas Eve. Christmas is a very exciting time for any 3 year old, it was wonderful to share these special moments all together.

Our Dinosaur Hunter

Hey ToBy, Looking Good our Dinosaur Man!

Toby has always loved dinosaurs, and does a pretty mean impression of a T-Rex. Though of late Toby has taken a liking to Dragons.

What a joy to have this little man in our family.

WHAT A LITTLE CHAMP!

HAPPY 1ST CHRISTMAS DEAR HENRY.

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY.

Wow look at beautiful Tasmania. This view is from the street we once lived before moving to the US. The magnificent Derwent River, looking down river over Bellerive Bluff to the Tasman Sea.

What a view! Add to that the gentle lapping of waves in the small cove just below, ah such a lovely area.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our boys and their families. So wonderful to spend time together, laughing, joking and just enjoying each other. It was a little chilly, as was all the eastern seaboard of Aust this Christmas, but it didn't dampen our sightseeing. Caught up with some dear friends, time as usual was short and precious, our plan for 2011 is to make many more trips down to make amends. Not least of all the anticipated arrival of our 1st grand daughter. Kara and Rob are due Jan 20th, so excited for them.

Henry our little man.

Dear little man! We are so blessed you have joined our family.

As we see Duncan and Julia graduate year 10 today it is timely to look back, oh how fast the previous 16 years have flown by. From little munchkins just as Henry is now, to wonderful self-possessed young adults in the mere blink of an eye. We all say it, how time flies, my dear friend, Christina, would tell me to live in the moment. Yes, live in the moment, breathe it in and totally absorb each and every minute, it is as precious as gold and slips through our hands just as fast. But I wouldn't change a thing!

Counting down to Christmas.

Look out family here we come.

Hey what a group of great looking folk!

The past 12 months have held challenges that we, as a family, have not faced before. I'm so proud of Sam and Lu. Their strength is inspirational. Well done guys.
Rob and Kara, what a great couple. Baby # 2 on her way in January. Perfect way to start the new year.
So proud of the 4 of you.
Can't wait to be with you for Christmas.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Who was hoping for a wet soggy Christmas in Sydney this year? Not us, but it seems that is what the whole eastern seaboard of Aust will be experiencing this holiday season. A welcome change from drought conditions, all the locals say. Still the weather is warming up, a little muggy infact.

I admit we do miss the build up to Christmas that only a northern hemisphere Christmas can give you. Snowfalls, frost, bare trees, chilly air, hot apple cider, the welcoming smell of cinnamon, gingerbread latte, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the magical nightly snowfall on Bellevue streets.

Yes there is the commercial side to Christmas that we all loath, but I will always remember fondly the giving back that we experienced. Businesses, corporations, individuals all joined in in the celebration of the Holiday Season, that was very special. There certainly isn't the extended build up here in Aust, understandable given the season variation, but we miss it all the same.

Looking forward, we are counting sleeps till we are in Tas and Christmas with our boys and their families. Then off to New Zealand for Clark Family time. New school year starts Jan 31st, that will come around very quickly.