It's safe to say that one area we fell short on was blogging in the second half of the year (we won't name any names). As a result, this year's adventures aren't as well documented as in the past (not yet at least), so here's a look at them.
The year began with a big celebration as we rang in the new year (well the 9 pm new year that is) from Chiang Mai, Thailand in the most memorable way with thousands upon thousands of massive paper lanterns, ours included, being released into the sky. It was a bucket list moment that we honestly didn't think we would ever experience, but are so thankful we did. While it could have easily been the highlight of a nearly three week southeast Asia trip over Christmas and New Years there were simply too many memorable moments from eating lunch in the sky over Singapore, breakfast with monkeys, visiting massive temples including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, spending a day taking care of elephants, to a day touring the stunning limestone islands near Phuket. The trip as a family of four was a massive adventure in so many (mostly good) ways.
Upon return to Australia we didn't stop to rest as we immediately moved house (as in that day) just down the road to a place where we have been so grateful for more space than we know what to do. Emma also got to fulfill one of her Christmas gifts with a daddy daughter date to the Opera House. We then finished out an eventful January with a short trip to Melbourne and to spend a few days driving the amazingly scenic Great Ocean Road. And while in Melbourne we made another bucket list check as we made a men's quarterfinal match at the Australian Open to watch Rafael Nadal advance and we completed our own personal "spectator grand slam."Don't worry I don't think any of our other months were quite as busy as January or we would have never made it through the year.
In February Morgan celebrated the big #1 with a party with a few friends and shortly thereafter learning to walk and really cause trouble. The rest of the Australian summer and early autumn were left enjoying Sydney beaches and getting Emma back into a preschool routine three days of the week this year. At Easter we made the trip back across the Pacific to visit family in both South Carolina and Minnesota for two weeks.
We found ourselves slightly better prepared for the "house cold" Australian winter by the time June rolled around and we celebrated both Steve and Emma's birthdays. Steve's was celebrated with a fancy lunch, literally in the middle of the harbour at the picturesque Fort Denison. Emma's birthday celebration was in no less scenic of a location at her favorite harbourside park with all of her closest friends at a pretty cute superhero themed party (we were thankful to break the two year running princess party tradition).
The beginning of July brought a long weekend trip to the Gold Coast (which is about a one hour flight north of Sydney) and allowed Abby to check off her marathon for the year and Emma's completed her first 2k race. While expectations had been kept somewhat low of the Surfers Paradise area, which is known for its skyscrapers along the beach and theme parks, we had a wonderful trip. Not only were the races successful, but we had a great time touring the area including Emma and Morgan's first experience at Sea World. I know as a parent one of my favorite moments was simply watching the two of them interact and embrace these new experiences together. July also marked the big 10th anniversary and we stole a night out to enjoy each other's company for more courses of food than I could count. There's still talk of another special outing to mark the occasion, but life is busy and maybe we'll fit it in before we celebrate the next one!
August was still a little cold, so we introduced American chili to some of our Australian and South African friends with a little friendly competition, and well the Australians beat out the Americans in cooking... We'll blame it on the other Aussie votes, they don't know what good chili tastes like.
Shortly thereafter we found out some pretty exciting news, that baby #3 was on the way. And when the time was right Emma and Morgan found out via scavenger hunt that resulted with Emma saying "but that's not treasure." Don't worry, she's still excited about becoming a double big sister and we are thrilled and terrified at her upgraded job responsibility. And just because we never like to make things dull Abby started a new part time job with a small local children's cancer charity within a few weeks of finding out she was expecting. It has brought a new routine to our house, but is all in all a pretty good balance in our life. It also brought us a new babysitter/nanny for the girls for those days and it didn't take long for us all to see it is one of their new favorite people. September finished with a trip to tropical north Queensland with friends for a fun getaway that included an adult only day snorkeling the great barrier reef and Emma holding a baby crocodile.
Since then the year has flown and sadly we experienced the loss of Steve's dad. We are forever grateful that Steve and Emma were able to make it back to the states to be with family and are comforted for the gift of God's grace and knowledge of his dad's love and trust in it. We look forward to our "see you soon" day.
There aren't many days left on the calendar this year so we are hurriedly filling them and Emma is counting down her last weeks at preschool. She will start Kindy here next February and she couldn't be more ready. Although we are thankful for the beautiful preschool she has embraced and thrived in over the past 1.5 years and will miss it and the friends dearly next year as well. However, in between school ending and starting, we eagerly await Abby's parents arrival for a visit and trip for all of us together to New Zealand over Christmas.
It seems as much as we attempt it this letter gets longer every year. It is probably safe to say next year won't be any different. We are excited and nervous for the changes ahead in 2018, but we look forward to kicking off the year by finding out whether we will be adding one more girl or a boy to our family. We are so grateful for the chance to watch Emma and Morgan's love grow this year - they simply adore one another. No doubt, their ability to comfort one another is truly a gift. We pray that gift multiples next year and pray that you too find that source of joy in your lives in the coming year.
Merry Christmas!
Steve, Abby, Emma, Morgan & baby coming April
Ahhh! Congratulations to all of you! (And also condolences on the loss of your father/father-in-law/grandpa.)
ReplyDelete-Kristin
Loved watching you and following your travels with you darling family. Wondering if the girls have picked up an Aussie accent?
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