Chayse @ 18mths

I remember back to when this little guy was born and so many things about him were just like his daddy. Over the last 18mths as he has grown into a independent, cheeky little guy this has been reaffirmed.
He has grown to be bigger than what his daddy was at the same age, but his mannerisms and cheeky independent nature are so very similar to Josh's at that age.
He doesn't walk much, he runs everywhere, he loves to climb investigate everything. Trucks are his favourite toy playing with them, riding or pushing them around. He is saying so much more now and  loves to copy.
He also knows where all the good food at Granmas house is and that Grandpa will usually give it to him!

Life with Chayse is full on and exhausting but we wouldn't have it any other way, we love him to bits.



Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Football Season 2016

With another season done and dusted it occurred to me that I hadn't done a football post all year. I don't like to fill the blog with too much family stuff, just enough to keep the family interstate up to date.

This year started back in April with a preseason cup across all the leagues, it also saw my three guys spread across three different clubs.
John once again for his 5th year now was sports trainer at Springwood Pumas, looking after all their senior teams. He has after that many years got his routine perfected (mostly) and apart from a few new players here and there knows his team and who needs what treatment and management.
I'm a little bias possibly, but he does an amazing job working from 10am to 5pm most Saturdays for 6months plus two training nights. He would never admit it though.
 

 

My big boy (in more ways than one) started the year at Park Ridge playing a few games there before a few reasons saw him returning to play at Springwood. It was an up and down season for him, illness and injury saw him miss a couple of games. Those games he did play he played well (imho), his team the reserves along with the seniors made it to the Grand Final, which they both lost.  Sadly he didn't get chosen as one of the best 22 on the day so didn't get to play the grand final, but cheered them on from the sidelines rather passionately.

For a second year Dan played at Mt Gravatt having a busy time with work and not always being able to train so settled into the reserve side for the season. Sadly we never got to see more than a few of his games, but made it to the important ones. They made it to finals, and we did make it to watch them,  but got knocked out in the second round.

I spent the majority of games with a camera in hand, trying to get that perfect shot. I then spent many hours at home editing and uploading said photos for the guys to proudly share and make their profile pic's. That person that said many years ago that boys wouldn't be interested in photos should be eating their words about now. The guys are so into shots of themselves playing sport.

Whilst footy season is one we all enjoy as a family at the time, I can't say that I'm not glad its over for another year. Time to chill out, spend some weekends doing what we want to do and hanging out with friends and family for a change.


Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Wordless Wednesday

Things are flat out around here with my to do list never ending. Lots of cool things to share with you soon, but for now enjoy some recent photos of our gorgeous grandson.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Lets celebrate - Chayse turns One

Twelve months ago we celebrated the arrival of our first grandchild. A beautiful little baby boy who turned our world upside down - in a good way.
As a tiny baby he was such a happy little guy, always smiling and a joy to be around. Watching him grow over the last year has been a pleasure and a privilege. There have been many times where he has looked or done things just like his daddy and at other times taking after his mummy. He really is a celebration of both of them.
This last week we celebrated again as our little guy turned one!! The old cliche, where has the time gone. From a tiny little baby you gave lots of cuddles, to this amazing little boy who not just walks but runs everywhere, is learning to talk and communicates in his own special way.
He is a bundle of energy and still a smiley happy little man and we love him to bits.

Here are just a few of the hundreds of photos taken of his 1st birthday celebrations.

 

Happy birthday Chayse!

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Happy Easter

Hope everyone one had a fabulous 4 days celebrating Easter with their loved ones. Our little man enjoyed his first Easter in Tassie with his great grandparents and other family members.
We had a relaxing few days, a baby shower for my niece and a trip to the beach with the dogs. Just nice to have the extra few days to chill out and enjoy.


Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Chayse @ 10 months

Its hard to believe than in a couple of months this little ball of mischief will be 1, the time has just flown. He is growing so quick and has the cutest personality.
He loves to swim and climb and of course loves his food - just like his daddy - he can now say Mum, Dad and bub and is so close to walking.

 

All photos courtesy of Ashleigh Raeburn

Looking forward to spending next weekend on the Sunshine coast and soaking up as much of this little man as we can.

Thanks for visiting 

Lis :) 

Home made decorations

What do you do when you need to decorate for an 18th and none of the shops close to you have 18th decorations.
I could of driven a further 15 mins to other stores, but it was hot and I was sick of being out shopping (oh yes I did just say that) so I went home dejected.
After a bit of moping because I could t do what I had wanted it occurred to me that I was a crafter and had a room full of craft supplies, so why not make my own.
I did have a scrunched up happy birthday banner, so I carefully with a tea towel over it did my best to get it smooth. I then printed out some happy 18th signs and cut into circles, I was going to laminate them but ran out of time.
It needed something else, so I went old school with a pile of coloured paper and my trusty stapler. With my older sons help (mainly his lungs) we add balloons and got it all strung up in the doorway for when Jay woke up the next morning.
It might not have been what I originally wanted but I love how it turned out and the birthday boy thought it was cool.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Maroochy Bushland Botanical Gardens

John and I spent a weekend on the Sunshine coast with the kids a couple of weeks ago and had planned to go to Noosa for a walk around the headlands. The day brought rain and with Josh on call decided that a 40 minute drive to just have rain wasn't worth it.
Plan two was to head to the lake for the day, we did attempt that but with no parking in sight and a little googling from Ash we discovered a botanical gardens.

The Maroochy Bushland Botanical Gardens turned out to be just a 5 min drive from their place in Tanawha and was amazing. Tucked into the natural bushland on the left side of the freeway a total about turn fro the hustle and bustle of beach and tourist resorts on the right.
We checked out the map of the gardens and decided to do the sculpture garden walk which had some amazing stone sculptures, all with significance to the bushland. This walk was easy and didn't take very long and was easy enough to push the pram along the marked path.
Next we headed of on the Lagoon Walk this was a longer walk and at times Ash needed help with the pram. Such a beautiful walk though with amazing scenery and so many things to look at. We were almost at the end of the Lagoon walk when Josh got called into work, so we cut short the walk and headed back to the car.

The Gardens had a few different walks, the two we did and a couple of longer and a bit harder ones as well as some rock pools. We have already decided we need to go back again, this time taking a picnic lunch and exploring it alot more.
The gardens have Modern Arts and Ecology Interpretive/Function Centre and free guided walks on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 9am–10am. Would be a beautiful place for  a wedding too (if allowed) and there are so many places suitable for photo shoots.
If you are on the Sunshine Coast with a little free time then it is well worth a visit.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

2015 - The good the bad and its over

Wow another year gone, its pretty cliche to say that it flew by but I feel like it really did. It was a pretty up and down year for our family but the good I feel outweighed the not so good.
A little trip down memory lane of what our year was like.

We started the year of with everyone taking bets on who would be the first hospital visit for 2015 (everyone expecting it to be Daniel) they were all wrong it was John. Dan had a minor car accident and although his car suffered damage he didn't.

We celebrated Australia day with the obligatory BBQ and game of cricket, the footy season started and there went our weekends. Both boys playing together this year with John in charge of keeping all 3 teams fit and healthy again.

There were coffee and craft dates and the odd (ok many) thrift store trips. Over the year there were 3 funerals of family and dear friends which is always hard.

Perhaps the biggest event of the year was the birth of our first grandchild, gorgeous baby Chayse was born and we were smitten.

John had a trip to Tasmania to help his dad move into a nursing home, Jay got a new job and then later in the year was made full time. He also got his licence which meant no more ferrying boys around for me!!
Jayden had his last doctors visit after a 13  year journey and was deemed ok to be drug free.

We had to move house which was no easy task during the middle of footy season, Josh entered his first strongman competition and came first!

John worked the Uni games again this year getting softball - a few more years and he will almost have covered all the sports!
There were birthdays to celebrate, trips to the beach and fishing as well as a few camping weekends. Josh and Ash moved to the Sunshine coast which was sad but exciting.
I took my photography skills a little further than just footy games this year doing a few formal photo shoots and a family one.

We had a lovely Christmas celebrating with all the family and especially out little mans first Christmas. My baby boy turned 18, I am now officially the mum of all adult children.
We finished the year celebrating with Christine and her family at the RSL.

Sp whilst we had a few not great moments the year was filled with lots of great family moments and always lots of love.

Hope that you all had an a amazing new years and that 2016 is everything that you want it to be.


Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Lets celebrate!

18 years ago we welcomed our 3rd little baby boy into the family. Right from the start he was a little terror, the only one of my babies born with his eyes opened. He certainly had us on our toes and was such a different little baby to the other two.
Today I officially become the mum of all adult children (excuse me while I get a little teary). The last of my boys turning 18 is cause for celebrating and being that his birthday is the day before NYE I'm sure that it is going to be a couple days of huge celebrations and then possibly a day or two of recuperating!
Jayden we are so proud of the man that you have become and all that you have achieved and look forward to seeing what the future holds for you.
Happy birthday mate we hope you have an awesome day xx

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)