10 things we love about Ethan

Hard to think that it has been 11 years since Eth entered the scene - time sure does fly! Anyway, here are some of the things we love about him.

1. He's hilarious and gives us the giggles regularly.
2. He's great with young children as we have enjoyed seeing on our many different church visits lately.
3. He loves his sisters and is very protective of them. e.g. "who said that to you Sophie -I will hunt them down".......not really..i assume......
4. He is full of enthusiasm for whatever is going on -even the more girly activities.
5. He encourages us with his love of Jesus and His word in the bible -and thinks hard about what it means to apply what he has heard.
6. He moves on and forgives when he has had a fight with his sisters.
7. His sensitivity when it comes to animals who are hurt.
8. His massively adventurous streak and inquisitive nature.
9. His boyish cheek, which he can also rein in when needed
10.Love that he is still happy to hug and kiss us in public and give his grandparents a cuddle too!

Long time, no write!

Hi again - haven't been around much lately, but I guess being back in Sydney we don't have to document everything for the grandparents as we can see them in the flesh! Its been a flurry of activity during our time of deputation (visiting churches to talk about our mission to Fiji) and , being a huge introvert, all I want to do is lie on the couch and watch telly to recover. It has been fun and encouraging in lots of ways, but will also be good when its over and we can actually get on with the stuff we have spent so long talking about.

A nice interruption to it all was my dad's birthday and Ethans birthday. We had a very excited little birthday boy....and Ethan enjoyed it too! ha,ha! We prefer to refer to it as The Birthday Festival here because it seems to stretch out way beyond the day. Anyway lots of fun was had as the pictures show. First though, a couple of pics from our trip to Vaucluse House/ Nielsen Park....enjoying our favourite parts of Sydney while we can!

Birthday boy and his breakfast waffles

The first of many birthday desserts -Bombe Alaska!

Birthday with the Wrights(cake no. 2)

Boys outing to watch some famous player play some game at an oval somewhere??

And last but not least, the Heard celebrations with cake no. 3......we like our food in this family! Below the new pet mice-Lulu and Potsie.

It's been a busy few weeks! First a busy run of birthdays, then Tony off to Fiji to speak at a conference, then a weeks trip to Perisher for our first family ski trip (thanks to my VERY generous in-laws!!!)Now back home and ready to keep going with our deputation at St Albans Lindfield -where it was so good hearing Tony preach again after a bit of a break. Currently feeling very full after a big day of eating celebrating Fathers Day- also feeling very thankful that my heavenly Father gave me a great dad and gave my kids a great dad too.

Geared up for our first ski

Re-fuelling with a hot chocolate and bacon and egg rolls!

So cold she couldn't feel her cheeks but still smiling!

Tony and his parents

Dumplings for Fathers Day lunch

Suva

A possible house for us in Suva

Hannah's birthday!

Well, better late than never! Hannah's birthday was a couple of weeks ago and we now have a 13 year old in the house!! Here's a bit about our girl Hannah:
1. She has a very dry humour which I appreciate.
2. She has gorgeous green eyes.
3. She is a natural with kids.
4. She is a sheer brilliance on the netball court
5. She likes neatness and order...yeehaa!
6. She is a talented designer and drawer.
7. She selflessly puts others before herself.
8. This year in particular she has demonstrated a strong and robust adaptability.
9. She looks after her brother and sister.
10. She is a caring and helpful daughter.

We are very thankful to God for her! Here she is waiting to get her ears pierced with friends.

Pretty nervous at this point!

Cake at Grandma and Papas with the cousins

More cake with friends......and her very "secure in his masculinity" brother....

Cuteness

Soph recently won the Target colouring competition and the prize was a $50 gift card from Target! Seeing she has been off school all week with an ear infection, we headed off to Target to see what took her fancy. (once the antibiotics kicked in!).Here is what she came up with. Seriously, how cute -I want to eat her! Well, that's $18 down and $32 to go!

Computer is finally up and running again -we're back baby!!! Actually there isn't a whole lot to say after that big build up ,now I think about it. We have entered birthday season around here -most notably in 3 short days Hannah will be turning 13! Years of waiting for facebook and pierced ears are about to pay off ! In between sickness, locking ourselves out of our unit, getting used to not having a dishwasher and pretending to enjoy my new gym membership, we have pretty much been putting together prayer letters, display boards for our presentations at other churches and emailing schools in Suva to work out where to send the kidlins.Tony is heading to Fiji on the 16th to speak at a conference and after that to look at schools and housing options for us which is great and not something many (if any)missionaries normally have the chance to do -so we're thankful! Some recent snaps...

Out to watch the boy cousins play soccer

Now you see it.....

Now you don't!

Open Day at school

It's all been a bit quiet here lately blog-wise. We've been busily travelling all round the countryside (ok, the central coast...) as part of our deputation ( speaking to other churches about Fiji, raising awareness, supporters and financial support) and enjoying meeting some super people. Tony also got to speak to some students from Moore College about what we will be doing in Fiji, which was fun and encouraging.....and a great chance to meet up with friends for a coffee,,,or three...or four...!
Other than that, we have celebrated Tony's 38th birthday- pretty quiet really, but not without an enormous amount of sugary goodness! Of course he looks 28 still....and I have no problem with that....

Looking after Pepper at the Lakes camp

Canoeing at camp...bbrrrr...

Powerhouse Museum

Daddy's birthday pancakey/waffley breakfast!

Birthday walk down at Clarkes Point

Playing puppies

I think he was disobedient and was turned into a horse....