Slipping through my fingers...

Today it happened. Today my baby Miss E started high school. Why is this such a big deal? She went to 4 different primary schools and I never once worried.She is used to starting new schools. This isn't even a new school. It's just the senior campus of the junior school she went to. I didn't feel so worried when the boys started high school. Is it because she's my baby? Is it because she's my girl? Is it because it ends the primary school era? Is it my fear of an all girls school? Not sure.Maybe all of the above.

Emma seemed fine, although I think she was a little nervous. But that had more to do with getting lost, more homework and having to be more organised in general. So, I have to suck it up and see this as a positive time of growth. I have to enjoy watching her turn into a lady and be proud of who she's becoming. Encourage her to shine and nuture her unique individuality.

Maybe I'm just in denial that I have three high school aged children....

Her big life question after her first day at school? "Random question Mum, but what age were you when you started shaving your legs"
Groan....

Summer Holidays come to an end....

Well, here it is, the end of seven weeks school holidays. I didn't want this day to come! This is the first time we have actually stayed at home during our break, other than one week at the coast. Usually our holidays are spent travelling to visit family so I have loved, loved, loved being at home. Doing so much but nothing at all really. Little odd jobs here and there and plenty of socialising. Did you hear that?? Socialising!! I guess we are making friends! Our general motto in the first 12 months of living in a new place is to never turn down an invitation, no matter how unlikely it seems. Surprise friendships can happen anywhere. So now 12 months later, we are kind of working out who might become long lasting friends. So, it has been exciting to catch up with people, whether it be days out on the boat, or BBQS, or pool afternoons, family gatherings, dinners out or New Years Eve parties. But tomorrow it is back to the real world- school and work routines.

So, this is how our holidays panned out:

Beach holiday

Localised flooding

Christmas in our own home

Time in the garden

Sorting out, tidying up, organising!!

Beginning a mini bathroom makever

Lots and lots of time in the pool

Installing a new mailbox

Acquiring new pets. Ok,so there were originally four and now there is one! Not a good result really!!

Watching the cricket. What's summer without the cricket! (even if the Ashes had a less than favourable ending!) And tonight, the Australian Open men's final.


And that's not the half of it!

But the really big reason I don't want these holidays to end is that my baby, my third born, my girl, starts High School tomorrow! I don't want it to happen! I don't want her to change. I don't want her to grow up. She's going off to an all girls school and we all know how high school girls can be!! Have we made the right decision?? I hope so. Will she go from being my little girl to a moody high schooler overnight? I hope not. She's not finding starting high school any big deal as she is very used to starting at new schools. She's old hand at it. But it is making me very nervous and I'm trying hard not to let her know that. It will be a big day for me tomorrow!

Belated New Years Resolution

My very belated New Years Resolution is to be more active in journalling our new life in the country. I think it's just that everytime I go to write something, I think it isn't interesting. But this is for me, so that doesnt matter I guess.

This is the second last day of the summer holidays and the six weeks break has given me time to reflect. We've been here for a year now and really, it has flown. Ups and downs, but mostly ups.
The downs- the times when I realised that I was never going to be able to just drop in and have coffee with some of my beautiful Adelaide friends. That we were never going to do fun stuff together again just whenever we felt like it, That we were not going to be having casual Sunday lunches after church around the pool with friends again...the list goes on. It really was a grieving process. And the big recognition that Miss E was not going to go through the puberty/teenage/high school thing with her BFF. It would have been greta for them to go through that together.
The other big down part has been hubbys real struggle to adjust to life in the country and away from his dream job. He's a city beach boy, so life in a country town is different and there have been perceived negatives around every corner for him. His outlook here is beginning to improve. But the bigger struggle is giving up his dream job for his family. Deep in his heart he knows it is the right thing, but in reality it has been difficult. You see, he was a test pilot, a very busy always away from home test pilot, and part of the reason we moved was to have him home a little more and to provide stability for the kids. Now he is a flight trainer, teaching wannabe pilots how to fly in basic 2 seater aircrafts. Waaayyyyy down on the excitment and work satisfaction scale for him. In fact, in 17 years of marriage, it has been the first time that he hasnt travelled consistently for his work, or been away for months at a time. That in itself was a real adjustment- actually being at home. So, he has now taken a second job as a permanent casual flying for a rescue helicopter organisation. This has provided professional excitment, but once again, he is busy. Oh well......

The positives- family. This year saw the arrival of a new nephew, 2 sisters announcing they are pregnant, lots of time spent with nieces and nephews, and seeing lots more of mum and dad. I can now just drop in for coffee with my sister which is just so nice. Christmas Day saw 20 immediate family members at our house, and thats with at least 7 missing. Hubby said to me in the morning that he hoped christmas day would be all I had dreamed it would be, and it was. The first time in our married life that we had Christmas in our own home- actually woke up in our home. Never have we shared our home with the whole family, and that was amazing. That's why we are here- family. The bottom line. It can be chaos with such a large family, but I love it. We are blessed enough to have a large enough house to accommodate everyone and a pool to keep everyone entertained. God is good.The other night hubby was watching the cricket in Adelaide and made a comment about wishing we had never left. 13 Mr J's response - "Why would you wish we were back in Adelaide? Here is much better!" Just what we needed to put it all into perspective!

The view from our bedroom balcony- makes it all worthwhile!