MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM THE LORD

FAMILY 2015 in words and pictures

Another year at

school for the

children

This year Cadence

completed Year 5 and

Emerson Year 3. It’s

difficult to believe our girl

has just one more year

of primary school before

heading off to high

school. This was the

obligatory first day of

school photo. Cadence

decided to have her hair

shorter this year and it

really suits her. They

have both had terrific

years at school, despite

missing all of Term 2

(more about that soon).

Term 1 was

about getting

ready for the trip

Both Laurie and I had

long service leave and

made a decision that we

would travel around

Australia with the kids in

a camper trailer for 13

weeks. Crazy, huh?

Well it was now or never

with the age of the

children and so Term 1

was spent working hard

at work and at home so

we were all ready to go.

If you’re familiar with the

Alison Lester book, Are

We There Yet, then

you’ll know what we

did…

Where did we

go?

We travelled 13 000kms

in 13 weeks and went

across the Nullarbor

from Perth, down to

Melbourne, across to

Tasmania, up through

Sydney as far north as

the Whitsunday Islands,

down the coast and then

in to Canberra, a few

days in the snow and

followed the Murray

River along the border

before heading home in

time for Term 3. It was

an absolutely fabulous

adventure and we wish

we could have gone for

longer.

A few photos

from the trip

While we were away we

kept a travel blog.

Maybe you followed us?

If not and you really

want the full story of

where we went and what

we did, you can find us

on Travelpod.

Rather than bore you all

silly with the details,

here’s a few pictures of

what we got up to in 13

weeks…

Back to Perth

and straight into

winter sport

We missed most of the

Auskick and Netball

seasons but registered

before we left for both

and then on our return

from the big trip it was

straight back into netball

on Saturday mornings

and football on Sunday

mornings. Cadence’s

team had great success

this year, being coached

by an older sister of one

of the girls and Emerson

had terrific fun being

allowed to ‘wrap tackle’

and move a bit further

around the field.

…and school

We did do some

schooling on the road in

Term 2 and certainly

participated in a lot of

VERY educational

activities. Nevertheless

there was a little bit of

catching up to do,

especially in piano and

violin. Emerson

performed in his little

piano concert in Term 3

and both Cadence and

Emerson participated in

school music festivals

with the string ensemble

and choir.

…and school

Emerson won an award

at the local shire council

– Mayor for the Day,

after his passionate

speech about what he

would do as the Mayor.

We think maybe that

tour of Parliament in

Canberra and getting to

see Question Time in

action might have had

some impact after all…

Ann’s year

It’s been another year of

balancing my two work

loves - three and a half

days per week with the

Department of

Education’s School

Psychology Service and

a bit of wedding work on

weekends. My office is

moving to Padbury

(about six minutes away

from home) early in

2016 and I continue to

get a real kick out of

meeting some terrific

people and helping them

to celebrate one of the

best days of their lives.

www.annlord.com.au

Laurie’s year

Laurie is taking a well

earned break for a few

days after a very

successful year for Willie

Creek Pearls.

They won Western

Australian Tourism

Awards, updated their

website, opened three

separate eateries in

Broome, bought a boat

oh, and a pearling

licence. You can read

more about all that on

the Willie Creek Pearls

blog.

Here’s a cool little video

about the Pearl Farm,

just north of Broome.

Our new

addition - Stella

Following the passing of

our beloved Lucy some

three years ago, we

decided it was time to

add to the family again.

Just a few weeks ago

we welcomed Stella, the

two year old rescue

Staffy to our family.

She’s a Kalgoorlie gal

and has settled in

beautifully.

Merry

Christmas

Best wishes to you and

your family for the

festive season and

2016.

We are having a holiday

at home this summer,

enjoying the beach, our

pool and our renovation

and extension that finally

feels like it is almost

finished.

Ann, Laurie, Cadence

and Emerson Lord.

XXXXX