Miss Lily { 2024 }

Our little Lily has had the most wonderful year. Growing and changing so much, coming into her own little personality and finding things she loves. She is the baby of the pack but she holds her own and brings lots of life and fun to our family. She is keen to be apart of the action but also loves her own little quiet time and is known to fall asleep just about anywhere. She's right at home at Avonlea and we realised recently that this is likely the place all her memories will begin. 

Master Quill { 2024 }

Well, this little boy of ours is not so little anymore. He was more than ready to start Kindergarten after the summer holidays and eagerly took off to class without a backward glance. The year has been full on learning, letters, words, reading, friends and independence. He is grown so much and come such a long way in just a year and we've seen many of Quill's own little unique attributes emerge in the process. 

Miss Prim { 2024 }

What a wonderful, exciting year for Primrose. Full of friendship, fun and new experiences. Oh to be 9 years old and finding yourself and what you love. It's pleasure to watch Primrose living life. She has a beautiful energy and attracts friends and fun everywhere she goes. She has a brilliant imagination and finds joy everywhere, so it goes without saying - she's had a great year. 

Mr Finley { 2024 }

I'm feeling really proud of Finley writing this recap. I've seen so much growth in him this year, so much commitment, determination and resilience. I've seen him really shine and come into himself. We often get the most lovely feedback about him from parents and teachers - Finley is interested, engaged and polite. He is excited about things, a good friend and eager for new challenges. As childhood begins to fade into the teen years we are so excited for all of the experiences and opportunities that await him. Finley was born independent, ready to forge his own way and we can't wait to be apart of the next part of his life with him. It's going to be brilliant.  

Avonlea { Chapter One }

“It’s delightful when your imaginations come true, isn’t it?”

  - Anne Shirley

Finding our Feet { 2024 }

The six Catton's have loved our first full year at Avonlea, at the end of it, I can say that we've passed through all the stages of moving - excitement, overwhelm, fatigue but have arrived now at that nice state of peace where you have your bearings. We've mostly found our feet, the kids are happy and settled in their schools and activities, we know our neighbours, we've discovered lots of the local things that help a place feel like a home and we have made great progress on our vision for Avonlea. We've said it's a 20 year project and I'd say that prediction is about right! 

Smart, Silly and Six

\

Lots of dreams came true for Quill's birthday this year. He has patiently waited to turn six through the months of his siblings birthdays but the wait is always worth it and we finish off birthday season with a band. He had a very specific wishlist and all his wishes were granted. We made sure he had a very special morning. He woke up to a wall filled with pictures of him over the past six years. It was very fun to look back on him as a gorgeous little baby and toddler and he loves having the reminder of all his favourite people of his wall. 

Little Anne of Avonlea

Well Miss Lily made my dreams come true and asked to dress up as Anne of Green Gables for book week this year. She's a true Anne lover and was so excited to be her. Primrose and her even decided to swap middle names, so now our Lily Josephine is now Lily Anne! We will see if it sticks. I made her dress over two days from special green gables fabric I bought in Canada in hope of this day arrive. The apron was made from fabric my grandma left to me. The hat also came from Canada but has been well loved in the dress up box for many years. Lily loved it and it was my absolute pleasure to make it for her. 

'Reading is Magic' { Book Week 2024 }

Another book week roles around and it was all systems go in the Catton household. I love it and it's the one dress up celebration I really get behind so we tend to go all out. We are book week purest, the character has to have originated from a book and the kids spend the month before thinking up and planning their costumes. I think they did great this year!

Just a little Birthday Day Dream

As part of my 40th birthday celebrations Levi booked us a trip to Day Dream Island for 5 days to escape the winter and have some time just the two of us. We've never really had a 'sit on the beach all day' kind of holiday and both of us were looking forward to eating, sleeping, swimming, reading, repeat for a few days. As always this was made possible by my wonderful mum and dad who came and looked after the kids and the farm while we were gone. We both love a little train travel, so we decided to catch the train down to Sydney, do some exploring and take our flight to Hamilton Island the next day. 

F O R T Y

Well it has happened, I'm forty. I don't feel like I imagined I would at forty, I think I imagined some level of maturity that still evades me, more self discipline maybe? Ducks in rows. But I've learnt life isn't so linear. Really though it's only the number that feels slightly unsettling. In truth I feel like life has been very kind in working for my good. The things I have dreamed have come to be, so much so there barely feels like there's time to give all the good the attention it needs. Maybe capacity is the word. I long for the capacity to be all I want to be and live fully in the life I love.  

Birthday Twins

I have a birthday twin - Chloe Pailthorpe. It has been a surprising and very lovely addition to my life, who knew sharing a birthday could be so grand?! I recognised Chloe as a kindred spirit right from our first meeting and we have grown to be the very best of friends over the years. Every year that we have known each other, we have celebrated our shared birthday, the 12th of August with morning tea's, dinners out, going to the movies. I find I look forward to my birthday even more now and it is so true that 'happiness shared is happiness doubled.' Both of us also share the love language of gift giving so each year we have the fun of dreaming up something special for each other and then the joy of opening our gifts and watching the other open theirs. It is truly a highlight of birthday season and a special bit of magic in my life. 

Lily Turns Four

She's Four! Miss Lily has waiting patiently for her birthday to arrive and she couldn't be more excited it is here! She woke up to her her birthday banner and adoring siblings ready to celebrate and open presents with her. The absolute surprise and delight is my favourite thing about the little kids birthdays. I love it. She got the Sylvania families sunshine bus, a mermaid dress up, and electric toothbrush, some new sparkle shoes and some little stick on nails and bracelets. 

On Cloud Nine

Every year as Miss Primrose turns a year older I can't help but look at her and remember the little tiny girl she once was. She isn't so little anymore. Nine years old and growing up into such a talented, vibrant, kind, content girl that ever was. It is a joy and pleasure to watch her grow. We are very often in awe of who she is and feel excited to celebrate her birthday with her. 

A Finley Dozen

We have a 12 year old! It seems just right and crazy how fast the years fly, all at the same time. This is an exciting year for Finley. One more year before high school and teenage hood. I hope you enjoy this age and stage kid, it's a lovely time to witness you grow into yourself while still holding on to some of that childhood magic. We hope you don't lose it too fast. 

Sunshine with the Ryan's

 

The Tate and Hanna Ryan's have been away for one whole year travelling Europe in a campervan and backpacking through Asia. We have missed them! We knew that once that arrived home we wanted to get up to Queensland asap and reunite the cousins and hear all of the wonderful adventures of their trip. We took the kids out of a school for a week and made the drive.

Show Time { Maitland Show 2024 }

We've been waiting a good ol' while to participate in the local show. I thought we'd get the chance in Bungendore but weather, covid and cancellation meant that in the 5 years we were we never got the chance. Moving to the Hunter I was so excited for us to participate in the Maitland Show and we had such a great time preparing entries and attending over the weekend. 

Big School

The Big Day has finally arrived! Quill has started Kindergarten at St Patrick's Lochinvar. He has been excited for months, with all sorts of transition days and great preparation at preschool and club. He had no trouble at all marching straight into class after an extra long hug with mum, The first week we started with just half days and by the second week he was catching the bus too and from and handling it all like a pro.