Bungendore Olive Pick

We always enjoy a trip to Bungendore. We get to see our favourite people and do our favourite things and we always come away reminded of how special the five years we lived there were and how grateful we are for them. It's really nice to not live too far away that it's possible to do a weekend here and there. This time we were invited to the Pappas Annual Olive Pick. A incredible weekend of picking, food and friends. It was wonderful and such a joy to be part of their family tradition. 

Summer Holidays

What a summer! Probably the best in memory. We had the Ryan cousins come and stay at Avonlea for a full two weeks and it was one big, long, fun sleepover. The days were warm and many adventures were had. The project of the summer was making a movie - written and directed by Tristan Ryan, cast - the cousins. I caught snippets of the action as it was filmed at the river and the dam and helped them acquire a cow skull as a prop but truly have absolutely no idea what it is about. We eagerly await the release! 

The Most Wonderful Time

This was a lovely year of celebration leading up to Christmas and a beautiful traditional Ryan family day, all facilitated by mum's huge efforts. It was inclusive of naps for all and much reading and laying as the weather was unexpectedly rainy and grey and other adventuring was put on hold. Next year is the much anticipated 'Ryan Family Cruise' - where we have all opted for a no present Christmas and to instead enjoy the cruise as our gift. The kids are on board and excited with the plan. With that in mind, knowing Christmas will look different next year, I threw myself into all the Christmasy things I love with the plan to have a little breather from those next year too. It made for an epic and beautiful Christmas season. 

The Moment

In September we had a beautiful experience having a family photoshoot home at Avonlea. The pictures came back more beautiful than I could have imagined. I had really wanted to capture this moment in our lives, at our forever home, with all our children still children. I'm very conscious of how fast they are all growing up. That it won't always be like this. Our life feels like we are at this heightened stage, it takes all that Levi and I have to make it work, like all the best and hardest things are happening to us all at once. We are truly living the long held dreams we've dreamed - owning this beautiful place and raising four wonderful children here, and also trying to manage life and all the things that come our way. What I do know is that I want to hold on and not speed through it too fast. Look at my children's little hands, the freckles on their noses. Breathe in the country air, take in the joys that surround us. I'm so grateful these pictures capture us, just as we are, living the beautiful life we've created. 

Happy 80th Dad

With our Dad's 80th on the horizon it gave us, his children an opportunity to think about how we could celebrate this milestone and honour him in a way that he would feel loved and enjoy. With Hanna's help brainstorming we concluded that a weekend away, just the origin Ryan's would be a lovely way to connect with Dad and do some things that he would enjoy. We chose Fingal Bay and set to work making a weekend to remember. 

Smart, Silly and Six

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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. 

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.

First on the Farm

A nice, simple, quiet Christmas for us this year in our new home. We filled it with the old favourite traditions and food and had a day just us, opening presents, lots of eating, napping and a swim. We are finding out feet and settling into our new life. The first of many Christmas' on the farm to come.

Primrose Gets Baptised

In June Primrose was baptised. She spent a bit of time after she turned eight considering the decision and ultimately decided she's interested in learning more about God and taking this step to show him that. She's a deep thinker and took her time coming to the decision that was right for her. It was lovely to see her confidence in making that decision her own.

A Melbourne Weekend

Melbourne! I feel like Courtney, Mum and I had been talking about taking a trip to Melbourne together for years. This April we turned it into a reality in celebration of Mum and Courtney's birthdays which coincided with the art exhibition 'Rone' at Flinder's Street Station that we were all keen to see. Melbourne was full of things to see, do and eat and we had the full Melbourne experience hoping on and off trams, wandering alley's, admiring art and eating all the best it had to offer.

Milford Track and Queenstown

After a year in the making, Shannon's 'Fellowship of the Sound' gathered from around the Globe to hike the Milford Track together over five days. Shannon and Mirielle wanted to do something memorable for their 50th birthdays so planned a big trip to New Zealand and invited us all along. In the end Eleven of us said yes and made out was to Queenstown to begin the adventure. 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We had a lovely and very full Christmas season this year. December kicked off full of all the festivities. Some traditions live on strongly in our house, like slowly putting up the tree and reminiscing over all of the decoration or our annual Christmas package from the Loker's which we dearly love opening. The house was packed to the brim with gingerbread, which I spent much of the month giving away and eating. And we had our now annual dinner with the Niven's full with great food and company. I love our traditions and the energy of the Christmas season. 

Smile { The Ryan Week Part 3 }

 

We finished our beautiful few days together with a big family, first of its kind photoshoot and there couldn't have been a more magical day for it. The weather had been very rainy over the weekend but we woke to Monday with the sun shining and a perfect day ahead to capture this special moment for the Ryan Family down at the Audley Weir. All together in one place, everyone well, everyone here. 

Queen Mum's Jubilee { The Ryan Week Part 2 }

Our wonderful mum turned 70 this weekend and we celebrated together as the entire, complete Ryan family. It took lots of planning to get here, many logistics, flights, lists and emails but we all made it to celebrate our beautiful mum. All the she is and all that she has given us. We did our best to make it a weekend to remember and it was exactly that. So much fun, love and laughter. 

Courtney's Turns 30 { The Ryan Week Part 1 }

With my baby sister turning 30 we needed something very special to mark the day and a little get away with all of the women in our family felt like just the thing. Timing for mum's 70th meant that we could spend a few days away just the 7 of us before being met by the rest of the family in Ulladulla. Berry was the perfect fit for a relaxing few days doing some of the things Courtney loves and celebrating what a beautiful and treasured person she is to us. And really, we can't believe she is 30! Still my little sister forever. 

Ryan Week

Together at last. It was a joyful reunion as the Tate and Hanna Ryan's joined us at Mum and Dad's in Sydney for a week together as a family. There were hugs all round with cousins gleefully embracing and getting right into play, while the siblings all took each other in with excited conversation of all that's been and will be. It was a full house with all the kids sleeping in the upstairs lounge room for the ultimate sleepover. We were very keen to make good plans and enjoy the time we had together to the fullest. 

Oh Christmas Tree

Mum and dad had a very full house for Christmas with Courtney, the Catton's and the Tate and Hanna Ryan's. It made for many presents under the tree, lots of food, playing games and relaxing - just how we like Christmas day to be. 

Capturing the Cattons

An opportunity came up to have a family photoshoot with a photographer I really admire, Sarah Black . She shoots with film and I really love her candid style and the raw quality of her pictures, they remind me of pictures my mum use to take when I was little. I know that the days are long but the years are short with little kids and I really want to capture my children  in their childhood and our family at this chaotic but beautiful time in our lives.