'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!

What a Year { 2021 }

This past year was a really full and amazing year. Especially for me personally. There was something about the effects of the pandemic that flicked a switch in me. Even though we still had a long lockdown during the year, life gradually approached normality and I was eager to get back to it. With the kids getting older and life settling more into its rhythms, there was room for me to take on some projects and go after things that have meaning for me. When I think back on the year, it was a great one with some local getaways, so many good times as a family and with friends and lots of goals met. 

Need I Say More { 2020 }

We started this year clouded in smoke from raging bushfires and ended it separated from family because of a pandemic ... so it's been a bit of a year. 2020 will likely go down as one of the most difficult years of our generation. And although challenging for us in some ways, we've had some wonderful things happen too and lots in between. Life goes on and for that I am very grateful. 

The Year that Was { 2019 }

I've never felt more keenly the passing of time than in the last few years. Time seems to be whizzing past and all that it has given us, the joys, the trials, now belong to the realm of my memories and I feel a mixture of deep sadness, that I can't live in that space forever, and great excitement for all that is to come for me and my family. Every year is full for us, we always take on some new big adventure or task. This year is no different, but it has had a slower pace and we have most definitely had the chance to catch our breath.

Our Home Among the Gumtrees

When Levi told me the golden ticket home had come and he had been offered a position back in Australia - Where?, was always going to be the first question. I knew that Adelaide was very likely so when he said Canberra, I was surprised and a little hesitant. I'd lived in Canberra before of course when I was at uni, it's where Levi and I met, where we left on our missions from ... and where I said I didn't want to live again.

Hop to it Little Bunnies

Oh Easter, how I love you. You're the best holiday. We are used to Easter being in Spring now (sort of), well at least being able to get tulips for the table. I was a little stumped when there wasn't any at the store and then I had a 'where am I moment?' and settled for roses instead. What was cool was that despite it being fall I was able to make a little posy from my garden and we were able to have the Easter hunt outside which was just perfect. 

House of Dreams

Oh lovely house. What a gift you were to me. You were most certainly meant to be ours, even just for a little while and you were our home, so loved and cherished. Never to be forgotten. I'm just sorry that I couldn't uplift you and take you with us, but you belong right where you are, perfectly at home on our lake, all windows facing to meet her for fun and adventure but walls within that tell stories of families, love and happiness.