Easter + Parade

Easter is a favourite in the Catton household. Bunnies, chocolates, easter hats! What's not to love. And Easter at Avonlea is very fun, with lots of hiding places and real life bunnies and chickens to share in the search. This was also Lily's first year in the Easter Hat parade and designing and making her hat was a family affair with much planning and consideration. The motif of 'Maypole' was decided upon and our imaginations did the rest. Levi was called in for engineering expertise, Primrose for creative guidance and Lily and I set about bringing the vision to reality. And what a wonderland was created. It makes me want a real maypole. Miss Lily paraded with great pride and many comments at what a marvellous hat she had created. It may become a family heirloom. 

Show Time { Maitland Show 2026 }

Another very fun show year with lots of entries, excitement, big wins and lots of ribbons! As is tradition we had a ride on the dodgem cars and the kids chose a great fun ride flying up in the air. We saw the animas and the cutest bunnies, which we would take taken home but we have reached bunny capacity. The poultry was impressive, we saw a few breeds we liked the looked of and took notes for future reference. Our favourite of course is racing to the pavilions to see who has taken out the most wins! 

School's Back

Big milestone for us this year. All four of the Catton children are in school! Lily is the most excited of course. She has been waiting patiently to start Kindergarten for the past two years. Literally counting down. Everyone else is well and truly in the swing of things. Finley entered Year 8, Primrose Year 5 and Quill Year 2. They were all as ready as they could be. Squeaky clean, new shoes, pencil cases and bags packed. We are excited for everything ahead of them this year. Finley has his debut musical performance in Mamma Mia coming up in June. Primrose has Virtual Academy at school and leadership opportunities. Quill begins karate and is working hard on his reading and Lily has started dance and is starting to learn to read too. We are proud of the little people they are and are looking forward to the the year ahead.

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! 

Master Quill { 2025 }

Our beautiful boy has grown so much this year, in his height (he is almost as tall as Primrose), in his reading and writing and especially in his swimming and bike riding skills. This year Quill really got the hang of riding his bike and there was no stopping him once he got going. We are so proud of all his efforts to give new and hard things a go.

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. 

Family + Fun

We have had such a fun, full, school holidays. We've barely sat down but loved every minute of having family visit, creating fun and going on all sorts of adventures. We had the Ryan's spend a lovely 5 days with us, a quick trip to Sydney in the middle and then Courtney with us for the end. We love sharing our home and surrounds with our family and love that they come to visit. 

7th Heaven

Our little superstar has waiting patiently through three siblings birthdays to FINALLY arrive at his time to shine. Quill turned 7 in a blaze of Pokémon glory. He had all the bells and whistles on the actual day at home with us, plus a birthday badge and lollipops to take into his class. Then on the weekend it was party time!

'Book an Adventure' { Book Week 2026 }

We had another very fun and creative Book Week this year. Lots of back and forth about what books and characters, ideas for how to put together outfits and general excitement for a fun day. Finley went with last years Keefe from 'Keepers of the Lost Cities' and was joined by Primrose as Sophie from the same book. Primrose did a great job hand making her brooch for her cloak. Quill went as the Boy from 'How to Catch a Star'. Sadly his seagull didn't arrive in time for the day but we made an beautiful big star which completed his outfit. Lily had three days in a row of Book Week dress up's at preschool. She went as Willa and the Fairy Princess from Spellbound. 

Little's Snow Day

With our two bigs up in QLD having the time of their lives with the Ryan's, we wanted to do something special with the little two for the holidays and a snow day fit the bill. The Hunter Valley Gardens set up a special winter wonderland with ice skating, tobogganing and snow play. We came prepared with hats, jackets and gloves and even a carrot and buttons to make a real snowman. 

Easter Bunnies

This was our first Easter at Avonlea and was extra special because we had bunnies again! With bunnies and a giant egg hunt, dahlia's still blooming and a lovely breakfast morning, it was just beautiful. A lovely celebration of my favourite holiday. 

Show Time { Maitland Show 2025 }

We went all in with the Maitland Show this year and it was a big one! Ribbons, prizes, 1st places and even a a $100 prize. This year had it all and we loved being apart of it. The competitions give us some fun things to focus on over the holidays, crafting and creating and this was our first year entering the horses which is something I have dreamed of doing. 

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. 

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. 

'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!

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. 

Master Quill { 2023 }

 

This boy is ready for big things! He has had such a wonderful year, enjoying that last year before big school and he is ready as ready can be for that next step. Quill is adventurous, cheeky, determined, loves a good laugh, an early riser, loves to be organised and loves farm life the most of everyone. He is a boys boy, he loves playing with his friends and doing his best to keep up with his big brother.  

High Five

Our little boy is five! In all the chaos of mummy returning from a trip to Canada and only a week out from moving house we paused it all to celebrate Quill turning five. Quill is friend to all and a bit too popular to have a to pick a handful of friends, so instead he invited all the kids on our street and everyone at preschool to his big five birthday bash at the Bungendore Park. And they all came! They have a great time running themselves ragged on the play equipment and returning periodically for snacks. 

Master Quill { 2022 }

Quill has really turned from a little boy to a mini kid this year. He is so independent and loves riding his scooter with the big kids in the street and trying to keep up with his big brother and sister. He definitely doesn't like being held back from the fun and see's the street as an extension of our house, no need to tell anyone where he is off too! Much to mum's dismay. He has grown up so much and is changing so quickly, some days I can't believe how fast it has all happened.