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.

Lily Takes on Big School

 

Well the day finally arrived! Lily is in Kindergarten. She has patiently waited for literal YEARS for this day to come and here it is. She is ready and thrilled it's her turn to back her bag, get on the bus and learn, learn, learn. Every morning she has jumped out of a bed with a 'is it a school day?' There were no tears on her end saying goodbye, but I had a little moment in the car after leaving her. Just so grateful for the years I've had her at home and what a joy she's been. A beautiful way to finish 13 years of my little ones at home in the week. 

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! 

Miss Lily { 2025 }

This has been a really special year for Lily and for mummy. It's Lily's last at home before starting Kindergarten and my last child at home after 13 years. I've been keenly aware of all the lasts, while Lily has lived her best life with preschool (club), nature club and dance and lots of special time with mum at parks and cafe's, going on adventures and having time together baking and crafting at home. She has been very excited all year about school approaching. She can't wait to catch the bus with the other kids, wear her uniform and special shoes and get right into learning and life with her friends at big school. 

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. 

'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. 

Picnics and Ponies

Lily has been excited for her birthday party since the day after her birthday last year. She dreamed up a picnic from one of her favourite 'Anne' books that depicts an amazing picnic scene, three legged races, picnic rugs and cake. She had her new dress on, her best friends around her and the party dream come to life just for her. She was so happy and floating on a cloud for days after. 

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. 

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. 

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!

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. 

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. 

Miss Lily { 2023 }

A lot of growing happens in a year when you are three. Lily has bloomed into such a fun loving little girl . She will always be our baby but more and more we see her transforming into a little girl full of life and personality. She loves life and is always excited to come on any adventure. She loves dressing up and is a true girly girl, dresses, jewellery, hairclips - she loves it all. 

Birthdays and Bunnies

I took a little time on Lily's Birthday to take some special photos with the bunnies. It was lovely to take a moment and capture what a treasure she is to us, with our much beloved bunnies in tow. Lily is full of personality and spark. She is always laughing and playing and reminds me just how much joy there is all around us. Oh to be Lily, so happy and full of wonder. She has my heart and it is a privilege and pleasure to be her mother and watch her grow.