What a year

What a year. Not sure how to describe it really. It started off well and eventful with the new school year and our dream trip to Japan. It was after we got back from the trip when life became especially challenging and we were thrown off-balance in a way. Nicholas just turned 10 and his world seemed to change - new friends and new social situations. Phil and I faced new parenting experiences. Fortunately, with the support of school, family and friends we made it through some difficult months

Despite 2016 being a very different year for us, we did manage to achieve quite a bit. Catherine has learned to read and write this year. Her confidence is growing and her latest aspirations are to be a vet and a pop star. She has also started playing courtyard cricket with Phil and Nicholas which is very cute to watch. And in swimming, she just moved up the next level.

Phil has also had a complicated year with work and as acting head. He did a lot more travelling than usual - mostly to Sydney and Melbourne. Choir commitments also kept him busy with composing and performing his own music. He acquired a nice new used car mid-year which is much more comfortable than his last. Work has promoted him to Associate Professor as well, effective next year. I also give him the best dad of the year award for playing piano lullabies to Catherine as she falls asleep - so sweet.

Part-time work keeps me happy and able to focus on stuff outside of the home for a few days a week. It has also been flexible enough to deal with personal stuff when I needed it. They have just extended my contract until the end of January 2018. I was also able to help with reading in Catherine's class throughout the year. The kindergarteners were always entertaining. I also loved chatting with the kids and hearing their stories. Yoga has continued to help me relax for an hour a week and I am grateful for a couple of quiet times I had away to Sydney and Melbourne.

I'm really proud of our efforts in the fun runs Nicholas and I participated in and am thankful for more of the bonding moments we have had with him. Bedtime now includes meditation together. He got through school camp again and enjoyed doing circus this year. School was his biggest challenge but he ended it on a high with receiving the Academic Excellence award for the year for his class. Both he and Catherine loved the travel we did this year and are eager to go on more adventures again.

Finally, who would have thought we would ever get a dog? I grew up allergic and intensely scared of dogs. But we managed to welcome a furry friend into our family and I think it's safe to say I've outgrown the allergy and most of the fear. Comet has been with us since the end of August. He is a Jack Russell terrier / mutt. He and I completed training class together - highly stressful for me and he escaped once more, but helpful overall. You could say that we rescued him from the pound and he's rescued us mentally, emotionally and physically. I'm claiming my blood pressure has lowered because of him. It's been lovely to see the kids and him interact too. Warm fuzziness all around.

The past year has been quite draining but rewarding nonetheless. We are grateful to be ending it positively and are hopeful for a better and smoother year ahead. Many thanks to our family and friends for your love and support. Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and may 2017 bring you much love, peace, health and kindness.

Best of 2016

Watch
Movies
N: Kung Fu Panda 3
C: Trolls
P & A: The Martian
Family: Babe with CSO live, Hunt for the Wilderpeople

TV
N & C: The Legend of Korra
P & A: Silicon Valley, Travel Man, Mad as Hell
Family: Deadly 60, Rio Olympics

Live
P & A: Tony Martin
A: Kinky Boots
Family: Cricket Big Bash, Baseball Tokyo Giants, The 52-Storey Treehouse, Circus Quirkus

Eat
Family: Sushi train, Okonomiyaki Bonburi and Kiraku Sanjō honten (Kyoto cafes), Ikea restaurant
P & A: Rubicon, Hoi Polloi, Fox & Bow, Patissez Freakshakes

Read
N: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
C: The Terrible Suitcase by Emma Allen
P & A: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami, The Family Law by Benjamin Law, Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

Listen
N: Radask – Take This!, Owl City - Fireflies
C: Emma!, Trolls soundtrack
P: Disappointment
A: Pentatonix, Coldplay - Head Full of Dreams

Go
Family: Japan, Noosa, Merimbula

Do
N: Origami
C: Sing, draw and write
N & A: Parkrun, Canberra Times Fun Run
A: City2Surf
P: Sing and compose choral music
Family: Shinkansen, Pokemon Go, paddle boat, get a dog