The Cairns Crew
Merry Christmas everybody!
We seem to cut the Christmas letter writing finer each year. As it is now Christmas Eve and we are sending you our greetings from Queenstown. No we haven’t moved back across the ditch. This year we’re doing a family trip around the South Island of New Zealand. We have Ethel (my Mum) with us and so far we’ve had a fantastic trip. John sorted out a great itinerary and I think the highlight for us has definitely been our trip to Mt Cook National Park. It will certainly be hard to top the stunning scenery.
So now we’re roughing it in Queenstown for 8 days. The boys have been very excited to meet their cousins Josh and Molly, see the rest of the family, and of course can’t wait for Santa’s visit tomorrow.
As for news of 2008 – Here goes…..
John started a new job at Maunsell AECOM, as a Project Manager. Connor started Grade 2 and Aidan started Prep. We did a family holiday to the Gold Coast – checked out a few of the theme parks and a had a Ball!! Aidan celelbrated his 5th Birthday with a grand pirate party at home and then a month later broke his arm (tibia and fibula) falling off a playground. It was a compound fracture, so quite traumatic for everyone. He needed surgery to clean the bone, but he was extremely brave during the whole ordeal.
Connor was involved in Soccer, Auskick and Rugby and excelled in his school athletics winning the Grade 2 Cross Country and his class sprint. Aidan missed out on a lot of sport due to the broken arm – but managed to play Rugby at the end of the year. They both had wonderful teachers this year, and did well with their school work. 
Little Bryce continues to grow all too quickly, and is a real joy to have at home. He is talking a bit more now, and is always desperate to keep up with his older brothers. He has just learnt how to swim, which makes things a little easier for us.
John and I celebrated our 10 year Anniversary, with a night away at Silky Oaks Lodge. We also had some solo getaways throughout the year – John to watch Bledisloe Cup Rugby and for a training course; Mine were purely social – a horseriding weekend with a few friends and a timeout trip to Sydney (with Mum) to see Mick and Jeanine.
Apart from that – John works hard and dreams of winning Gold Lotto so he can retire. I work hard (at home) and dream of us travelling around Australia with the kids. Both options sound pretty good to me.
View our Photo Gallery for 2008
Anyway, hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009. John and I look forward to catching up with you all in the New Year!
Love Maz, John, Connor (7), Aidan (5) and Bryce (2)