That's Christmas

The apartment feels eerily quiet today after a very social week of Christmas visits and much feasting. We farewelled David and Ro on their way back to Cairns (and the aftermath of Cyclone Jasper) at the start of the week, then on Thursday night we hosted our annual pre-Christmas celebration with the L and F families. 

Ella and Abi joined the festivities for the first time this year - enjoying the chance to socialise with a group of people they've heard a lot about over the years, while enjoying the rich feasting that goes with these events. We seated 14 people for the celebration this year - a record for us!

 

Ros and Pete arrived on Saturday, after a day of driving the Christmas crowded Hume Highway from Geelong to Canberra. We enjoyed a car free Sunday with them, biking and walking around our beautiful part of Canberra - including a picnic lunch by "our" lake.

Josh and Jody hosted breakfast on Christmas morning - AND the opening of the presents!!!

Ella and Abi made it easy for us this year, having prepared and presented a power point on Google Docs listing all their Christmas wishes and desires. Ella was happy to find her much anticipated blush pink Casio watch under the Christmas tree ....

and Abi was super happy with her haul of goodies too .....

Pandora did well out of us this year .....

This hoodie!!

Night Sweet Thing PJs and the Gymshark gear - that's nights and days covered for Abi!

Ros is no longer the tallest girl in the family .......

More feasting - back at our place for lunch.....

By dessert time the rain had really set in - quite heavy - interspersed with thunder and lightning - perfect weather for enjoying our precious time together.

The young ones headed off to Coogee yesterday, for about a week's stay. Ros and Pete left for the return trip to Geelong this morning - so all is VERY quiet here with all the Christmas festivities over for another year!!

End of primary school

Abi had her year six graduation assembly today and it's her last day of primary school (ever!!) tomorrow. Her year 6 celebration was tonight (at school) and we were able to share some time with her this afternoon before the great excitement of a night of partying with her friends.

It's clear to everyone that Abi has grown up a lot in the past year. She's a lot more outgoing now and much more confident about expressing her very definite opinions on things, usually accompanied by a hilarious sense of humour (what is it about my granddaughters?). 

She is more than ready to take on the challenges of high school next year - just watch out everyone!!

 

Abi's never enjoyed having photos taken but she really got into it this afternoon. I've never been able to take so many photos of her before - and she even seemed to find it fun!

My favourite pose ..........

At this stage Abi was giving us a dissertation on Domino pizzas.

I was thrilled to get this shot of Josh about to drive Abi to her year six party, in the beloved VK Holden.

.. and Rob captured the arrival. The VK can't be missed; it has a very pronounced engine growl ...........

The year 6's party had an exciting start with the DJ's smoke machine setting off the fire alarm. All the kids had to evacuate and wait for the arrival of the fire brigade. Nothing could detract from this night however - in fact the chance of a photo op with the firies and their truck just added another layer of drama to the night.

It's been amazing for us to see Abi grow into the confident, charismatic, capable, smart, sassy and hilarious (and horse loving!) young person she is today - absolutely ready to take on whatever the future brings!

End of high school

Ella finished year 10 this week - the end of four years of high school - more than half of which was affected by the #@*! Covid era. But she's at the end of all that now, and more than ready to move on to the next stage of schooling with its greater independence and different adventures.

Year 10 Formals are big in the ACT - precisely because it is the end of high school, and a real transition point for young people (and often involving breaking with old friendship groups).

Ella's school formal was on Wednesday night and we were lucky enough to share some of the fun of the preparations. 

We loved seeing glammed up Ella - although typical of Ella, she stayed true to herself and kept things very natural and relaxed. This girl is just as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside - which is saying something!

Joshy was the chauffeur, in the hotted up 1985 Holden VK that he's lovingly restored over the past year or so.

First stop in the VK was to pick up Ella's partner - and more photos ........

We'd all moved to the Formal venue by then - the Southern Cross Club at Woden -jostling for position to get the best view of all the arrivals in their fancy vehicles. Abi found a friend and the best vantage point of all to watch the proceedings.

We waited quite a while but finally Joshy pulled up in the VK - the red carpet moment .......

and Ella and Solly emerged - to the biggest cheer of the night from the crowd - they had a lot of fans!

We all noted that Joshy pulled away quietly, keeping the focus on the young people - despite the fact that a few revs from this car would have raised the roof if he'd wanted it to.

Solly's lovely family presented them both with these garlands, a marker of a very special occasion ............

Ella and Solly with their respective grandparents .....

.. and gorgeous Ella with her other grandma ......

We couldn't be more proud of this girl!