Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Season's Greetings 2010

Welcome to our family catch-up for 2010.

It has been an amazing year for our family and wrapping it up without Rambling too much is a bit of a challenge, but I shall do my best! The camera has run hot this year, so there are LOTS of photos!
(We have also had multiple photo shoots, with thanks to our favourite local photographer Susan D'Arcy )

We began the year with a party at our home to celebrate Kaitlyn and Ashley's Engagement. It was lovely to gather both families and friends together for the first time.

Sharing tips on being a Mother-in-Law

The happy couple open their gifts

The Bride and her Bridesmaids-to-be

Aunty Dorothy and Nana wonder where the years went

Part of the bridal party - in training!

Father of the Bride makes his speech

In February, Kieran turned 19 and began the first year of his TAFE course. Yvette wrangled all her "babies" together for a photo shoot at the beach.








In March, Melissa celebrated her 26th birthday with a Mad Hatter's Tea Party at home, followed by everyone seeing the new Alice in Wonderland movie at the cinema.

The Birthday girl holds court

Kieran helped in "painting the roses red"

Melissa enjoys the gift from her cousin Lynden

Mad as Hatters

To the cinema!
This busy month also included Kieran, Melissa, Stu (Kieran's best mate) and Yvette taking part in the Melbourne City Romp, which was great fun!
Looking for clues

A cryptic treasure hunt around the City

Teams were encouraged to dress up - geeks ruled!

Melissa, Kieran and Stu met up with Moka and Brent, part of the juggling crew

Moka believes in a balanced diet that includes apples!

A day well spent



April saw Kieran, kaitlyn Ashley and Yvette in the audience to see Spicks and Specks recorded!

Adam Hills was very excited to have his photo taken with Kaitlyn and Myrna
- even the camera was shaking with excitement

Kieran, Kaitlyn, Myrna and Ashley - Myrna being the first of Yvette's
friends to put her hand up for a spare ticket on Facebook and
popping down from Albury for the night!

Yvette also had a couple of days away at the ABA conference.

Yvette's Facebook friends gather for a photo
(um, sorry, ABA Vic Branch gather ..)

ABA Frankston Group volunteers


In May, Yvette and Melissa had a girl's weekend away at the Clunes Back to Booktown event and an unscheduled stop-over in Daylesford on the way home! Melissa, Kaitlyn, Molly and Yvette walked around Albert Park as part of the MS Walk and Run event.

Combined book purchases

Enjoying the sunny weather

Family portrait!


June and the girls were back again at Albert Park Lake, this time walking in the Million Paws Walk event for the RSPCA.






In July, Yvette turned 47, while Kaitlyn and Ashley moved into their new (rental) home together as a couple, moving on from the share house they had been in for 12 months. Kaitlyn also changed jobs - leaving McDonalds and starting at Degani cafe at Karingal Hub.



August came round and Kieran and Melissa were off to Manifest 2010. Melissa had managed to complete all the costumes she was committed to making, despite being diagnosed with an over-active thyroid due to Graves Disease.




August also saw Rodney arrive back from Japan on the day of his mother's 70th birthday, commemorated with family portraits as a gift from us.

The entire birthday party

Coral, Thelma and Gwen - sisters

Robin and Gwen - fifty years married

Suzie, Gwe, Gary, Rodney, Robin

Darryn and Suzie, Brenda and Gary, Rodney and Yvette, Gwen and Robin

Nana and Pa with their grandkids

Youngest to oldest -
Alex, Diana, Rachel, Sarah, Daniel, Jordan, Kieran, Kaitlyn, Melissa

Suzie's family

Gary's family

Rodney's family


September saw the mailing of the wedding invitations, signalling the increase in activity as plans were put into place. Kaitlyn diverted attention from the wedding by ending up in the Emergency department with a badly strained back, giving her some unexpected time off work.




October rolled around, with Kaitlyn barely recovering from the fun of her Hen's Day Out before celebrating her 23rd birthday! In between, she kept busy with fittings for bridesmaid and bridal dresses! Meanwhile, Melissa, Molly and Yvette enjoyed the annual Frankston Pets Day Out.

First, a photo shoot with Susan D'Arcy
A sample of the photos

You can imagine some of the comments made by the general public!


Refreshments BEFORE the chocolate tour

Walking the Bride three times around the magic circle in Block Arcade

Back home for more fun with family and friends





And Melissa squeezed in more cos-play at Armageddon!


November finally arrived before it should and it was the Big Day itself!





A special moment with Aunty Dorothy
(photo by Rachel Richter)


And then suddenly, it is December again and its time to celebrate Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to catching up with you in 2011.

All our love

Yvette & Rodney
Melissa
Kaitlyn and Ashley
Kieran
Merry, Frodo and Molly :)

1 comment:

Loran said...

Yvette, I LOVE this post! It must have taken a long time to put it all together. What a fabulous year you have had. I so want a Mad Hatter's party, that looks like so much fun. Will come organize one for me? I'm only on the other side of the planet, no big deal. Best wishes for another awesome year for you and your incredible family.

Loran