Family News

Congratulations to cousin Adrian & his bride June on their wedding last weekend. They both looked very splendid indeed. It was nice to see some of the family there on the day.

Grandma & Elise at Easter

Grandma/Mum Sandy has had a rough old time in the last week. She travelled down for the wedding only just having recovered from a chest infection. Poor mum then ended up with an emergency dash to Concord Hospital with aspiration pneumonia. Sandy had a few days in intensive care because of all the added pressure on her heart while her lungs were in such bad shape and then worked extremely hard to stablise herself (with a lot of help from the hospital of course). Thankfully she is back in a regular ward and will be recovering slowly. Hopefully she will stay with us in Sydney for a while before she is ready for the trek back to Ballina. Thank you all for the prayers and good wishes.

Catching up with Friends

1. Rohan & Elise hand holding 2. Rohan, Cameron, Merryl & Elise

3. Rohan gives Elise a peck 4. Cameron & Eamonn
We were so happy last week to see our friends the Whytes from Mildura. They were passing through Sydney on their way to Vanuatu. Eamonn & Cameron have grown so much since last time we saw them in 2004. This is the 1st time we had met Rohan who is now 18 months old. Elise and Rohan took quite a shine to each other - holding hands and leading each other around the backyard and the occasional peck on the cheek (unless of course Rohan wanted to play with Elise's toys and then she turned on him!)

5. Kate, Sean & Elise 6. Mick & Alex cutting the cake
We went to a lovely wedding on the weekend of our friends Mick & Alex. It was at St Charles in Ryde followed by a reception at Eden Gardens at North Ryde which was dazzling at sunset and lit up at night. The bride and groom looked truly gorgeous!

Glamour Girl & Ballina

We got some professional photos taken of our gorgeous little girl. Doesn't she look soooo cute in her little outfits!! We'll post some photos out to all the aunts & uncles soon.

1. At Lighthouse Beach 2. In the waterpark

3. At the playground 4. Elise & Aunty Meggy

5. Elise & Grandma 6. Uncle Nige & Elise
Elise and Kate flew to Ballina for Easter. We stayed in a cabin close to grandma and Alan at Lakeside. Lakeside has developed a big play area with a waterpark, mini golf, playground and jumping pillow. Elise loved playing in the toddler water park and never wanted to leave.
We had a girly time -shopping, to Bangalow markets and a visit to the beach. All the Smiths were visiting Nige and Meg as well, so we got to say "hello" and to see all the renovations Meg & Nige have done to their place.
Sean stayed in Sydney to sail and came 3rd in the state competition.
It was very cute to see how excited Elise and Nova were to see each other again when we got home. Elise was tearing around the house squealing with glee when she realised she was home.

Cootamundra & Little Trains

Mick, Ang, Toby, Sean, Elise and Kate all met in Cootamundra for dad/eefa's 10th anniversary. We caught up with Aunty Maureen, cousin Paul & Jodie with their 2 children -Tom & Ellie, cousin Alison, who is expecting her 1st baby in mid June and we also visited Aunty Lena in the nursing home who is now an incredible 97 years old. We stayed in the newest motel in Cootamundra for 20 years!! It was very grand - looking over the golf course. It was wonderful to see everyone and catch up on all the Miller and Bould family news.

3. Bannon descendants at the farm gates. 4. At the cemetery

5. Elise's 1st babycino...mmm 6. Uncle Sean & Toby at the cafe.

7. Kate, Sean & Elise in Coota.

We made a great discovery in West Ryde. Every 3rd Sat of the month the The Sydney Live Steam Locomotive Society Co-op Ltd run miniature steam trains that kids can ride. Our mothers group met up to spend the afternoon there together. It was great fun especially for $1 a ride!!!

1. Daddy & Elise on the train 2. Here we go round and round

3. Elise hanging out with Lucy & Briella.

It's a Girl

We had our 19 week pregnancy on the 19/2. Bubby was wriggling so much that Kate needs to go back again this week to finish the scan. They were able to tell us that it is a GIRL!! YEAH! A sister for Elise. Kate and Sean find agreeing on girls names a challenge, but are more than up for it!!


1. 4D scan of bubby with hand on her head.

We had a busy weekend with a wedding of our friend Breda followed by a 40th birthday of Tracey & Peter Baldwin. The 40th was a dress up theme of "favourite movie characters" which was a lot of fun!!

2. All dressed up for Breda's wedding
3. Kate, Joanne, Martina, Bronwyn, Catherine, Kathy & Cynthia outside the church

4. Kate & Elise

5. Tracey, Peter & Josh at 40th (Baby Baldwin due April 27)
6. Catherine & Bronwyn as "Audrey Hepburn"

7. Shrek & Princess Fiona.

Elise is 15 months old now and running......She is looking a lot taller now - hit a spurt!
We are off to Cootamundra on the 8 & 9 March for dad's 10 year anniversary (hard to believe a decade has passed). At this stage Mick, Ang & Toby are going too. Poor Meg can't get time off work. Kate & Elise are flying to Ballina at Easter to see mum, Alan, Meg & Nige while Sean sails the state titles in Sydney this year.

Happy Birthday Daddy

1. Loving the beach! 2. View from the holiday house

3. Daddy daughter fun 4. Yeah Copacabana!

5. Showing Nana the sights of Terrigal.

6. Elise reading "Where is the Green Sheep?" on the car trip.

Happy Birthday to Sean E.
37 years young. We hope he has a happy day and an exciting year with a new bubby and other wonder-filled adventures ahead of him.

We all went away last weekend to Copa...Copacabana on the Central Coast. Kate needed to get out of the city and the daily routine so she could breathe and refresh her senses.....The weather was pretty bleak on Sat but we made the most of the clear patches. Sunday was a gorgeous sunny day- great for walks on the beach. Elise loved being in a new place (takes after her mother in this regard) - running all over the house to explore and climb. Copacabana was like doggy holiday central so Nova hot to meet a heap of dogs on the beach to play with. Nana and Grandad happened to be in Terrigal for the sailing so we got to say hello to them.

Not long now (Feb 19) 'til we find out the whether the baby on its way is a boy or a girl....very exciting!!! Kate is now 18 weeks pregnant- nearly half way....

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO EVERYONE

14 months old

1. Loves the cubbyhouse 2. Concentrating on climbing...

3. Pretty Blue eyes!. 4. WHAT! Another baby?!

5. Elise and Nova are never far from each other
Well not much to tell you this blog. Where did January go? The year feels like it is well underway. Sean has been really busy at work....Kate has been busy growing a baby, busy chasing Elise and has joined Facebook so there goes all her time and energy.

Elise is on the go- climbing, wandering and carrying items everywhere and emptying everything on the floor. She is responding so much more and is mimicking behaviour like bathing her dolly and patting it to sleep. Amazing to see such a little person in action. Elise is really enjoying playing on the outdoor equipment we are borrowing from the Adlington kids. Big squeals of delight when we go outside!!!!