HAPPY NEW YEAR!! and a late MERRY CHRISTMAS :)

Guy and Luke continue to thrive, and are firm friends. Guy started school this year, 2 1/2 days a week at Ithaca State pre-school. He loved the social side, yet found it tedious learning to write his name, or identifying numbers. Half way through the year his teacher did ask if he could stop asking so many questions!! For his 4th Birthday we gave him a suzuki 50cc 4wheel motor bike, this they ride around the garden and off beaten tracks. Guy's constant care and patience with Luke needs rewarding and whats better than a motor bike.

Now that he is 5 basket ball and bicycles are the "in thing". February 2000 Guy starts school full time, with many friends and is no doubt going to challenge his teacher. Guy also experienced sailing for the first time this year, when we went to England to see Granny and Cuppa, he took the helm and showed us all it was in his blood!

Luke has had a very successful year with few problems on the health front he takes everyday as it comes. After discovering that his teeth were full of holes, due to high fevers and antibiotics, we were relieved that when the holes were filled and 2 teeth taken out he began to enjoy food. As a result he has physically and metally grown a lot. On June 1st this year Luke started walking, he has not looked back since. The biggest suprise to us all is that his feet have not blistered since that day. Luke also mastered the motor bike, yet can only use it in open spaces as he isnt too sure on the brake.

Our trip to England gave Luke a chance to enjoy big gardens, the weather was fantastic so lots of exploring and picking blackberries. Luke got to meet his godparents in Switzerland for the first time, we had a great time and both boys spent 5 days with their eyes wide open. The sled was brought out onto the grass, and they pretended it was snowing! (They have never touched snow). Luke continues to blister, yet it all gets easier, he does like to do things that send shivers down my spine as the skin loss if it all went wrong would be horrendous. Luke absolutely loves bicycles, and helmets, he could ride his tricyle before he could walk. The pool is our next challenge and fingers crossed that this summer he will swim.

Harry has spent the year working for GHD engineering, but resigned 2 months ago, time to move on. He is enjoying spending time with the boys, as it is the first time since Luke was born that the time has been available. Not to mention the amount of things he is doing around the house, afront fence and gate (hand made), spot lighting, gardening and so it goes on. The big improvement early in the year was a new kitchen, Harry did a fantastic job and now I have a wonderful kitchen. Amongst this he has found time to enjoy Grand Prix on the net, ride his bikes, no doubt he will find more projects. A man who just can not sit still!!

I have spent the year wondering where time goes. It has been good having some time with just Luke, so that we could go to his physiotherapy etc. A slow stream of people staying has kept me busy, with new receipes and places to visit. Mum and Dad came for Easter, we enjoyed a relaxing time around the pool, and I loved having someone to entertain the boys. Roz came out just before them, to get her annual tan! It is now time to sort the mess in the house out so that we can accomodate our dear friends from New Caledonia. We visited Sydney in November to catch up with family, Guy made friends with his cousin Christopher, and Luke got pampered by Natalie and Lisa. A couple of trips to the country gave the boys a feeling of space and farming life. Trips to the beach are limited now that we have the pool, yet we are always talking about it.

This year I plan to spend time riding my bicycle ( a new helmet for christmas has inspired me), now that the boys are older Harry and I can get more time together.. The garden needs some serious attention and the pool needs some bodies in it, where has the sun gone? its not even hot here at the moment!

Hopefully all of you will have a good New Year, Harry is working for Rio Tinto and I am visiting friends early on in the evening, then its home with a video and a good bottle of wine!

To everyone that I have not been in contact with this year, sorry! Have a great 2000, Keep in touch.

More Pictures!!