Welcome 2018

 

 

As we leave this year and venture into a new 365 days I can say I have never been more excited!

 

2017 was a fucking shit year for not only me but for my family, friends and acquaintances. I honestly pray that we all embrace 2018 with arms and minds open wide! We all cannot move forward if we bring with us the baggage that kept us down in the passing year.

 

We have all loved, liked and lost this year - some with jobs, finances, ventures and some with family and friends with sickness and tragedy but the important thing to remember is that we have all been challenged and we have learned.

 

I truly send my love to you all and wish that 2018 is magical and that all your dreams come true - please take care and forget the past as it cannot be changed but remember the good!

 

Lots of love to everyone.... from me to you xxxxx

Happy New Year 2014

We farewelled 2013 quietly.... we were heading off to Canberra the next morning so no big parties for us.  Importantly being together as a family is very special to us.

Dinner was a nice relaxed steamboat dinner just the five of us. During dinner others in our neighbourhood were letting off fireworks.

The Murray family wish you all the very best for the New Year...

 

May you be surrounded by family, love, happiness and lots of laughter.

 

Jo Noel Ollie and Alex xxxx

Day 1 of 2013....

Welcome 2013..... hopefully a year that will be definitely better than last year.  Don't get me wrong there were good times, good happenings and lots of memories but it was also filled with some things that I would just rather forget!

So what has 2013 got in store for the Murray family so far..... Alexandria will be starting high school, Oliver is joining the V-Cal (Technical Stream) System of his education, Noel is now a full time employee and knows that his will be busy at work this year already and as for me, with the restructure of my department last year I too will be working long hours and I know that it will also involve a lot more travel.  The family I hope will continue to grow not only as individuals but as one.

Reflecting back on 2012 - so many things were missed along the business of the year.  I didn't blog enough (all my blogs), I didn't enjoy myself enough nor did I laugh enough.  I cried, I sooked and I focused on things that looking back were really not that important.....  So it's time to start all over again.

"Life is a book. every page is a new day,

every chapter is a new month,

every series is a new year."

Last night we celebrated the New Year at home with a few friends, some old and some new.  The Shotter's (Sarah's family) came over.  They are a lovely family and getting to know them last year has been enjoyable.  Sarah and Alex have become inseperable - best friends that's for sure. 

It was good to see Jamie especially happy within himself and the direction in which his life is moving.  He definitely deserves happiness after what he has endured these last few years with my so-called sister.  The boys were not with us last night but we will see them again soon as we now see them on a more regular basis.

We have celebrated the first day of the New Year in a relaxed fashion.  And as you can imagine it was an awesome way to start 2013.  When people finally woke this morning and YES we had bodies everywhere throughout the house a BIG breakfast was cooked and BIG it was.  Not to mention it went down a treat to everyone that was priveliged to be around the table.

Being such a beautiful day also, we decided to take a trip down to Mornington Pier for a walk around and get some fresh air.

It was quite busy on the beach, many in the water although this little black duck wasn't going anywhere near it.  I took some gorjus photos (not to brag but I am getting better with my camera).  It was great just to casually walk around, marvel at the weather and people watch - a hobby I enjoy nearly as much as cooking.

 

A view from Fisherman's Jetty

 

Mam enjoying the warmth.

 

 

Saw this ray swimming in the shallows near Fisherman's Jetty.

 

 

 

Alex and Sarah

 

The family walking along the pier.

 

Boys and their toys (in their dreams! LOL)

Happy New Year - may 2013 be perfect for you all in every imaginable way.....

Jo xx

Happy New Year 2011

I cannot believe that it has been so long in between blogging here. Shame on me I must say.

Firstly Happy New Year ~ from our family to yours we hope that 2011 brings all your dreams to reality and that it is a wonderful year for you all.

So what have we been up to - I can honestly say a lot!! We have been busy busy with the silly season and then New Year and so much more. We have caught up with family, enjoyed some relaxed holiday times and eaten way too much.

Daniel was Christened in early December which was a nice ceremony and a relaxing day back at Sean and Vicky's.

My two men looking very sharp!

Proud parents!

Proud Parents and God Parents

I travelled with work for most of December which was very tiring and included a trip to Tasmania. I also went on site for my first Concrete pour... quite exciting - well I thought so!!

Pouring footings for a garage.

Decorating the tree is always good fun.

Hanging baubles.

The important part of tree decorating - the fairy!

And our newest editions... our reindeer family.

We caught up some old friends at a bbq just before Christmas. People I have worked with over my years at Hanson and it was really nice to catch up.

Donnie and Willy - the bbq kings of Harkaway!!

Joe sharing some festive cheer!

Mark sharing the love!!

Alex had her Christmas concert which was nice. Unfortunately I was the only one that made it as it was during school hours but she was happy that I went. As always she really looked like she was enjoying herself up on the stage.

Grandma arrived from Brisbane the week before Christmas and is staying through to the end of January. Grandma, Alex, Ollie and myself went to a special preview of Yogi Bear in 3D. It was a really good movie. Grandma had never been to a 3D movie before so she really enjoyed it.

Not only were Yogi and Boo Boo there but Santa was there also.

Christmas Eve was an exciting evening with Jamie and the boys coming over for a bbq. It was great to see them during the Festive Season and as you can tell it was a nice night.

A proud Grandma moment!

Opening some presents.

Also with Christmas Eve comes new pyjamas.

Christmas morning arrived and the tree was surrounded by presents. I love watching the kids faces on Christmas morning, madly unwrapping the gifts to see what they have recieved only to be excited by some, occasionally surprised especially when recieving a rubber chicken.

The rabbits and guinea pigs go a new hutch.

And even grandma looks surprised with her new Salt and Pepper Shakers.

We spent Christmas Day at Noel's mam and dad's. An enjoyable afternoon with the whole Murray family including Clare and her partner Grahame that flew in from Sydney that morning. Mam and Dad did a wonderful job with the Christmas dinner - all the trimmings of course.

Plus the usual balloon animal competition.... which turns rather serious!






We relaxed Boxing Day but made sure we still had plenty to eat....


A day trip into the city to catch up with a friend from work saw us walking around. Along Southbank you never know who you are going to bump into?


And near the casino you are never far away from an expensive car....


On the 30th of December the Murray family did a road trip of our Pennisula's to show Grahame what Victoria had to offer in the way of beaches and coastlines. Starting off at Hastings we ventured to Point Leo, Flinders, Ocean Beach, Gunnamatta, Arthurs Seat and finishing off the day at Steeples Bistro in Mornington. Clare and Grahame spent the night at ours then which put a nice finishing touch to the day.

Hastings Pier

Point Leo Surf Beach

Playing "stacks on" Noel

Lunch at Flinders Beach

Brothers having fun with a sea sponge

Noel chasing Christian with the sea sponge!

Ocean Beach, Flinders and the paragliders.

Alex crabbing

Sean and Vicky walking along Ocean Beach!

Gunnamatta Surf Beach

The view from Arthurs Seat

New Years Eve was a quiet affair - just us and mam at home. We had a make shift chinese banquet with nibblies, satay beef and nice chicken followed by sparklers and champange at 12am to welcome in the New Year.

As you can see it has been all go with lots of fun and laughter to close out 2010.... now looking forward to having an even better 2011!

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com