2023 Happenings

JanuaryAfter seeing in the new year we were straight in bed. New Years Day was nice and quiet.  We celebrated Poppy's 75 birthday.That same day there was a fire in the bush behind our house. We went onto alert and chose to evacuate. Thankfully I was home alone. I packed up all our things, got Shelby and went to my bff's house. Luckily the emergency services got it put out really quickly so we were back home that night. Tiger had a week off so we went to Mandurah for a few days. It was nice to spend time with Mum and SD. We saw three of the giants they were amazing. We'll go back when it's cooler to see the other two.  We discovered that the boys love the beach so spent a lot of time there.
T turned 40. We went to his surprise party, it was lots of fun. He had no idea!There were some really hot days so went spent a bit of time at the beach which was glorious. Chai lost a tooth.
I went back to work on the 25th.The last few days of the school holidays were spent at the beach and relaxing at home as it was quite hot. FebruarySchool went back on the first of the month.Eljay started year 4 and Chai started high school. Despite their nerves (and ours), they both had a great day.Tiger took the first three days of term off so that he could get Chai to and from school. 
I worked full time for the first two weeks of school, it was soooo busy but fun.I'm working three days a week this term.Chai lost another tooth!
There are still food and grocery shortages. It's funny the random things that were out of stock. Capsicum was one. Chai was out of stock for ages, then corn chips and then cheese. So random. You never know what you're going to find when you head to the supermarket.
Eljay went to a birthday party at a friend's house and stayed there on his own whilst I went home. He's slowly getting more confident.  
 MarchIt's still quite warm. The nights and mornings are cooler which is nice.Food shortages continue to be an issue. Great Grandma turned 105. We had a family zoom call with her. 
Chai turned 12! We all had the day off, it was lovely spending the day together. We met Poppy for breakfast and had pizza dinner at the beach. Nanna turned 72.I worked full time for two week.s
Scrampy stayed with us for a few weeks whilst he was helping renovate Aunty and Uncle's house. It was nice having him here. It's still quite hot. The temperatures haven't been high but it's been really muggy. AprilSchool holidays!Chai has now finished his first term of highschool. I went to the parent night and they said he's fitted in well and will have no problems finishing high school. We had nice weather for some of the school holidays which was great. It meant we could get out and do things. The first week was pretty wet but the rest of the holidays were lovely. The boys and I had gastro in the second week so it was a nice, quiet week. 
The weather is cooling down so we've had the fire on a little bit. The boys all went out wood chopping which they loved.
  MayEljay started the term with swimming lessons. He passed stage 5 and is now in stage 6.Chai got a merit certificate for having attendance above 90% for term 1.
Chai hasn't been sleeping very well since school went back, it's been rough.It's been cold and wet, just how I like it. Chai lost another tooth. 
Chai's anxiety kicked into overdrive, not fun.

JuneIt's winter!Chai missed a bit of school due to his anxiety. Eljay run his cross country and came 2nd. He chose not to go to the interschool cross country.
Eljay's class ran the assembly, Eljay had three parts and was awesome.Tiger had a few days off work because they're assholes.I worked a lot and finally got myself back to the gym.July After having problems for months, Tiger quit his job.
School holidays are here!Poor Chai came down with that awful flu/gastro combination in the last week of term 2. He had the last four days off school and was sick for 10 days. It was horrible, it's the sickest he's ever been in his life. For the first three days he could barely stand up. The holidays were cold and wet which was okay because we didn't want to go far with Chai being sick. When Chai got better Eljay got a head cold. Thankfully it was only mild.Just when we thought it was all over, two days before school went back Eljay got gastro.Chai and Tiger were next, so they all spent the week recovering.
Thankfully Tiger was off work so he stayed with the boys when I went back to work. At the end of the month Tiger started his new job. AugustEljay turned 10! Double digits! We all had the day off so went out for breakfast (Poppy came too), then went shopping then spent the afternoon at home. It was a lovely day.I worked five days a week for the whole term. It was fun but tiring.We had an appointment with CAHMS but did not get help for Chai.Tiger turned 50!My hair is nearly down to my belly button. It's been years since I got it cut, so I got about 5cms cut off.

SeptemberSchool holidays again. This felt like a very long term, probably because I was working so much. The weather started to warm up so during the holidays we went to the beach a few times.We spent two days in Mandurah and saw the last two giants. They're amazing. It's a shame they aren't here permanently.
OctoberThis month saw the end of the school holidays. I'm back to working three days per week.We went to the Bull and Barrel festival to watch the burning of the bull. My bff came with us and treated us to a lovely picnic dinner. The warm weather is here. It arrived without warning.Chai got a body board and the boys have been having a great time at the beach. Tiger and Uncle J did a two week shut-down.We went back to CAMHS and got some help this time. Chai started medication. My hair is annoying me so I cut it to just below shoulder length. I want it shorter and easier to manage for summer. 
 
November Summer arrived with a vengeance. We went from low 20's to high 30's overnight and had a row of 8 days at 38 or higher.The school year was slowly winding to a close. It was a quiet month filled with work and school. Chai was suspended for 2 1/2 days. I didn't find out the reasons until the day before he went back to school. He shouldn't have been suspended. If they want to suspend him next year I will not allow it until I get the full story.So far we haven't noticed any changes from Chai's medication.
 December At the start of the month we had Eljay's school celebration night. Eljay's performance was great.
I had to do a speech, it went well.Eljay's teacher finished two weeks before the end of term as she need to have an operation. I cut my hair into a bob. I asked for it to be collarbone length but she cut it above my shoulders. I'm not mad about it. 
The school year ended. Chai has now completed his first year of high school!I finished work the day after the boys finished school.These school holidays will be different as we'll have Tiger home more which will be really nice. Christmas was a quiet affair, but nice.New Years eve was spent with friends who have become family, the perfect way to see in the new year.