iPhone Photos September - Part One

In the last few weeks of living in Karratha, life was pretty hectic and my phone was used for all my photos. I'm pretty bad at remembering everything that happened in those weeks as I was flat out busy!  It's all a bit of a blur but I'll do my best at describing what was going on!! These photos are out of order too but bare with me. 

One Saturday morning Kent was away, Mick was away and Clint was away so everyone came to our house for a swim. The girls got into some face paints first! I think Alissa's is hilarious!

Most of it washed off in the pool. 

On Father's Day I was running primary on my own and had to find a little something for the kids to give their dads. I made chocolate chip cookies with these handouts. The kids made and decorated their own cards. 

On Erana's birthday, Serena organised a last minute surprise breakfast. She made this yummy cake too. 

Such lovely Karratha friends, I miss them all!

We tried to fit as many "last" playdates as we could with school friends. The Beaton's were special friends to us in Karratha. Sienna started kindergarten with Charli and Alissa started school readiness and kindy with Addison. They are lovely girls and we got to know them well. 

Clinton briefly joined the church basketball team 'The Saints' before we left town. It is made up mostly of Maori men - hence the pattern on the uniform and Clinton's face. Clint joked that Kent Baker and him were the only "white" men on the team....hmmm. 

Alissa has loved participating in gymnastics and this was her last session at the end of term 3. The obstacle course was set up like the TV show 'Australian Ninja Warrior'. She had a great time!

Her confidence really grew over the years and I was really proud of how she had progressed. 

Janet is the owner/head coach of the Karratha Gymnastics Club and she was always kind and supportive to my girls. I was glad she was there on Alissa's last day. 

Janet even allowed Alissa to get her medal - even though she hadn't finished the year. 

A grainy photo of Harrison and Michael at their special sleepover. They were watching a movie in the pool. 

One of our last boating trips (or maybe even our last boating trip??) in Karratha. We called Leanne on our way out and asked if she'd like to come - she hadn't done much boating in Karratha and was excited to come along! 

I think Michael came out on the boat that day with us too!

Leanne took this photo of all my girls asleep on me on our way home. 

A last dinner out with some of my closest school mum friends. Monique, Catherine, me and Maureen. They were lovely girls and I wish I'd had longer to get to know them. 

Alissa's last day at Kindy, it was a "wear your favourite sports team" day. Her teachers were Mrs Ingrey, Mrs Conner and Mrs Morris. She loved her first experience of Kindergarten and was very sad to leave. 

Harrison's amazing teacher Mrs Campman-Withers took this photo of Harry with his finished Harry Potter marionette puppet. Harrison very sadly said goodbye to this lovely teacher, I wish I had taken a photo of them together. 

Sienna with her year one teacher Miss Alicia and her best school friend Lily. 

Lily and Sienna - they went right through Kindergarten, preprimary and year one together. 

Sienna's other close friend Olivia 

Some iPhone photos of the Branch BBQ at Hearson's Cove 

Alissa and Riley 

When I went into Primary on my last Sunday, they had set up this goodbye on the whiteboard. 

A group photo of the kids and I taken by Amy. I really enjoyed serving in the primary presidency for the last two and a half years of our time in Karratha. I love and miss all the kids. 

A crazy one!

A few photos with some of my closest friends...it was all starting to sink in that Sunday and I was pretty emotional. 

Sienna and Alissa had a playdate at Olivia's house while we were in the midst of moving (Harry was at Amy's house). They were sad to say goodbye to each other. 

A playdate at the park one morning with some families from church. Sienna gave Milly a 'Best Friends' necklace. They have been friends for years and Sienna was finding it difficult to say goodbye. 

Fairwell BBQ at Hearson's Cove

I think some of my posts will be out of order, it's hard for me to remember when everything happened before we left. It was such a busy, crazy time! We hosted our own going away BBQ at Hearson's, just so that no one else was burdened with it and we could keep it simple. We also wanted to thank our church branch for all their support and kindness over the years. We just had sausages in buns and smores on the bonfire..easy. I didn't get to take many photos as it was hard trying to talk to everyone and organise food. It was a lovely night though and I'm glad we had a chance to do it. 

The set up for our bonfire - it was packed later that night.

Clinton cooking the sausages - Kent brought his BBQ and cooked too. 

I let Harrison invite his school friends as they had been asking if he was going to have a "going away party". There's Michael, Harrison, Jaxon, Tobie and Zachary. A really sweet group of boys. 

Georgia and I cracking up when we realised we were dressed the same!

It was very hard to leave Georgia behind in Karratha...it was a goodbye I didn't want to make. Her family is like family to us and it was a blessing having them move to Karratha. We have many happy memories together there, we will cherish them. 

Zara and Shana, I think Zara is thinking, "where is Amy??" haha!

We loved being in Karratha Branch. It opened our eyes to how amazing a small branch can be. Everyone knows everyone else so well and there is help and support that you never get in a big ward. Clint really enjoyed being branch president for the last couple of years and we feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be part of such a beautiful branch. It was very hard to say goodbye to everyone. 

Harrison's 11th Birthday/Laser Tag Party

Harrison had been overdue for a birthday party and originally he wanted a Harry Potter party at our house. He was then invited to a laser tag party at the Youth Shed and changed his mind! I was happy as a laser tag party was easier for me! We organised it earlier than his real birthday as we knew we'd be moving around then and it was during the school holidays when many of his friends would be away. Here are a few of the boys at the beginning of the party (a few were still coming). 

From the left - Zachary, Tyler, Kieran, Jaxon, Michael and Harrison

I didn't take that many photos as the lights are off for laser tag. I only took some photos on my phone. Here are the boys enjoying the party food in between games. 

I told Harrison he could have an ice-cream cake from Wendy's and when we went to book it we saw this type in the display cabinet. All of Harrison's favourites; Tim Tam's, Crunchie and Flake. 

Back to laser tag! Clinton joined in and then Bryan came early and joined in too. 

Now these photos are out of order but I thought I'd put Harrison's birthday all into one post. His actual birthday was on moving day. We were in temporary housing by then and here is Harrison opening his presents. He was SO excited about the Kindle from Grandma and Papa. He loves it and uses it all the time...I'm happy he enjoys reading so much.  

A Lego kit from us 

Harrison's new school in Perth requested that he have a laptop or iPad to use in class. We gave him Clinton's old laptop with the idea that Clinton would upgrade his. Once we visited the school though his new teacher told us most of the kids had iPads. Harrison gave the laptop back and now uses Clinton's iPad. 

We had to meet the removalists at our house at 7am for them to uplift. A quick stop at Macca's for breakfast (because it was Harrys birthday and so early!). 

Harrison stopped in at Georgia's house and they spoiled him with Tim Tam's and money! 

Harry then hung out at Amy's house all day and even went to their swimming lessons and swam at the Leisureplex. He had the best day! We then went to the Tambrey Tavern for dinner and the Pilkington's came too. Another photo with Harry's bestie Mickey.  

Harrison really wanted a sleepover with Mikey for his birthday too. We don't usually do sleepovers but I let him have a special sleepover with Michael as we were leaving and Mikey is such a special friend. They had the best time! I don't believe in fate, I know Harrison and Michael were meant to be best friends in this life. They met each other randomly in Perth at church right before we properly decided to move to Karratha. Our house happened to be in Michael's school catchment and they were in the same class at school every year except for one. They like many of the same things such as LEGO, reading, riding bikes, scootering, swimming, Harry Potter, basketball etc etc. I feel really blessed that they found each other and at the end of 2018 the Pilkington's will move to Perth and be living 10 minutes away!