Update

It has been awhile since I have written a lengthy account of what we have been up to. So here it is.

Jeff’s little sister Carolyn has been with us now for just over three weeks. She has already mastered navigating her way around Brisbane. She started her Law Degree at the University of Queensland a couple of weeks ago and is enjoying it. The university is about a 1/2 hour car ride from our house but takes a little longer on public transport. It looks like she will be here for two years or more. It has been really nice having her around.

My current job with the Workforce Planning & Coordination Branch (WPCB) with Queensland Health is finishing on the 15th March. However I have been lucky enough to score another temporary role with Allied Health Workforce Advice & Coordination which is a unit under the WPCB so I will already know everybody. This contract is until 1st June but I am currently applying to some permanent positions within the Queensland Government.

Next weekend I will be in Caloundra for the annual girls’ weekend away. This consists of my mum and sisters, my Nan, my Aunts, and an assortment of cousins etc. I haven’t been to the beach for about a year which is really sad considering it is only 1 hour away. Oh well. Jeff and I will then be off to Hawaii for our bi-annual rendezvous with his family. This year we are holidaying on Kona Island (The Big Island) for 2 ½ weeks. I am REALLY looking forward to it. I just need to buy myself a new bathing suit and I’m ready to go.

My sister Melissa and her partner Mike have bought a new house together in Bardon. This is about 15 – 20 mins from our house which is better then the 30 – 45 mins it used to take us to get to her old house. They also bought a holiday unit at Sunshine Beach which is about 2 hours north.

This Saturday I am playing in our Softball Semi-Finals. If we win we will be going on to the Grand Finals. Will let you know how that goes.

Jeff and I celebrated our 4th Wedding Anniversary on 17th February. We went out for dinner and then went to the movies to see “The Good Shepherd”. Absolutely one of the most boring movies I have ever seen, which was really unfortunate because it had a stellar cast (Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, Robert DiNero, Alec Baldwin).

Anyway, I think that is about all I have to tell you.

Take care

Harry Thornton - 3 Months

This is my beautiful little nephew, Harry. He is really starting to show a personality.

Ireland Riley

Apologies for the tardiness of this blog. I have been meaning to post it for ages. Our good friends Kate & Andrew's daughter celebrated her 2nd birthday on the 5th February (As did Andrew. Well he celebrated his 29th but you know what I mean). We still haven't had the chance to meet her yet, but I have enjoyed watching her grow up on Kate & Andrew's blog. She looks like a really fun-loving little girl.

Australia vs. England

Jeff and I saw our first live cricket game last Friday (19th January) with a bunch of his hockey friends. The game is about as boring as watching paint dry but the crowd around us made it far more interesting. Not sure if I will go to another game anytime soon, but for a first time it was pretty fun. The game started around 12.15pm which, in the middle of our summer day, was extremely hot and it didn't help that we were in the eastern stand which is in the sun for most of the day. England was all out for 155 by almost 5pm. It was all over by about 9pm when Australia beat England by 4 wickets and 156 runs. Don't understand what I'm talking about? Well neither did I until last week.

Australia fielding



















England all out for 155

Xmas 2006

Here are some pictures from the 2006 McGill extended family Christmas.

Melissa & Mike (Mike's new headphones)








Harry mellowing out to some groovy tunes











Pop McGill











Everyone

Front Row (L-R) Karina, Luke, Michelle, Josh, Susanna, Katie, Claire
Second Row (L-R) Emma, Felicity with Teagan, Pop, Nan, Kelly with Harry, Amanda with Nicholas, Me
Third Row (L-R) Ian, Kerry, Joe, Faye, Liam with Kaitlyn, Doug, Mal, Mum, Jeff, Dad, Tim, Geordie
Back Row (L-R) Melissa, Mike, Matthew, Bob, Jenny, Ann, Greg


Nan & Pop with Great-Grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Nicholas, Harry & Teagan.

Painting the new fence

Painting of the new fence is now underway.

Welcome Chloe Elizabeth Dale

My good friend in Canada, Lisa and her husband Chris welcomed their first baby on December 12 at 9.52pm (Canadian Time). She weighed 7 lbs 2 oz (approx 3.26 kg) and 20 1/2 inches long (52.07 cm).

Welcome to the world Chloe Elizabeth Dale.

Our Fence - Before

Our new fence was finally installed in early November. Now we have to paint it. A project for our Christmas break maybe?

Plans have been drawn up for our deck which hopefully we'll be able to have done sometime next February, depending on the cost and if our builder is available. I can't wait!!!

Our Fence - After

As you can see in these pictures, the ground is incredibly brown and dry. We are going through a drought right now and are currently on level 4 water restrictions which means that we are only allowed to water our gardens on certain days of the week and only with buckets or watering cans.

Billy Joel

Jeff bought me tickets for my birthday to see Billy Joel last night. It was fan-bloody-tastic. It is one of the best concerts I have been to. He is a fantastic entertainer who really knows how to work the crowd. AWESOME!!!

Harry Malcolm Thornton

I became the proud Auntie to Harry Malcolm Thornton yesterday. He was born at 6.18pm, 8 lbs 11 1/2 oz, 54cm long. My sisterly-intuition wasn't as strong as I thought it was, but who's complaining..... I have a nephew!!!

Waiting to see our nephew









Mummy Thornton









Daddy Thornton









Harry









Proud Auntie

Kelly @ 40 weeks 5 days

I'm still not an auntie yet. Kelly was due last Tuesday so is now five days overdue. If baby doesn't come before next Wednesday she will be induced. My sister Melissa and I have been trying to wake it up by yelling at it through her stomach but it seems to be pretty comfortable. Kelly on the other hand isn't as it has started to get quite warm here.

Media Ball 2006

Jeff and I went to the Media Ball at Parliament House on Friday night. It was really quite swanky as it was made of of mostly journalists, politicians and staff and their partners. It was a sit down dinner and was set up out in the court yard where a lot of press conference are usually held and it is also used a lot for wedding pictures so it is really pretty, but Friday night they had different coloured spot lights all over the place and was really nice. This was Jeff's 2nd Media ball and my 1st and we both had a really good time.

Ruby Turns One

I have been a little neglectful with our number two fur-child and forgot to announce that she turned one on 1st November. It has been a very long year but we have pulled through. She certainly proved to be a challenge.

Kelly @ 39 weeks

Only 7 days to go!!!!

Winston Turns Two

It was Winston's birthday yesterday. My baby is now two years old. How time flies.

Kelly @ 34 weeks 5 days

Kelly, Jeff and I visited my Nana in Toowoomba on Sunday.

New Built-In Closet

Because we had been renting our house for two years before we bought it, I had a hard time feeling excited that we were home owners, but now the house finally feels like ours. We had a new built-in closet installed into our bedroom on Saturday morning and I am ecstatic. It makes our bedroom look much neater and doesn't look as small as I thought it would be.

Our next major project will be a new fence around our property. The gate at our driveway is practically falling off its hinges.


Before

After

Canine Cousins

We went to Nudgee Beach for Father's Day on Saturday and the dogs were all together for the first time. From left to right - Harly, Winston, Oscar & Ruby. Harley is Kelly's and Oscar is Melissa's. They had a big day and both my dogs were asleep within about five minutes after leaving the park.

Kelly @ 30 weeks 4 days

This is Kelly at her baby shower. We had a chocolate high tea with about 25 of her close friends and family.

Isn't she a pretty girl

This picture was taken after Winston & Ruby came back from the groomers. The groomer always puts a bow in her hair. She is now 10 months old.

Kelly's 30th B'day Bash at Gilhooleys

Kelly's new Oroton handbag








The Seibold Sisters








Melissa & Dad








Melissa & Mike








Me & my Hubby








Me, Mum, Gabrielle, Kate, Melissa & Lauren