Welcome to 2022 - a long over due catchup!

Happy New Year - I hope you have had a great start to 2022 so far, and who knows what this year will bring?

Glenn and I are both back at work this week after our summer break, how fast did that time go?? After the busy times before Christmas, the past few weeks have been more relaxed with lots of family time, beach trips and catching up with friends. More on that to come!

We've also been getting Hannah sorted with new school uniform and books as she starts high school this year. We can't quite believe it that our girl is heading off to college! 

Hannah's first day of primary school:

Now at 13 1/2 years old, this beautiful girl we are so proud of, passed all of her recent dancing exams with high Distinction marks. These were all completed by video this time, just to add to the pressure.

Hannah was also awarded a Principal's Award at the end of year Prize Giving. 

Another very happy occasion, just before Christmas, was to celebrate my dear friend Kath's special birthday. Our lovely stitching group, just missing our friend Nicky, spent a wonderful afternoon catching up and enjoying some time together.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was a lovely day but with a special person missing it certainly was a very emotional day. My mother in law Heather loved Christmas time, and always had all the treats for us. By being all together this eased the sad feelings and we faced the grief together.

Had to share these pics, I made this paper angel at school when I was about 7 or 8 and it still goes on the top of the Christmas tree at my parents.

This is one of the very first Christmas cross stitches I made for my Mum.

These stockings are always filled and under the tree at my parents on Christmas Day - my one is the Christmas tree and my brother's is Father Christmas. My Mum bought these when we were very little, I was only 2 years old and it would have been my brother's first Christmas.

Boxing Day we spent with my brother in law and sister in law, their girls and Buddy the dog.  It was a super hot day, so like Buddy here, we just chilled out by their lovely swimming pool.

New Year's Day and we packed up the campervan to head out to Kairakau Beach, where we stayed for three nights.  A gorgeous beach here in Central Hawkes Bay I hadn't been here for many years. We were lucky to get a spot right on the beach front, and for the next few days, did lots of swimming, walking, reading and chilling out. Absolutely perfect weather!

Then it was home for a few days, just enough time to catch up on all the loads of washing, repack our bags, get some groceries and we were off again, this time to our favourite beach spot at Blackhead Beach.

We have one more weekend booked out there in early February and a couple of other beach trips planned before Hannah starts high school and her dancing classes start again.

Next time I'll have an update about what I've been stitching, new projects, advent swaps and I'll share the last of the Christmas ornaments and gifts I made for 2021. Until then, take care, and happy, happy stitching.

See you soon xx