Dear family & friends

 

It seems like I have only just finished the last letter but apparently that was 11 months ago. If anyone can explain to me what happened to 2011 I am only to keen to find out…

 

Last year finished off with a bang with Phoebe & Brent’s wedding in our backyard. Apart from the pending arrival of grandkid #1 in February, we were expecting a relatively quite year. Like that was ever going to happen around here!

 

 

February 17, 2011 saw the arrival of Brooklyn Willow Phillips. Tracy had travelled to WA a week prior on Phoebe’s invitation to be present for the birth of our granddaughter. The birth was relatively uneventful and reports are that Phoebe did a good job. To say that we were not happy with our granddaughter would be an understatement.

 

Luckily, for us Phoebe and Brooklyn have come home a few times for extended periods throughout the year. This came about due to Brent being at sea during these periods. This has meant that we have had the great delight of having Brooklyn under our roof and enjoying this little girl and her big personality.

 

 

Phoebe, Brent & Brooklyn are all well and growing into family life. As I write this letter, they are in the process of moving to Adelaide. The Adelaide posting is for at least 18 months.

 

Another big news item for 2011 was Laura getting pregnant. So on October 21, 2011 and 4 weeks early, they presented us with our grandson Archie Glenn Donohoe. Laura was having complications so the doctors decided to try to induce her. This did not work and led to Archie being born by caesarean. We can report that mother, father and baby came through the birth well and are all now doing fine. After all these years, the mould has been broken and we have another male in the family.

 

Laura, Sam & Archie are settling into family life together. Both Laura and Sam seem very relaxed with their newfound responsibility.

 

 

Nevertheless, there is more… Next weekend, Saturday December 17 we are off to Launceston to see our Bethany graduate from university with her Bachelor of Nursing. She, along with us, is very pleased with her efforts. Unfortunately, due to our government cost cuts, there are very few graduate nursing positions in Tasmania but she is applying for all she can find.

 

Bethany has also applied for jobs in most mainland states and in Auckland. She is currently working as a carer in a local nursing home and we are hoping that she will pick up a graduate nursing position soon. Mark continues his study towards his CA and achieving good results.

 

Hanna has completed year 11 at GYC. She still has her passion for art and is looking for ways to expand on this. Hanna has also developed an interest in aged care. During 2011, as part of one of her subjects, she spent one afternoon a week at a local nursing home talking to the residents. She enjoyed this very mush and all reports from the home were very positive towards her compassion and nature. Art Therapy is now one career option for her.

 

Tracy and I still remain busy in our daily activities and provide a good support act to our every growing and talented family. We enjoy having the family home and the noise and chaos that it brings. Our great delight for 2011 was the births our two grandchildren. They are two very special little people to us and we love sharing our lives with them.

 

 

2012 and early 2013 will see us just as busy with family life. We will be having two more weddings in the family. Laura and Sam are planning a November wedding. Bethany and Mark have scheduled theirs for January 2013.

 

Prior to the wedding season, we will have an 18th birthday. Then in the middle of the wedding season in late December, we will also have a 50th and 21st birthday to attend to 5 days part.

 

Remember that the door is always open and that there is always room for visitors.

 

Love and best wishes

 

Tracy, Glenn, Laura, Bethany, Phoebe, Hanna, Sam, Mark, Brent, Brooklyn and Archie…