This is how it all began—the diggers moved in

and the foundations were laid

The walls start to go up.... .... and up....

scaffolding all around the house

Happy Christmas Everyone This has been the year of the extension, with our lives pretty well consumed by the building project! It’s really been the most exciting and interesting thing that has happened over the year so this letter is dedicated to showing you what we have experienced....................

Prior to the build, in the beginning of the year Michelle finished her temporary assistant post at Milton Keynes hospital, gained her re-registration and successfully interviewed for a senior physiotherapy position working for a community adult learning disability team, based in Banbury. Couldn’t have been luckier to find such a wonderful job, nicely within my capabilities and just 20 minutes drive up the road! The job started in April and straight after the Easter holidays so did the building works.........After many weeks / months, including over 2 months without a functioning kitchen (we stopped counting after 7 weeks!) all is complete bar finishing touches to decorating, furniture and re-siteing the computer!

building the upstairs view from the front of the house, windows in and virtually complete

so much for the out-side, but what was happening inside? here you see the knock through into the kitchen

view from the back garden, this will be the activity room and boot room downstairs and Alanna’s new bedroom

we cooked and ate in the dining room using the microwave (or take-aways!) and only used what was left of the kitchen for washing up and the washing

the transformation of the kitchen from boxes to cupboards

empty shells........ finally put to good use

Alanna’s bedroom from plastering to finished product

Rebecca’s bedroom at the plastering stage....

....and transformed

Rebecca started learning to play the flute in September and also started ballet which she loves. Here she is with her (clean and polished) St. Nikolaus shoe.

We had some great birthday parties this year. For Kira’s 13

th she climbed up a climb-

ing wall. Alanna celebrated turning 10 with a cooking party at Pudding Pie cookery school where they made their own dinner and pudding. To celebrate Rebecca’s 9

th birthday we all

went to London courtesy of Grannie to see ‘Matilda’ - it was a wonderful show and a

successful day out in London. She also had a swimming trip and movie night with friends.

So what else did we do this year?........... The girls are all continuing with their music and sporting activities. Kira took part in an archaeology club which included a proper dig in the school grounds searching for evi-dence of their Roman past. She passed her grade 2 clarinet in the summer and has just passed gymnastics badge 2. Alanna has been learning to play bass guitar this year at rock school and during the summer took up rugby. This has contin-ued into the playing season so she is busy running around and tackling in the mud. Here she is ready for Greek day at school and playing the part of a zombie in the school production.

Here are a few memories from February’s trip to Muenchen where we did a bit of post skiing sightseeing.

And finally we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

With lots of love Michelle, Nick, Kira, Alanna and Rebecca

XXXXX