It has been a busy year - this time last year we had a 2 year old running round the house and a relatively immobile 3 month old - now we have two very active little children who keep us on our toes!

To keep up with them we have done some work outside the house to make the place a bit more suitable for them and to allow the dogs to have their share as well!  The first is to pull down our old picket fence that separated the backyard (which was previously just "the dogs backyard") and have a bunch of black powder-coat gates and fences put in closer to the house itself (for the dogs!).  We have had the backyard area levelled, and in December we finally put in a swing set (many thanks to Denis!) and some lush green turf.  A much more child-friendly environment!

Of course, frequent readers will know that is only temporary!  Much of 2010 has been spent on the design phase of our new house, which we plan to start building in Lenah Valley in 2011.  We are hoping to start construction in February/March.  There has been plenty on this blog about the house already so I won't go into detail here - but at least once a day something happens that makes one of us mutter "I can't wait until we are in our new place!"

Business wise - Emma's role as a Baby BeeHinds reseller has been going well, and she has started another business - Wrap 'Em - selling baby carriers - woven wraps, slings and other assorted baby gear!  

As part of Emma's volunteer work with the Australian Breastfeeding Association, she is undergoing training to complete her Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education.  By the end of 2011 she should be a qualified breastfeeding counsellor!

In September Charles was elected to the committee of Wikimedia Australia - an official chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation which operates and supports Wikipedia (among others).  It is a non-profit organisation which promotes the distribution and creation of free cultural works in Australia.

We went to Queensland in August-September for both work and play.  Charles attended Microsoft Tech-Ed 2010 on the Gold Coast where he completed his first Microsoft qualification (Windows 7 Configuration).  After that, the entire family flew up, and we visited family and friends in Brisbane, Bribie Island and Caloundra.  The highlight was meeting Charles' Grandma - the first time she had met Emma, and two of her sixteen great-grandchildren!  Not a bad effort for 101 years old!

Our other interstate trip of the year was to Melbourne in May - we spent a week there during Charles' birthday - he and Emma's brother Mark went to see the Socceroos vs New Zealand at the MCG before they headed to the World Cup.  The rest of the trip seemed to be focused on Georgia, with trips to the Zoo, Aquarium and Children's Farm, all of which she loved!

Easter usually involves travelling for us - for the National Band Championships which Emma's band, Hobart City Band, competes in.  However in 2010 the Championships were hosted in Hobart!  The Brass Band was competing in A grade for the first time, after being B grade champions in 2009.  

In 2011, with our house build starting, it promises to be a very exciting year for us!

I might get in early now - have a Merry Christmas 2011 and a Happy New Year for 2012!