All the latest news!!!
This will probably take a few minutes because of the amount of photos, cup of tea???
This update, June 2003.
Well, since the last update (July 2002) a lot has gone on in the Joyce family.
Keira is growing up too fast. She took her first steps in October last year and has not stopped since then. She loves to run, walk around on her tippy toes, spin in circles and is trying very hard to jump. Keira has also begun potty training which is a very strange scenario to watch in our house - She pats her nappy (her sign that she wants to go), and then it's a mad rush for Rae and I to get her down on the potty before it all happens! Keira loves to talk and make animal sounds (her favourites are cats and dogs). Her latest photos are here.
August saw us all head to Sydney for Stephen and Amy's Wedding. It was a beautiful day (but still cold for us North Queenslander's). It was a lovely affair, and Rae and Keira stuck around for a week afterwards to see all our friends and family.
Not long after we packed up our Caravan and headed to Oakey for another course. We rented a house there (it's pretty cheap) and furnished it with what we could fit in the caravan. It was a great trip as we got to see friends and relatives on two weekend trips to Brisbane, and Keirin didn't miss Keira's first birthday (celebrated with friends at Oakey RSL) or first steps. Keirin went flying in a Kiowa helicopter, Rae and Keira took a weekend in Sydney for Sarah's engagement party, and we saw some sights (the Bowen Mango) in our road trip. We were also in Oakey when we discovered we were going to have another baby!!!
Before we knew it, and after another week long course in Melbourne for Keirin, it was Christmas time. We flew by Service Air (RAAF Hercules) to Sydney and back (as you can see, Keira didn't mind at all, and it was definitely the right price). It was our usual Sydney Christmas; Eve and morning at the Joyce house (including Stephen and Amy's this year), and lunch and dinner at the Williams house (including Grandma's in Valentine).
On return home from Sydney we got stuck into more house reno's. We also took a day trip out to Magnetic Island while mum and dad Williams were visiting. It was a lovely and relaxing day in the sun and warm off the Townsville coast.
The first few months of this year were quite plain (nice for a change). Keirin worked fairly regular hours at work and only had a short aircraft rotation to Darwin for a week and a little two week course to go to in March in Melbourne and Sydney. Then in mid April he had to take some aircraft to Perth... bit of drama there! They broke down in Ayers Rock, and as you'd pick, Rae went into labour! Aaarrrggghhhh! Keirin did manage to get home 36 hours later, and thankfully it turned out to be a false alarm... phew!
Nice though, because it made us available to go to Rachael's (childhood friend of Keirin) wedding on Daydream Island - good excuse to take the long weekend in Airlie Beach (three hours south of Townsville). It was a very relaxing time and a good chance to prepare ourselves for Declan's arrival.
Then he came, one week before estimated due date, and a few hours after his baby shower. Rae had an excellent labour this time around (just over two hours from whoa to go) and we happily spent four days in hospital getting used to kidS. Keira loves to kiss him. Declans page is here.
The house is progressing very well. We estimate that we are three-quarters done and are confident of finishing before we get posted out of Townsville - it looks like a posting to Oakey at the moment.
Speaking of projects, you might be asking what's happened to the Corona? Well, due to being so hectic, she's still on the backburner for the moment. She started up well enough when we had to move her around the back yard after sitting idle for six months - I'm impressed! She'll get there.
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