Family Christmas 2016

As mentioned you had Christmas 2106 with your Mum's Mum in NZ.

So on January 7th, 2017 we all went to Nana and Poppa's place at Drummoyne for a family Christmas lunch.

Nana and Poppa bought unit 32/60 Wrights Rd Drummoyne in 1979. We moved in on December 11. It is the only place your Dad lived before he moved in with your Mum. I was 12 when I moved there and it was the summer holidays. I lived there until I went away to uni in Bathurst and Oregon. After uni I bounced in and out a few times. It is simply known as "Drummoyne" in the family and has been the place where most of our family gathering have happened.

I took my camera. It was a great day to be in the pool.

Your Dad throwing Lachie to Aunty Jane. I can remember doing the same thing to your Dad with my mates when he was a little boy.

Xavie and Nana. You loved the pool but we would have to pull you out when you started to shiver. You liked to jump in and we would catch you even at this age.

The Tucker males January 7, 2017. Edward (Ted) Ernest Tucker , 87 yo. Bradley Edward Tucker, age 34. Lachlan Edward Tucker , age 5. Xavier Samuel Tucker, age 21 months.

I wanted to get this photo of you all as I am not sure if we will all have another Christmas together. Who knows. Ted has surprised us all in the past and I will talk more about him later. I remember him once saying to me that he hoped to see your dad get married but he doubted he would ever see his grandchildren. We'll he did and he was extremely proud of you both and loved you both very much.

Poppa had one Brother, Ron, who is a couple of years younger and lived in Canberra. Like your Poppa, he was a good man. He was still alive when this photo was taken. His wife, Anne (who would have been your Great Aunty) sadly died a few years ago after a long fight with alzheimer's. Uncle Ron and Aunty Anne had 3 girls and their families are all around Canberra. You boys and your Dad are the only "Tuckers"as the name died out on Uncle Ron's side of the family.

Intro

Dear Lachie and Xavier,
It is January 2017 and I have started this project as a way of keeping a record of you both growing up and to give you a little bit of family history.

I am not sure what format photographs and images will take by the time you are adults, so I wanted to create a digital record for you both. I think we have moved past the time of photos being printed out and no doubt many images of your childhood will be lost or deleted. I hope this acts as one part photo album and one part family history for you to have.

As I write this, Lachie you are five, and Xavi, you will turn two in April. The last time I saw you both was two weekend's ago when we had a family get together at Nana and Poppa's place at Drummoyne.

You both had Christmas in New Zealand with your Mum and Dad and Grandma so we all came together after you returned to celebrate in the new year.

2016 had two important things happen. Firstly your grandad, Kelvin, in NZ passed away. He had been sick for many years. I don't think you will remember him Xavi, but Lachie you might. You may have memories of being on the farm and riding on the tractor, which you loved.

Lachie and Kelvin in NZ.

The other event was that your Poppa had quite a serious stroke in July which put him in hospital for a month. As I write this he is 87. He is okay, but can not read properly anymore and is a lot weaker and more frail than a year ago.

We are very fortunate that you are both very healthy young boys who are growing up very quickly.

Lachie, you are off to school this year and are very excited about this. At the moment you are very keen on sharks and animals, especially what animals eat. You started playing rugby league last year and really liked it after not being so interested in soccer. Your favourite team is the Cronulla sharks ( I wonder why). You have always been a good communicator and had a good vocabulary. I put this down to your mum who has always talked to you and explained things to you from a very early age.

You also like trucks and cars and cartoons and Lego. I think your favourite is Paw Patrol which is a cartoon about dogs who drive different types of cars and rescue people. You also like monster trucks and your trampoline.

Xavie you are not quite two and I am very interested in seeing you grow up and getting to know you. You love playing with balls and eating. You are a champion eater!

Xavier post avocado 2016. At Drummoyne.

You only had a few words before going to New Zealand but that is now changing rapidly. When I saw you at Christmas you seemed genuinely excited to see me and ran up to me which made my day. It is great that you are now at that age. At the moment you are called "Bubba" as much as you are called Xavie.

It is hard not to compare you to your brother, but I think you are more independent and more strongly willed. Lachie, you were a little more inclined to check things out before attempting something. Xavi you seem a little more prepared to jump in.

You both love swimming, though Lachie you hate being on your back. As much as I try to get you to relax, you go stiff as a board.

Lachie, this coming weekend you are staying with Aunty Jane and I over for a sleep over. It will be your second, as you had one last year. I plan to take you for a swim and to the aquarium. There is also a Lego display on in town which we might go and see. Your Aunty Jane and I are looking forward to you staying and your Mum says you are excited about staying over.