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.