LUCKY #13 - happy birthday Zoe

Honestly, when you read back at everything you achieved in the past year I hope your body swells with pride. A quick summary below before I gush about how wonderful you've been and how proud I am of my 13 year old daughter. Highlights: CDS sports award at Year 6 graduation High Jump - ACTLAC champion, 15th at national ALAC in a PB of 1:40. YHS U13 record holder in high jump. 400m - ACTLAC champion in a PB, 11th at national ALAC in a PB. 800m - 3rd at ACTLAC, 11th at national ALAC in a PB 1500m - 3rd at ACTLAC, 11th at national ALAC in a PB Pole Vault - 2nd at ACTLAC, 10th at national ALAC SC swimming rep for YHS YHS XC age champion and first female across the line, moving onto zone. YHS age champion for Athletics and moving onto Zone.

School Sport ACT Nationals represented at: Cross Country in the Gold Coast. Touch Football at SSG03 in Ballart Victoria Track and Field in Canberra Raiders Touch Football National Youth Cup in Coffs Harbour

In 2024 you didnt make the School Sport team for Track and you were devastaed. You truned up this year and booked your ticket in every event you entered into. You also made a really tough decision to not attend NSW Touch State Cup in favour of ACTLAC in the hopes you'd qualify for the Australian Athletics Under Age chamionships. A decision that proved to be the right one! You've got big goals for 2026, NSW State for Athletics and a top 10 placing for YNA at JST along with a decent report card. Some of your other goals youve already achieved (ALAC and AAUC attendance, Captain for touch and netball).

You are the most stubborn person I know outside of looking in the mirror. You are still fierce and passionate and driven in everything you do. You were so ready for highschool. You hit the ground running, smashing in class quizzes and asignments, always seeking feedback on drafts and improving them before submission. You're learning about relationships, and navigating them outside of a text message. Despite all my words of wisdom you started "dating" a boy in year 8 early in term 1, within a week you were completely overwhelmed by the texts and calls and attention everyone gave the relationship and within 10 days you were begging for advice on how to end it. The social media ban, made it very easy for me to say no to TikTok and Snap chat, and its really not been that big of a deal breaker in terms of social circles for you.

You care more about how you look these days than ever before, and you're always checking with peers about their plans so you dont look like the odd one out, which I am not a fan of. I feel like i'm always saying "own what your good at babe, it doesnt matter what others think". I dont ever remember caring about what others thought, but maybe that just isnt true. You are an amazing help to me. I can rely on you to cook dinner if i'm going to be late, make sure the twins are dong the right thing, always letting me know when Coops is breaking our no ntech in the bedroom rule. You and he has moments that absolutely melt my heart and then other times I honestly wonder why theres such a deep hatred. You'll tell me its because Cooper gets whatever he wants and I never punish him and its soooooooo unfair, but thats not true at all. I dont think you realise how incredibly special it is that you're my only daughter. I don't think you realise just how much that gets you. I love our relationship, sure, we fight, but on a whole the time we spend toggther in the car or laying on your bed or at a hotel after a sporting event are my favourite. I may complain I have no time for myself, that my bank acount is bled dry for uniform costs, that the house is trashed, but honestly...... I truely will miss these days once you are older.

I'm really glad you and T have found a way to reconnect now you're at highschool. I love that you both still encourage each other to be the best you can be. I know the dynamic is hard sometimes with her being the year above, I know its hard for her to have your back in her bigger groups. But it's hard for girls, dont be too hard on her. To be fair, I'm really happy and surprised you and Zara havent had a major blow up. I'm really proud of your emotional maturing and understanding of Zara's quirks. I love seeing your friendship grow, i hope you always have a friend like Zara in your corner.

My advice to you on your 13th birthday remains the same it was when you were 10. *Always advcate for yourself, what is right, even when its uncomfortable to do so *Trust your instincts *Choose frineds who respect you, walk away from those that dont add value to your life *Be yourself, social media is a lie. Dont compare your journey to others *I am always here to talk to. Even when I'm not. Happy birthday baby girl. I love you.

Fav right now: 2002 by Anne-Marie Fav Book: Honestly, I'm not sure you have one Fav Movie: Pitch perfect Food: Subway; chicken snitzel, lettuce, carrot, extra red onion with chipotle sauce on italian herbs and cheese Favoutite subject at school: PE and Math You play: Netball, Touch footy, Athletics You Weight: 37kg You are 140cm tall. You love: your phone, friends, slick back sticks. Your BFFs: Zara McEvoy, Teuila Teofilo, Charli Facer

Carter, 8 years old

My littlest love. You are far less quiet these days, and you wont tolerate anything you dont think is fair. You're still gentle and caring, but you can be a complete brute of a kid too when you dont feel like things are working out fairly. You took to hockey like a pro. Stepping straight into that goalie kit first game and nailing it. You are just such an enthusiastic sportsman, your hard clapping when things go the teams way, pats on the back for your team mates when they do things well, it's obvious this is what you love to do. While your teacher is a big fan of yours you dont love school. you find it hard to sit still and you loath to read. We are getting you into see a dyslexic assessment specialist soon as Ican see alot of the same struggles Zoe had in you. You were so excited to finally compete at the CDS school swimming carnival and you were the ONLY 2 boys who could swim 50m! Mase came first and you, Carter came second. You also went away to Zone for Cross Country which you were most proud about, especially because you beat your cousin Adam!

You love being outdoors. Your whole face lights up if the neighbours ask you to play cricket in the vacant block. You'll never be as quick as Mason, but you are as strong as an Ox. You love the freedom on weekends to be out playing on the street with our neighbours, driving me crazy with coming in and out of the house a hundred times an hour, but it makes you smile. You love heading out to Woolgaro and spending time with Hegalo and the Teofilo and Reid families, the camping and paddle boards, being on the boat and biscuits and staying up late around the fire eating entirely too much junk food. We lost our bestest dog Rudiger, which was devatsting to all of us, but you really took it hard. After a little whil we welcomed a new puppy (Impi) into the family and even though she's Zoes dog, you are smitten by her and care for her so well, its been amazing watching you with her.

You still love a cuddle from me, you refuse to walk into any room thats dark without someone with you and when you sleep walk, which happens when you overheat in bed, you always find your way into my bed. You desperately wish Coop would spend more time with you, you idolise him, which at times isn't great. You and Dean always seem to find yourself in trouble at Oma and Poppys house with your mischief!

you are: 129.5cm tall you weigh 25.9 kilo You've lost 6 baby teeth you love: playing football, being at Forster, fishing, hockey and sleeping your favourite food is: tuna morney your best friend is still Mason but you play with Jordan and Ethan at school and Ollie at footy you hate: Reading, Writting and when Zoe is being mean Core memory knee boarding for the first time, going to the circus, jumping from the big rock at forster.

Turning 8 (Mase)

The years with you feel blurred and rushed and like I cant catch my breath. Its hard to recall all the amazing things you've done in the last 12 months. I guess I can start with being on the SRC for your school and being a bit of a wizz at maths and reading. You really thrive at school, I often check in with your teacher Ms Helen to check that you are sitting in class and not being the class clown (which at home is a role you settle right into). Nope, you're her star student, she adores you as you adore her, it's a match made in heaven for learning and it's so wonderful! You also finally got to compete at the CDS school swimming carnival and you were the ONLY 2 boys who could swim 50m! Mase you came first and Carter second. You also went away to Zone for Cross Country which you were most proud about!

You've got a good core group of friends, and about 6 girlfriends to keep happy (or so you tell me) but you still spend a lot of time attached to Carter. It's funny, you two will be at each other all day long but still beg to sleep in the same bed at night. Having a twin makes it much easier for me, but I miss the cuddles from you that I always had from Cooper at this age. You are loving the freedom you are getting on weekends to be out playing on the street with our neighbours, driving me crazy with coming in and out of the house a hundred times an hour, but it makes you smile. You are full of confidence. How can I possible complain that you are outside, running, jumping, playing and finding your independance. You are in a real rush to grow up. You love heading out to Woolgaro and spending time with Hegalo and the Teofilo and Reid families. This year you even managed to get up on the knee board behind the boat which was amazing! We lost our bestest dog Rudiger, which was devatsting to you, but after a little whil we welcomed a new puppy (Impi) into the family and its been amazing watching you care for her.

We've spent plenty of time side line watching you play footy and the start of hockey season this year. You work hard at your skills and you enjoy the competition. I'm really enjoying you at this age. You're such a funny little boy. You and Zoe have a turmultous relationship. Its very much hot and cold depending on her mood. You cant understand why 1 minute she's enjoying the game and the next your public enemy number 1. As Coop tells you, thats just girls mate.

Your best friends are: Carter, Ashlyn Kerr, Ethan, Ollie and Brock. You have 6 adult teeth You play league and hockey You love spending time with the kids on the street, PlayStation games. Core memoryth circus and being called into the ring with the clowns. Knee Boarding at Woolgaro, Rock and Peir jumping at Forster Favourite food: Barbeto sauce on everything You hate: when things aren’t fair, when Zoe prefers to play with Carter You are 128.5cm tall Your weight: 25.3kg

14 years old. Happy B'day Coop

Blink and you’ll miss all the amazing achievements you’ve accomplished over the past 12 months. You’re starting to come back around to me, I wont say “gone are the days” where I have to pry a conversation from you but having you reconnect with me and talk to me has been one of my favourite things of the last few months. Your friendship base at school remains strong and you’re really achieving great things academically. At the end of year 7 you took home 7 certificates for your work across your subjects, as well as a school award which we were just so proud of.

Your diet is appalling. I mean what we eat as a family is fuelling the epic growth spurts, but the constant snacks of sugar laden lollies and drinks is disgusting! You’ve been asking more and more about getting a job, honestly I don’t know where you’ll find the time in between trainings and school, but you did spend a couple of days through the April school holidays on work experience at a café in town. You loved it, and so the job hunt is on! You love hanging with your mates, be it golfing, fishing, out on the river, swinging from the rope swing after school or playing basketball in the front yard. You finish most of our text exchanges with “yea” or “ok” even when I’ve clearly said “I love you” Besides sport, technology, your mates and school you also love concerts. You saw GreenDay with dad earlier this year, evening manging to cope with floor tickets and you came with Zoe and I to see the Micheal Jackson Musical. Technology You haven’t loved me locking your phone down. I have no idea if the government imposed social media ban on under 16s coming into effect in December will actually impact you, but if it doesn’t at least we’ve limited screen time and doon scrolling in apps to 2 hours a day and locked your phone for everything but emergency contacts between 9pm and 7:30am. I’ve still successfully managed to keep devices out of your room, which you argue less and less about each day. Sport You have really achieved a lot this year with your hockey. You loved playing with Liam in the Div 1 u13 side at the Canberra Carnival, taking out the gold. The end of 2024 you lost the JSL Grand final in a shoot out which was tough, you started playing both Mens and Juniors at Wests in the 2025 season and made the div 1 Canberra regional side for NSW Field hockey State Champs, winning gold! You’ve found your confidence with footy again too, slotting back into the Yass team as a bit of a utility, often starting in winger and moving into second row when your forwards get tired. The summer of 24/25 you played your second season of touch footy for Yass Bulls heading to carnivals all over the place as well as your first Junior State Cup, making semi finals. For school, you made it through to zone for Cross country and Regional for Javelin and Discus in Athletics in 2025. You trialled in the Opens south coast hockey side and played in Buckly Shield for Yass. Any chance to take a day off school and you’ll have it.

Things I say on the daily “get off your phone / that’s enough sugar / stop eating crap / for the love of god can you pick up X,Y,Z / brush your teeth / stop aggravating your brothers / open your window / have you got sunscreen” More about you: Friends: Liam Carter, Trav Rattenbury, Lachlan Griffiths, Coop Hoad and Nick Banfield Fav Food: still Nachos, but any sugary snack food Fav Music: you switch between all sorts of Country artists and artists like JuiceWRLD – but you still love the classic 2000s too You weigh – 65.4 kilo You are 177cm tall You are wearing a size 14 hockey shoe. You still call out from your bedroom each night, but mostly there’s no “I love you, have a good sleep, see you in the morning” it’s just “Night!” Happy 14th Birthday kiddo. Keep being you!

12 years old for our pocket rocket Zoe

On the eve of your birthday,look at me go darling daughter, I've finished this years birthday blog xo

Another year older, another amazing year of memories made. You literally amaze us all with your determination, motivation, leadership, humility and maturity. The time came in late 2024 to finally campaign for School Captain. Following weeks of drafting, editing and practice you gave a wonderfully delivered speech and achieved your goal being voted in as CDS School Captain for 2025. Your report card could not be more impressive. From the girl who could barely read a sentence in year 3 to straight Bs at the end of year 5 you have really shown how determined you are. Your body is rapidly changing, and you take every change in your stride, comfortably asking me to book you waxing appointments for your legs and armpits. I love that you are not embarrassed by these changes and still feel comfortable requesting help and answers from me when you are unsure.

You still find girl friendships a bit challenging. Like me, you prefer at this age to just ignore the gossip and drama and walk away from conflict in groups. Unfortunately, like me, this makes you a bit of a target for the girls, particularly as you often just join the boys in a game of touch or basketball to avoid the bitchiness. You’ve learnt that jealous behaviour and negative talk behind your back can come from even the closet of friends. The harsh truth of it all is that it doesn’t matter how close your friendship is, through the teenage years insecurities rattle girls self-esteem, and it’s easier to tear each other apart than lift each other up. Get that armour on Zoe, show them how strong and resilient you are. Be grateful that these qualities have been shown to you now, understand that it’s not you it’s them, continue to shine your light bright, be proud of your achievements, particularly those you work so hard at and understand it’s now your decision as to whether you accept that behaviour from them or you don’t.

A sweet blond haired athletic boy named Taylor Bugdon from school became your first boyfriend. You spoke regularly over kids messenger, saw each other at Touch football carnivals and he was always very supportive and proud of you. Eventually though, like all first romances it ended. You broke it off, telling him your focus for 2025 was academics and sport, fortunately you remain very good friends. Our relationship continues to be really positive, maybe it’s the additional time we get together now Cooper is more independent. You are still the apple of your Dads eye, only you could have gotten away with bringing a new puppy home despite Dad not being super on board.

This past year you were selected to compete in Yarra Glen Victoria for National Cross country. Unfortunately, in the lead up you were stuck in a moon boot recovering from injury, you hated every second of being unable to bear weight on your foot and you felt enormous pressure to recover in time for your race. Your goals were simple for Cross Country, make the ACT team, (something you haven’t managed to do before) and not place last nationally. You accomplished both those things, but it wasn’t enough for you. In the end you came away even more determined for 2025. While following you across the country for sport costs us a small fortune, this time with you is always up there with my favourite things. Your resilience to turn up to track the day after you missed selection into the SSACT track and field team was really inspiring! You also joined a second athletics club. Driving in every Saturday morning to Woden Thunder to compete, you loved the competition, and the new friendships forged with the girls and are excited to continue to compete there next year. Keep being you Zoe. You are perfect just the way you are inside and out. We are so proud of everything you do. Don’t let the insecurities of others get you down and don’t let your own insecurities change how you see yourself! You are fierce, you are smart, you are resilient, and you are strong.

You are: Weight: 36.8kilo | Height: 150cm | Favourite food: tuna morney, subway | Favourite singer: Taylor Swift, | Favourite song: Cruel Summer T.S | Hates: Liars, bullies and people who talk about you behind your back. | You play: Athletics, Touch footy and Netball and you are still smashing goals with each of them | You want to be: an Athlete and a school teacher

Highlights: Your athletic training with Rogue Track and Field saw you come in leaps and bounds over the past 12 months. ACT Champion for High Jump with a PB jump of 1.35m, and multiple medals across different competitions in 400, 800 and 1500m each event shaving seconds off your previous personal bests | A trip to Sydeny with mum and Oma to ride the trains and ferries, shopping at Paddys market, swimming at Manly beach and walking around Circule Quay | Finally getting to go to school camp | CDS age champion for athletics 2024 | CDS age champion for swimming 2025 | Your report card, was a standout at the end of 2024 | Elected School Captain for 2025 | Best and Fairest for YNA in 2024 | Your first NSW State Cup for Touch Football in the u14 girls Bulls team | Stormers Athletics 2025 Club Champion, Club Person of the year and u12 Age Champion. |

Custard Carter - 7 years old

You still love every ball sport ever, You're not allowed to take balls to school now, because apparently it always ends in too much competition. You still crack me up with how much you love to play and commentate your own plays. School is still going well for you. You have found your own condifidence away from Mason, you have your own voice in the school yard and you absoluetly love Math. You need a bit of encouragement to read.You dont enjoy it and you struggle with it. I guess it all ties in with your speech delays. They are basically non existenyt now though, although when you get excited you still stumble over a few words! I'll pop in on the record now, as your mum, I would hedge my bets to say you have some dyslexia like your sister. We'll keep working at it and I know you'll find your way with reading soon enough.

You still love a cuddle, you still reach for my hand and you are still full of kisses before bedtime. You are more open with your feelings now, it's obvious when youre upset, because you still recluse, but you're also much more vocal in standing up for yourself. The other kids are convinced you're my favourite. I dont have a favourite, but I can see why they'd think that. Youre softer natured than the other boys, well, thats not exactly true, Coop once used to be like you are. Sweet, kind and always checking on me. I give you longer cuddles because you dont let go as swiftly as the others do. You still love your league, watching it, playing it, practicing it. You are not a fan of summer touch. Its just not suited to your strong heavy body. You my dear are strong, at athletics you have such great strength in throws!

I often wonder if its because you boys have each other, but the friendship ties you and Mase have aren't as strong as Coopers. Dont get me wrong you enjoying playing with your mates, and beg mne to take you to birthday parties but it's different. You are far more content playing at home or out on the street with the kids than with your school mates. Different interests I guess? You are an outdoors kid, happy fishing, camping, riding your bike.... I get the sense your school friends are more into video games. I adore how much you love watching Cooper and his mates. You genuinely believe his friends are your friends, and youre lucky because they all love when you tag along (Coop not so much).

Theres not a single Rushby kid who loves Forster as much as you do. You love the waves, the body boarding, the fishing and snorkling. You are so brave out there, happily snorkling for as long as I'll let you, venturing well out of my reach to following fish or to see an octopus or string ray. You make my heart sing. I am so proud of who you are becoming Carter. Keep doing you mate, the world is your oyster!

you are: 1.28cm tall you weigh 24.5 kilo You've lost 5 baby teeth you love: playing football, playing starwars lego on PS5, fishing your favourite food is: anything that Cooper likes, but also spag bol and tuna morney your best friend is Mason but you play with Jordan and Ethan at school and Ollie is still a footy favourite. you hate: When Cooper just wants to play with his mates, Zoe bossing you around. Reading. The funniest thing out of your mouth this year after winning best on ground at footy one week "I really deserved this, I made some really great tackles today" - and you know what bud, you really did!