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