Elisha George Kitto!

Thought it was about time that Eli made it to the family blog.

Hope that you are all well. Love and hugs.

First Time Bowling!

Today after church the Stotts suggested that we join them at the bowling ally. It is something that I had wanted to do with the kids, but had previously thought them too little. Was so glad that we made the effort to go out. Stuart won on the adult lane (I sat out and was photographer) and Natalie won on the kid's lane with an impressive score of 87! Not bad for a first go. She even made a spare. Calvin was not far behind with 67. Both are looking forward to going again.

Due to the gentle nature of the kid's throwing style it often took a while for the ball to reach the pins!

Natalie made a spare! :)

Masri's in Whyalla

Thanks again Lindy, John and Jessie for visiting with us last week. Was lovely to have you here.

Hope that you have a fantastic time with the Hoggies this week.
Hugs -Debbie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN B

Happy Australian Birthday John. 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow

Hope that you have a great day. It was really lovely celebrating with you on Saturday.



Here are some other random photos from the weekend. I'd love to see what others got on their cameras.

Kids at the school playground. Wow, look at all the people we've made!



HAIR! Big hair, Straight hair, Hairy hair ...


After all the years of playful teasing Jean finally gets her own back at Michael!


It must be Christmas!


Boyz toyz.
Happy Birthday to you ...


Thanks for the fun weekend all. Love and hugs and hope that you all have a good week.
-Debbie

I finally emptied my camera!

Playing in the shearing shed at Grandpa's in the July Holidays.



Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa for the little holiday. It was appreciated by all.

Natalie and Calvin also did some painting in the holidays. Mess is fun!

A bit of history comes to Orroroo

Today we had a visit from a car that first went through orroroo in 1908. it was the first car to travel from Adelaide to Darwin. There are celebrating 100 years but this time the car is travelling nearly all the way on the back of a trailer stopping along the way to be on display. A couple of photos showing a bit of colour in the garden at present. Did one and a half days of shearing 30 points of rain hopefully will get going again on thursday if there is no more rain tonight.

Thoughts on 'Christmas'

I have just got off the phone with mum and would like to suggest the following for 'Christmas'.

To be held in Orroroo on Saturday the 26th of July. Celebrating our main meal for lunch - all things Christmasy and gravy and custardy (or creamy). Followed by the traditional post Christmas meal tea with a small pre-birthday celebration for John (and belated birthdays for Jessie and Lindy) in the evening.
The Kittos would plan to arrive mid morning on Saturday and head home either before or after the church lunch (depending on work commitments). (I could suggest a Cozens daughter item at church, but I may regret that ;)
There has been a request for Patritti drinks, which would need to come from Adelaide. I have just realised that I could pretty easily put together a Black Forest cake if people are interested (and I'm happy to bring custard and pudding for those who may be interested). Any particular food that you are hanging out for Lindy?
Not sure what else needs to be mentioned. I know I talked about maybe the following week Kerryn, but the fact that I will be only 2 weeks off giving birth then is a pretty significant factor for going a week earlier if that's ok.

Love and hugs to all. I am very excited about getting together.

(Mum and Dad - Is there someone close you could get to pop in during the afternoon to take some family pictures for us? Of course they will be incomplete pictures without Wadih, but it would still be nice to commemorate the occasion. Though we could always use the timer if needed).

Kitto update and fundraiser news

Hi all. Been a while.
Thought it was time for an update.

Firstly the raffle/auction:
The kids helped me draw the raffle (you can see that here) from the bath tube of lego!
I am pleased to say that the raffle raised $250 for the orphanage
and the closing bid on the auction was $150. (unfortunately I have yet to hear from the person who made the bid, but here's hoping that it will work out)

Lindy I look forward to making a video WITH you in a couple of weeks. I would really love it if you had a specific idea about what the money would be used for (eg. electricity bill, clothing, some specific thing that the kids need, etc) so that people can see that their money went to something tangible. Also, if you could bring some photos, or better still some video footage that we could use that would be fabulous. Thanks.

Also for Lindy, I think I have asked this before but ... WHAT ARE YOUR KIDS INTO? Please! They are quite a bit older than last time I saw them and I don't want to insult them by getting gifts that are too 'kiddy'. I know they have some sort of portable nintendo. What kind and do they want any games for it? What kind of games? Do they read? Are they collecting anything? And most important question, do they like lego? ;)
Any information that could help set me in the right direction would be MOST appreciated -thanks.

General question now: What are people's expectation for this 'Christmas do'? Did we settle on Saturday tea? I have a gift each for our kids so that they have something to open. Being only a couple of hours away we are able to bring food and drinks - please let me know mum what you would like us to bring. My vote is that whatever we have that there is lots of gravy please :) yum. Anyway, I think this is good a place as any to start throwing ideas around.

Kerryn, I'm sure that I had something to ask you, but I think I just blew it out of my nose with the rest of my runny brain. Might just ring when I remember.

Dad, mum, hope that shearing goes well next week. Natalie had a reader about shearing yesterday and the kids were asking lots of questions. Will have to visit one day when you are shearing so that the kids can have a look.

Old news, but here is a picture from Karen, Heth, Jacob and Sam's visit the other week.




Hope you are all well. Calvin and I have colds and Stuart is working around the clock, so we are hanging out for holidays. Look forward to seeing you all soon.

Love and hugs -Debbie

You might be interested in this Lindy

Check out this new video that Natalie and I made.

View me here

This is a follow up to Calvin's very cute Indy video.

With all of my failed attempts Lindy I think that this time I shall be able to raise some money for the orphanage - hurray.
The auction bid is already up to $50!

Love you all. Looking forward to seeing you Masris - SOON!

Hope that you are going well dad. Good news from Adelaide?
Hugs-Debbie

Thank you from Debbie

Thank you all for the lovely birthday messages. Thanks again Kerryn for all of the messages EVERYWHERE! :) I had a very nice and relaxing day.

DAD! I hope that you are feeling better and that the drugs are beginning to work and let you have a restful sleep.

Great to hear that your flights are confirmed Lindy (and even better to hear that things are settling down a bit in Lebanon now. We're counting down the weeks. Hurray :)

Hugs and stuff to all -Debbie

Happy Birthday Debbie!!!!

Still no photos but lots of love for you Debbie on your birthday from all of us on Folkestone. Hope you have a wonderfull day...C ya!!!!!!

Our Youth Group Retreat!

Hello everyone,

Just thought you might like to see the camp that John and I were on a few weeks ago!!

Here it is..............



We also have all the details for our flights now!! Woo Hoo!! We arrive in Adelaide on July 22nd at 6:15 IN THE MORNING!!! This will test your enthusiasm..... do you really want to get up that early to come get us?????? We will see :D

Happy Birthday to Lindy :)

This is where a smashingly awesome birthday surprise goes for Lady Lindy Ann ... but on second thoughts maybe you'll just have to come and receive your birthday celebrations over here in person ;)

I really hope that things are settling down in Lebanon and that you were able to enjoy your birthday. We're looking forward to partying with you. Hope that your travel plans will still go ahead smoothly.

Love and big hugs to you.


*I did actually celebrate your birthday Lindy by opening my birthday gift from the family.

Lebanon Video I found

Thought you might find this video I found interesting. I assume that it was made after the conflict with Israel back in 2006 (?), but it is very interesting to see given the current events unfolding in Lebanon.

"I Remember Lebanon"

You continue to be in our prayers Masri family and we look forward to your safe arrival here soon.

Love and hugs.

Life in Lebanon May 2008

Once again, life here has changed in a matter of days. It is strange to think that this time last week we were happily enjoying a Youth Group camp in the mountains, and now, a large part of Beirut looks and feels as though it has been through war!! Fortunately, up here in Mansourieh, we have once again been spared the close up encounters with snipers and gunmen that many of our friends have faced in the city. I won't even try to go into the details of who is fighting who and where, because, as is nearly always the case in this country, it is very confusing and jumbled. Enough to say, the kids school has been closed for the past three days, church will be closed tomorrow, although those who can will meet here at the Baptist Seminary in the morning, and many are fleeing parts of Beirut that were considered to be the safe, stable areas for the apparent calm of the hillsides. I am including a photo that a friend found on a local site, yalibnan.com that is the road next to our church!!



Lots of love to you all, and letting you know that we are all safe and well, but very sad for our country at the moment. It is not over yet, so please do keep praying.

A very Happy Mother's Day Mum from Debbie

Welcome to your mother's day gift mum. I hope that you have a fantastic day (and I look forward to talking to you at some point).

Here is your gift.

Please click to reveal more.

Love you.
Hugs and stuff -Debbie


PS. And just to let you know that you've just become famous (ish) mum. This video is featured on the front page of YouTube Australia!

What 3 years can do

I have been thinking a lot lately about the question "what has changed here in Australia since the Masri's were last down under?"
I have come up with a list as long as my arm that covers things such as births and deaths, renovations and new homes, new developments and new roads, not to mention the huge cultural shift which has occurred in Australia in the last few years (our church is now easily one third Filipino).

And then I found this photo and realized that the biggest changes of all will be ourselves. This is what Natalie and Calvin looked like last time the Masris were in Australia!














And not forgetting ...

Natalie's award

Thanks to a tip-off, Calvin and I were at school this morning to see Natalie receive a class award for













"Persistence: concentrating during all lessons and trying to do her best work"

We are of course very proud of this achievement. Well done Natalie.

Finally Jessies bday

Finally some photos of Jessie's birthday bash. She with five friends, plus family, plus the Toads all went bowling, then out for pizza and finally home for Jessie baked and decorated cake!!! Very yummy :D

Photos from Kittos

First, Question Lindy: I have been wondering how we are going to all fit in our house during your visit (assuming that is that you might be able to get over for a few days) and on Saturday after we put up the tent for the kids we wondered if we have stumbled across the answer. My question is, do you think that you and your kids would cope sleeping in this rather old, huge tent if we ran electricity out to it for lighting, heating and hopefully even electric blankets? It's no hotel room, but it is a very big (and tall) tent. Let me know your feelings.
Also, why speaking directly to the Masri arm of the family, could you please send us some birthday/ July Christmas ideas for you and you kids (and Wadih of course). I find it hard enough to buy gifts for those I see regularly, but I'm quite in the dark about what your kids might like. Also, I was wondering what size Jessie is (as I recall that Annie was about Jessie's age when I bought her a most excellent jacket, hint hint). Thanks :) Now on to our many photos.


Hello all. I finally got around to capturing all the photos off of the camera and thought that I'd share.
We have Natalie painting a portrait of Calvin.












Natalie and Calvin on a horse ride in Marion in the hols.












Our visit to the Morton's.





















N & C with Jacob and Sam, who thought it would be fun to walk around with a big piece of pipe!











A full rainbow over our house.












Hannah Stott's 4th birthday at our house. The first major event in the new backyard.




















Debbie with Grandma Jean on the 22nd of April.





















Our family in Isabelle's garden on the 21st of April.

I hope that you are all going well, love and hugs to you all. -Debbie