Things that Kayleigh taught me

As we go into a new year I was thinking about the thing that Kayleigh had taught us and things I should keep in mind for the year to come. For the new year i would like to remember Kayleigh by trying the think more like her in many areas:

1. Forgiveness - Kayleigh was very forgiving of many people that did the wrong thing by her. She was always the one to try and make things right between her and the others.
2. Happiness - Kayleigh was a happy person and tried to make sure that other people didn't get her down
3. Being grateful for what you have - Kayleigh was happy with what she had - she may not have had as much as some of her friends but she was fine with it. The few times that she asked for something and we couldn't afford it she never got sad or angry over it, but accepted it and said 'maybe later'.
4. Helping others - Kayleigh had a way in realising when others were down and needed help - even if she didn't know them and she helped them as much as she could - even if it just meant sitting down and listening to them and being a friend.
5. Trying your best - Kayleigh struggled in many of her classes (Maths, English) but she always gave it 100% even if she didn't get it. All I had ever asked of Kayleigh was that she tried her best - she didn't have to be good at it, just try.
6. Looking after yourself - Kayleigh was very into sport and nutrition and looking after your body - after all it is the only one you get.

Please comment on things that Kayleigh has taught you.

Golf

Kayleigh loved playing golf on the mini golf hole Terence made in the backyard at the house we lived in in Banks when Kayleigh was about 18 months old. Kayleigh quickly learnt that you hit the ball with the golf club and the point of the game was to gt the ball in the hole. So Kayleigh would hit the ball, waited until the ball stopped then ran over, picked up the ball and put it in the hole. It was so cute.

Terence made a mini-gold course in our backyard about 18 months ago, with bunkers and three holes. Kayleigh was really good (like all sports) and always beat me a golf. The only problem she had was hitting the ball too hard in our yard and making it hit the back fence behind the retaining wall - which is impossible to get the ball out of.

Getting ready to hit the ball

Putting the ball in the hole (Kayleigh is about 18 months old here)

Kayleighs Christmas

Kayleigh loved christmas and what we called her 'first' christmas was actually her second. Her 'first' christmas she was only 11 days old so we never counted that.

When we put up the christmas tree for the first time the look on Kayleighs face the next morning was priceless - she went out to the lounge room and stopped completely - I think she was wondering where on earth this tree had come from that had grown in the corner of the room. She did get used to it being there and was fascinated by the balls - which we had red, gold and silver ones - so much so that she did try eating several. Terence spent several times pulling small amounts of glass out of her mouth and bits of the colour. For some reason Kayleigh seemed to prefer the balls over the more palatable candy canes that were on the tree.

Kayleighs 'first' christmas was also Natassja's first as Natassja was born a month before. Kayleigh didn't quite get the idea of presents but has fun in the packaging and in the jump-o-lene that we bought for her that year.

Kayleigh at her 'first' christmas

Merry Christmas from Kayleigh

This is a picture Kayleigh drew last year of our Christmas tree. I didn't know we still had it until I found it in the crate we have put all of her things in.

Apologies

Sorry to All you people who read Kayleighs blog - the last week has been difficult for us and I have not found the strength to write about Kayleigh. I promise I should get something up in the next couple of days

Flexibility

Anyone who knew Kayleigh knew how flexible she was. Kayleigh was proud to know that she was uncommonly flexible and she loved showing off to anyone who came over. She would get on the trampoline and call out for the person to watch her and she would do a forward flip with no hands and then a backwards flip with hands. When she started High School last year, Ms Heading was amazed by the result Kayleigh got in the flexibility test. The test involved sitting down with your feet against a box which had a slide on top. The person being tested had to reach forward and push the slide as far as they could without bending their legs. Kayleigh pushed the slide all the way along the box and could have pushed it further it there was more room. Kayleigh could still do a backward arch and touch her feet with her hands. One regret that I have is that we never took Kayleigh to gymnastics as we couldn't afford it when she was younger - I know with her natural sport talent and her natural flexibility she would have been good at it, and she would have loved it.

Christmas Carols

Kayleigh loved christmas and was quite fond of carols. This probably started when she was a baby. Her Nanny had given her a  large white xmas bear for her very first christmas (she was only 11 days old) - one of the ones that when you pressed its hand it would play a christmas carol. When I put Kayleigh in her cot, I would use the bear and sing carols to her until she fell asleep. As she got older, she started to learn the words to the carols and sing them herself. Her favourite ones to sing were probably 'I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus', 'Silent Night' and 'Away in a Manger' and of course Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Kayleigh enjoyed watching the 'Carols in the Domain' last Christmas on TV but was not impressed by the Wiggles (she never did like them) and equally unimpressed by Hi-5 now that the original members had all gone. Kayleigh had a very strong opinion on this - very funny to hear. Best of all, she was trying to teach Kiara the carols she knew - which was amusing as Kiara was only 3 at the time and didn't talk very clearly.