Maple 25/04/08

We have this beautiful maple tree in our garden. Just before it loses it's leaves, it turns the most gorgeous shade of red. Check this out!! (complete with some funny faces!!)

Growing Pains!

Well, Reuben has been lucky enough to have 2 visits from the Tooth Fairy in one week! He lost his first top tooth on the morning that we were heading up to Cromwell. Rather an amusing story, cause we were eating breakfast, and I had just sat down & looked at Reuben to notice the missing tooth. So I asked him when his tooth had come out - only to be greeted by this horrid look and him then spitting out his mouthful of cereal - and there it was!! Probably a good result really!! So he had a visit in Cromwell from the tooth fairy - that tooth had been loose since before the Christmas holidays. The next one followed on Thursday night 17th April - as you can see - his new teeth are there already!

ILT Ascot Park Duathlon 20/04/08

Hi there, Well - I did end up looking after the kids, and Shane took part. He had a great time - and was pleased with the final result. He only had one training run since the Wai Tri 2 weeks ago - so not a lot of practise!! Shane used Dad's Road bike & that made the world of difference! He got 12th overall out of 62 people - 10th in the guys placings. Liz did this one too, and also got 10th in the Ladies Section!! Well done to you both! (Go figure - in the Wai Tri Shane & Liz both got 28th in the Men & Women's sections.). Shane again won another spot prize - lucky bugger!! That's pretty much the end of the season as far as Duathlon's go - unless we head across to do the one in Stewart Island next month (probably not though!).

Kids Bike Jam - Cromwell 13/04/08

We took the boys to Cromwell so they could take part in a kids bike Jam. We drove up on the Saturday, and stayed at the Top 10 Holiday park. We had our caravan, and the Holiday park was a lovely relaxing place to stay. On the way up we stopped at Peter Rabbit's house in Garston - how cute - see first photo!! When we got to Cromwell & got set up, we had a fantastic bike ride along the old Cromwell bit that's left & all along the waterfront (sorry didn't take the camera for this!). The boys did really well! They also had a ball on the "jumping pillow" at the camp - that was until Logan fell onto his bottom wrong & jarred his back! Ouch!! The Bike Jam was something completely new for us, and they had a ball. The boys got a "goodie bag" at the start - which included their certificates, and they received a medal & sausage sizzle at the end. Their wee flags were priceless - made them much easier to spot!! They were both lucky to pick up a spot prize as well! Shane biked with Logan & Reuben cruised on ahead. They did a lap of the speedway track and then went out to the go cart track - all up they biked in the vicinity of 3km. (We biked further than that on the Saturday!) The weather up there was absolutely gorgeous, and all too soon it was time to come home! This weekend was one for the boys! It was great.

Wai Tri - Invercargill Multi sport event 06/04/08

The Wai Tri graduated to being an event for both Shane & I this year. Last year I did the nearly 8km walk - and joked about the duathlon for this year!! With a little challenge from Liz I decided that I'd do the Novice Duathlon (7.8km bike & 2.6km run/walk). Liz, Kylie & Shane had set themselves a bigger challenge - the full Duathlon - 15km bike & 7.8km Run. I did mine in a fraction under 42 minutes, and was very pleased with my biking effort. The Run/walk still leaves a lot to be desired!! The Wai Tri was Shane's first Duathlon - coming in at a tidy 1 hour 31 minutes!! At the prize giving Shane won for himself 2 x $10 gardening vouchers (Spot prize).

It was good to be out there taking part. Shane's next effort will be the ILT Duathlon in just a couple of weeks. Think I'll be amusing the boys... Watch this space!

SPARC REAL WOMENS DUATHLON - MILLBROOK 30/03/08

Yes - I said I wouldn't do a Duathlon..... FAMOUS LAST WORDS!!! Sunday the 30th March saw Liz & myself in amongst another 800 or so women! The course consisted of a 3.5km Run/Walk a 10km Bike & then a further 1.5km run/walk. Liz did a fantastic time of 56:04:04mins, I came in 7 minutes later @ 1 hour 3 mins & 18 secs. I was very pleased with my efforts on the first 3.5 km Run/walk - as I did manage to run it non stop (My longest run EVER!) The bike went well, but my last 1.5km could have been better. Never mind - I did it!! All those women did it!! Thanks to my little supporters with their "GO MUM" banners which they were issued there. It ws a great event - amazingly well organised & what a stunning settting. So, Who's up for the challenge next year?