The littlest

I was following our littlest, Lucas riding his bike along a lovely single track today with his brothers and it dawned on me that he turns 3 in a few weeks! He is such a strong, capable, lively and cheeky boy with so much character now, its hard to remember him as a baby.

Although you kind of wish he still was when he suddenly runs out of energy half way and needs a carry. Him, his bike and my backpack, trudging back to the carpark. Then Sam pipes up, "I'm tired, can you carry me too?"

Who needs to do weights at a gym?!

The countdown

The school holiday countdown has begun! 40 more days until William, Jacob and yes Sammy Tyler start term 1 of 2013. Activities! Hmmmmmm.....

Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas!

The boys on Christmas morning at about 6am opening their presents. William got a new trick scooter from Santa, Jacob a stereo with ipod docking, Sam an incredible hulk toy and dress up and Lucas a big fire truck. They must have been good boys this year!

The calm after the storm

We had a brief but wild few storms pass through last night. One of which seemed to almost have a mini tornado that ripped through, knocking over fences, trees and signs. It was Christmas Eve and we were beginning to worry about Santa, when the clouds parted and we were greeted with a lovely Sunset. The calm after the storm.

This photo doesnt do justice to the array of colours, just beautiful

The pool

Apart from today, the temperatures around Canberra have been pretty hot, up around the mid 30's. So I decided we would get the pool out to cool down. Not really your olympic size lap pool, but perfect for a splash. 

Photos from the saddle

Stromlo has been my 'go to' spot for a ride for quite some time. Not bad having a world class trail 20 minutes down the road.

The sound of silence/Photos from the saddle

This morning I was lucky enough (thanks Jem) to check out Sparrow Hill for the first time. 30 kms of lovely single track right over the road from Kowen Forest, not bad.

Out on the bike, especially solo deep in a forest, I really appreciate the sound of silence. In a busy busy household, with energized little boys that are always making some sort of noise, it is so nice to hear nothing every now and then.

Santa 2012

We visited Santa after school today, the boys were very excited!

Tura beach pre Christmas, Christmas

We have just been down to Tura beach for two days for a pre Christmas, Christmas with the Lanes and Dad. We arrived to a lovely roast turkey, then had christmas activities and the kids opened some presents. Although it was raining all day we still got out to the beach for a play later in the afternoon, then got the tired little bodies to bed. Laneo and I then went for another magic ride around Tathra at night, another amazingly different spin on epicly good single track, in some rainforest like steamy conditions. Fun fun fun. Spent the following morning at the skate park before heading home. Lovely.

 Merry Pre Christmas kids!

 Spencer Park beach

 Rich flying along the steamy and epic Tathra trails at dusk. Is it possible to keep topping each ride? Cant wait to find out...

 Skate park cousins (thanks for the photo dad)

Grandad

Dad has been staying with us for the last few days and we have loved having him here. Tomorrow we all go down to Tura Beach to visit the Lanes to have a 'pre Christmas, Christmas'.

Grandad and his grandsons

Photos from the saddle

Did a nice long road ride on Sunday. Lovely early morning cruize around Lake Burley Griffin and back. On the way round I cought up with an old friend, the Questacon balloon in the beautiful light of just after sunrise.

Little dirt critters

I, along with Dad, took the boys to Stromlo for the dirt crits tonight. Little dirt critters ready for action.

Photos from the saddle

I have been riding a fair bit lately, predominantly on the trails. One thing thats great about trail rides is the scenery, the constantly changing, colourful and often beautiful scenery. I love to catch the moment with a camera and luckily I always have my phone on me with a decent in built camera, which makes this easy.

Had yet another spin around Stromlo this afternoon and took a few shots along the way on this hot, dry and dusty day.

'Photos from the saddle' has been and will continue to be a much loved part of any ride.

 The top of Mt Stromlo looking north

 Canberra's big sky (Black Mt, Telstra tower in the distance)

 The start of Old Duffy's descent, one of my favourite sections in the park

My big beast

Before and after

Majura pines pre logging - 

and after stage one - 

Jacobs first MTB race

Jacob did his first mountain bike race yesterday. Since having his cast off and resting for a couple of weeks, we got out last week only to find out that the dirt crits werent on at Stromlo. This week they were, so we went out and he had a great time on a nice easy loop of singletrack and fire road. Well done Jacob!

Live

Previously I have posted Beyonce singing 'Halo' live, which was Amazing. To continue with the 'live' theme, this time its Guy Sebastian, singing his new song 'Why cant we all get along'. The passion in which he sings in this version is goose bumpingly good.

People that are aggressively confronting and causing arguments for no reason, fights, being hard to deal with, starting wars, narrow minded and just being annoyingly difficult, I find impossible to understand. Bodes the questions, why cant we all just get along?

Beautifully powerful song with a lovely message in the lyrics by Guy. One of my favourites right now. Enjoy.

Lucas talk

Jem and I were up in the bedroom earlier chatting to each other when Lucas came in and sat with us. I then proceeded to reply to a message on my phone.

Lucas asked what I was doing, I responded "Im just sending my friend a message"

He asked with a beautifully sincere look "Is it the black ones?" Referring to his friends from the laneway that have dark skin!

Jem and I looked at each other almost cracking up. I held back a snort and said "No mate, its one of my friends and anyway they are just your friends, you dont need to call them black friends, they just have different colour skin to you and me"

Lucky that conversation was at home! Awkward!! We have a racist son!

Splash!

Because it was Sammys last swimming lesson for the year today, the instructors opened up the water slide as a treat. Sam even went down by himself a couple of times plopping out the end with a big splash and a smile!

Summer sunset

Mulligans Flat nature reserve right on the border of ACT and NSW at sunset. Stunning.

Sweet

We had a tough day with the kids yesterday as you do every now and again. Everyone seeming to be all agitated and tired for whatever reason. Spent most of the day cross at one of them for one thing or another, makes for a loooong day! But you only have to look at the sweet little blue eyed baby boy of ours to forget about it in a hurry.

Christmas tree!

We all put the Christmas tree up yesterday! The boys are really getting excited and enjoying the spirit of Christmas more and more each year. As per usual the youngest (and lightest!) child got to put the star on top of the tree.

Pulling the pin, a moment.

A lot of thought goes into to some decisions, and you look forward to whats to come. But even when you think you've contemplated every scenario and every angle of that decision sometimes things just aren't what they appeared and you know you'll probably have to pull the pin.

I decided a couple of months back that I was going to give basketball at a high level another shot (pardon the pun) with the Canberra Gunners. I was looking forward to the challenge and getting back on the court again in a team environment. Having only committed to the bare minimum, as my extra time these days is minimal, I thought it was going to be fine and initially was excited. Although when thinking about all the extra things that inevitably always pop up, (extra trainings, game video sessions, weights, promo's, physio for my back, triple header road trips!) I decided that rather than getting to the point of regretting playing and not enjoying it and ultimately being too late to pull out and abandon the team, I would pull the pin early on before training had even started. That way they have easily enough time to find a replacement.

I knew it was the right decision straight away as it felt like a huge weight had been lifted. I had been getting more and more worried how my back would hold up for the season and how I would fit everything in around basketball, especially family weekend activities the new love of riding. If I wasn't enjoying basketball for whatever reason and it was taking away from riding my bike, which I am absolutely loving at the moment, I would really resent it. That's something I wouldn't want to happen as its been such a massive and great part of my life.

Committing to things is easy, but knowing when that moment is you need to pull out of something you know in your heart wont work, is tough, but also crucial for your happiness.

A Moment -

I had a moment tonight doing a loop around Stromlo that I realised why I felt so good about the decision not to play Basketball this season.

For the 11 or 12 years I played basketball professionally, once you sign your contract with a team you are basically owned for that time. Your time seems not to be yours anymore, your at the mercy of the coach. If your fortunate enough to be in a winning team where everything is going smoothly then you have your schedule for the week and the rest of the time is your own. If your on a losing team on the other hand, your weeks can sometimes be turned upside down with spontaneous training sessions, or crisis meetings being called. Leaving you with no chance of planning anything outside of the basketball bubble your in.

Ever since being out of that scene, I have just loved the fact that I or we can plan anything and it be OK. Weekends are always free! Amazing. Nights are my own! awesome. It just dawned on me that not being in a way 'owned' by someone, gives you a wonderful sense of freedom. Especially out on your bike in the fresh air, amongst nature, on a beautiful evening. I really appreciate the less committed responsibility outside of home life I find myself with these days.

Single track through the spring flowers on a gorgeous Stromlo evening....and a moment of happiness.

Wheel cake

To celebrate Jacob getting his 'wheel freedom' back - being able to ride on stuff now that his cast is off, we went down the park for a scoot and a bbq dinner. Jem had baked a cake that day and decided to turn it into a wheel cake to symbolise his bike wheel. Mick, Tracey and Emma met us there later on as they live just round the corner from the park we went to. Lovely evening with the family and a happy Jacob!

Back on 2 wheels

Well after 5 weeks of being in a cast and 2 extra weeks of staying off his bike, Jacob was finally allowed to get back on the saddle. I took him and Sam to Stromlo for a ride which he loved. 'Its just like riding a bike'

 

Pre Pre school

Sammy had his Pre School orientation day on Wednesday to get all the brand new students familiar with their new surroundings for 2013. He seemed to really like it and had a great time trying all the activities out.

Tura Beach weekend

We took a trip to Tura beach for the weekend to catch up with Em, Rich, Jack and Jo. We had a great day on Saturday, firstly Em and Jem went for a spin around Mandeni while Rich and I took the kids down there for some mountain biking also. William and Jack pretty much riding non stop for the whole time we were there! We then went over for some jumping pillow action where the kids bounced themselves silly. Its so lovely seeing all the kids bonding more and more and playing together so nicely. After that was a BBQ lunch and some quiet time at home, then Rich and I went out to Tathra to check out the trails. 

What I expected was far and away exceeded and I was blown away by the network of single track in there. Hugely different from what I have ridden before, with multiple 'heart in mouth' sections where you sometimes just have to hold on, stay alert and hope for the best. Whoever built the trails must be having a laugh in some spots as my bike barely fit through multiple tree gaps and coming off anywhere would ultimately lead to kissing a tree, which is exactly what I did at one point. Sliding out on a sandy berm, coming off and trying to push down a tree with my shoulder. Ouch! Bridges is another super intense section where you cross many huge gullies that require your bike to use its full range of suspension! All I was thinking for about 10 or so minutes on that bit was "Bike dont fail me now!"

Varied terrain, quite steep and some super fast little bursts that leave you giggling with excitement. We covered about 40kms of it and I was impressed to say the least. Technical, tough climbs, fast and flowy! all be it a little sandy in spots but a brilliant ride none the less and one that left me on cloud nine for the rest of the day. Thanks again Rich. Looking forward to the next visit to Tathra! 

See you guys in a few weeks!

Waiting for the jumping pillow to fill up

 Jumping pillow races!

 A large lizard scurrying up a tree as we rode past at Tathra

 Short point peninsular, beautiful spot.

 A bit of rock climbing

 Thanks big sis, see you soon

Baby boy

When you cant make it in time to your own bed, just find the nearest large soft area, curl your knees up and put your arms between your legs, roll onto your belly and then pass out! 

After I brought Lucas in from the car asleep, I went to check on Sam and came back to find him looking like a little new born again on our bed. Very sweet.

 

Dirt Crits

 Sammy and Lukey lining up for their under 6's race, very cute!

 William in the under 11's ready to go

Go Will!