Farewell 2011

Well another year has passed. It has been a good year for us, after moving from S.A. in our usual 'gypsy style, we came to Canberra to start fresh and settle down a bit. In that time Lucas turned 1 and developed some astounding language and a real cheeky personality. Samuel is almost toilet trained and has amazed us with his beautiful emotional and loving way about him. Jacob started school and learned how to read whilst keeping his own exuburant style and William has amazed us with what he has learned at school and has become a wonderfully sensible big brother. Jem has started and quit a job and then found a job she loves, at the same time doing Uni and being an amazingly devoted mum. I have settled into a pretty good routine of being a stay at home dad, doing the best I can by the boys at the same time developing a good balance of family time and 'me' time.

I dont really believe in new years resolutions and all that, as situations change, I like to adapt as I go. We like to do things while we can and not wait until we have have 'more money' and 'more time'. If there is anything I would like to add to next year it would be to keep improving on making the most out of time, doing things that when I look back on a week I can quite honestly say it was productive and positve, full of activities, exercise and learning. At the same time keeping things simple, as they should be. When things get too complicated, I lose interest.

Bring on 2012, cant wait to see whats in store.

I wonder what the boys will look like this time next year....

 

   

 

7

1st big ride, 28 kms in 1 hour and 40 minutes, not bad for a 7 year old.

We decided to take a family trip to Questacon this morning and William and I, with Jacob in tow, took the non car option and rode there and back. It was a lovely day for it and both the boys had a great time.

William did really well listening to all the instructions I was giving him on the fly and riding really safely on the bike lanes parrallel to the main road.  He only really had to stop for a break and a drink a hand full of times.

It excites me thinking of going for long rides and adventures with the boys as they grow up.

28 kms today, maybe around Australia tomorrow.

Snubbed

In previous posts I have mentioned the fact that I miss the competition of basketball and the team aspect of sport. What I dont miss is the time away from the family.

I had just finished up a 1 year stint with the Townsville Crocs back in 2007 when I got some interest from a team in Wellington, New Zealand. Having heard good things about the league and never spent a lot of time in New Zealand, I decided to give it a go.

My time there was to be breif as I was an injury replacement for one of the American imports, so Jem with William and Jacob decided to stay behind until things were a little more definate and organise stuff from her end. This would ultimately mean being seperated for about a month, something we were both apprehensive about and found quite daunting. We were used to me spending a weekend away or the odd day here and there that comes along with professional sport, but a whole month was going to be tough.

It was the week before the last game of a 6 game contract, when Jem and the boys arrived. It had been such a great experience for me with seeing NZ and playing well, but a hellish time away from them. We are such a close nit unit that weeks away seemed like months. I spoke to Jem most days and I could speak to William as he was 3 and had some concept of what I was doing. Jacob on the other hand didnt have a clue why daddy had gone on a plane and left.

Before I left he was such a little daddy's boy, always wanting my cuddles in preference to Jems, making it even harder for her in my absence. I also unfortunately missed his 1st birthday, something I really struggled with. But the time had come and they had finally arrived in Wellington, (much to Jems relief as the flights had been massively delayed and she had to spend the night in a hotel with them both).

As they came into sight I could see Jems beautiful smile and William galloping over to me for a cuddle, it was wonderful. But little Jacob was behind the stroller, defiantley hiding from me and snubbed my attemp at a hug. My little boy didnt want me to hold him? I couldnt believe it, it crushed me. At that very moment, I decided that could never happen again. I would never put myself and my family in that position.

By midway through the next day all was back to normal and little Jacob had completely forgiven me for going away for so long. Its hard to see your own child disappointed in something, but when they are disappointed in you its heartbreaking.

Being at home with the kids every day can get a little tiring, but then again I get to see them every day. Perfect.

Never again

Watching Lucas just recently and how he often just wanders off without a care in the world when we are out, reminded me of the most frightening time I have ever had with any of the kids.

Any parent would be able to tell you that one of their greatest fears would be to lose their own child.

We were living in Albury at that time and Willam was about 3 and Jacob almost a year. Jemma was working and I took the 2 boys into do some groceries in town. We werent there very long as I only had a few things to get and preoceeded to the checkout. Jacob was in the stroller and William was walking. William asked me at the checkout if he could go and play on the Thomas train that was no more than a few metres from where I was standing, so I didnt mind. Jacob was obviously then eager to go and sit on it too with Will, so I unbuckled him and let him as long as he stayed with Will.

Around 20 seconds of me turning around to swipe my card, enter my pin and pay, was all it took for Jacob to totally disappear from my sight. At this point I left the stroller with the shopping, picked William up and asked him where Jacob had gone. He was so busy playing he had no idea. Now my heart was pounding and I had a great sense of dread that someone had taking my little boy and just walked off into the crowd. Even writing this right now makes me feel very uncomfortable.

After a few minutes (which felt like hours!) of charging up and down the mall with William in arm I was really starting to fear the worst. I rang Jem at work and in a flustered way explained the situation. Understandably she dropped everything and was on her way to help me, only being around the corner she could get there in a few minutes.

William was complaining of a severe stomach ache that I had no real time to talk to him about and it was only later when we found Jacob that he felt better and I realised he was feeling sick with anxiety for his little brother. He had picked up on my fear and was feeling very scared himself, beautiful boy.

Jacob had actually walked back into the grocery store through the entrance while I was paying and was looking for me as he couldnt see where I was. One of the ladies that worked there had picked him up and as he couldnt really tell her anything, was just waiting to see if anyone came forward before she made an announcement. She saw me pacing up and down with eyes wide open and asked if he was mine. I cant explain the overwhelming emotional relief I felt seeing him ok. I wrapped him up and kissed him furiously.

Jem met us just outside as we were getting in the car and both still shaking, we gave each other a huge hug, then she bundled Jacob up tightly. Apperently she had already called the police and they were on their way, hearing sirens in the distance.

I hope I never feel that horrible, sick panic I felt that day again. It was simply the most frightened I have ever been for any of their safety. 

Jakey-boy at 1 year

Speed

I went for a ride last night up the 'G' track and decided to go on a mini adventure and climb the biggest Hill I could see.

There are a lot of walking and hiking tracks in the area but only a handfull are really suitable for riding and this particular hill had barely a walking track that was visible. Not letting this deter me, I set off up the knee high grass and rocky fence line of the hill. Looking from the bottom you would swear it just had short grass and although steep, was a farely easy climb up. Yes, looks can be decieving.

I pushed the bike all the way up making sure it was in front of where I stood because in my mind I was imagining hundreds of snakes just waiting to be trodden on. I decided that with my bike in front and ringing the bell every now and then, that would definately be a good snake 'scrarer-offerer'. I reached the top well before sunset and got a great view of the whole area.

The way down was a serious test for my riding skills and the bikes durability. It felt as if I was systematically vibrating the poor thing to bits. Reaching the bottom I headed up to my favourite part of the track where there is almost a kilometere of fast, down hill decent back to the main road. Jems having bought me a speedo for Christmas, I thought this was a great opportunity to see how fast I was actually going down this track. I really let fly this time and almost paid the price, nearly dropping into some recently made rain holes at full pelt. I reached the bottom and my speedo read, top speed - 52 km/h. Not big numbers for downhill on the road, but on a track like that one, it felt like 152km/h. Speed!

Ten pin

Bit of a miserable morning, so we decided to take the boys Ten Pin Bowling. They have been a few times before and really enjoy it, although it can be pretty full on with Lucas trying to run down the lanes, pick up bowling balls that weigh more than he does and walk off when your not looking to go and play the arcade games.

William's getting quite a competitive side to him, not being happy be with anything but a strike! Dont know where he gets it from, Jem and I arent competitive at all!!

Can we go for a ride?

Santa gave William a new mountain bike this year. Its has 6 gears and is the perfect size for him. As he has been riding around on a little 40cm bike since he was almost 4, it is great to see him on a bike that actually fits him.

Six words have constantly been coming out his mouth since Christmas morning, "Dad, can we go for a ride?" I took him out the other day to try and tire him out a bit. I thought it worked as he was getting pretty worn out whilst riding, but a half hour after getting back - "Dad, can we go for another ride??" Apparently not.

The Christmas hangover

We all had an awesome day of opening presents, playing, eating food, drinking and then hitting the 'wall' after Christmas lunch to have a lie down. Then up for some more playing, eating and drinking until bed time.

Santa was definately kind to our boys this year, although we did ask him to only bring one big present for each of them otherwise his sack would be too full. William got a new bike (Although Santa was a bit lazy a didnt wrap it!), Jacob a new remote control car, Samuel a big Power Ranger and Lucas a Mr potato head. Along with the many other presents they got from us and other family, they definately thought it was the best day ever!

The next day they were all a bit tired though with a 'Christmas day hangover', so it was an early bed time that night for everyone.

The bins have taken a hammering over the past few days with the wrapping and all that other waste that comes with the big day, not to mention having 3 extra humans in the house. There is no way I can get it all in to them this week, a severe overflow of cardboard and plastic! Which means there will be a back-log of rubbish, putting next weeks rubbish out of wack!! I might have to go neighbours bin dumping after dark!

Christmas day

The storm has passed.

Trying out the new slip'n'slide and pool in the glorious Christmas day weather.

Chilling out while everyone is having a rest. Christmas is exhausting!

It was great having Ben, Kate and James spend Christmas with us this year.



The night before Christmas

Some very anxious and very excited little boys!

Putting out some carrots for the Reindeer

Last photo before bed with little cousin James

The calm before the storm...



Botanical Gardens take 2

As the boys are understandably a little anxious and excited about Santa coming tonight, we decided to head off to the Botanical Gardens again this morning to stretch their legs. Its a lovely relaxing and tranquil place with mini rainforests, where the temperature drops considerabley the more you venture down into them. Beautiful streams, and boardwalks makes for a lovely place to calmly hang out with the crew. Jem wants to build a house there, I'm sure they wont mind!

The battle

Every other night I try and get out for an evening ride, it clears my mind and brings a smile to my face. Actually getting my gear on and hopping on the bike can sometimes become a bit of a mental battle though.

After a long day with the kids, especially now its school holidays, I'm generally feeling pretty 'spent' by the time we get them to bed. When getting on the saddle and riding off in my own little happy world, I'm instantly reminded of why I do it. Inevitably feeling more energized and refreshed upon returning home.

The 'Battle' can be hard, only if you let it.

Christmas painting

Something I find really hard doing is arts and crafts with the boys. Mostly because of how full on it can be with the little ones and how much I have to stay on top of what Lucas is destroying! But they really do love all that stuff and seem to get a lot out of it.

Today we went and bought some little reindeer's and stars to paint for Christmas. The reindeer for decoration and the stars to hang on the tree. The boys did a great job, although Lucas's attention span is still not long enough for something so intricate. He firstly thought the paint was 'sauce' and tried to lick it and then decided that painting the table was much more fun. The three others did great. Its lovely to watch how proud they are of what they create.

Barricades

A couple of months ago we bought some water pistols preparing for all that hot weather to come. Being the coldest start to summer it has been for decades, we havent used them all that much.

After school today William asked if they could have a water fight. Being the last day of school for the year and a fairly warm day I had no problem with it. Somehow, like always, I got 'roped' into playing when someone snipered me from behind, I had no choice but to defend myself. An innocent little squirt, turned into a full blown 'water war'!

We instinctively devided ourselves into teams. Sam and I verses William and Jacob. We even set up army style barricades for protection and ammunition buckets. Army crawling tactics werent appreciated when William cried foul as I crossed the imaginary 'no-go/too-close' zone. Lucas was so brave taking on 'no-mans land' on several occasions to surpirise me with a 'sneak attack' to the back with a cup of water. Sam was just as happy shooting his squirter up into the sky to watch the 'rain fall' rather than battling the 'enemies'. Jacob was constantly adjusting the size of their barricade for maximum protection, but unfortunately left himself wide open on many occasions for a super soaker bombardment from Colonel Daddy.

The war ended in a truce, with 4 pairs of cold wet bum cheeks running upstairs for a 'debrief' and a warm shower.

Last day

William and Jacob finished school for the year today. They both walked out to the car just like any other day, but today William had just finished his third year of school and Jacob his first! Amazing to think its also been a year almost to the day that we arrived in Canberra, so much has happened, time has just flown.

How does a year seem like an eternity when your a kid, but when you get older weeks and months are moulded together and before you know it another year has past. The years are moving so fast that my maturity is struggling to catch up with my age!

My 2 little boys having an end of year 'celebration' ice-cream