Uncle Stevie

This week Big Uncle Stevie has been visiting from Dubai. He spoiled the kids rotten with presents and time. Tom scored and extra large toolkit and Ela an inflatable, motorised aqua scooter (which has been the object of many a fight since).
It was also his birthday so he was spoiled back by all his seven nieces and nephews who sang happy birthday and helped him demolish this lovely large cupcake.

Husky '11

This weekend we went to Huskinson down at Jervis Bay for Mark's first Iron Man Competition. It was a half ironman, 2km swim, 90km ride and 21km run.
We stayed at the local caravan park and the kids had a ball, fighting over the bunk beds and sleeping bags. Especially Tom who made a new friend called Oli (whose dad was also competing), as were the majority of residents in the park, in one of the races over the weekend.
As usual we were briefed with our planned location(s) and bottles of Goo to hand over. We intended to see him once on the bike leg and twice during the run, then to be at the finish line.





Mark was up at the crack of dawn to do whatever he does before the race begins and was back at the van around 6.30am. I had intended to get the kids up, breakfasted and watch the start as Mark jumped into the ocean but we didn't quite manage it. I pretended i could see his head bobbing in the water from the cliffside walk from the park but in fact it took all my energy to get two tired kids and their scooters into position to see him whizz by in 2 seconds on the bike.
After that we attempted to relax at the beach but in actual fact there was a lot of waiting around by the running track. We were able to hand over the goo and do a couple of 'high fives' before making another mad dash to the finish line when, due to the crowds, we heard him (be announced) cross rather than saw him! He was shattered but euphoric and didn't stop smiling for at least three days! I don't doubt we'll be back again next year.