Things we learnt over the weekend

Lesson for Sam:
Mobile phones don't get thirsty -

Lesson for Mum:
but they do still work after being dipped in the dog's water bowl (after being dried in the 40 degree weather).
Well it's not 100% yet, but I can make and take calls - just not at night time (the back light isn't working).

Lesson from Josh - to Mum:
Light globes can't die... because they aren't people

Lesson for Josh:
Trying to peel the skin off your arm with a vegetable peeler doesn't actually take the skin off, but it does hurt.

Lesson for Sam:
People don't eat bird seed.

Lesson for Mum:
Bird seed takes 24 hours to get through the digestive system, and looks exactly the same at the other end!
(If it had taken 23 hours, then Grandma would have had an interesting experience - since she didn't actually know that Sam ate the bird seed).

Grateful Saturday?

OK, well it's not Friday... but I'm joining Kate with her Grateful Friday posts.

Today I am grateful for quality one on one time with my boys... and by that I mean one at a time.

This afternoon I went for a bike ride with Josh. It was lots of fun. We rode down to the creek and along the bike track, then to a little park that he hadn't been to before. We sat down and had a drink and a chocolate each - where I taught him that there is nothing wrong with melted chocolate... 'it's still good'. Then we rode along to another park and swung really high on the swings. Then I tempted him with icypoles when we got home - otherwise he never would have wanted to leave!

The Circle of Life

We have a new addition to our family... a cockatiel that we picked up from Freecycle. (Freecycle is a website where you can offer items that you no longer need anymore).

She was only a few weeks old when we picked her up, and she was very tame. I actually ended up having her on my shoulder in the car for the drive home. Then I walked from the car to the house, and she didn't move (though she also has one wing clipped). Originally we were going to put her in the aviary outside, but she was such a nice bird that we ended up getting a cage for her to live inside in.

She is getting a bit more feisty now, and tries to fly around the house (even though her wing is still clipped). She loves nibbling on my earrings and bracelet.

Now you may have been wondering how she got her name... no, its not because only one wing is clipped and she flies around in circles! Josh named her. I have no idea why he chose Circle, but she does have a black dot on her head. And that was definitely the idea he was after, because the next morning he woke up and said hello Round!!! When he is being a magician he turns her into a Square!

This photo was taken by Josh on his very own camera. He did get a special kids camera for Christmas, but it lasted about 10 minutes before the battery went flat, and the photo quality was very poor. So in the end we got him a proper digital camera (which was cheaper than the good quality kids cameras). It is actually better image quality than my old Sony Cybershot!!! And he is getting pretty good at taking photos! It is interesting to see the photos he takes, and see life from the perspective of a four year old.

Trace - The Triathlete!

Just in case you didn't know... about two months ago I decided to sign up for the BRW Triathlon (click to see some photos).
It involves a 400m swim at Elwood beach, a 10km bike ride and a 4km run. The most I had ever done before was a 5km run... so it was a challenge... and there is nothing I like better than setting a challenge - and doing it!

To start running I followed the Couch to 5K running program (which you can find here). It's a podcast that you listen to on your iPod while running (just like having your very own trainer!).
I finished the program and did the Susan Fun Run in December last year and came third in my age group!

So now I just had to worry about the swimming and the bike! I worked out a bit of a program and I don't think it was until two weeks before when we went for a practice session at Elwood that I really felt confident that I could do it! (And that was my goal - to finish)

So here is a run down of the race day...

And the results are in.....
Swim: 11:43
Bike: 35:39
Run: 17:57
Total: 1 hour 5 min

Our team time was 3:05:50

The Swim
The water was FREEZING!!! But it was so calm. Compared to the day before - this was the best possible outcome for us. I don't think I put my head under the water until the first turn. Then I got into a rhythm and was actually swimming properly. Then there was the second turn and we were heading straight into the rising sun. I couldn't see a thing, so I just kept swimming with my head down. But then the marshalls had to push me back on track when I started going off to the side too much! Before I knew it, the water was shallow enough to run again. This was the worst part of the race for me. I couldn't feel my feet! They were so numb from the cold and then we had to run up to the bike enclosure across bitumen! That was horrible! But I think that is when the adrenilin was just pushing me to keep running.

The Bike
I really look my time doing the bike transition. I sat down, dried my feet, put on my socks and shoes, had some Gatorade jelly beans (these were to be my secret weapon!!) and then I got going. I really didn't expect much from the bike leg. During training the week before with the guys from work, everyone was going faster than me. Even someone who had the same bike as me! It puzzles me, so I guess this is something I could really work on to improve my time.The RunThis was pretty easy for me, and I did take it easy and didn't really push myself. In hindsight, I kind of wish I did, but then again, at least I didn't feel sick afterwards.

Transition went well, my team mate was waiting there calling out my name and then they were off! I couldn't believe it was over already! I actually made the comment to our third team mate that I felt like I could do it again... to which he replied that I could if I wanted to! Ha ha, I don't think so!!!!

It was a fantastic day, I loved the atmosphere. Our marquee was so cool with balloons set up and full catering and three massage tables set up.

Our company won the best uniform competition too! (Though that may have been because we were the loudest!!!!!)
Gee there were some shocking uniforms out there!
I have noticed that there is a triathlon coming up on the 30th March... I'm thinking of entering... since I am already trained up!
The only thing is that this one is going to be another big challenge - with only three weeks to get ready...

It is a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

So far I have run the 5km and I went for a 19.5km bike ride on Friday (I know, I should have kept going for that last 500m!), now I just need to have a practice at the swim before I make a decision.
Yep - I must be crazy! :)

Four Year Old Kinder

Josh was very excited to be going to kinder... but somewhere along the way he got confused and thought he was going to school. His comment went along the lines of "But this is the same as little school". It is at the same place he went last year for three year old kinder - except this is twice a week for full days. He goes Tuesday and Thursday from 9:15am - 2:15pm.

There are a few key differences between three year old kinder and four year old kinder, and it has taken Josh a while to get used to it. He was used to walking in in the morning and sitting down on the mat. Now they just get straight into the activities. Lunch boxes and drink bottles go into a tub. (before they just stayed in their bags). And there are HEAPS more kids.

I think Josh is settling in more now, and is starting to make friends. The surprising thing is he actually remembers the other kids names! School photos happened on Thursday, so it will be interesting to see the class photo and see how many he remembers.

Here is one of Josh's recent pictures that he drew at kinder. It is so interesting to see how his drawing has progressed (though he is still obsessed with trains!!!) For those not so familiar with Thomas the Tank Engine, the things to note are:

1. Thomas has three wheels, while Percy has two wheels (this is how many wheels they have if you look from the side).

2. This is the first time I have noticed Josh draw eye brows! (Yes Thomas does have eyebrows!) (Looking in the mirror the other day Josh exclaimed, "I have eyebrows!").

3. He drew the smoke coming out of their smoke stacks.

And here is a scan of Josh's name. He has trouble with the S, but other than that it is pretty good!

Welcome

My very first post on my new blog...

I'm hoping this will be a more regularly updated site, where I can chat about my boys, as well as life in general.

It's part of trying to make my life easier.