Category Archives: Family stuff

Cape to Cape 2017

Back around again after missing last year’s event (due to Freddy’s precarious in utero situation we were unable to go further than 20 mins from the maternity hospital) we were back again with most of the usual rabble to watch the boys beast themselves for 4 days.

Dave, Andy, Tom, Simon and Rhys were the contenders this year and it was Kate’s turn to be pregnant while supporting!

The boys all put in a very good effort but of course Tom came out top of our lot and I think 12th overall which, out of 1500 riders, is rather good going.

It was the C2C 10 year anniversary so it was very well subscribed by weekend warriors and pros alike.

Us girls and kids took up the roll of race support and watched starts and most finishes.

My turn next year!

Dwellingup 60

Off to Dwellingup we go!
This time not only did Rach come too but we camped in the main Dwellingup campsite which boasts flushing loos and showers!

Unfortunately I had a cold so was bad company for the Fords who were spending the weekend with us too. Tom managed a great result with 1st in his category in the 100km and Dave did brilliantly with 4th in his category for the 60km (he did the 100 before and says it is too dull to do the full 100).

We went to visit the old POW camp for the first time and unfortunately there was not too much to see but some interesting info nonetheless.

Of course there was a fire and toasted marshmallows to go with it.

I'm looking forward to giving the 100km a go next year despite the potential boredom.

Nanga Challenge 2017

Inspired by Rich Bannister’s efforts in the UTMB, Dave decided he ought to get off his bottom and do the Nanga Challenge. Rhys was already entered so the Marshalls, Jameses and Smiths headed to Nanga Mill Friday afternoon in time to set up camp before the race on Saturday morning. For some reason Andy was not racing and was team mascot instead.

We camped at Nanga Mill in Dwellingup which is fast becoming a regular spot. There is a creek at the bottom (where the kids love to build dams and get as many clothes wet as possible), Turner Hill is not far for a 10km MTB loop and there is plenty of dirt for the babies to eat.

The race on Saturday morning consisted of a 15km river paddle (7.5 downstream then back up again), 30km MTB and a 12km run. From what the boys said it will probably not be redone as the courses were less than exciting, but at least the Murray has now been paddled.

We had a jaffle contest for dinner Saturday night. Rhys, as usual, went all out and produced a beef Wellington jaffle! It was excellent though I was very happy with my rather less labour intensive Camembert and bacon. Ellis of course went cheeseless and had beans and mushrooms.

There were dessert jaffles too with apples, cinnamon, raisin toast and rhubarb etc. the kids were happy toasting marshmallows over the 2 fires we had going.

Sunday morning Sara and I went for a bike at Turner Hill. Andy and Dave had bets going that we would not find it. What a fuss over nothing; we found it with no difficulty at all and there was only one comedy stack by Sara thanks to some pea gravel and a black boy!

JP and Helen arrived Saturday morning with Roman and Byron to add to the feral kid count. Only one (Paw Patrol) toy lost to the river and only one Freddy brick eaten by Alfie the dog!

Thanks everyone for a great weekend.

Easter 2017

9 families headed south to Dunsborough for Easter weekend. We were an impressive presence at the Dunsborough Lakes Caravan Park until the Tuesday after Easter. The kids (all 20 of them) had a great time biking, playing mini golf and riding the float with the Easter bunny!

When not wrangling an army of children the adults and older kids did some MTBing at the Pines in Margaret River. At the top of the new tracks we spotted some unsavoury wildlife… 

Luckily there were no kids playing in the mound when we found it. 

After Dunsborough most families left to return home. Three of us stayed on and went the 8km down the road to Yallingup Beach. It was a very relaxing part 2 to the holiday. We went on walks, did more biking and of course visited a couple of  wineries!

The boys did some supping and Kristie, Kate and I went on a rather exhaustingly sandy trail run!

Van celebrates his 7th birthday in Yallingup so of course there was cake to round the day of biking off. 

Until next year!

Freddy

Then there were 4!

Frederick Wellesley Tadeusz Smith joined us 4 weeks before due date and one day after the originally planned cesarean. 


He was a healthy 2.8kg and after 22mins of CPAP we were able to go into recovery and back to the ward. I lost 1.3l of blood which left my already low iron levels even lower. 

Freddy needed to go under the grill repeatedly as his body temp kept dropping below 36’C despite multiple clothing layers and hats!

We were allowed out on Saturday 11th Feb which meant celebrating Ellis’ 6th birthday at King Eddy’s!

Easter Weekend in Denmark

Dave and Ellis took Thursday off to head down to Denmark for Easter. We travelled the 400+km without a hitch and only one pit stop at Kojunup for coffee and a play. We spent most of the day driving and setting up camp along with the Edwards, Jameses, Hudsons and Marshalls. Luckily at the camp site there was a great play park and bouncy pillow to keep the kids entertained while the adults drank beer and got sorted. 

   
   
The kids were great and spent much of the time entertaining themselves. There was also a birthday party with pin the tail on the donkey!

We had a great walk to Monkey Rock which provided excellent views and very nearly a heart attack for Kate with kamikaze Dylan at the top!

  
We also paid a visit to Ocean Beach where we recreated the beach olympics but this time to music (thanks Rhys). 

   
 Saturday was rather wet but that was not any issue once we agreed to jumping in puddles! 

  

Ellis’s first sports day

First school sports day.  Well, Ellis is in Pre Primary so it was all light hearted and fun for the girls.

In her class waiting for her go

Waiting for their turn, they were all together in their house teams, chanting and having fun

At the start line ready to go

lined up, the whistle went off and they all kind of looked around wondering what to do, as soon as the first one bolted they all bolted as well.

And they are off.

There was a lot of looking around and waving to parents as they ran past, bit young to be competitive.  Not the case for some parents who where screaming words of encouragement at their children, some louder than others (Lara was a little embarrassing……)

GO!!!!!! that was what Mummy was shouting

She definitely didn’t win, but she was very pleased to take part and enjoyed it.

happy at the end

Weekend in Guilderton

Spent a lovely weekend up in Guilderton camping next to the Moore River.  Was lucky enough to witness the sandbank break and the river empty out into the sea ( apparently it happens 10 ish so times a year).  Started as a little trickle and ended up huge all within 2 hours. A great weekend camping with the Staffords, biking, paddling and playing on the beach with the kids.

Bells rapids with the Kids

Spent a lovely Sunday at Bell’s rapids, 5 families, a herd of kids and a BBQ.  Played in the river, went Geocacheing and then the kids tried paddling.  A nice way to pass a day playing with the kids outside.