An uneventful week...

From Collages

Dano and I are sitting at the table, he is filling in hockey travel weekends. Both Sammer and Abs are playing on the Pee Wee team, Dano is their coach. The Senior Men's team that Dan plays on travels as well. We are a little gobsmacked at the looks of our calendar for May and June. It looks like we will see places such as Alexandra, Dunedin, Queenstown, Naseby and Tekapo. Although it does seem like a lot of traveling we are pleased becuase we get to see places we would never had gone in the winter in NZ. Ironically, when Mom and Dad are here the kids do not have any games. Dan has a game and there is a tournament at our Gore Arena so we will be involved. I cannot wait until they get here!

The weather is definitely autumn now in New Zealand. The days have been sunny and warm and the nights cool and clear. Yesterday we did many jobs around the house, cutting grass, weeding gardens, adding oil to the cars...stuff like that. It was a dry windy day and the laundry was dry in no time! This whole idea of not having a dryer is like second nature to us now. This morning we got up and Dano was speaking at a church on Lumsden about camp. The drive to Lumsden is amazing, hills and mountains all the way. The scenery is something that we will never grow tired of here. We came home to gale winds...and when I say gale winds...I mean really, really extremely strong winds. Like doors slamming, windows being sucked open and shut, whistling, roof creaking, random items whizzing by the windows....like Southern Ontarians have never seen!!!!! While the kids and Dano were public skating I went for a half hour power walk in this crazy wind. It was not pretty. My hair was such an issue I am sitting here typing with a doo rag tightly wrapped in an attempt to tame the mane.

Oh yeah, Dano and I watched Weekend At Bernie's Saturday night and laughed our tails off. Brian Cofell will always be Bernie Lomax to me. Flopping around like a standing corpse, Brian is hilarous!!!! (miss you Cofe)

Until next time,

Samantha

Triathlon

A few weeks back the kids entered a try-athlon. After they successfully completed it, I vowed that I would tackle one. I'm trying to develop an action habit so I picked a triathlon with a really easy short distance option that was just four weeks later and decided I would enter it if I felt I could complete it. It consisted of a 400 metre swim, 12km bike ride and a 4km run. Three weeks ago I started training by swimming laps for the first time in 17 years. It was as hard as I thought it might be and I really struggled the first week in the water, trying to do front-crawl for 20-30 minutes straight. I kept having to do a few lengths of breast stroke to rest my arms. Thankfully after 3 weeks I was able to swim 1.2km in 30 minutes. At the same time I started jogging, very slowly. I worked up to almost 4km but was concerned about how I would be able to run that far after swimming and biking. My other concern was that I would be using my mountain bike with big knobby tires through the city streets. I tried to find a road bike to use but was unsuccessful.

This triathlon also had a kids event(100m swim, 4km bike, 2km run) and Abby was keen to give it another go. Sam was nursing some sore ribs from a game at school so he sat this one out. Samantha is getting ready for a duathlon in a couple of weeks so played the role of photographer at this one. Abby had a great go and was finished before I had completed my bike leg. I did alright too. I can claim a first place finish in the short distance open division for men - I was the only one in that division! In the end the time didn't matter for me, it was about whether I could finish or not. I was pleased that I was able to jog the entire 4km and still stand up after I crossed the finish line. I am targeting a triathlon in 4 weeks time. I'll have to see how the training goes for this one. We are all doing the Wai Tri duathlon option in two weeks time. It should be fun.

Abby turns 9 and the Highlanders lose.

This Friday the 13th our babygirl turned 9 years old. She invited 5 friends over for a party and 2 stayed the night. It was a success. Sam got invited over to James' while his sister Libby was here at Abby's party. Mom and Dad arrived at Holly's in Texas and Abby opened their gifts while on webcam. Thank goodness for webcam! Although I really missed them after we hung up. Dano and I gave Abs tickets to the NZ Ballet troupe coming through Gore this Thursday. Abby is still totally crazy about Little House on the Prairie and Reena, Bovins and Nik and Ger gave her the set of books for her birthday. She is already half done the first book!

Saturday night we went to the Highlanders rugby game. A new canadian friend, Chris Howey came with us to the game. He is teaching at Gore High with me and he grew up in Aylmer. He is a funny dude. We met at Hell for some excellent pizza then on to the game. The Highlanders tried to defeat the Chiefs but were unsuccessful. We were amazed by a few things at Rugby Park. Firstly, they sold 6 packs of beer that people can purchase and take to their seats. A few people had 3 six packs in hand! Secondly, the hotdogs they sold were those giant floppy corndog looking things dunked in tomato sauce. (Giant bloody...well, you get the picture) Thirdly Chris and I were "thunderstruck" (also a favourite song down here) by the clothing Kiwis are wearing! It is like they are living in the 80's. Skinny jeans, leather high top Nikes, leggings and short dresses, the mullets were out of this world!! Some kids are even dying the long hair down their necks blonde. Chris was noticing the "steps" in the sides above their ears too. The fashion is definitely a step back twenty years. Teenage boys even wear skinny jeans. So bizarre!

Until next time,
Samantha

Mountain Bike Race

I've always wanted to try mountain bike racing. Just after we arrived in New Zealand I bought a mountain bike, planning to do some training and enter a few races. Thirteen months later I finally entered my first race. The Meridian Energy White Hill Wind Farm Classic was Saturday afternoon in Mossburn about 90km from Pukerau. There were three options for the mountain bike race: a 22km full race, an 11km recreational ride and a 6km Kiddies Canter. There was also a 13km cross country run. There were over 500 participants. I entered the 11km recreational ride thinking it wise to ease into this new venture. Sam and Abby decided to give the Kiddies Canter a go. Samantha was our number one fan and our official race photographer.

It was hard. The 11km course started on a reasonable uphill grade which I was hoping would level off after the first bend. It didn't. The grade doubled and before long the mountain bike ride, became a mountain bike push. The majority of the riders proceeded to push their bikes for the next 4km. I guess they define recreational a little differently than I. It is especially discouraging to get passed by runners while pushing your bike. The only consolation was that I knew the second half of the race was going to be easier on the bike. 1 hour and 16 minutes after starting I crossed the finish line. I finished 20th in my category, 30th overall in the 11km race. I also finished behind at least one runner and two riders from the 22km race. I have a long way to go but was pleased with how things went.

Sam and Abby finshed their ride. They found some of their hills a little challenging but continued pushing away. Neither of them would say that they particularly enjoyed it but were pleased at the end. Sam finished 17th in his race and Abby placed fifth last. The great thing is that when we arrived in New Zealand, Abby refused to even ride her bike. She was still have traumatic memories of her mother running over her after a wipeout at Rondeau. To go from that to riding a 6km race is fantastic.

The kids and I are looking at entering a triathlon in two weeks and then the whole family may enter a duathlon in 4 weeks. We'll keep you posted.

Abby's School Camp

New Zealand education includes outdoor education and out of classroom experiences in their curriculum. Each class goes on school camp that usually consists of 3 nights and 4 days away. I love the fact that NZ values outdoor ed and out of the classroom experiences, they really "get it" when it comes to educating children. This year Abby's class went to Dunedin and the focus was The Extremes. I was granted 2.5 days off to go along with her. This is something I find so wonderful here, that my administrators see the importance of working mothers balancing their lives. My Rector said these words to me..."Sam, how would we do it if we did not let our working mothers go on camp with their kids?" Anyway, Abby's teacher/principal Mrs. Watt planned this school camp to Dunedin around the theme of The Extremes. So the kids got to go to The Albatross Colony, The Aquarium and St. Kilda's beach while staying two nights at a boy Scout Camp. They did work at tables in the dining hall around their experiences. I arrived the second day and they kids had settled into cabins, had done a stream study at the camp and ocean safety at St. Kilda's beach. While following directions to get to the camp I was to look for the ford, then turn right into the camp. I was looking for a ford....like an old Ford truck. Instead I found what Kiwis know quite well, a ford that is two bits of concrete thrown onto treacherous fast moving water where a driver can take a high road and avoid water, or take the low road and splash through white water rapids. Feeling like a pansy, I wimpered , gripped the wheel, accelerated and opted for the dry ride! The concrete did not look safe, solid or sound. However the next morning another parent, in a 4X4 truck zoomed beside me and showed me how a ford is done Kiwi-style.
We toured around Dunedin, 5 vehicles, 16 kids, 6 parents and Mrs. Watt. The Cadbury Factory, the Botanical Gardens, a shopping mall where the kids were given $5 to go on their own, in pairs to by a souvy. The Otago Museum was were we slept the final night. After hours of playing in the Discovery Zone, the Museum provided pizza and drinks. Then we were off to see the Butterflies. The kids got right up close and butterflies even landed on them. The best part of the whole trip for Abby was that night. Jamie, the dude who was our guide told the kids to get their PJs on and ready for bed. They set up their sleeping bags in the Discovery Zone and then we went on a pitch black museum CREEP! The kids were hilarious! Some were crying out of fear, other thought it to be great! Jamie made up this story about a mix up with the alarm systems being turned on and we had to be silent, and we had to go in the complete dark. So, linked in a line we ventured out through the museum in the dark, up stairs, around corners...it was so much fun! He took us up to the Animal Attic where he told a story about the animals coming alive in the night. HILARIOUS! After a look around the animal attic and another dark creep back down to our beds the kids went to sleep. Abby and Sophie slept beside a giant floor piano, you will see in the pics. There was lots of time for the parents and Mrs. Watt to chat and partake in some refreshments.
The last day we got up and went to Moana Pool where the kids got cleaned off. There is a wave pool that we spent most of our time in as well as a lazy river. Then back to the school where parents were waiting to pick up their kiddies. I was so happy to be able to go on camp with Abby. It will be something that we both remember forever. Sammer and Dano had a great time with us away too. As an exhausted Abby snuggled into her own bed she told me that she had the best time this year at camp because I was there. She also said that she was glad to back in her own bed and all of us together again. She slept 12.5 hours that night.

Here are some pics of Abby's school camp.



Until next time,
Samantha

Sam and Abby do a "Try"athlon

Invercargill is the next large town to the south of us. It is the size of Sarnia and we go there when we need to go to the "big city"! Invercargill hosted a Tryathlon for kids and Sam and Abby showed an interest. We were a little surprised , but thrilled when the kids said they wanted to do it so we signed them up. The whole idea behind this event was to TRY and give it a go.

Abby's Race

Abby's age group began first. There were four girls that are all daughters of teachers that work at Gore High. They know each other and they raced in the same start. Abby was nervous and having Sian, Hariet and Meri in the same group was good for her. All of the kids started in the pool. Sam was down from her and he kept looking over at us waving and trying to get us to tell him when Abby was in the water. When Abs took to her lap he was standing and yelling and cheering for her. It was emotional for me as a Mother. Abby does not always enjoy biking or hiking and her mood can sometimes become...well, foul. Today was brilliant for her. She worked hard with a smile the whole way! We are so proud of her.

Sam's Race

Sam started after Abs. Dan stayed and got pics of him. Our one camera does not like the lighting in the pool...you will notice some fuzzy pics. Sam had to do 2 laps of the pool and Dano reported that he swam hard...we joke that he looks like a jellyfish in swimming lessons, but not today! We bought Sam a bike last Easter and he has grown so much this year that bike is too small. He has been using my bike and he is loving that. Sammer had a spill during the bike while trying pass a little girl. He wiped out and got right back on. Sammer put in a great effort and is keen to do another! We are so proud of him!

There were 600+ kids doing the race today. It was amazing.

Until next time,

Samantha