Long Weekend...

The weekend started on ANZAC day. I got up at 4am so that I could get ready for the Dawn Service - unfortunately this cold I have had me coughing my guts up which I figured other people didn't want to be listening to during the service - plus I didn't think it was a good idea to be out in the cold with a bad chest.

So, about 8am I headed off to Mom and Dad's place to see what they were up to for the day - and I found them trimming Jade's tree (well her swing hangs from it - and it's over her sandpit - so it's the easiest way to explain it)... Dad carefully cut the branches with the chainsaw, mom got up the tree to pass him the chainsaw rather than him trying to climb and hold it....



Last night (Saturday), I finally convinced Jade that Pricilla (Riggadoon doll that I got when I was about 10) needed more than just a t-shirt on (she's always stripping her off....) - so we got her dressed in a sleepsuit that we were given as a hand-me-down for Jade - but it was never cold enough in Gladstone to use it..... but it fits her perfectly....

Pricilla is a puppet - you put your hand into the back of the head... Jade thinks this is great... so she came up and Pricilla bit my finger... which prompted "ouch - that's not nice Pricilla!!" from me....

Which then prompted Jade "Cilla has been naughty, she has to go to the baby room!"... she was then put in the nursery and Jade came back to sit with us for a bit, then she said "Cilla wants to be good now, can she come out??" --- Just too cute!!

Yup - she's nearly as big as Jade!

Today, I dragged Rob out of bed early so that he could go out riding with Dad, Mac and Frank - to make sure that his bike is set up properly for the competition next weekend (don't want to get all the way to Brisbane and find that the bike needs work done!)..

Jade and I headed over to Mom and Dad's place once I had printed out letters to make stencils to make the sign for the comp next weekend. It's a Themed Team Trial - and these guys are going as the "Trials Denation Reserves" - long story and this blog entry is long enough...

Anyway, so the idea is that they are wearing Army Cammo's and we've done a "Reserves H.Q." sign to put up where we set camp next weekend... (I'll make sure I get team photos next weekend)... (we went for the dodgy stencil sign - because we figure that's how they would have used to do signs in old army days)...

Now, I've been meaning to do this for a while.... I FINALLY have my bike back together.... this first photo is what the bike looked like when it was a nice shade of purple.... it was a nice dark purple that looked nearly black at night or even a dark blue... and that is it's daytime colour.....

We got it resprayed - and apparently this is "close" in colour.... It's a good paint job - but unfortunately not such a fantastic colour.... but you get that... you can't do everything perfectly all the time....

And before anyone comments, the Tractor in the background is Dad's.... Rob will get a trumpy in a couple of years - but after we've done other stuff that we need to do - and once we have time to ride again... else we're just paying another lot of rego and insurance for another vehicle that barely gets ridden.....

I would have taken the bike outside into the sun to get a photo of the real colour that it is... but this gives you enough of an idea of how light it is - as well as how "Red/pink" it appears... but it's all good - once it's all back on the road - I don't think I'd care if it were fluro yellow... it's still my storm... :)

After doing up the sign, Jade decided to help Mom by watering her passionfruit vine....

Bloody Guitar Hero.......

Well, now Jade thinks that she needs to play Guitar Hero because that's what Greg, Mat and Rob did a lot of over the week that Mat was up.... luckily she doesn't understand that her Guitar wasn't the one operating the screen... So, she thinks that she's a Rock Star!!!

Happy Now Nat??!?!? :P~~~

Trials - Waterson's - 20th April

We had trials on Sunday morning, Greg didn't come out with us, but it was a reasonable day anyway... Rob only rode the first lap -- but there were things on his mind... nevermind... he's only got to be ready to go when we head down for a Brissy Trials comp next weekend...

Yay for long weekends!!! it's a "Themed Team Trial" - so Dad, Frank, Shayne and Rob are all in a team together and will be going the full hog - costumes and all.... but it should be a fun weekend.... and Greg has agreed to help out with observing if they need him on the Sunday....

This was the only photo I got of Rob for the day unfortunately...... (and yes, we still use the Volvo!! although we are going to get rid of it soon - but it comes in handy when the Merc is in for servicing - or even the Prado....)

Frank on MY bike!

Jade the Bush Baby... (with her "trials hat" - not that it's supposed to be worn on the back!)

and he is actually in the air here... it was quite a drop!!

Unfortunately this photo doesn't do this climb justice.... I believe it was at least 8ft from the ground to where the back wheel is touching and it was straight up!

Jade stole my hat, but by that time I didn't care which hat she was wearing - as long as she was wearing something..... (unfortunately her "trials hat" which has a really wide brim - is still too small for me... even with my small head..!!!)

and the visit is over......

Mat headed back to Sydney this morning... this is about all of the photos I managed to take - other than going bowling on the Sunday, the boys pretty much played computer games and Wii... and THAT was about all... and I'm sorry - but that's not interesting enough to take photos of.....

Last night Greg had a Rugby game - so Rob and Mat went out to watch... (the game was at 5:30 - and trying to feed Jade at 7:30 at night just wasn't an option - so we stayed at home) - Rob took the camera with him - but didn't check that the SD card was in there... so he wasn't able to take photos...... (and he's always getting up me for not checking before I take the camera somewhere!! har!! :P~~)

Anyway, so this morning I got the kids to all sit down for a photo... only took about 30 shots to get one where Greg isn't pulling a funny face... or funny hand gestures.... same can be said for Mat.... and in the other photos that didn't work.. Jade was either looking at Mat - or looking at Greg... or at a toy on the floor.... so I just kept snapping and hoped for the best..... (hard to believe that Jade is only 2 1/2, she looks a lot older in that photo!!!)

There'll be another post tomorrow as we have another trials comp... Greg is riding - and hoping to complete the entire trial... with only 6 sections and 5 laps.. he only has 30 sections in total... I'm sure he can do it!

Mat is up to visit!

Rob finally arrived back in Gladstone on Friday - just in time to get some sleep before having to head back to Rockhampton to pick up Mat off the plane... Greg travelled up with Rob.. and together they managed to lose Mat...

Somehow flight numbers got mixed up - or Rob just got confused... hehe - which is more likely? ;)

Anyway, before Rob had left for Rocky - I said "make sure you take up the camera.... get pics of Mat and Greg, when Mat lands" "Great idea!!" (being the usual response)...

Off they went.... then I went to check something on the computer - and there's the camera... hrmpf!!!

Well, I figured we'd get photos when we all went out to dinner on Saturday night... Aunty Lyn was in town - as well as Damian's father... so it was a good opportunity to get some photos... and the camera got left at home again!! (not having much luck!)...

Sunday morning we got up and headed off to the Bowling Alley... figuring that they would be open around 9am (as that's when Sea Urchins opened - and it's next door....) - we arrived at 9:45 - only to find that it opens at 10... unfortunately - Jade spotted Sea Urchins next door (that was supposed to have shut down at the end of March - so we hadn't taken Jade there in a while) - and it was open... So I ended up having to go there with Jade while Rob took the boys bowling....

Jade got bored with Sea Urchins after an hour (hard to remain excited when she's there on her own... usually we've got friends kids or Xander with us -so Jade has someone to play with - but she didn't know any of the kids there, doesn't appear that she's a huge social butterfly).. so we headed off to bowling to find out how long the boys were going to be.... all in all it was a good morning and we managed to get Jade down for a lunchtime sleep - so we were happy with that!

Rob and all of his kids.... (not a photo we get to take too often)
"oooh - let me do this!!!"
Rob helping Jade line up a shot... (not a very attractive position!)
Jade and her little helper....


Mat lending a hand....
Jade didn't care if she knocked down any pins or if she landed the ball straight in the gutter... each shot deserved a hi-5....


Helping Greg keep score....
Jade had to try her hand at taking a photo....

and then needing to see a pic of herself....


Boys waiting their turn....


Greg bowling.....

Jade was making sure that she soaked up as much "Daddy Time" as she could get - given that he hasn't really spent much time at home the last few months - she gets really clingy when he is here....

Mat bowling...

You'll have to excuse the quality of the photos.... I didn't seem to get the focus correct... I blame the camera.... Rob would use this as an excuse to harrass me into a new lens.. but it can all wait....

Heritage Village Trials Display....

Yesterday we went up to Rockhampton to participate and watch the trials display at the Heritage Village - Greg took his gear but didn't end up riding... but there were more than enough people willing to spend the day riding - so the spectators didn't miss out on anything...

The show that was on was a Tractor Show with old stationary engines etc, but the trials club has been allowed to set up a display and it will be left there for future displays - which meant that Drew could have a lot of fun making obstacles for everyone to play on.

Andrew Jones on his new "Team Beta" bike

Jade giving Grandpa a few pointers!

Graham Long - and original "Team Beta" member.

Classic pose guys!!
Brendan Paton

Brendan again.

Dad

Alex Jones showing everyone how to do it properly!

Angela Sophios making it look easy.

Greg Paton on his TY175
Brendan - again.


Angela tackling the rocks (or cement slabs - I'm not sure what you'd call them)

Jade worn out at the end of the day has now decided that the recliners are a good place for her to set up her bed and mooch.....