387days later!!!!!

Can you believe how good we are at BLOGGING!?!

Some 387 days later and we are about to have a whistle stop tour of the last year in glorious KIWI COLOUR!

So where has the last year gone? Well according to World News....down the Toilet with all your money!!! However, life still goes on at the usual 100 MPH.

Like most people, the days are just flying by and it seems increasingly difficult to keep up (especially when you are an old giffer like me!) We all seem so busy, especially Max who is into every sport known to man! He has some life at school, or not at school as he frequently isn't. there always seems to be some school competition he is involved with....when do they get educated???

You know when it is time to give up competing on the worlds sporting stage when your 10 year old can beat you in the pool! This has spurred me on to train even harder for the 2011 half Ironman event in January. This years was a 'baptism of fire'....as you will see by the photos.
As I have totally forgot how to do the BLOG thing, the photos may not be in any particular order...so here goes!

Going to do this by reverse order (most recent first)

Tom at the Surf Lifesaving North Island pool champs on the podium.

Max had a very average day...not helped by the fact he was away all week at a Sports Camp (some life our 12 year old has!) And even more not helped by the fact some opposition kid trapped his foot / ankle in the door of the cage soccer arena...what the hell is Cage Soccer??? Too much fun!

Tom collecting 'hail' after a freak storm a few weeks ago! We still have the offending 'ICE' in the freezer! Not sure what he is saving it for (how can I talk with some of the crap I still have hidden away!)

Clare and her MAD Friends undertaking the RIGOURS of ADVENTURE RACING!

Not only did Clare undertake this one, the TOUGH GUY / GAL challenge was a MUDFEST! (can't find the photos though!)

A random 'sunrise (must ahave been a few months ago has it hasn't been the DRIEST of times!)

And let us not forget the skiing holiday in July'10. This was the first time any others had dared ski with the Wordies. The Stevensons however were a formidable team to beat! Max decided to 'even it up' by reverting back to skiing after 4 years of snowboarding....smart arse!

My claim to fame was a 'unique' approach to tricks on the jumps / rails.....my back still hasn't recovered! I'm just TOOOOOOOOO OLD!!!!

Considering there were only 9 of us, we managed to pack for 107!

The aggresive looking 'scruffy kid' (blonde hair, looks like someone we used to know...me!) is Tom

Max is about to leap on him 'cause the BIG CARROT' does that to people!

And another BIG CARROT PHOTO!

Clare looking pretty darn cool!

The week we had was undoubtably the BEST weather / conditions EVER! We had 5 days of blue skies and not a cloud to be seen. The last day was a little overcast....that's why I kept falling over like a TWONK! (my excuse anyway!)

We are off skiing again at the beginning of October'10, so watch this space next year...same time frame!

Tom and the 'CREW' for his birthday party. Laser Tag is the game. Looking cool and street wise was just 'part and parcel' of the day.

Easter brought a trip north for Ian, Trish and Steve Bradshaw. Not the most fetching outfit Ian. Tom was showing the 'whimps' that it's still warm!!!!!

Mrs E and Helen arrived in Jan'10 for a 5 week trip...just seems like so long ago....especially as Mrs E is but 10 weeks away from coming again!

Accomodation options are limited in the summer....luckily we had a tent! Only kidding! Would I let my mother-in-law sleep in a tent?!?

Too right! (done it before!!!!!)

Summer is soon upon us again...let's hope the $500 spent on growing 2 x capsicums (peppers) in year one bears more fruit this time!!!

Nearly finished! Just one of many athletic looking photos of the Great TRIATHLETE we all know, doing his first half Ironman (entered again for 2011 like a fool!)

I won't show the ones were I am close to death!!!!

Christmas seems like a lifetime ago. Mum and Dad enjoyed a month of sun and blue skies!

And a Christmas day BBQ!!!!

As you can see, it's still full on here! I can never keep up with the kids activities...especially Max (he is in Taupo this weekend in a football competition), then we are off to Auckland next weekend for a waterpolo competition for both boys (I am now a fully fledged waterpolo coach!). We are then off to the mountains skiing, with Max then jetting off to Vanuatu for a school cultural trip at the end of October. The trip is for a week. Guess which muggins has been involved with his 'fundraising' activities for the last few months????

Just finishing off a competition for Kiwifruit Ambassador (another fund raising event)....check out these list of entrants;

Queenie Momtaz Khan, Sky Davies, Angel Sefton (an Angel from Sefton.....right!) Magnolia Emerson, Claudia Von Strumer-Fell, Ocean Davies (might be related to SKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Cuba Te Aho and my favourite.....Safari Henderson! If I come across a 18-30 Benidorm Booze trip, I'll let you know!

**********Newsflash**************Newsflash****************Newsflash****************Newsflash

Tom has just won Player of the year again for his football team....a chip off the old block!

So that was a very condensed 12 months ish.

Hope everyone is keeping well...and do comment on this blog, it's only taken 3 hours of my time!