Listen | Shelby Earl
This is a Dave Jack find, and…..I kinda like her. Very country
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Pause | Engage
I’m tired, head-achy, sore and mostly just plain old tired. Dave ran off a list of things this afternoon trying to put his finger on why I’m feeling this way and the answer is I just don’t know. Dave said I need carbs, Mum said …
PLAY | Get on your bike and go somewhere!
Some of my bestest childhood memories are of hazy summer nights cruising around on the street in front of my house perfecting elaborate ballets on wheels that my neighbour and I called “Bike Routines”. We would practice each routine endlessly and when our synchronised cycling was ready for the public critique we would send out invitations {to our parents!} and put on a show.
Obviously choreographed bike-riding is not for everyone – or anyone else in the whole world perhaps? – but there is so much intrinsic kid-ness associated with getting on your bike, it is a shame that some neighbourhoods are just not suitable for kids to ride safely or easily.
Ethan and I loaded our bikes in the truck and set off for greener cycling pastures than our somewhat limited little neighbourhood. The Auckland City Council website has some great walking/cycle tracks listed if there are none in your area. We decided on a short drive to Te Atatu where we would ride for some of the way around the gorgeous coastline and the rest of the way through the sleepy Sunday suburbs, down to the Sailing Club, a quick visit at Nan & Pops and turn through Te Atatu for lunch and then …….. back to the truck.
Sounds ambitious with a 7yo I know. Ethan amazed me. We rode 10km and he only hopped off to push twice {I had picked a mostly flat ride to eliminate the risk of complaints!}. Te Atatu is a great choice for kids who love exploring the beach, tide and rock pools as at low tide there is so much room to wander about and so many things to peer under.
Our next ride will be around the Orewa Estuary which has established trails and is flat and fun for little riders.
Just in case we hadn’t fit enough into our day we walked down to the river, sat on the jetty and Ethan wiled away another hour feeding fish while we rested our tired legs {and bums!}.
Please comment below if you have any secret spots for family rides, I would love to have a few more up my sleeve!
From Paisley Jade | Things I’m Loving
I love Paisley Jade’s Blog. It’s pretty, all about family and she is always cooking or DIYing something awesome. This weekly reminder to be thankful for all the little things around us is hosted by her – so visit! I’m craving LOVING calamari …
Sweet Little Notes & Deciduous Teeth
Sometimes it’s too easy to look at my son and marvel at how he has grown into such a big boy {mostly because he is massive!}, how he is so independent and capable and smart but then out of the blue he surprises us with …
My Little Minder
Ethan is quite convinced that I am unable to make my way through the world without his assistance. Lord knows how he thinks I manage at work, where I have keys to the building and have to drive a company car and TALK TO STRANGERS {to be fair, I’m not sure how I handle these things some days either}.
I’m pretty sure he views me as the Brittany Spears of Mothers, apt to make huge social faux pas’ like flash my bits in the swimmg pool parking lot, or get busted shop lifting nail polish at Four Square or something. Despite his reservations, most days I am able to keep my shit together without his help, but he likes to remind me of things. Often.
- On Monday. “Mum have you got my swimming bag?”. Ethan has been swimming for seven years now. I have forgotten his swimming bag ONCE. He will never forget.
- “Mama……you better close that door!”. The second hand dog decided yesterday morning that before work/school was definately the optimal time to jump the fence and head down the road to the pub (I’m serious, that’s where he went).
- “Mama have you got your wallet?”. I went to Pak ‘n Save ONCE without my wallet. Master was not amused.
- “Mama, are you speeding???”. Maybe….
- “Mama do you drink anything that doesn’t come out of a can?”. Of course I do, wine doesn’t come in a can!
- “Mama have you locked the doors?”. Yes, but not the windows. I need them open to climb back in to get my keys that I locked in there.
I try not to giggle at him but some times his bossy little old man ways are hilarious. Do any of you have little worry-worts at home? How do they keep you on the straight and narrow, I’d love to know!
What E’s Reading | The 13-Story Treehouse
The 13-Story Treehouse – By Andy Griffiths Ethan received this book for Christmas from his wonderful Nana – or from Santa who went to Nana’s by mistake, I’m not quite sure – anyway he will finish it tomorrow night and we will be sad. This …
The Sound of a New Shutter
Excuse me while I post gratuitous sunrise pics with my new camera. Glorious!
Foiled again
Running and I have a long and sordid history, mostly in my head as opposed to on the track, road or treadmill, but let us not digress.
When I was a young thing I always wanted to be an athletics star. I would join the athletics team every year and fervently leap the hurdles, sure that I must have grown some more fast-twitch muscle fibres in 12 months. It was never to be, those fast twitch fibres just didn’t come in as I had hoped they would.
Fast forward 15 years and I began running regularly with a friend. This was back when I was a SAHM so I could do such things you see. We would run, even UP HILLS! One hill. But it was a big hill. I enjoyed that running and never had an injury.
Then I lapsed.
Then we moved away from that hill.
Then I paddled a stupid kayak on a river and messed up my back.
So skip ahead some more years and here we are. I ran tw0 5ks in the weekend. At the urging of Dave very early on Saturday morning we ran together and Ethan rode his bike 85% of the way without protest, I was quite amazed. It felt good and I felt good. So good in fact that at 7am on Sunday I suggested that we run again! It was surprising to me too, especially seeing as the night before was date night {I like wine FYI}!
So that was the end of that. Within thirty minutes of getting home my back had seized like I had been struck by a bus and had become so tender to the touch that I couldn’t sit in a chair! I won’t give up this time however, I am determined that I can be one of those people that run, that enjoy running and that can maybe be called a RUNNER.
Until then, I will be perfecting my play-list and shopping for shoes.
Run along now.
2012 | It’s time to PLAY!
Though it may seem that 2012 has it’s campaign of the year all tied up with this Kony thing {yes I’ve watched the video, yes I’ve shared it on FB, yes I’m now a political activist just like you}, there is actually another movement worthy …