Mar & April 07. Biking, camping and the zoo

March 2007 - Bike Hike & Mandurah

On March 18 we participated in the Bike Hike with friends Karen and Guy. Over 7,000 people pedalled their way up the Mitchell Freeway from Belmont to Joondalup - a 30km (18 mile) distance. We made it in 1:20 hr. That section of the freeway was closed to traffic for this annual event.

I was a little worried that Jasper would not want to sit in his bike seat for that long, but he was great - even put his head down and had a little nap along the way. We had some morning tea and relaxed at the finishing place before catching the train (along with our bikes) back to Belmont where we'd parked the car. We were home by 12 noon, so it was a long morning for Jasper, but he had a great time and cooperated wonderfully.



Mandurah
For the Labour day long weekend in March, we went to Silver Sands Resort in Mandurah, 1 hr south of Perth, with my parents. Unfortunately Jasper was not too happy about sleeping in his porta cot and thus kept us awake for most of 2 of the 3 nights. Even though we were not feeling very rested, Sean and I managed to get the kayak in the ocean for a nice paddle and we also had a bike ride all around the estuary and town. We had lots of swims in the indoor pool, which Jasper loved, especially ducking his head in and out of the little waterfall.


Jasper at Silver Sands Resort.

April 2007
Another busy month, and Jasper has another nasty cold and terrible cough. He's still playing and seems happy, but is not eating much and has been having long sleeps during the day. He seems to get sick from day care every 3 weeks, so I hope he's building up some immunity soon!

April news included the arrival of Byron, my friend Rachel's 3rd baby on April 19. They live in Sydney, so I have yet to meet the new addition, but am looking forward to it.


My baby is not a baby anymore! Jasper in the backyard - 13.5 mths

Easter
We went camping along the Blackwood River, near Alexander Bridge in the SW of Western Australia, with Shiney, Tiahn and Georgia, Kaz & Guy, and mum and Dad. It was Jasper's 1st camping trip and after the horrible sleeping time we had with him in Mandurah we were wondering if everyone was going to need earplugs and strong coffee for the entire long weekend?!

However Jasper slept great at night and even went for his naps in the tent during the day without too much fuss. He loved poking his head in everyone's camping box and playing with the utensils, pots and pans.

We did some kayaking on the river and had some nice walks. The rain moved in on Easter Sunday morning, so we decided we were already in front with 2 great nights under the stars, so we packed up and spent the next 2 nights at the beach house in Dunsborough with Matt. We enjoyed lunch on Monday at Bunker Bay cafe right on the beach, and had lots of walks around town and the beach.

Jasper & Georgia - camping. Grubby camping boy.


Jasper's 1st haircut. Sitting in the car at the salon.

We're all going to the zoo, zoo, zoo, you can come too, too, too.....


Jasper and grandma - ready for the zoo on Anzac Day.

On the ANZAC day public holiday, after we dropped grandma at the airport (she was spending time with Jasmine in Melbourne) we took Jasper on his 1st trip to the zoo. The $50 in his hand from Grandma went towards our annual memberships at the Perth Zoo. So we'll be spending more time at the zoo in the coming year.

We met Nat and Luca (3 yo) there - experienced zoo-goers, so followed them around and took in some great animal sights. Jasper loved the ring tailed Lemur as we were allowed into the cage and right up close to the little guy. He also liked watching the elephants have a bath in the pool and fetching apples with their trunks. We liked the koalas - always so cute.


Daddy, Jasper and rhino. Koalas. Ring-tailed Lemur. Jabiru.

Jasper at the dog park after his day at the zoo - what a cute boy!

Jasper's swimming classes commenced again at the end of April, so he's back into the Friday swimming again.

Jan & Feb 07 - Summer & 1st birthdays

Jan '07

The summer was a hot one, with nearly every weekend in Jan being a scorcher. As it was too hot to go to the beach by lunch time or the afternoon, we got into a habit of going to South Beach, Fremantle on Sunday mornings. We'd get there by 9:30 am and stay for an hour or so. It's a dog beach, so Maddy always came and had fun playing with the other dogs, while Jasper played in the sand.

Mum and Jasper at South Beach, Freo. Jasper playing at the beach.

On Australia Day, January 26, we held a party to celebrate Sean's Aussie citizenship. About 40 family and friends turned up in their best Aussie clobber. Aunt Colleen won the prize for best dressed shiela - in Australia flag bikinis, thongs and blue hair! We quizzed Sean on all things Aussie, such as how many times do you turn the snags on the barby? And yes it was another stinking hot day - in fact 42 C (about 120 F), so most people were in or by the pool all day (and evening). It was a great party and I think everyone had a good time - what else can you do on a 42 C day except drink cold beer in the pool?

Aussie crew in the pool. Jasper and Grandma with Aussie tats. Sean - our newest Aussie.

The partying continued into the long weekend with my cousin, Melissa's birthday party held the next night. It was a pirates theme, so we donned swords and eye patches and headed off to swab the decks at Melissa and Richard's place. Well, our sorry green and gold and Aussie flag decorations paled into nothingness when compared to the unbelievable effort Melissa went to with decorating for her party - just fantastic. Skull and crossbones everywhere, spiders, treasure chests, skull lanterns, lots of candy, chocolate coins, wicked rum punch etc. An awesome party for sure. Check out the pics.

Runkle and Gardiner pirates. Backyard. Rich's dad, Matt (butt pirate) and dad. Coll, birthday gal and Rich's old man again.

Rich and his treasure chest.

Jasper's 1st birthday - February 13, 2007

Hard to believe that my little baby turned 1. And was no longer a baby, but a toddler - although he was not really walking totally independently (or far) until two weeks after his 1st birthday. We had a little afternoon tea party in the backyard and a few of his friends and some family (including Claudia and Jasmine from Melbourne) were there.

Birthday cake. Happy boy on his birthday. Playing with the hose.

Hose and water play. Gorgeous birthday boy. Friends on the deck.

Lou, Claudia, Jasper and Maddy. In the pool on his birthday.

Some pics of Jasmine when she visited Perth.

Jasmine - 3mths. Uncle Matt and Jasper. Cute Jasmine.

Cousins.

One week after Jasper's birthday, his friend Charlie celebrated his 1st birthday - Jasper's first party to go to. Jasper loved pushing Charlie's cart around and showing how close he is to walking on his own.

Charlie and Jasper. Friends of Charlies. Jasper pushing the cart.

Charlie, his mum, Kirsten and his No. 1 cake.

Dec 2006 - Jasper and Jasmine's first Christmas

Dec 2006

Old faces and Melbourne-bound

Summer was making a hot and early entrance with most of December being very warm - we got some good use from our pool.

On Dec 23, we had my Bunbury Catholic College 20th year school reunion in Bunbury. Shiney, Kaz and I had managed to track down a lot of old school mates and we were looking forward to seeing old faces again. It was a hot afternoon/evening and the event was held at the Bunbury Power Boat Club, right on the water in Koombana Bay.

While a lot of school friends made the effort, unfortunately many who said they would come, did not, which was a pity. However there was about 50 of us in total and a great night was had. We kicked on to the nightclub and Sean and I didn't get home to my folks house until 3 am! A very late night for us.

The next day we drove back to Perth, packed up and flew out to Melbourne, arriving at midnight on Christmas Eve. We left 38 degrees in Perth and arrived to just 12 degrees in Melbourne and rain. Sean finally had a Christmas where the weather felt normal for an American! So a Perth Xmas would have entailed swimming in the pool, we had our winter woolies on and the fire cranked at my sister's home in Melbourne.

Jasper Xmas day. Jasper opening presents. 3 of us Christmas day

Jasper, Mum and favourite Xmas present from US grandma.

Claudia and Ray's newly renovated house was lovely and I was so excited to meet little Jasmine - she was so tiny, and a good bub. I bought Sean and Dad tickets to the Boxing Day test cricket at the MCG on eBay as their Xmas gift. They enjoyed their cricket match on Dec 26.

We also went into town and had lunch at Southbank one day. And then down to Sorrento for lunch with Ray's dad, Trevor and his lovely friend, Katrina. We had a walk along the beach after lunch and Jasper had the best time splashing about in the shallow water. It wasn't too cold for him.

Aunt Louise with Jasmine Louise. Boxing Day Cricket at the MCG. Runkles at Southbank. Jasper ready for dinner at Claudia's house.

Sisters and their bubs. Sean, Claude and bubs. Jasper at Sorrento Beach.

Lou and Jasper - Sorrento. Jasper at Sorrento. Jowett's at Sorrento (Jasmine snoozing)

Next stop - Sydney

After 5 days in Melbourne, we flew to Sydney to visit good friends, Wayne and Rachel Banks and their kids, Lara (4 yo) and Lawson (15 mths). We were supposed to join them camping on the South Coast, but it was rained out, so we relaxed at their lovely, newly renovated home in the Manly area instead. After little sleep with Jasper in our room in Melbourne, we were ready for some peace, early nights and sleep-ins.

Runkles and Banks families

Sydney activities included taking Jasper to Yum Cha in Manly (he loved it and we realised we'd been severely limiting his culinary experiences to date. Lara and Lawson were seasoned Yum Cha-ers. We also went to Little Manly Beach, and to the playground near the Banks' home. The 3 of us walked the gorgeous Manly to Spit Bridge Hike. Even though we got a little rain - we loved our time in Sydney - still the most beautiful city in the world and everything was so green.

Jasper and Lawson at Little Manly Beach. Boys under the beach shower. Jasper at the playground.

2 good looking boys. Ready for hiking. Jasper loves the hiking backpack.


Another beautiful bay in Sydney's northern suburbs

We joined fellow Sandgropers, Louise and Ross Hook for New Years Eve at Queenslander-style home, which is close to the Banks, and had a lovely meal and some champagne before watching the fire works in the distance from their balcony. Then it was back to the airport and home again before we knew it. A great holiday with a nice mix of family, friends and relaxing and activities.

Lou and Ross Hook. Jasper and Mum at sunset. Jasper in the Qantas FF lounge on the way home.