Run for a Wish 2013 {make the days count}

Last Saturday was the third annual Make-A-Wish fun run at Aurora Stadium. I love that I have done it every year even though it is only the third one. I want to one day be an old timer proudly saying I have never missed a year. 

A photo with Hawka before race time. (thanks to Gillian for the pic)

The day was so beautiful and sunny and calm after many days of cold wet and windy weather that had started to make me think we were skipping Spring and Summer and moving straight into Autumn.

I had asked Lisa if I could organise the balloons to release for Aaron and Noah and the day before I had gone into Spotlight to pick up the order. Spotlight has just recently set up a helium balloon section in their store for just $1 a balloon (although they don't have the colour brown  - which I told the lady was not good for a hometown to the Hawks) so I picked the order up Friday afternoon but by the next morning half the balloons had gone down.

The brown ones I picked up at an actual balloon shop were still nice and full but the Spotlight ones had reduced in size as well as not floating very well. I was a bit cross with Spotlight. (note to self - if you want Spotlight balloons get them on the day you need them ;))

Alison raised $1100 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by getting people to sponsor her for running. She was the top fundraiser and I think overall the day raised nearly $30,000 with over 500 entrants in the race.

When the siren sounded we let the balloons go, a mixture of nice bright ones and brown and gold for Aaron and Noah.

But I was still cross!

We had got there late and missed the kids race, the balloons didn't work out how I imagined, Sarra thought she left her shoe tag at home which she needed to cross the line so they could get her time and if it wasn't returned a $25 fee, Hallie left her "Noah" top at home, the DSLR ran out of battery after 2 photos and Hallie was nursing a kidney infection so on double antibiotics but still wanting to race. ALL these little things made me into one big crabby bum when the day was supposed to be anything but.

And the race began...

Simon headed off with Sarra, Hallie and Oliver.

Flynn wanted to walk...

It wasn't long before we were near the end of the pack.

Jonty would wait a little for us and then run a bit and then stop and wait. Neither of them wanted to hop in the pram.

Before I knew it, it was just me taking the pram for a walk!! lol.

And I was stil cross! Cross now that the kids didn't want to get in the pram so I could set a brisk pace and I didn't want to spend the next 6.4 kms arguing with them to stay in the pram.

And then all of a sudden, even though there was no-one around, someone told me to "look up". It was clear and quiet. I looked up into the beautiful warm blue sky. All my crabbiness disappeared as I looked, really looked.

I let Flynn stop and pick flowers (weeds) for me.

I let Jonty stream ahead feeling confident and powerful in his run.

We were coming second last and all of a sudden it didn't matter. None of it mattered as I felt calm and peaceful and I know it was Aaron saying that none of it mattered and to remember what was written on my top. 

To not just KNOW what Aaron tried to do when he was here, but to LIVE it! Live it out there on that beautiful Saturday morning, walking for such a great cause, raising money for children like Noah who have serious illnesses. To not worry about the hiccups of that morning, that we were out there, blessed to be able to walk or run in this beautiful part of the world and to enjoy the company of other people walking the same path, maybe different stories - but the same path all the same.

This was what Aaron was gently trying to remind me and so when I crossed the  line... with my empty pram. :) in 1 hours and 32 minutes, I really felt like I was the winner.

Hallie was such a trooper. I can't believe she ran the race but I knew it was important to her. She loved catching up with her teacher from school, Miss Woolley, who she simply adores.

And Flynn walked about 5kms of the 6.4 km race... in his gum boots, so I was really proud of him.

It was nice at the end of the race, seeing the organisers and sponsors get recognised and the excitement of prizes being handed out. Jay had been given a helicopter ride prize the first year and Kobe last year and this year, the man in the wheelchair in my pic belowwas awarded the prize. 

I had been talking to them along the way as we kept passing each other and chatting and when we were near the finish, just before turning into Aurora Stadium, I heard the MC, Casey, on the megaphone saying - "we are just waiting on a few stragglers before we start the prizes" and I turned to the wheelchair company and put my fist in the air as a sign of victory and we laughed.

I didn't get a photo on the day of all of us in our tops so I took some at home.

This year Lisa had organised new tops. My kids wore Jay and Harri and Kobe's Noah tops from our first year , on race day, while the rest of the team wore the new tops. I loved seeing the blend of the two. I also loved wearing my top to Maccas (the tradition after the big race (Aaron's fav place)) and then to Shiploads and the Reject Shop. I suppose I just didn't want to take it off.

I put Flynn in my new top today with Aaron and Noah on the front. The cutest model ever.

End of the school holidays

The second week of the school holidays went really quickly.

The kids had heaps of fun having their cousin's Katie and Lilly over while Tammy was on prac. We taught them to play Monopoly Deal.

Flynn loved having another two girls to baby and spoil him.

We went to the bike centre which Lisa had organised and even though it was raining, the kids had a ball.

Hallie was sick for three days straight so any plans were put on hold while she rested up and got better.

And the chooks didn't escape it either. The kids long loved silky bantem, Snowflake, a wonderful little mother who would take on anyone else's chicks if their mother didn't want them, along with her own brood, grew weak from old age and we watched her take some last laboured breaths.

It was sad for the kids to say goodbye but she had a wonderful life living free on our land and not in a cage and having yummy scraps each day along with some pellets. And the kids looked after her very well. She was bossy with the other chooks so they are probably happy!! ;)

On Friday Hallie was a little better, still not herself but well enough to take a trip to Oma and Pop's house in Ulverstone. It was very very windy down at the park where Simon's Mum had organised a bbq lunch but we were sheltered for the most part and it didn't stop us later from having some fun on the pedal bikes. It was so fun to go on something altogether because usually with five kids, we have to take turns and be split up.

An ice-cream afterwards also helped seal the deal.

To finish off the school holidays, after helping Simon build a hutch, Sarra was allowed to get a guinea pig. Peppa (in memory of Mum's dog Pepper, but spelt like Peppa pig who Flynn is obsessed with) joins the growing family of chooks, fish and cats and yes they would all love a dog but I'm not giving in... for the time being anyway!!

This morning Simon left for two weeks of search and rescue training. One week at Coles Bay and the next week in Hobart. 

This time there is no camping in the freezing rain and wind or snow in tents but living it up in luxury.

The photo he sent me of his view of the Hazards from his apartment is amazing.

Can't wait for some more pics and I think they may be doing some caving training and Simon has an underwater camera so they will be amazing.

A boy called Noah.

I once knew this boy. His name was Noah.

He had the most beautiful rich dark brown curly hair. He had the biggest most enviable brownest of eyes. His skin was soft, made softer by the care from his loving parents. He was the wisest boy I have ever known, even though he never spoke a word in his ten short years. 

He was the most selfless boy I have ever known even though he was never able to walk and needed round the clock care from his parents. His personality was not unlike his Dad's and he was often called cheeky monkey. If anyone could get a giggle or a laugh out of him, it was his Dad.

Noah's 6th birthday (photo here)

I didn't just know Noah. I had the privilege of knowing Noah, the privilege of being one of his students. I didn't know him like his parents did but he taught me things about life, about death, about what I can do to try to do better, to be better and let his influence, influence me for the rest of my time here.

Noah meeting Flynny in hospital.

This beautiful boy passed away two years ago, today. (photo here)

 His father Aaron, at only 39 years, followed him just 3 1/2 short months later. (photo here)

Aaron said at Noah's funeral that Noah was his hero. They are both my heroes.

Noah was the most loved boy I have ever known.

The strength, grace, love and courage of this boy lives on in his mother, Lisa. So in a way he is still here.

I once knew this boy.

And one day I will know him again...

And my greatest anticipation will be seeing Noah and Aaron reunited with their family on earth once again. To see the joy on all their faces...

but especially on my dear friend Lisa's face, when her heart is finally healed... will be the most joyous to behold of all. (photo here)

And as today drew to a close, with a magnificent sunset for a backdrop, we let a few balloons go along with some sparklers for our beautiful friend Noah.

This photo cracks me up of Flynn running away from the sparkler because it scared him. I'm sure Noah would chuckle at that.

School holiday visit to Toby (and Collette and Hayden)

On Tuesday Hallie and I set off to Hobart to visit the Bells. As per usual it was pouring with rain and very windy, especially once we hit the Midlands around Oatlands but we made it by cranking the tunes up and singing along... or making the words up if we didn't know them.

We had such a great time down there and the weather didn't dampen our spirits.

Hayden had told Collette that she just had to take us to Daci and Daci, this amazing bakery. It was SO good. I felt like I was in one of those chic Melbourne patisseries.

We took Toby to his first movie and he loved it. It was Turbo, about a super fast snail that entered the Indy 500 and I think he loved seeing all the cars and talking snails.

Hayden kept Hallie entertained on the arcade game he built earlier in the year. I think they were getting a bit competitive (or maybe just Hayden) ;)

And Collette got us hooked on a game called Monopoly Deal. Hallie and I just had to head to Big W and buy our own pack before heading home.

And even when Collette's friend Brodie dropped around we couldn't help but play another game.

We had such fun and I very much enjoyed not having to cook or change any nappies or wipe anyone's butt - except for Toby's but he is too cute to count. It was nice to sit and chat and not have to have anywhere to be, or to rush off to, or to be a taxi and have the kids somewhere at a certain time for an after school activity like during the school term.