Melbourne Marathon 2011

Here's Jack at the start line - he licked that balloon round the whole 3kms I think!!

And here is the gang of "Team Jack" - getting ready to get going.  Sam joined us on the 3km walk after she'd already run the 10kms that morning!  (Craig ran the 10kms too but decided to sit out the walk...!)

 And here's the junior gang of Team Jack (yes that is Lucy in the rabbit hat in the pram, she pulled an injury before we even made it to the start line and couldn't possibly walk anywhere ... her fathers pain thresh hold I suspect?!)

 We did it!

And lastly my gorgeous friend Sam with our Jack, she is such an awesome support to us and is a huge supporter to CPEC to which we and they will always be grateful!  With your baking and persistence in kindly asking your friends and family for donations Sam, you reached the goal of $5,000 - you're a star and a legend and we love you!!

Thanks to all the Mullan family and our friends Stefania, George, Roly, Jo and my Aunty Cheryl for volunteering for CPEC too - awesome awesome effort!

Jack the North Melbourne fan!

September at kinder saw the need for a footy dress up day so Jack was decked out in his North gear!

Then we thought we might give the real footy match a go, so it was perfect that the Saints v North Melbourne came up in the season for a game at Etihad Stadium. 

Jack absolutely loved the game with lots of yelling from the young man!  Was very funny.  He tends to get excited and squeal in inappropriate places sometimes (for example in a lift full of people where he squeals with delight at the top of his lungs and everyone jumps about 3 feet!) and I have to tell him that it's not the time be doing that.  Whereas at the footy, it was wonderful to be able to tell him to go ahead and yell and squeal his little heart out!

We also bumped into Uncle Bruce while we were there.  Such a great day and we'll be sure to go to the footy much more often next year!! 

Jack loses his first tooth!

One of the most exciting things that happened in Utah was that Jack lost his first tooth!  It was very wobbly before we left and he was getting really good at wobbling it himself (seeing as Lucy thought it was pretty cool and didn't mind giving it a go herself!).  Then one day it was hanging by a thread and Grandma Sue pulled it out (I just couldn't!) and bingo bango, we have our first tooth!  The tooth fairy was very fair and possibly keeping in mind the exchange rate, paid $1 in US and $1 in Australian dollars - then Grandma Sue threw in another $5. 

Our little boy is definitely growing up!

The Mullan Family trip to Utah USA

Back in May, my youngest host brother JR (from when I was an exchange student 19 years ago!!!) was getting married so Craig and I decided we would make the trek to Utah for the wedding and to see my host family again.  We thought long and hard about it and decided we should take these opportunities while Jack is still young and relatively easy to manage with us being able to lift him and transport him etc. 

 Jack absolutely loves any kind of transport and planes are no exception.  It took us 14 hours to get to LA with VAustralia (who were sensational) and the kids were awesome. 

It took us a bit to settle in to the change of time zone but we finally got there.  And one of the first exciting things that happened was that when Grandpa Len came up to meet us, he brought with him a surprise for Lucy and Jack - an esky full of snow from his house!  Lucy just loved it!!

And before we knew it, snow balls were flying and here's one headed straight for me!!

 Over the next week, Craig tried to hunt down a decent coffee - in the end he was trying to tell this coffee lady how to make a latte like we do!  It came complete with an umbrella - very funny!

 Grandma Sue and Lucy did some decorating of Lucy's new charm box

 And then it was time for the wedding!  JR & Tracy were kind enough to let Lucy be a flower girl, here she is below with her American cousins Sydney and Shelby!

 Lucy and Shelby hit it off and were almost inseparable - was lovely to see!

 Here's Jack and I with Shaun and Laura (my host sister) who are Sydney & Shelby's parents

 And Lucy trying out being a bride with JR!!

 My lovely host mum Sue - it is so wonderful having another mother as lovely as her!

 One of my best American 'mates'  and all around awesome chick from high school, Kiyo

Sue and her husband Len, a little more light hearted after the celebrations!

 We went swimming with Shelby and Sydney and Kiyo's daughter Aree

 Craig did a 3 mile fun run in Tremonton!

 Jay (my uncle, Sue's brother) took Lucy and Craig down to his pond to do some fishing.  He even had a skunk in a trap that he had caught - Lucy thought that was pretty cool!

 Uncle Clint (Sue's brother) took Lucy for a little ride in his tractor to feed the cows

 We had such a great time!

 We went to Salt Lake City and went to the Children's museum with Shannon (my host brother), his partner Kristy and their daughter Addie

This is the beautiful view from Sue's house - there was still some snow on the mountains and in the sunset, it just looks so amazing.  It feels so wonderful to me to have a second place to call home.  I'm so glad we went, we had the greatest time (although it went too quick) and hope we can see our American family again soon!  (All visitors welcome - so hurry and come visit us you guys!!)

Wonderful day for Jack (& our family!)

Back in March, our dear friends Katie Rae & her husband Jez along with Kate's parents and many other wonderful friends decided to organise a Lawn Bowls Day to fund raise some money for Jack.  Craig and I didn't really contribute to it at all other than to turn up on the day, only to be completely overwhelmed by not only the people they had managed to track down and invite but also the amount of effort and work they had put into it.  There was a silent auction, a game of lawn bowls and even a wine tasting competition along with a beautiful spread for lunch.  These amazing souls managed to raise just over $8,000 for Jack's needs and made us feel so incredibly loved!  It has meant that the last few pieces of equipment that Jack needed has been able to be purchased without having to beg and plead for funding and that his bank balance is looking quite healthy!!   Taking that financial pressure away is such a relief and knowing that friends that care so much for our little man took the time and effort to organise that for him is so heart warming.... I don't think I can truly put it in to words.  Thank you everyone who contributed - we will be forever grateful!!

Easter in Yarrawonga 2011

Every year at Easter time we head up the Hume Highway to have a stay at Yarrawonga.  We have our own 80s campervan that does the trick and Jack and Lucy just love camping in it.  And it's something we're determined do with Jack because he always has such a great time.  And as for Lucy, it's girl heaven with all the other kids around (most of them girls) with playing games of fairies, riding bikes, doing drawings and of course visiting everyone's camp site!

 On this particular night, Loz and Craig were the 'last men standing' so had to capture it on film!  Good job Loz!!

 Dinner time is another fun thing where all the kids get to eat together.  It's a kind of organised chaos but good fun as you can see!

 Above is Craig and Jack on Easter morning, which just happened to also be Jack's 6th birthday!  So birthday presents and Easter bunny on the same day.  Here are the boys inspecting Jack's birthday present.  It's a bead frame which doesn't really do much but Jack loves feeling the beads in his fingers and pushing it backwards and forwards.

 Birthday cake time ....!

 And then there's the Easter egg hunt - look at all these kids!!  And the group seems to be growing!!  Sure makes for a fun Easter!!

 After handing in their find, they then get rations so it's as fair as can be ....

 The boys enjoying some lunch outside our camper annexe

 Lucy goes next door to visit lovely Kath - always ends up doing some drawings or enjoying a snack!  Such a great neighbour!!

Lucy and Lauzie enjoying the party horns for the birthday party ... one of those things you ask yourself later, what was I thinking buying those...?!!  Another great Easter and already looking forward to the next.