T.I.A: April - September 2011

ANZAC Day on ANZAC Hill. Shoulder room only. Cool and crisp morning. Awesome to take Kurtis and Elijah with me on this day.

Joseph's first foray into Soccer. He was ok until he realised people were watching him. We haven't been back since.

Took the "Strong Way" fellas up to ANZAC Hill one night to talk about the "inner wolf".

I still got it!! Even if the hoop "appears" to be under regulation height.

Desert Knowledge Australia have started a Youth Leadership Program for the 4 Senior High Schools in Alice Spings. I am one of the teacher mentors. This is the group at the retreat we had at Hamilton Downs Station. We are planning a trip to Melbourne in September.

Kurtis' Desert Rebels Soccer team. They finished 4th this season. He played very well.

Kurtis made the Desert Storm (Alice Springs) Under 12 representative side this year and travelled to Darwin.

At the Heavitree Outback Lodge we can feed the Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies. The boys love it and the wallabies love it as well. Nothing like hand feeding nature. You have to learn patience as you compete for the attention of the wallabies and Joseph trying to touch them.

Another weekend in Alice, another festival and parade. This time the Bangtail Muster with Elijah's class on the back of a truck.

Another visit to Standley Chasm.

We have been getting visits from the navy 2 or 3 times a year at Yirara. A really good relationship developing between us and them. The main thing we stress to many visitors is to come back. This is one of the only ways to gain respect and to be listened to by the kids. Belinda was doing relief work this day and was very excited to meet some real life "Sea Patrol" people. And she was amazed that these people were nothing like the people on the TV show.

Albrecht Man made an appearance on Athletics Day this year. And won his race!

Albrecht Boy, Albrecht Man's offsider also made an appearance. He also won his race on Athletics Day.

Little Albrecht wanted to race, but was confined to the sidelines.

Finke Desert Race was on again. This time we decided to find a vantage point somewhere up the track where we could get up close and personal. The photos don't do it a lot of justice, but we were very close to the road. Again. the boys loved every minute of it. It was freezing.

All the fun of the Alice Springs Show. We had a great day as a family and spent up big. The boys' showbags lasted at least a week before things broke.