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Happy New Year
I cannot believe that we are in a new year and 2009 is behind us. I know I say it every year, but these years seem to go by quicker and quicker. Time seems to be going way to fast. It would be nice to take a breath and slow things down a little. We kicked off our New Years celebration at our friend’s home here in Sydney, and it was a pretty low-key affair. We enjoyed a few drinks and relaxed with friends. The kids roared around until just after midnight and after watching the fireworks over Sydney Harbour on TV, we jumped in the car and headed home. It was a nice evening indeed.
Sydney has been fantastic this summer. With the girls getting that year older it has made Chris and I sit back and reflect on a lot on things. Our kids are at a great age at the moment and Christmas was awesome. We are settled in at home and our kids finally have some stability here in Australia. Tahlia has such a great group of friends she has made at school and this has been great for her. It has really opened up her personality and given her some grounding. She really needed this after 5 years of traveling the World, and being pulled all over the globe. She needed to make some roots and some friends and build her social network. School has done that for her, and our eldest daughter has really settled in well and has never been happier. Sienna is doing great and with being settled at a much earlier age than Tahlia we see the positive out of our decision to settle the family in 2009.
Chris and I have been on the triathlon circuit together for 11 years. It has been and incredible time for us both and then to allow our girls to experience what we have and all the new things has been amazing. We both often think how fortunate we are to have been brought together in a sport that has taken us all over the world and given us such great friends. Our girls have been so fortunate, and I will see both Chris and I have been talking a lot recently about maybe adding another brother or sister to our family. We are in such a great place at the moment, and love our core group of friends we have. Our family is our life, and our friends are a huge part of that life. We have such great friends in LA and Las Vegas in the USA that we miss dearly when in Australia. We have lived so long in the USA that moving back to Australia was a very difficult thing.
Chris has to spend a bit of time in Europe this year and Tahlia just loves it there. Chris always spends about 8 weeks every year in Europe, but this year that will be a little longer as he has signed up to compete in some key events on the continent. She loves the different languages and cultures, and as she has got older understands more about her surroundings. She has asked to learn French and can say the odd word so she is very excited that she will get to go there and this time remember it. Sienna is a cheeky little thing and just about loves everything. She keeps us on our toes. Susann in Germany who is one of our dearest friends and a sponsor of Chris for the past 8 years, always looks after us and this year we have promised to return and spend time with her while we all go up to Europe.
So with all of that behind us, we start the New Year ready to go. Chris is back in the swing of it and the girls and I don’t have to push him out the door. He is always super keen to get back into the swing of training and more so go racing. It amazes me how after all these years he still loves the competition and chases that all around the globe. It is very inspiring to watch. This year he started his training with an extra swing in his step as he has decided to race at Ironman China in March, which is earlier than years past. I always know when he is getting back to the serious stuff. The Biestmilch tablets come out of the cupboard and our kitchen looks like a Health Food Store, with all the Clifbar products and Genesis Pure GoYin and Acai juices in our fridge. He goes nuts with his nutrition, which means it is healthy eating again for the entire family. I enjoy that I must admit, as I am a vegetarian.
I have started to get up early before Chris, and go running. I am loving it and enjoying pounding the pavement. I have never been much of a fitness junkie but have always enjoyed going to the Gym. I often wondered what drove Chris to get up at these early hours to train, but I think I am starting to understand that now. Running in the early morning is so refreshing and quiet. it is just wonderful. I am really enjoying my time running and am getting further and further each time I go. Chris and Tahlia rode their bikes with me as I ran the other day and that was great fun. I think they both enjoyed watching me suffer. I was not able to stop and take a rest with Chris's watchful eye on me and they really pushed me. Unlike my husband, I am not the most competitive person around so I tend to stop when it gets tough. Chris was onto me like a Hawk and made me push up a few of the hills close to home. I was really tired when I got back, and he quickly made me a protein shake and a glass of GoYin and Genesis Pure Nutrition. It was quite funny to see how serious he gets when it comes to training, even if it is just me. It was nice to see I must admit.
Anyway I also wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all the people out there, that over the past year have been there for Chris and I in so many different ways. Many of you know who you are and we cannot thank you enough. Our dearest friends in LA and Las Vegas, we love you so much and cant wait to see you in 2010. We hope you have a wonderful year. Everyone’s kind words and emails are always read and it means so much to us as a family. So thank you for all your support. I hope that this year 2010 brings health and love to you all. Write me if you ever need anything.
Take care
Emma
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