new wheels

My loving wife and daughters got me my best father's day gift yet. I love it. It has only been a couple of months and I already have put in +500 km on it. That's right. Finally after 7 years I am getting back into riding. My baby is a Felt F75 - carbon fork, Ultegra / 105 components, aluminum frame w/ carbon seat stay, shimano wheel set.

Melbourne is a bike crazy city. Every morning along the beach, thousands of cyclist roll-out and bike to the end of the peninsula. Cars are pretty friendly and there are plenty of bike lane.

I've stopped taking the train and am now riding the 17+ km to work. My route is great too. Most of it is along the beach. Then I cut into the scenic city.

ROUTE - 17.2 km one way

Brighton Beach

Royal Botanical Gardens

We Made it

Well after twenty four hours after getting to the Houston airport we landed in Melbourne. Were we ready for our hotels. Grace and Haylee both let us know it. The flight from Houston to LA was horrible. I just about abandoned ship there at LAX. Haylee did well but Grace didn't sleep or stay still the entire flight. We overheard a guy in front of us rudely say, " aren't babies supposed to ride in coach." She crashed just as the plane touched down in LA. Everything went a lot smoother after that point. Mandy later told me she said a very heartfelt pray. Prayers are answered. Miracles do happen.

They slept through getting loaded in the stroller, pushed all through the airport, check in, security, and until we got on the plane. Grace fell asleep after dinner was served. She got up every once and a while to play. We got to know everyone around us really well because of her. Grace even introduced me to another ExxonMobil employee that knows my mom well. His office is 5 doors down from hers. Small world. When she wasn't walking around she was playing in her very own business class seat.

Haylee - the baby that didn't sleep the first 3 1/2 months of her life. Well she did GREAT! In the 15 hour flight she was out of her bassinet twice. It totaled to maybe an hour. She is doing so well. At the hotel they cried until we laid them down. They slept for 16 hours each. Poor girls.

Grace's First Birthday

December is a busy month in the Harline home. The last 8 days of the year we celebrate our anniversary, Christmas, and Grace's birthday.

Friday night we had a family birthday party for her. She got so many fun gifts! The birthday theme was Elmo, her favorite friend. Mandy made Elmo cup cakes. Grace loved them as you can see by the mess... and of course her several chins. ;)

Today is actually her birthday. Mandy and I went into Grace's room when she woke up to sing her happy birthday - that was at 11:00 am. She slept for 15 hours last night. What a gift to her parents. Anyway, she wasn't sure what to think of us singing her happy birthday so early in the morning.

Merry Christmas

What a wonderful and special Christmas we had! It was so special because it was Haylee AND Grace's first Chirstmas! How fun!! Grace, of course, didn't really udnerstand what was going on, but loved all of the wrapping paper! And Haylee just slept the day away! What a blessing to have happy, healthy, and beautiful little babies!!

Growing Gracie

Grace has been showing off quite a bit lately. She is so proud off her self so usually after she does something, she'll stop and clap then wait for us to start clapping too. We are loving this age. She is so much fun.

This video is the premier appearance of her: 1) 4 teeth 2) crawling up the stairs 3) saying Da Da. Not that big of a deal but her parents think so.