My mom is strong, beautiful, organized, and devoted to her family. She is an amazing listener and a loving grandmother.
I miss you Mom. Thanks for teaching me how to be a good mother.
Happy Mother's Day!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day
I'm a lucky lucky girl. I have two healthy kids, a great husband, and I get to live on the beach in Australia for two years. And to top it all off I have a great mom.
My mom is strong, beautiful, organized, and devoted to her family. She is an amazing listener and a loving grandmother.
I miss you Mom. Thanks for teaching me how to be a good mother.
My mom is strong, beautiful, organized, and devoted to her family. She is an amazing listener and a loving grandmother.
I miss you Mom. Thanks for teaching me how to be a good mother.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
May the Force Be With You
Over the Easter holidays we got to hang out with every Star Wars geek in Sydney. They were all at the Powerhouse Museum for the big Star Wars exhibit. My kids like Star Wars, and since the Powerhouse claims to be the most hands-on museum in Sydney we decided to check it out.
The exhibit was packed with fans, young and old, crowding around to get a look at Chewbacca's costume or the Millennium Falcon. I didn't find it too exciting. I mean, what are Han Solo's pants without Harrison Ford in them? But my kids, and heaps of other people, were fascinated with all the movie memorabilia on display.
The real fun was in the museum itself.
There are several areas devoted just to kids. In Zoe's House they got to gear up and get to work hauling bricks, operating a crane, and building. Lucky for me, our session in Zoe's House was limited to 25 minutes. Otherwise my kids would've spent the whole day in there!
There's a great, inexpensive, kid friendly cafe at the museum. And right outside the cafe is this super cool climbing structure:
The museum also features a fun "Magic Garden" area with all kinds of electronic toys for the kids to try out. The Little Princess loved standing in front of the blue screen pretending to be on TV (of course). There is also an impressive train engine display and a giant clock that displays the 12 disciples slowly walking past Jesus on the hour. This was a big disappointment to my kids who were expecting a lot of action from a cuckoo clock of this size!
After several fun-filled hours at the museum the Little Buddy started to melt down and I knew it was time to head home. That's when the Little Princess convinced me we had to find the "Anti-Gravity" capsule because she has always wanted to know what it feels like to float in space. So we dragged ourselves to the back of the museum and crowded into the glass "Space Shuttle" while outer space rotated around us. The effect was dizzying and she quickly realized someone with her degree of motion sickness is not cut out for life in space!
I'm sorry to say that the Star Wars exhibit is now closed. But the rest of the museum is definitely worth the trip. I'm sure we'll be back!
The exhibit was packed with fans, young and old, crowding around to get a look at Chewbacca's costume or the Millennium Falcon. I didn't find it too exciting. I mean, what are Han Solo's pants without Harrison Ford in them? But my kids, and heaps of other people, were fascinated with all the movie memorabilia on display.
The real fun was in the museum itself.
There are several areas devoted just to kids. In Zoe's House they got to gear up and get to work hauling bricks, operating a crane, and building. Lucky for me, our session in Zoe's House was limited to 25 minutes. Otherwise my kids would've spent the whole day in there!
There's a great, inexpensive, kid friendly cafe at the museum. And right outside the cafe is this super cool climbing structure:
The museum also features a fun "Magic Garden" area with all kinds of electronic toys for the kids to try out. The Little Princess loved standing in front of the blue screen pretending to be on TV (of course). There is also an impressive train engine display and a giant clock that displays the 12 disciples slowly walking past Jesus on the hour. This was a big disappointment to my kids who were expecting a lot of action from a cuckoo clock of this size!
After several fun-filled hours at the museum the Little Buddy started to melt down and I knew it was time to head home. That's when the Little Princess convinced me we had to find the "Anti-Gravity" capsule because she has always wanted to know what it feels like to float in space. So we dragged ourselves to the back of the museum and crowded into the glass "Space Shuttle" while outer space rotated around us. The effect was dizzying and she quickly realized someone with her degree of motion sickness is not cut out for life in space!
I'm sorry to say that the Star Wars exhibit is now closed. But the rest of the museum is definitely worth the trip. I'm sure we'll be back!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Mama Did a Bad Bad Thing
Those of you who have been a passenger in a car whilst I'm driving will find the following story difficult to believe. But it's true.
I came home today to find the following notice in the letterbox:
Yep. I've been caught on camera driving 74 km per hour in a 60 km zone. (The equivalent of going 45 in a 37 mph zone). I didn't even see it coming.
Some of you are probably laughing out loud right now because I am actually such a slow driver. In twenty years of driving in the U.S. I never got a ticket. Not one.
I've been in Oz for less than 2 months. And I've already been nabbed. I rarely see actual police cars here. I guess they let these speed sensors in the roads do the work for them.
On the bright side, since I don't have an Aussie driver's license I couldn't care less about the 3 demerit points I'm racking up for my moment of crazy speedy driving. Lesson learned!
I came home today to find the following notice in the letterbox:
Yep. I've been caught on camera driving 74 km per hour in a 60 km zone. (The equivalent of going 45 in a 37 mph zone). I didn't even see it coming.
Some of you are probably laughing out loud right now because I am actually such a slow driver. In twenty years of driving in the U.S. I never got a ticket. Not one.
I've been in Oz for less than 2 months. And I've already been nabbed. I rarely see actual police cars here. I guess they let these speed sensors in the roads do the work for them.
On the bright side, since I don't have an Aussie driver's license I couldn't care less about the 3 demerit points I'm racking up for my moment of crazy speedy driving. Lesson learned!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Weekend Getaway
This weekend we had our first Australian getaway. We headed to Port Stephens for a 3 days to wrap up the end of the 2+ week school Easter holiday.
We arrived mid-day Saturday and decided to take a bushwalk to the Tomaree Head Lookout. Hiking seems like more fun when it is called a "bushwalk." The views from the top were stunning. I am constantly amazed with the beauty of this country.
Later we hung out by the pool at the Shoal Bay Resort which was great for the kids. The Little Princess swam like a fish and the Little Buddy played in the sand and wading area. The grownups were able to lounge around and relax. Perfect!
Sunday our plans to tour the dunes and go sand boarding were derailed by high winds. Hopefully we will find out way back to Port Stephens at some point so we can experience the dunes up close. But we did drive out to have a quick look.
Yes, those are camels. Some people were willing to brave 70mph winds to take a 20 minute camel ride in the sand. Something tells me that is a bad idea.
Before we left on Monday we headed over to the Tilligerry Habitat State Reserve to try to spot a koala in the wild. We were unsuccessful, but everyone seemed to enjoy the bushwalk anyway.
And I'm happy to report that no animals were harmed during our weekend getaway.
We arrived mid-day Saturday and decided to take a bushwalk to the Tomaree Head Lookout. Hiking seems like more fun when it is called a "bushwalk." The views from the top were stunning. I am constantly amazed with the beauty of this country.
Later we hung out by the pool at the Shoal Bay Resort which was great for the kids. The Little Princess swam like a fish and the Little Buddy played in the sand and wading area. The grownups were able to lounge around and relax. Perfect!
Sunday our plans to tour the dunes and go sand boarding were derailed by high winds. Hopefully we will find out way back to Port Stephens at some point so we can experience the dunes up close. But we did drive out to have a quick look.
Yes, those are camels. Some people were willing to brave 70mph winds to take a 20 minute camel ride in the sand. Something tells me that is a bad idea.
Before we left on Monday we headed over to the Tilligerry Habitat State Reserve to try to spot a koala in the wild. We were unsuccessful, but everyone seemed to enjoy the bushwalk anyway.
And I'm happy to report that no animals were harmed during our weekend getaway.
Monday, April 27, 2009
7 Years of Bad Luck
I knew it was only a matter of time before we jacked up this gorgeous apartment. I just figured it would be the kids who did it. I was wrong.
This afternoon as I buzzed around unpacking from our weekend getaway I opened the medicine cabinet a bit too quickly. The heavy mirrored door slipped from my fingers and bumped (ever so slightly) into the lovely glass subway tiles on the adjoining wall.
For a moment I thought to myself, "Wow, I should be more careful. That might actually hit the wall next time." Then I closed the door. And saw the damage.
I called the project manager to report my "accident". I was not at all surprised to find out that this is a custom made door. I'm guessing it's not cheap either.
I did feel a little better when my six year old informed me that the whole 7 years of bad luck thing is probably "just a myth." I hope she's right!
This afternoon as I buzzed around unpacking from our weekend getaway I opened the medicine cabinet a bit too quickly. The heavy mirrored door slipped from my fingers and bumped (ever so slightly) into the lovely glass subway tiles on the adjoining wall.
For a moment I thought to myself, "Wow, I should be more careful. That might actually hit the wall next time." Then I closed the door. And saw the damage.
I called the project manager to report my "accident". I was not at all surprised to find out that this is a custom made door. I'm guessing it's not cheap either.
I did feel a little better when my six year old informed me that the whole 7 years of bad luck thing is probably "just a myth." I hope she's right!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Fitting Right In
The Little Princess and I have an ongoing competition trying to one-up each other in a little game we like to call "Who is More Aussie?" She seems to think she is more "Aussie" than me because she uses words like "heaps"and "ta-mah-to sauce" and calls me "mum". Usually she wins, but last week I trumped her with the holy grail of Aussie-ness. Parking.
I've noticed that Australians love to back their cars into parking spaces. I think it is actually their preferred parking method. Back in the U.S. I only backed my car in when absolutely necessary. (Like when going to see Elmo Live on Stage at the Civic Arts Plaza when a million other mothers with sleepy toddlers would be trying to exit the parking structure at exactly the same time. If you didn't back in you would never be able to get out!) But here everybody backs in all the time. I've been intimidated by all this backing in. The parking spaces here are very narrow, often bordered by cement pylons or cinder block walls. To make matters worse, street parking often involves stopping traffic on busy roads to parallel park. I have walked blocks out of my way to avoid parallel parking on the street. I've had nightmares about long lines of hurried drivers behind me honking while I try unsuccessfully to squeeze my big new Toyota Kluger into a tiny spot on the street.
But now that has all changed.
First, I backed my car into this tiny space at Woolies (the grocery store where you can by 2 12pks of Diet Coke for the amazing sale price of $16 this week).
Then I parallel parked my car on Military Road perfectly on the first try! I was too busy gloating about my amazing Aussie parking skills to take a picture of the perfect parking job. But trust me, it was spot on. Even the Little Princess had to concede. I am so Aussie. I fit right in.
I've noticed that Australians love to back their cars into parking spaces. I think it is actually their preferred parking method. Back in the U.S. I only backed my car in when absolutely necessary. (Like when going to see Elmo Live on Stage at the Civic Arts Plaza when a million other mothers with sleepy toddlers would be trying to exit the parking structure at exactly the same time. If you didn't back in you would never be able to get out!) But here everybody backs in all the time. I've been intimidated by all this backing in. The parking spaces here are very narrow, often bordered by cement pylons or cinder block walls. To make matters worse, street parking often involves stopping traffic on busy roads to parallel park. I have walked blocks out of my way to avoid parallel parking on the street. I've had nightmares about long lines of hurried drivers behind me honking while I try unsuccessfully to squeeze my big new Toyota Kluger into a tiny spot on the street.
But now that has all changed.
First, I backed my car into this tiny space at Woolies (the grocery store where you can by 2 12pks of Diet Coke for the amazing sale price of $16 this week).
Then I parallel parked my car on Military Road perfectly on the first try! I was too busy gloating about my amazing Aussie parking skills to take a picture of the perfect parking job. But trust me, it was spot on. Even the Little Princess had to concede. I am so Aussie. I fit right in.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Brightmore Reserve
Since the weather here is gorgeous and the Little Princess is still on school holiday we're cramming in as much kid focused fun as possible. My new friend, the fabulous Florida Girl in Sydney, told me about Brightmore Reserve so we decided to check it out today. This place is so cool! It's a bike trail designed for kids 10 and under, complete with round abouts, pedestrian crosswalks, and right hand turn lanes. It was crowded with little ones on all kinds of bikes, push cars, trikes and scooters. The kids had so much fun. And best of all, it's only a couple kilometers from our apartment.
When we got home, guess what was waiting for us at the front door?
Yep, the Little Buddy's balance bike, a JD Bug Trainer. He is so excited to head back to the bike park and try it out. I hope he doesn't try to imitate the crazy motor cross stunt guys we saw yesterday at the Easter Show!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
