Since moving to Perth, I realized that I need to put together a bucket list of things that I would like to do while here. Not only am I in a new country, but since I am staying home, I will have more time. I need to feel productive while I stay home or I am going to go crazy....Here are a few:
1. Parasail
2. See a kangaroo
3. Visit the BIG rock....not sure the real name
4. Travel to New Zealand, Singapore, Melbourne
5. Visit the Sydney Opera House
6. Become a better baker
7. Get fit
8. Whale watching
9. Visit the Outback
10. Learn photography
The last thing on my list is to learn how to use my SLR camera. It is one of those things that you buy that you never really take the time to learn what to do with it beyond the basics. At least that is what I did. So since there scenery is here and I want to chronicle all of our adventures, I decided this would a be a good hobby to try. I signed up for a photography class on May 11th. It is a full day course where we are taught our cameras, lighting techniques, finding that perfect picture etc.
When I think about it, photography seems like a natural hobby for me. I love memories and traveling down memory lane. I want to be able to capture special moments for my girls that tell stories they can remember forever.
Be prepared to see a lot of random, useless photos because I am going to eat up my memory card taking TONS of pictures. I really am excited. Hopefully I will learn a lot of new things, become a better photographer and capture amazing memories!
As far as my other items on my bucket list...it is going to be an ongoing list. I will let you know what I add!!
Hugs
Amy
19 April 2012
13 April 2012
Its name was Freo, and it's a city by the sea...
So in my mind, that title was sung to the tune "Her name was Rio..." But onto the point of this post. Addie had a puppet class today in Freemantle (Freo), so instead of driving back home, we decided to explore.
Once we got down there, we were completely surprised by what we found. Freemantle is a wonderful historic city. Mixed in between with the old buildings were new department stores and quaint shops. Dustin, Morgan, and I strolled up and down the streets popping into whichever store looked interesting. It was nice to window shop and just look.
What was even nicer was to spend time with Dustin and Morgan. Just talking and being with each other.... Morgan had our undivided attention. I love those times with her. She asks the best questions...like today "Mom, if you could stay any age forever, what would it be?" Wow, that made me pause and think....(I am still thinking of my answer).
We spent 6 hours down in Freemantle, shopping, eating, and just sitting and people watching. I really like Fremantle, and really liked my day.
Next time I am taking the train to Freemantle to explore the city. Cannot wait =)
Once we got down there, we were completely surprised by what we found. Freemantle is a wonderful historic city. Mixed in between with the old buildings were new department stores and quaint shops. Dustin, Morgan, and I strolled up and down the streets popping into whichever store looked interesting. It was nice to window shop and just look.
What was even nicer was to spend time with Dustin and Morgan. Just talking and being with each other.... Morgan had our undivided attention. I love those times with her. She asks the best questions...like today "Mom, if you could stay any age forever, what would it be?" Wow, that made me pause and think....(I am still thinking of my answer).
We spent 6 hours down in Freemantle, shopping, eating, and just sitting and people watching. I really like Fremantle, and really liked my day.
Next time I am taking the train to Freemantle to explore the city. Cannot wait =)
07 April 2012
School days
Well the first term is over and the girls do not go back to school until April 26th. They were rather busy in the classroom, but contrary to public school in Texas, I did not receive a formal report card for either girl. Instead, they were sent home with a a portfolio of their work over the 9 weeks. The school is following the IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum, which I think we will really enjoy and appreciate in the long run, but right now it seems foreign to me to not receive grades on anything. The girls are happy and every time I talk to their teachers, I am told how well the girls are doing. So I suppose I should not worry....yet ;)
I will say though, that they are really doing some neat things in the classroom. Addie is learning time, and Morgan gave her first self written speech. Of course the speech teacher in me had to remember that she is ONLY 8....and this was her first major speech. Seriously she did really well....
One of Morgan's projects was to follow a recipe and make something at home. We decided on homemade ice cream. She did a great job with everything except reading the measurement for the salt. So instead of 1/8 of teaspoon....we had 1tsp. Oooppps :) It still was yummy!
The last week of school, I went and cooked with Addie's class for two days. We made shortbread cookies and decorated "biscuits" to look like bunny rabbits. It was too cute to see all the kids kneading the dough and using cookie cutters. I had to explain several times which side of the cookie cutter to use. I also had to redirect a little boy to put the rolling pins in the sink instead of hitting someone on the head ;) Thank goodness boys have to go to a different school next year!!!!
When we return for Term 2, the girls will start wearing their winter uniform. This is not much of a change for Addie, she will just wear long sleeves and a cardigan (carrdie) on cold days. For Morgan we had to purchase a sweater (jumper), blazer, and beret. She will no longer wear the Panama hat. I will be sure to take pictures on their first day to wear the winter uniform!!!!!
I am rather thankful for their school, I have met a lot of really nice moms, and it has given me an outlet to volunteer and fill my days. Next term I am going to go back into the classroom for Addie and teach a small group lesson of my choice. I am thinking a craft of some sort.
I also have joined their version of PTO/PTA called Auxillary. When I am not at school helping, the moms and I are either having coffee or walking in the mornings on the beach. I think I have settled into being a stay at home mom ;) Dustin hopes I am going to enjoy my 4 year "vacation" =)
I will say though, that they are really doing some neat things in the classroom. Addie is learning time, and Morgan gave her first self written speech. Of course the speech teacher in me had to remember that she is ONLY 8....and this was her first major speech. Seriously she did really well....
One of Morgan's projects was to follow a recipe and make something at home. We decided on homemade ice cream. She did a great job with everything except reading the measurement for the salt. So instead of 1/8 of teaspoon....we had 1tsp. Oooppps :) It still was yummy!
The last week of school, I went and cooked with Addie's class for two days. We made shortbread cookies and decorated "biscuits" to look like bunny rabbits. It was too cute to see all the kids kneading the dough and using cookie cutters. I had to explain several times which side of the cookie cutter to use. I also had to redirect a little boy to put the rolling pins in the sink instead of hitting someone on the head ;) Thank goodness boys have to go to a different school next year!!!!
When we return for Term 2, the girls will start wearing their winter uniform. This is not much of a change for Addie, she will just wear long sleeves and a cardigan (carrdie) on cold days. For Morgan we had to purchase a sweater (jumper), blazer, and beret. She will no longer wear the Panama hat. I will be sure to take pictures on their first day to wear the winter uniform!!!!!
I am rather thankful for their school, I have met a lot of really nice moms, and it has given me an outlet to volunteer and fill my days. Next term I am going to go back into the classroom for Addie and teach a small group lesson of my choice. I am thinking a craft of some sort.
I also have joined their version of PTO/PTA called Auxillary. When I am not at school helping, the moms and I are either having coffee or walking in the mornings on the beach. I think I have settled into being a stay at home mom ;) Dustin hopes I am going to enjoy my 4 year "vacation" =)
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| Outside of Addie's classroom |
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| All of our ingredients |
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| Measuring |
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| THIS we measured right! |
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| Happy Baker... |
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| Proud of her work |
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| Before going in the freezer |
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| Kneading the butter into the dough |
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| Cuties |
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| Showing us her decorated bunny! |
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| Oh boys.... |
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| Helping with the cookie cutters |
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| The group with their bunnies.... |
01 April 2012
A little bit of this....a little bit of that
Come Easter Sunday, we will have officially been in Perth for 3 months. We get to celebrate Jesus and our Australian anniversary that weekend. Things have been really busy....still trying to get some things settled...like our phone from home. I thought I had figured out how to forward our Houston number here to Perth...apparently I had not though because nobody could call....BUT we got that figured out and now you can ALL call our Houston number and reach us here in Perth. Also I started organizing our office. After spending a mind boggling 2 hours in IKEA, I found desks for our office. They are not our first or even second choice for office furniture, but it will work for 4 years. The problem is that most furniture and decor here is very modern. I still need to get a bookcase or two, but otherwise the office is now a functional space....finally! IKEA sends my mind on overload. They have so many things with so many choices, that I have to go with a specific idea, or I wind up putting everything in my cart and then putting it all back because none of it matches.
As most of you saw on Facebook, Morgan had her swim carnival at school. All girls in years 1 - 6 participated in everything from noodle races to actual swim events. First let me explain, during PE at school, the girls participate in swim, and Morgan was on the swim squad after school. It was not competition swim, but they worked on their strokes and endurance. So I would often ask Morgan how she was doing, was she improving, was she getting faster, etc. Her response each time would be "I am doing well", "No, I am not that fast", "There are people faster than me". SOOOOO back to the swim carnival, I was not sure what to expect from Morgan. I told her to do her best and that she would do great. They had her signed up for 10 events...the first being the fun relay races and the rest her individual swims. Morgan did AWESOME!!! In all of her individual events, she placed FIRST. In freestyle, she literally was a person length ahead of the rest of the girls. We were incredibly proud of her, but most important so incredibly happy to see her confidence soar. Here are some videos...
Addie's class had an Easter Egg Hunt on Friday after school. We all went to a local park and the kids got to hunt for 2 plastic eggs each. They then took those eggs and traded them in for a bag of chocolate eggs. In talking to the other mothers I found out that they do not fill plastic eggs here, they just hide the hard boiled eggs and an Easter Basket. Also they do not color the eggs. So I am hoping to make homemade egg dye so we can dye our eggs. Addie had a great time finding eggs and then playing on the playground with her friends. It was a great day =)
Addie's class had an Easter Egg Hunt on Friday after school. We all went to a local park and the kids got to hunt for 2 plastic eggs each. They then took those eggs and traded them in for a bag of chocolate eggs. In talking to the other mothers I found out that they do not fill plastic eggs here, they just hide the hard boiled eggs and an Easter Basket. Also they do not color the eggs. So I am hoping to make homemade egg dye so we can dye our eggs. Addie had a great time finding eggs and then playing on the playground with her friends. It was a great day =)
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| Addie and her friends |
Dustin competed in his first 10K in Australia. His time has improved and he did really well! Things were pretty similar to races back home, but just not as much fan fair after the race. Again, Australia scales most things down and focuses on the purpose of why people are gathered. They did however have running commentary of the race for those of us that stayed behind to watch. We were expecting Bob Costas at any moment to get into the sound booth ;) My camera was not working so well, so I did not get too many pictures. But here is one of Dustin and his girls....most important pic ;)
I really need to be better at blogging more often so the posts are not so long. We are off school from April 5th until April 26th...so I will have a lot to post then!
XOXOXOX
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