The Aquarium

Yesterday was gorgeous! The weather was really perfect - low in the 50's, high in the 70's, low humidity. I know it will get hot soon so we're really enjoying this lovely weather while it lasts. We drove up the coast a bit to check out the Aquarium of Western Australia, but stopped first when we saw an ice cream truck. The best part - they had dipped cones ala dairy queen!

Yum!! And check out his new (short!) haircut. A bit shorter than I would have liked but I think he looks pretty handsome.

It was a really well-done aquarium with great animals that are all over the western coast here. Just last week a humpback whale was hit by a ship (sad, I know, but it made the papers otherwise I wouldn't have had any idea. it must have been okay though) just a few miles off the beach in front of our house. I can't believe they're so close to us! I stare out the windows all day just hoping to get lucky enough to see one. This underwater walkway was terrific because we saw loggerhead turtles, several sharks, eels, tuna, and enormous rays.

The kids, however, saw a moving sidewalk which means moving playground! Alex was fascinated by the big rays when they glided overhead but was more interested in the challenge of walking on and off a moving surface.

One of the big sharks.

Their touch pool was fantastic and the kids felt everything within reach and even some things a little too deep. Ben was wet for a while!

Such fun!

Back home we enjoyed a beautiful sunset from our porch. It's setting late enough now that we can get the kids to bed and enjoy a nice, quiet moment before all the colors disappear.

My sweet ones waking up and watching Mickey in their little chairs. Notice each one has a play light...Ben loves when he and Alex are playing with the same toys and often gives his little brother a matching toy. I let Ben choose their wardrobe most days and he likes their shirts to match as well.

Alex loves to find the lemons in the backyard and drop them in random places around the house and car. I found one in our bathtub this morning with a big bite taken out of it. ewww. I'm not sure how to teach Alex that we don't eat produce with the peel because he'll grab anything at the grocery store and try to eat it, like oranges, eggplant, or zucchini. I guess I should be glad it's not candy yet.

Look at his beautiful eyes! Not as blue as they used to be, but still a pretty blue/brown hazel.

Our church has a fun little sing and dance class for the preschoolers and both boys absolutely love it. Here's Ben at the end of one of the cute little songs. Even Alex loves to dance along to a lot of the music and imitates the motions pretty well.

Speaking of imitation, Alex is picking up all kinds of things. Here is one of his early phone conversations.

Happy Halloween!!

...or should I just say "happy Saturday!" since halloween is just another day down under. We were able to find a few things at the store and had about 3 choices for costumes, but trick or treating wasn't an option so we just dressed up for our playgroup party. We had hoped to go to the international school carnival but Alex was running a fever so we had to pass.

We had one adorable pumpkin (who refused to wear his hat)...

...and one strong fireman.

Orange pumpkins aren't here either, so instead we carved oranges and filled them with chocolate pudding. Too cute!

This was after a few trips the candy table!

Wow, I have to watch this little guy...every time I looked at him he had a new snack in his hand. I let it slide since it was a party but he probably ate more than me!

The older kids caught apples floating in a bucket, a smart alternative to bobbing for them!

By the time we got home the kids were completely wired and took a while to calm down. I put Ben in bed and told him it was okay to play, thinking he wouldn't nap, and about an hour later I peeked in to find he'd passed out in the middle of his toys.

I'm not a huge fan of halloween so I don't mind missing out on everything but I look forward to letting the kids choose costumes and trick or treat again. It will be nice to see it again in the fall, too, because it's really messing with my head to think of halloween in the spring!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It's been almost 3 months in Australia and I'm trying hard to love Perth. Some days I do, some days I don't.

Things I love here:

• No chump change - they don't have pennies here so everything is rounded to the nearest 5 cents. Singapore was the same way and I loved it there, too. Change is actually useful!
• Arnott's biscuits (cookies and crackers). Tim Tams have to be the world's best cookies but I'm discovering more and more wonderful things they make.
• Back in the world of online shopping! It's limited compared to the US but tons better than Singapore.
• Beautiful beaches EVERYWHERE. And because there are so many, we haven't seen any really crowded yet. Plus, we can walk or make a quick drive to some really nice ones.
  
• We can buy gum again! But after two years of going without, I haven't even finished the first pack I bought.
  
• Aussies are active, outdoor people which is great for families. They have a much better work/life balance than most other countries (although sometimes I wonder when people do work after I see dozens of guys surfing at 2pm on a Wednesday)
• The humidity is surprisingly low here, considering we're on the coast, so it's great to open windows and get a nice breeze in the house. Haven't lived many places where that's a pleasant experience.
• The expat women I've met here are generally very nice, down-to-earth ladies and they've been terrific. On the flipside, the expat community is much smaller so it's harder to meet people but I haven't run into the competitive and catty women I'd sometimes meet in Singapore.
  

Things I could live without:

• The money is huge here. Fifty cent pieces are more than twice the size of a US quarter and with just a little change in my wallet it's still about to explode. Oddly enough, the $2 coin is almost the smallest.
• Our recycling bin is more than twice as big as our trash can. We could easily fill the trash can (called a rubbish bin, as I learned when calling the city council and they had no idea what the crazy lady talking about tiny trash cans wanted) in a few days but it's only emptied weekly. We can get a second can for $280. No thanks! Just extra incentive to get Ben out of diapers.
• No dryer sheets here. Didn't think those would be so exotic we wouldn't be able to find them.
• Pacifiers are called "dummies". I don't really want my kids to use that word already, no matter what the context.
• The end of spring means the beginning of fly season. We haven't seen it at its worst yet but it's already really annoying.
• They are loyal to Australian products, and Western Australian particularly, so if it's not in season, we're not eating it. We haven't seen grapes in months. Just got our first mangoes in for the season but they're not the good honey mangoes we're used to eating, so I really wish they'd import some tropical fruit.
• Things are really expensive. I was shocked at the prices of toys and some groceries because they're no better than Singapore. Real estate is outrageous.
  
• Everything is FAR. To give you an idea of how far we're removed from the rest of the world, Starbucks has never made it out here.

Things that drive me insane:

• Turn lanes haven't been invented yet. Many of the divided highways here, which are the major thoroughfares most places, don't have protected lanes to wait to turn across traffic. It's dangerous and makes traffic a nightmare.
• Daylight savings time was voted down. Right now official sunrise is at 5:26am but daylight is already peeking in our windows at 5am. In December sunrise will begin at 5am at daylight at 4:30 in the am. Ouch.
• Virtually nothing is open past 5:30pm. Many stores close early on Saturday. Almost everything is closed on Sundays. And still a lot of things aren't open on Monday. Still trying to figure out when people work.
  

Another Wildlife Adventure

I am not one of those people who will keep a smile on my face all the time and tell everyone how amazing it is to live overseas. It's hard. It's lonely. It's 10,500 miles from home. But its reward is some once-in-a-lifetime experiences that make it worth it.

So far I've found Australia to be interesting but not as exotic as I'd expected...things look familiar, people speak English (although Aussie English can be pretty different, more on that one day), food is recognizable, but the major difference is the wildlife here. It really does surprise me nearly every day, whether it's cockatoos on our roof or black swans landing in the river.

Yesterday I ended up on the beach with the boys (also a pretty amazing thing - the possibility that any day we may end up on the beach, even completely unplanned). This is the path down the dunes in front of the golf course.

The boys explored a bit and found all kinds of interesting things in the dried kelp like shells, coral, and sponges. This stretch of beach is a protected reef so the snorkeling is supposed to be amazing (too cold for me to check out just yet) but it means it's not good for swimming so we have to walk a few minutes in either direction to get the clean sand.

Alex loved this old sea urchin that had lost all its spines.

Ben was just having a great time getting dirty.

I noticed a flock of seagulls behind us so I told Alex to chase them, then I noticed this big mass moved a bit.

Turns out it was a beautiful, sleeping sea lion! Not sure if that was her tennis ball or if it washed up from the dog beach down the road.

After this picture, she woke up and looked at us, then rolled over and kept basking in the sun. What a life!
Apparently the sea lions aren't common on Cottesloe beach but this one has been hanging around a bit lately. Most of the groups live north or south of the populated beaches, which is good news for the surfers since sea lions = great white feeding grounds. There have been a few sharks spotted here since we moved in. That's one wildlife encounter I can live without! (at least not while any of us are in the water)

That was a pretty cool afternoon for me because I was feeling particularly lonely after Lou Anne and Scott left and it really made my day. I love animals and get so excited over seeing new ones in the wild so it certainly helped my attitude about our new home.

For these guys, it was just another day!

Weekend with the Dulaneys

We were fortunate enough to spend the entire weekend with our wonderful friends from Singapore. Scott had already been thinking about a trip to Perth to skydive when we found out we were moving, so that just sealed the deal. We were all thrilled to see Scott and Lou Anne on Friday afternoon, but one member of the family was almost beside himself. Ben and Lou Anne made quite the pair all weekend.

The guys went their separate ways (Scott to skydive and Matt to surf) and Lou Anne and I had a blast playing with the boys on the beach. I think she got quite a workout chasing the waves with Ben.

Ben would have done this for hours but we finally pulled him out blue and shaking from the cold , despite a wetsuit.

Alex enjoyed watching but preferred to eat and drink and check out the waves only when he was in between snacks. I used to laugh at the moms that dressed their kids in these crazy hats, but the sun is so intense here for several reasons (less ozone on this side of the planet and little pollution, to name a few) and I'm trying to keep the boys protected. Guess I won't laugh anymore!
It was a gorgeous weekend!

Alex found his best friend in Scott and would laugh at everything he did.

Our last dinner together at the beachside restaurant Indiana. We enjoyed the sunset and a lovely meal before the Dulaneys had to head home early this morning. I wish I'd taken more pictures but honestly I was just enjoying myself so much I didn't think about it that often. We are so blessed to have these beautiful friends and enjoyed every minute together. They're the closest thing we have to family over here and we love knowing they're "just" a 5-hour flight away. Thank you both for everything you did and sharing so much time with us. Can't wait till the next trip!!

The boys have been keeping busy with their usual antics. They're so funny because they spend half their day wrestling over the same toys (and thanks Lou Anne for being wise enough to bring two of everything for them!) and the rest of the day imitating one another.

We went to the indoor playground again last week and I almost had to pry Ben out of this car to get him home.

Alex preferred knocking over everything that wasn't bolted down. This child is like a hurricane!

Ben saying "boo!" like his shirt. Aunt Stacey sent this glow in the dark shirt and he pulls it out of the dryer to wear it again as soon as possible. We have made countless trips to the bathroom to make sure the eyes still glow and so far, yes, they still glow. Every time.

Look at these beautiful faces!


Alex has lost control of his little blue car (which seems fine by him since it's hard to roll) because Puppy drives it these days.

After a mom and kids activity at church last week, we went to a playground across the street and saw trees full of lorikeets. So far the birds here have been the most impressive to me because it feels like some place exotic when you see wild parrots and cockatoos from your front porch.


And afterward Ben asked to stop by the library so we checked out books for the first time. Each little suburb has its own library so it will be a fun outing for us to keep borrowing books and enjoying the tiny chairs.

Halloween is apparently not that big of a deal here, but we're still going to a playgroup and a little fair so here's a preview of the cuteness to come (but on the smaller Kirkham next time):

I think Alex is working on his first molars because he's chewing on things again, especially toothbrushes. His second choice is a kazoo but as a result he's learned how to play it already.

Spring is Here!

I could handle summer year round because it doesn't take long to adjust to the idea of the weather never changing, but spring in October has really thrown me for a loop! Plus, they don't do much for Halloween here so Christmas stuff is already popping up in the stores while we're packing sweaters away and thinking about shorts. It's so backwards. But I'm NOT complaining because the weather has been gorgeous...finally!! We're taking advantage of every opportunity to play outside.

Sunday afternoon was a picnic at King's Park. The boys had a great time throwing the big frisbee around and getting dirty.

Ben jumped around on these steps forever. It's the kind of thing an adult would look at and not think twice about but a kid sees endless opportunity to try walking, running, jumping, and crawling all over them.

Later in the week I took the boys to the playground and we ended up on the beach. I need to be more prepared for these outings because I'm beginning to find the beach all over our house...in the washer, the bathtub, the kids' sheets...and while I love the beach I prefer to leave it outside! It's worth it to let these guys enjoy themselves, though.

Yesterday we checked out Leighton Beach, just south of Cottesloe, and this time I brought sand toys and swimsuits. The kids had so much fun digging...

...and of course eventually ended up in the water. I did put them in their suits first but didn't take any pictures because I was too busy chasing after them. The water is still frigid but they didn't seem to mind. Alex kept running full force into the waves (but this is a great beach because the waves roll onto the sand for a long time and it's nice and shallow) and I finally let him go and get knocked onto his bottom by a wave. He was a little shocked and started crying, then wouldn't touch the water the rest of the afternoon. Much easier to wrangle that way! Ben was running, splashing, and rolling in the water. Pure joy on his part! He'll start swim lessons soon and hopefully be able to go a little deeper in the water.

We got a box from Aunt Stacey today!! Nothing says bliss to these two boys like extra blankies for Alex and a new electro-light for Ben. He immediately ran and got his old one and wouldn't put either of them down for the rest of the afternoon. It was like Christmas because I got a swimsuit and books I'd ordered and the kids got Halloween shirts and toys from Aunt Stacey. Thank you!!

Thank goodness for our baby gates but this just shows you that you can't keep this kid somewhere he doesn't want to be! Alex is very adept at going up and down the stairs forward and backward. I prefer him going down on his tummy but he likes to show me that he can do it like a big boy and put more gray hair on my head. This time I caught him doing it the right way!

A Day of Adventures

Yesterday was one of those days I was glad I brought the big diaper bag and had some dry pants for the boys in the car because we did a lot more than I'd planned! We met the playgroup moms at a cute little farm that was about 45 minutes away. I knew once we got there that Alex would definitely pass out in the car as soon as we left (right at naptime) so we made the most of it and I thought we'd sort out naps later.

The boys loved the animals and Alex kept chasing these chickens, who stayed just out of reach.

Ben spent some time getting to know this chicken.

The geese on their nests.

The boys and their friend Neve checking out the goats.

"So you can eat that green stuff, huh?"

Ben liked the pony a lot from this view.

Not so much from this view. He started screaming as soon as the pony cart ride started, I think because he was under the impression the pony was taking the kids away, not just in a big circle. I ended up having to walk behind the cart around the entire length of the farm while carrying Alex so Ben didn't lose it. I avoid carrying Alex more than 10 steps because he's 27 lbs of dead weight so needless to say we didn't go for ride #2.

Ben was so happy to be back on solid ground when the ride was over that he even gave Alex a hug! (or a sweet strangle, but let's not get too technical)

Saying hello to the big goats.

Neither of the boys noticed this big sheep and both about died when a loud "BAAA" came out right by their heads. I laughed so hard when they jumped in unison.

Alex was pretty taken with the pigs. Maybe a common love for eating?

"Look, I've got a big belly, too!"

They became fast friends.

Ben was fascinated by the chicken house and each time he lifted a lid and found a hen on her nest he would say "hi mama chicken!".

They also had a beautiful garden and great cafe where we enjoyed our lunch. It was a perfect day to be outside. The weather is slowly improving but I miss my heat and humidity.

Both boys had a great time and Alex was asleep about 5 minutes after I took this picture and got him in the car.

I knew he'd wake up the minute I stopped the car so I just kept driving south past the city. We ended up in Rockingham and I had heard about Penguin Island, so I figured it would be a good time to check it out. It is kind of nice to combine naptime with driving time! We played on the dock for a while before the ferry came to take us across.

Ben was really excited about the boat ride, even though it was only a few minutes long.

The island is really small and close enough to walk at low tide, but since its protected from predators it's a busy breeding ground for pelicans, seagulls, terns, and little penguins (the smallest species of penguin).


These were a few cute seagull chicks.

Most of the little penguins go out to sea to feed during the day and return at dusk but there is a center for rehabilitation for the ones needing special care.

They're so adorable! I was surprised to hear they have loud barking calls...not what I would have expected from short chubby penguins.

Afterward I let the boys run around on the beach and the inevitable happened. It's a terrific beach for kids (or will be when it's a bit warmer!) because it's clear and as calm as a lake on this side of the island.

Ben loved it and didn't mind the freezing water.

Alex thought it was hilarious watching his toes disappear into the sand.

The pelicans were fun to watch and looked so graceful when they were flying.

We saw lots of nests with eggs....

....and even more angry moms yelling at us to stay away from their nests. I thought you shouldn't lay your egg right next to the sidewalk unless you planned on people peering into your nest.

And the last wild animal we spotted this week was right at home.

We're finally getting the house in order and one of the last things on my list was a little playhouse and slide for the kids. They're loving it and I'm thrilled about it because I bought it used for about a quarter of what it cost new.

peekaboo!

Oh, these boys are my buddies. We have so much fun together now that we're adjusted to life together 24/7. (not that we didn't have fun before, it was just a little touch and go there for a while when I realized I had no one to call when I needed an hour to myself) I love watching them grow and learn. Alex astounds me at how fast he's picking things up but he watches Ben like a hawk and imitates everything. Ben blows me away sometimes with the things that come out of his little mouth, like "Guess what. Today Daddy's going to work and he's going to send a lot of emails." And yesterday on the way home from our little adventure, we drove down a busy street in Fremantle and Ben pointed out our old rent house. We haven't seen it in over a month and only spent 3 weeks there. How could a 3-year old recognize that? And he told me the other day that I'm his best friend. I felt lucky because I beat out his puppy for the coveted title and because it is such an honor to be the most important person in this little boy's life for now. I know in a few years he probably won't want to be seen with me in public but I'm going to enjoy this time with my beautiful, innocent, sweet babies as long as possible.