A day on the road

We got our hands on a fabulous Toyota Tarago (aka minivan) on Saturday and spent a good 10 hours touring around greater Sydney area.  It was a much needed break from the city and we had so much fun!

We first started at the Featherdale Wildlife Park, about an hour outside of Sydney.  It was so much fun to hang with our friends the Kangaroos.

There were Emus also roaming around - huge fluffy birds that apparently think anything you have on you is for eating.  Those things go full on attack mode!  One grabbed a hold of a bottle and wouldn't let go.  We were playing tug of war for a bit - luckily I won.  I tried to upload a video of one of them attacking Devon but it didn't work.  Just use your imagination I guess!

Attacking Emu

Wombat - So cute!

Albino Kangaroo

Goats eating my stroller

Just a couple animals

After the Wildlife Park, we went to a farm that had a small Thomas the train set up in their field.  It was pretty awesome.  Who knew this would be a highlight of my weekend!

Thomas

Hello!  They had the whole thing to themselves

The activities we do as a family are certainly different than what we would have done 5 years ago, but honestly it is such a blast to see the looks on the kids faces when they see new things.  It makes being a parent so fulfilling.  I had more fun riding on Thomas the train than I have had in a while.  It was so kitschy and silly!

After our fun with Thomas, we drove to a whitewater park that Devon was interested in seeing.  I don't have any pictures of it, but it was really sort of neat.  All man-made,  full with fun rapids, drops and play areas for kayaks.  They even had whitewater rafting.  It was built in a loop, you go around it and then a conveyer belt takes your boat up to the top again for another run.

Overall, a very fun Saturday!

Some more antics this past week:

1. Mommy broke the house again.

Broke two knobs off the stove - I barely touched them!

2. Fun at Mealtime

3.  Boys posing for the camera

4. Date Night

And just for kicks - What we were up to 1 year from today:

We're off to the aquarium today, and a weekend trip to Jervis Bay tomorrow.

Until next time!!

~Mary

Show me the way to go home...

Got a letter from the apartment manager today telling me that my giant stroller parked in the hallway is a fire hazard.  Yeah, I knew that.  But dang it, I don't want to have to collapse it and put it back up every time we go out.  What a hassle!  But I will do what I have to do.  Oh I miss my garage!  And my A/C!  And my car!  I could keep going, but I'll spare you.

Ever since the incident where the entire Kirribilli fire department came to my rescue by breaking down my door, Isla likes to remind me that 'mommy broke the house'.  I have to say, I am a little accident prone here for some reason.  Isla locked herself in the bathroom the other day, and before I decided to tai kwan do the door down, I called Devon and he reassured me that there was a bathroom key hidden away for these types of situations.  Phew, broken house diverted.  I've broken a window shade - it unrolled a little too far.  Again, Devon to my rescue while Isla reminds me 'Mommy broke the house again."  Oh, such a sweet little daughter I have!  Why don't these things happen to me at home?  Or is it because my children are at the curious age where they help me get in these Kafuffles.  I'm going to say the latter just to keep my ego up.

Oh, and Isla swallowed a small polly pockets shoe the other day. No heimlich needed, but I was willing and prepared.  I need to take a CPR refresher course - my kids are nutso.

Devon made his fantastic pork carnitas for dinner tonight.  SO excited for a nice home cooked meal!  I'll have to take pictures and post later.

Well, that's it for now.  Just thought I'd give you a couple little anecdotes of our lives here.

We come home 2 months from today.  And the count down begins!!

GIANT COCKROACH!

Did I get your attention?

Nope, not in our apartment - at least not lately!  We visited the Sydney Wildlife World where they keep all of Australia's most popular bugs, spiders, snakes, insects, and animals.  We had such a great time, Isla even got down and dirty with the resident cockroach.

She's so brave!

This is the girl that points to every piece of fuzz in our apartment and yells 'mommy there's a 'Cokkaroach!'  Making me go into hysterics (imagine me jumping on a chair with my broomstick in hand).  But we were all brave and gave this thing a good ol' pat down last weekend.  They're not so bad after all.

Crocs - Isla's favorite

A collection of very venomous spiders:

This picture was a funny accident.  Devon was walking past the boxing kangaroos and was punch in the face.  HA!

SNAKE

Oh Devon

Komodo Dragon

Largest Croc in captivity

Isla on a wombat

Kookaburra

Fun was had by all at the Sydney wildlife world.  Isla has a strange love for gators, crocs and arachnids.  Strange child!

This is what we've been up to this past week:

Watching the ipad in daddy's blanket nest

Out and about with Sheepy

The bluest ice cream I have ever seen

As if one clown wasn't bad enough

Twins!

She's saying 'That's my mommy!'

Tiger, the cat

Cheese!

My top 10 list

Now that we're halfway into this adventure down under, I thought I would compile a list of things I miss most from home.

And here it goes!

10. Super Target - shopping carts you can put kids in, 1 stop shopping, Auntie Annie bunny snacks
9. Good customer service - having people respond in a timely manner and truly wanting to help you!
8. Peanut Butter Cups - Why don't they have those here!?
7. Proper kitchen gadgets ie. mixer, rubber spatulas, food processor, grill (I MISS MY KITCHEN!)
6. Convenience -
5. Cairo
4. My washer and dryer - I'm so done with this combo machine that takes over 5 hrs. per load
3. Caribou and Brueggers - Oh my guilty pleasure!
2. My car - although walking everywhere has proven to be a great way to stay in shape!
1. My family and my culdesac - I miss you guys!

And to be fair I thought I would also share a list of things I love about Sydney

10. Sunshine - plentiful!
9. Beaches
8. My big picture window - can't beat our view
7. Play group - kids love it
6. Crocodiles and Kangaroos
5. Fire works
4. Ferry rides
3. Coffee - Sorry Caribou, but Aussie's make better coffee
2. Dijeridoo players - playing to techno music no less
1. date nights - paid babysitters and everything!

There you have it!