Australia Day is similar to our Fourth of July. There are many activities to choose from. We decided to visit Bicentennial Park. There were lots of blow up bouncing things for Jack and Ella, they were able to ride a pony, and look at the farm animals. It is hard to get Jack off the bouncy things. Ben waited in a very, very, very long line to have a clown blow up a balloon for Ella, he is such a good Daddy.
 |
| Australia Day 2009 |
Jennifer knows how much Jack loves Scooby Doo and sent him some Christmas decorations to hang on the windows. Jack and Ella put up the scooby doo stickers all over the windows and have moved them around a number of times.
 |
| Scooby Doo and Christmas Decorations |
Anne had a North American Christmas Party with us, friends Nadeane and Kevin with boys Ryan and Nick (from Conyers, GA), Erin from Canada (Chris and Alexa could not make due to being sick). Anne cooked a wonderful turkey - it was so good!! We had missed turkey and all the food associated. The kids and I received wonderful presents. Below are a few images of Jack and Patrick playing with their velcro ball gloves from Erin.
 |
| Christmas Dinner at Anne’s House |
Still opening Christmas presents…these are mostly from Santa. Ella was given a new baby (that she can get in the bath with her) and a stroller. Jack was given a car park (and about 20 new cars from Michael, a really nice guy upstairs). They have a new table and chair set with fake food. Ella likes to set up the table with her babies, it is amazing how long she will play. She moves the table inside/outside, by the tv, by the big table, arranges babies, they go in the chair/in the stroller, Jack gets served… Jack likes to play with his car park, but it is hard to play and keep Ella from demolishing. Jack loves his new videos from Nana and Papa Wene.
 |
| Christmas 2008 |
Ben’s work organized a wonderful Christmas Party for the employees and their families. The event was held at a bowling alley. There was lots of food, prizes, bowling, laser tag and video games for the families to enjoy. Jack and Ella loved bowling.
 |
| Work Christmas Party |
I went overboard on Christmas presents for the kids this year…thus we have spread the gift giving out over a week now, it may go to two weeks. The real motivation behind spreading the presents out is to give them time to play with/appreciate each item. The kids have enjoyed it as it seems like Christmas is lasting a long time.
 |
| Opening our First Christmas Presents of 2008 |
We had a packed weekend for Mother’s Day. We all got in the hot tub on Saturday. Don’t worry Grandma’s, the water is not as hot as it is in the States.
Jack and Ella posing before the hot tub… Ella was checking out her new princess shoes from Nana Montine.
 |
| Hot Tub |
They were exhausted and fell asleep together in Ella’s pack ‘n play.
Ben took us to the Blue Mountains outside Sydney for Mother’s Day. The Three Sisters rock formation is in Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia. We enjoyed getting out of the city for the day and seeing country similar to North Carolina.
 |
| Blue Mountains |
There were telescopes you could look through that Jack did not get to parktake in and so this was what he looked like for awhile…
And Ben wrote this poem for him to remember the moment…
I went to the blue mountains
The three sisters I did see
I needed to see them closer
To use the telescope I did plea
The cost was 2 dollars
But no money was to be had
I had to look with only my eyes
And for that I was so sad.
We ended the day on the couch - Ella is in a new nightgown from Nana Wene and Jack in his Superman shirt. He still wants to wear his pajamas all day long. And yes, I have let him wear his SpiderMan shirt out and about so everybody can see his web.
Powered by WordPress
