Halloween 2009

This is our third Halloween in Australia. Which means it was the 3rd Halloween walk I organized. Sounds like everyone had a good time!

Mary and Jim go Kayaking

Jim took his mom for a kayak ride this morning. She even survived without getting dunked or flipped. I think she had a good time, just very tiring.

Dinner with the Cassis Family

After talking with Mary the other day and she had commented how much she liked Greek food, I volunteered Greg Cassis to cook us a Greek meal since he did such a nice job when my parents were here last year. He took us up on the volunteering and brought over 3 backstraps of marinated lamb and homemade tzatziki sauce.
I made greek marinated chicken breasts and baked up some pita chips. After the appetizers were out for a bit, the kids all decided to hop in the pool for a quick COLD swim. Of course ours were the last ones out. Even the local kids (Alex & Aaron) didn't make it all that long!!!
After everyone scarfed down lots of appetizers, we still made room to put away 2 of the 3 lamb pieces and all the chicken along with the haloumi cheese Greg pan fried and the greek salad we ate with dinner. Oh, then there was the dessert... left over birthday chocolate torte, caramel slices and lemon bars. Way too much food, but way too yummy too!

I think everyone had a good time. The food was good, drinks were good and friends were good. As Deb and Greg rounded up the kids to leave, we found Sabrina sitting on Emmalee's bed getting read a bedtime story. It was so cute.

My Gramma

This is just a quick post to let my Gramma Millie know I am thinking about her and praying for her from far away.
I got an email from Mom yesterday telling me Gramma was ambulanced to the hospital in Sioux Falls, SD on Tuesday night in the US. Luckily mom and dad were still around so that she went to the dr. in the first place and that she had someone to be there with her for the 3+ hour ride to the heart hospital.
It is occasions like this that really rip me apart. Being so far away from my whole family and not being able to go see them if/when I want when things like this happen is just really difficult for me. I don't even know if I would have gone over had we still lived in IL, but just the option of being able to go is no longer there.
I have talked to Gramma and mom each day since I found out. She seems to be doing a bit better. She is surrounded by many talented doctors and specialists in the heart hospital, so I know that she should be in good hands. But those hands aren't mine to give her a hug or to hold her hand when she is laying there in the hospital bed. The best I can do is call her from 6000 miles away and chat for a few minutes.
I know that is all I can do and mom says Gramma appreciates it when I do call, but for someone who is still fortunate enough to have both of her grandmothers still alive (and normally in fairly good health) it is hard to be soo soo far away.

Gramma with the kids in 2005 - She is a calming influence!

So for now I am sending my thoughts, my love, long distance hugs and prayers to you Gramma. Get better soon! We all love you!
Highlights from her visit just about a year ago...

I am the ONLY sane person

in our family...

You see, its 72F (22.2C) outside and 77F (25C) in our pool. Guess who is swimming...

Emmalee is Student of the Week!!!

At today's school assembly, Emmalee was presented with the student of the week award. It is her first and very special. Her teacher, Miss Pattison has so many nice things to say about Emmalee and why she was the only one chosen!

Channeling my inner Ty Pennington

I have a million (ok an overstatement, but not by much according to Jim!) of necklaces and bracelets. Something about pretty things and jewelry and being a girl?!!!

Anyway, since we moved into this house I have been using a system of 3M hooks to hold my necklaces on the side of our 'closet' which is really just weak sort of walls that we hang our clothes inside of. Everytime the closet doors slide, my necklaces slide from side to side and it makes a terrible noise. Especially when one member of the family gets up really early to go to work and realizes he forgot something and has to sneak in to get it at 5.30am. Yes, that early.

So, I have had this project in my head for a while that I can just build a ladder-like thingey out of wood from Bunnings (AUS version of Home Depot) without too many tools or trouble. I bought the wood the week of school holidays, but it was just too cold and rainy to work on it outside. The two sticks had been sitting in the garage for the past two weeks.

But, now it is near 80 degrees and sunny out. The kids are back to school and I thought now is a good time to give it a try.

Measured out the wood and divided it evenly. Measured twice, cut once. Then started the assembly with just tiny nails. Worked like a charm. For the jewelry holders themselves, I just pounded in upholstery pins in two fun styles and spread them among the four horizontal pieces.

After assembly, but before hanging on wall with jewelry.

Hanging on wall with jewelry.

Happy Birthday to me

Today I celebrated my 37th birthday. Nope - not worried about the age at all. Half the time I don't remember how old I am anyway until I do the math from 1972. UGH!
Plus, I got a new IL drivers' license and it doesn't even have a photo and its still valid. Oh the joys of being an expat overseas.
Celebrated the day with kids going back to school for the first day of Term 4. Then off to a relaxing acupuncture appointment to fix the nasty headaches that were creeping back after missing a week. Then a quiet afternoon of reading and a nap. Then swimming lessons for the kids and Jim coming home early for a family dinner.
Opened presents after dinner and then blew out the candle on my yummy super dark chocolate torte.

From Nikki's Bday

After that, we skeedaddled and left the kids with gramma. Went to enjoy a free movie of my choice from the local cinema since it was my birthday. Chose to see Mao's Last Dancer in the La Premeire section, which meant cozy loveseats for two, a bar and snack menu as well as free popcorn and soda. Only had to pay for Jim's half of the ticket (which he definitely ate/drank in popcorn and soda).

The movie was really good - story and visually. It was screened at the Toronto Film Festival in September and released her shortly after. Not sure if it'll come out in the US, but the primary character is now an Australian citizen. In fact, he was named the Australian Father of the Year in 2009.

Left Hand Red, Right Foot Green

What happens when two flexible and silly kids and one rather in-flexible adult play Twister? Hilarity ensues...

She's Got the Music in Her

While Emmalee was sorting her sea shell on vacation, she couldn't help but to break out a few dance moves in between sorting. I love how she is just so free to do what moves her (especially when she doesn't know anyone is watching her)

Free Babysitting

Mary offered to hang out with the kids tonight so Jim and I could go out for dinner. Already bought a frozen pizza for the kids, so rather than make her eat cheese on cardboard, we got her a yummy looking chicken salad to eat while we were gone.

Left them all with the promise of watching the Karate Kid and ice cream cones for dessert. Oh, and the promise of an early bedtime. Andrew was waning on the tennis court at 4pm.

So, met a couple we met at the pool for happy hour. They were on their out for the night and suggested we meet up for a quick drink before we headed out for our respective 'date nights' while all the kids were under the care of babysitters.

After drinks Jim and I went into Coffs Harbour city center. Drove the long way around to get there, but found the main street eventually. Parked the car and at an Asian Restaurant. Can't remember the exact name. It was really good. Started with roti bread (for Jim) and Money bags (minced chicken, peanuts and veggie parcels with a spicy sour dipping sauce) then had Tom Yum Goong soup and then finished with a prawn, calamari and chicken and glass noodle salad. Yummy once I picked out the red peppers (Jim assured me there wouldn't be much according to his gourmet cooking experience) and red onions. Oh and put a bit of the soup broth over it for a twist on the flavor.

Came home and found gramma still awake (I called it) and that gramma conned the kids into staying up til 8.30 so SHE could watch the end of the Karate Kid. How funny.

We had a slice of the caramel mud cake I got this afternoon and a glass of icy cold milk. Great way to cap off the evening. Now off to bed and a good night's sleep before tennis at 9 tomorrow.

Shell Collecting

I took Emmalee down to the beach today to watch the surfing competition that was going on. Instead of being interested in the goings on, we decided to walk the beach and look for pretty rocks and shells.

I can remember being her age and walking the beach with my parents in Hawaii or other places and doing the exact same thing. Don't know what it is about shells or beaches or rocks that attract little girls (who knows, I'll take Andrew tomorrow and see what he thinks…) but it seems to be magical.

She spent the whole walk of the beach collecting until her crocs were stuffed full. If she had bigger shoes or pockets, I am sure she would have collected even more.

Then we came back and she spent over an hour cleaning her shells and organizing them. Now she is ready to go for more!

Surfing Competition

There just happens to be an under 16 surfing completion at Diggers Beach, just behind the resort we are staying at. Jim and I stopped down and watched for a few minutes. Then after a while I offered to take Emmalee down to the beach to watch. I thought she might be interested, since I remember loving to watch surfing at that age. It just amazes me how the power of the waves can be harnessed by such a small board. In a way, I can see how people think surfing can be a 'religion'. You have to have absolute trust in the ocean and faith in yourself. It think its quite peaceful and amazing.

The waves aren't too great, but there were some good rides we saw. Think I'll go back tomorrow to watch a bit more.

Andrew ‘Roddick’ Rhomberg

Both kids have been really into tennis lately with the new tennis lessons and last week's tennis camp. Andrew especially.

Jim booked the courts here and Jim, the kids and Mary went over to hit the ball around first thing this morning. After a bit I met them and got to hit around, too.

Then this afternoon they went back to the courts while Emmalee and I went to collect shells.

Andrew was wiped out but still wanted to hit it around. This is him giving it his best…

Koala Hospital

After we checked into our hotel in Port Macquarie, we got a few brochures for the goings on around town (slim pickings if you ask me) and we found out there was a tour of the local Koala Hospital at 3pm. So, at 2.53 we piled into the car and hurried along the main drag to get to the hospital.

Squeaked in just in time – Jim dropped us off to join in the tour as he parked the car. Don't think we really needed to hurry. It wasn't a big place and the tours were quite casual. We caught up at the first stop a male koala who was there recuperating from an accident I think.

Learned a bit about koalas – like one of the main things they get treated for by doctors is Chlamydia. They have two fingers webbed together. And they are solitary creatures. Guess that is why we never see two or more together except at the zoo. Saw one that had been mauled by a dog, another that is their celebrity – a 16 year old named Birthday Girl, who had been visiting the hospital for the last 13 years. She is now a permanent member of their 'family' since she has severe arthritis in her hips.


It was interesting, but as we were with the kids, it got boring quickly. Especially with the knowledge there was a gift shop where they could spend their hard earned money. So, I took them over and they both managed to part with a bit of money and walked away with koala memorabilia.

Waves Bowling

With not a lot to do in Port Macquarie, we offered an afternoon of bowling to the kids. They jumped for joy and we headed over to the local bowling alley. It didn't look like much from the outside, but it was ok inside.

Got the kids all hooked up with bumpers for bowling and the three adults went without. They had a blast. Between the bowling and the ride on motorcycle video game (which they never put money into but had a great time riding) I think we got our money's worth. Both kids got a strike or a spare and had a lot of fun. Jim of course won and I dragged up into last place as Mary did really well in the last frame.

If bowling wasn't so expensive in Sydney, I think we would do it a bit more often with the kids. Too bad.

Funny how things trigger memories

Just this afternoon on the drive to Port Macquarie with the sun shining brightly (and hotly) through the front window, I turned my watch around so the face was on the inside of my arm. As I did that, I was hit by a really strong memory of my grandpa Bob. He used to wear this old, classic, simple white faced watch on his left wrist, but with it facing the inside of his wrist. How very strange that by doing something as simple as that I got a trip down memory lane.

I thought how I was excited to be bringing his first great grandchild into the world and how the last time I saw him was on a quick trip before the baby shower for Emmalee. Wasn't sure it was right to go thru with it after having just buried him, but mom said to go ahead. I was able to tell him about the baby (didn't know if Emmalee was a girl or boy) before he passed, but a bit of him lives on in her name. I chose Emma after his mother, my great grandmother. It was such a beautiful name. And in a way a tribute to that part of my family.

Although Emmalee will never know her great grandpa (either of them actually), I had many years of knowing my grandpas. And I hope that she gets the opportunity to know her grandpas for as long as I did and even longer. I am not sure what things about them will trigger a memory for her, but I know there are going to be some for each of her grandpas. And that every memory will be special to her, like mine are for me.

Tennis Camp 2009

The kids made it through four days of intensive tennis camp -- from 9.30 - 3.30 T-Fri. All four days it was forecasted to rain, hail, blow gale force winds, etc. Was surprised they weren't predicting a dust storm, too! But someone was watching over them -- days 1-3 it didn't rain at all until camp was completely over. And then it cleared up by morning. Then today, the last day with tournaments and all, it didn't rain until lunch time. The rain came down, lightly and wet, but not too hard or too windy.
Both kids made it to the quarter final bracket of the Division 3 (7-9 year olds) and got slated to play each other based on overall score. Didn't know how well it was going to go over -- little brother vs. big sister, but I kissed them goodbye and wished them both luck.
I arrived a few minutes before camp was over and they were in the middle of the awards ceremony. Both of our kids managed to walk away with certificates AND trophies. And not all kids got anything more than a certificate, so it was quite an accomplishment. I found out the quarterfinal match was a tough one with Andrew squeaking out a win over his sister with a score of 7-6. So it was a really close, hard fought game.
Andrew is excited to go back to another camp, so maybe over the summer holidays. And both are excited to start lessons up again once term 4 begins.

Tennis Camp - Day 1

Today the kids both started a 4 day (week long) tennis camp. It runs from 9.30 - 3.30 so they will be getting four days of intensive tennis training.
They were 'graded' and placed into groups of 8 or 9 kids at their skill level.
When I picked them up, they were all smiles. I asked what the best part of the day was and each replied (separately) that everything was and when asked what part they liked the least, they replied nothing! So, I think it was a success.
Now, I just have to hope it doesn't rain for the next three days like it is threatening to. Seriously -- at 5 tonite the sky just opened up and poured. All I can do is hope it will be the same for the next three days -- rain AFTER 3pm so the kids don't get soaked or rained out! Because sadly it is a high of 60 all three days and a 40% chance of rain. UGH!

Rainy Days -- Museum Days

Since the meteorologists around town all threatened rain for the entire weekend, we decided to take advantage of the non-sunny day and hit a museum. We chose the Australian Museum because Jim had never been there. I thought I had only been once but upon further inspection of the photos I have here, I guess I went with both kids' classes. OOPS!
Seemed quite a few more Sydney-siders had the same idea as us, because when we got to the museum (after finding a GREAT parking spot), we stood in a long, slow line waiting to get in. Once we did, the kids picked up their passports to adventure, a new initiative the government has to get kids/families to experience cultural things. Kids get the passports stamped at various places around the city and beyond. Somewhat similar to the passports they got when we went to Disney a few years back.
First thing in we had to visit the dinosaurs. Don't know what it is, but the both LOVE that exhibit. Then off to see Australian animals and the water life. Found out there are two meter long worms just under the surface of beach sand and the lines we always thought were water running back out to sea are probably the worms wriggling along. EWWWW!

They have a really great hands-on area, so we had to visit that twice. Andrew got to try on a tortoise shell. They both spent time looking at things thru a microscope. Nice way for them to learn.

Headed up the road for lunch and got caught in a downpour on the way back. Jim had to re feed the parking meter, so he ran up one side of the street and the kids and I did the other. He managed to catch up to us as we got to the museum steps. Then we went in to see the star exhibit. The Mysteries of Egypt. They had a few artifacts, but nothing like the Field Museum. A few sarcophagus, dozen or so carvings, so hieroglyphics in limestone, a bit of jewels and a CT scan of a mummy so the kids could see what was inside. Seeing as their attention span was/is much shorter than mine, the exhibit was about the right size for them. But I could have stayed longer or wished to see more.