OPEN DAY AT SCHOOL

On Thursday Madi had an opened day at school. We got to go and listen to a science lesson from her teacher and then have morning tea! She wanted Kev to come so on Wednesday after school she called him to see if he could make it. He told her he would see what he could do and tell her when he came home. She was so excited when he told her that he had rescheduled some meetings in the morning and would work from home in the afternoon so he could go to school. (What a fantastic daddy!)

We all headed to drop Madi off for school and then wait for a little bit before we could go into the classroom. Before the open day started I swapped out the home reading books and then we went to the play ground for a little play.

Madi's teacher is amazing and a very patient and brave woman. Her lesson was on flow charts and also an experiment to see how yeast works. She read the story of the little red hen and then had the kids break up into three groups and make their own bread. One group had cold water, another tap water, and the final had warm water. The parents got to help get the kids mix all of the ingredients and then they placed them out in the sun. Brave woman - there was flour everywhere - especially Madi's table they seemed to be extra crazy! They also had the cold water - so we knew it wouldn't work anyway.

After the lesson we got to see what was in Madi's books and she showed us her creations around the room. Then it was out to morning tea and a little play on the oval. Kevin and I even joined in a game of tip (tag) with Madi and her friends. It was a fun morning!

TAG YOUR IT! - ALL ABOUT ME!

This is an "All About Me" tag:

Four places I go to over and over.
1. To pick drop off and pick up Madi from school
2. Preschool
3. The shops - mostly the grocery store
4. The clothes line :(

Four people who e-mail me the most.
1. Dayna - I love to hear about what is going on in her life and she is so super sweet (couldn't ask for a better neice!)
2. Kev
3. Britt from ScrapMatters
4. My family and friends sometimes when they decide they miss me.

Four of my favorite foods.
1. Mango chicken curry - yummo!
2. Chili's baby back ribs - how I miss those!!
3. Pizza
4. A really good sandwich

Four places I'd rather be right now.
1. Home in the mountains!
2. On a cruise - still haven't done that but it is still at the top of the list (someday it will happen)
3. Touring Australia with no worries about money so I could see and do everything!
4. New Zealand or Fiji (these are places on the list too)

Four movies I'd watch over and over.
1. How to loose a guy in 10 days
2. 13 going on 30
3. Any pirates movie
4. Little Mermaid (love that one!)

Four people I'm tagging.
1. Wendy
2. Julie
3. Jen
4. Lisha

VEGEMITE

We finally bought some vegemite this week and gave it a try. Kevin and I had already tried it when we came to visit years ago and I remembered that I didn't like it. However, I also knew that I had to try it again or the kids wouldn't. We put a small bit on crackers and everyone (except me - way to salty) enjoyed it. I did try and make a vegemite sandwhich for Cooper and Madi the next day and they weren't too keen about that. So I guess we can handle it in small doses with a cracker to wash it down.

CRITTERS IN THE TREE!

Last night Kev went out to bbq dinner (yes it is winter and we are still using the bbq - love that!) and came back in telling us all to come and see. This is what we saw in the tree in the backyard!

It brought back memories of 8 years ago when we visited Kev's parents in Melbourne and went to feed the possoms in the park. It was a cold and fun adventure until one took a chunk out of Kev's finger. We did feed this possom some bread but we put it down on the ground. We watched him climb down the tree and onto the ground where he started to eat. FUN MEMORIES!

I'm a wimp!!!!

Yes, this is me! When we came to Australia I kept saying that we could cut costs by me riding my bike to the train station every day. Well, after doing it for almost 9 months I have given in.
Stace and I talked about the pros/cons of getting a small used car or a scooter. If you haven't guessed from the pictures the scooter won out. It is cheaper and we wouldn't have to worry about buying someone elses problems.

So I started researching what had to be done to get my license and here is the process:
1) Take a two day training course (3.5 hrs each) on the basics of riding
2) Knowledge test (45 questions and you can only miss 2 knowledge and 1 safety)
3) Get your learners permit (You must display a big "L" plate on your bike (80 k/hr limit)
4) After three months (and before 12 months) take another training / driving test
5) Get your "P (90)" plate that means you can't go more than 90 k/hr for one year
6) Get your "P (100)" plate - can you guess what that means - for one year

As you can probably guess I have now completed 1 - 3 and now have my "L" plate and will be practicing. The other law is that a new motorcycle driver can not have a passanger ride with them for a year. The kids don't like this one very much.

So now that I have my scooter I have to practice. Tomorrow will be the first day that I get to ride my scooter to the train station and the big question is where will I be able to park? I am going to try and park next to one of the bike stand and see what happens. I have seen another person park their motorcycle there so it shouldn't be a problem.

I did get to ride my bike around today and also rode it to soccer practice. I have to admit that it is really fun. It has reminded me to the time that Kev Worwood and I went to Hawaii, rented scooters for an afternoon, and just drove around the hills of Hawaii! It was tons of fun. Stace calls it my 'Boy Toy' so I guess I will just have to let it live up to it's image. (However, at soccer some of them did make fun of me and tell me that it should be red so I can go and deliver mail as the mail people drive red scooters! Ha ha ha...)

BE AS A LITTLE CHILD

I was reminded of this during the week with an experience I had with Cooper. A few days ago when Cooper was watching TV the picture turned to black and white for no apparent reason. He came and found me and told me there was something wrong. When I came in I tried to figure it out, but couldn't and told him that he would have to wait for his dad to come home and he could help us out. Several hours later we turned on the TV and Cooper was disappointed to see that it still had no color. I told him it was okay we could just wait and watch it like that. A few minutes later a quiet voice said, "Mom, if we ask Jesus he will fix the TV for us." I asked him if Jesus would care that the TV was in black and white and not color. He said that he would fix it if we prayed. I told him that he could say the prayer and he thought about it for a few minutes. Then he said okay mommy. We closed our eyes and he said, "Dear kind Heavenly Father, Jesus will you please fix the TV so that it has color?" We said Amen and opened our eyes and to my surprise the TV was in color. I was so surprised! I have had many prayers answered in my lifetime, but I was reminded that day that Heavenly Father cares about even the little "insignificant" prayers. I was also reminded to learn something from my 4 year old - who definately has more faith than I do.

GOING HOME!

Our friends Jessy and Kelli moved back to the States this week after two years in Australia. We loved spending time with them both in Adelaide and in Sydney. Just wanted to wish them good luck in their move to Utah and with their switch to civilian life. We will see you in a few years - unless you have an inkling to come back to Australia, our place is always opened!

TWITTER PATTED

What am I going to do with Madi? She seriously is going on 17 - can she slow down?! Any advise on this little one would be so helpful - even if that means that you think I am overreacting and need to calm down too.

A little story: Remember a couple of months ago when I told you the kissing story? Well if you don't here's the link.

Well Madi still has the same "boyfriend" and some days she tells me they are just friends and other days she tells me that she is going to marry him. Today in fact on the way home from school she told me that she was going to marry him and I told her that she couldn't get married until she was about 25 and she wouldn't be in Australia then so she couldn't marry him. She told me that she would just move back.

Well this boy just got back from a trip to California and he brought her a necklace. Madi decided that she would give him a thank you card. Tonight she started on the card and started it with the words "I love you! Thank you for the butiful neclice." I told her that she probably should write something else because the words I love you are special words and they should be only told to family and the boy she will marry someday. Now I know realistically she will probably not wait to say those words to the boy she marries someday, but that was the way I came up with to explain it to her. I told her that telling him thank you was fine and that maybe she should say that she was glad that he was her friend. Let's just say we had a blow up. She yelled at me and told me that I ruined her card because she had to start over. I tried to explain and she was so mad that it went no where. She slammed her door and started crying.

Later, when the dust had settled, Madi and I had a great conversation while doing the dishes. I asked her if she understood what I was trying to tell her and if she had any questions. We talked it through and I think that she understood by the end of the night. She finally finished her card which reads, "Your my best frind. thank you for the best necklace and the wundrfl necklace." She drew a picture of the two of them playing under a rainbow.

I am just not sure how to deal with her. I know that it is all innocent at this point and I am trying not to make a big deal out of it. However, I also think that she needs to know the importance of certain things, and I thought it a good opportunity to teach her about those three words "I love you".

Any suggestions? Is this a sign of things to come? Is she always going to have to have a boyfriend? Am I going to survive all of this?

MOTHER'S DAY

So this post is a few days late - but that's okay. My morning started with hearing Kev's alarm clock go off so we could get up and get ready for Church. While he jumped into the shower I snuggled down under my flannel sheets to get a few more minutes of peace and quiet. I heard a door shut in the back of the house where the kids room are and knew someone was awake. Pretty soon I looked up and there standing in the doorway was Cooper. In his hands he had a presents and a card to give me and on his face was the biggest grin I have ever seen. He told me to open them and was so excited he could hardly hold still. I asked if we should wait for everyone else, but knew the answer I was going to get.

So he handed me this card with this cute poem on it he did at preschool:

MY MUMMY CUDDLES ME

My mummy cuddles me
Kisses me, hugs me and misses me

Pampers me, praises me,
Always amazes me

Washes my clothes for me,
Tickles my toes for me,
Giggles and talks with me,
And also goes on walks with me,

Says "sweet dreams" to me,
Sings sweet songs to me,

I am glad she belongs to me....

Love from,
Cooper

Then he handed me the little gift he bought from the Mother's day stall at school. It was a gold heart shaped box and inside I found a blue wash cloth, a purple bar of soap, and a candle. He was so excited and kept telling me that he knew I would love the soap and the heart shaped box, and that I needed to keep the box forever. I was so touched by the evidence of his love for me.

By this time Kev had exited the bathroom and was laughing at the scene he found on our bed. Cooper had to show him everything again and tell him all about it. Cooper then handed me another package and inside there was a gift that he had helped his dad pick out for Rylee to give me. It was a pretty necklace made out of a sea shell.

Madi came in soon after this and gave me her presents she had bought at her Mother's day stall. She had picked out a white hand towel with little pink flowers on it and a padded hanger. It is so fun to see what they picked out for me and to know that they thought about it and got what they thought I would like best. She also gave me a card with cats on it - because she thought I would like cats, but really it is because she likes cats. Inside she had written:

My friend
Only you
The best mom
Hugs and kisses
Excellent mum
Roses for you

I love you! Happy Mother's Day! Love, Madi

On the back she drew a picture of my under a rainbow. How sweet is that?

I then got a bowl of cereal (the last of the Honey Bunch of Oats Linda had sent) in bed before I too had to get ready for Church. We had to be early because the Primary children were singing a song for prelude before the meeting started. The song went well and they kids sounded good.

I had suggested to the bishopric that it would be nice if all of the women could attend Relief Society on Mother's Day. The bishop liked the idea and I planned out how we could accomplish this. We had all the classes meet during the first hour and then the Elder's Quorum took over for Sharing Time during RS. I felt bad when it turned out that the 1st counselor in EQ would be in charge - this was Kevin. He took it on without complaining and even seemed excited to do it. I found a Cranium game online and printed everything out. We planned everything on Saturday and got it all ready. It was a huge success and it was nice to go to RS and learn from the sisters in the ward.

Kev was so wonderful, he also made dinner that night. He asked what I wanted and I told him yummy potatoes and meat loaf - but I knew he didn't know how to make them. He told me he could follow a recipe so that is what he made. It was tasty too. Now that I know he can make them he may be in charge of that meal more often!

We called and talked to Susan on Sunday and wished her happy mother's day early. It was nice to see them on the web cam and the kids all had a good talk with them too. On Monday morning I called and talked to my mom too. Mother's are so wonderful! I love my mom and Susan so much, they have taught me so much by example and have loved me for who I am. Love you!

CHOCOLATE COVERED CINAMMON BEARS....

I had a craving a for about a month and a half which was satisfied this week. It all began when I received an e-mail from BYU bookstore telling me that if I bought anything I could get a free t-shirt. I had to go and take a look. The t-shirts were men's sizes and I was debating whether I wanted to get one. I was browsing through the shop and saw chocolate covered cinnamon bears - yummy!!! My mouth started watering just thinking about them. I even considered paying the shipping and the outrageous price for the small bit they sent you just to have them - forget the t-shirt. However, I decided against it.

Well they never left my mind and I even posted about it on my Facebook page. Then a few weeks ago we were talking to Kevin's sister, Linda, and her family on the web cam and they asked if we wanted anything from the States. I jokingly said that I wanted chocolate covered cinnamon bears. We discussed that the chocolate would probably melt in shipping. I solved that problem by telling them just to send cinnamon bears and I would put chocolate on them myself. This week a package arrived just for me! Inside were cinnamon bears and Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds (my favorite cereal). Thanks so much Linda!

Here are my cinnamon bears lined up and ready for a dip in the chocolate.

+ = mouth watering goodness!

The craving was finally filled. We ate them all within three days.

I also have some very crazy friends. They saw my craving on Facebook and decided to buy me some chocolate covered cinnamon bears. However, when they took the 3/4 of a pound to the post office and found out it would cost about $40 to send and the deal was off. They took them home and ate them in my memory. I guess my friendship has a price tag - anything under $40. LOL!! I thought that was very sweet. I have also had several friends on my Facebook leave me messages telling me that they ate chocolate covered cinnamon bears and thought of me. I am so proud that you are all thinking about me when you are eating such a delicious treat! I feel so honored!

If you ever are at a loss as to what to send me now you know something - as long as it is under $40 of course!

Missionary moment...

Madi amazes me everyday with her ideas and her independence. Sometimes this causes us to butt heads, but yesterday I was so proud of her. After getting home from Church and starting some lunch before a little rest, a knock came at the door. It was the twins that live across the street whom Madi has become good friends with. We have invited this family over for FHE on one occasion and we have had dinner with them several times at their house and at ours. They know what religion we are and have even asked questions.
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Well the twins have a birthday coming up and were on an errand to give Madi an invitation to their party. Unfortunately it is on a Sunday. This is always a heart breaking thing for me. Never before moving to Australia did I have to worry about a birthday party on a Sunday. Madi has been invited to several parties from school mates where she hasn't been able to go. However, Kevin and I talked about it and decided that we could make an exception due to the good friendship that is there. The party starts while we are at Church though so that is another problem. We talked to Maid and told her that she could attend the last bit of the party after she went to Church that day. That seemed like a good compromise for all of us.

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About an hour later Madi came out of her room and asked me if she could give something to the twins. I asked her what it was and was so touched by her answer. She had written them a note to tell them that she could come to their party at the end after she went to Church. This wasn't the part that touched me. She had gotten together a missionary pamphlet about Christ (she loves to collect stuff like this and look at it during sacrament meeting), two pass along cards with Christ's picture on them, and two article of faith cards. She said that she just needed a Book of Mormon to give them as well. (Kev happens to carry one of these in his backpack due to his own missionary moments he has had on the train.) She walked over to their house to give them her special package.

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When she returned I asked her what she told them about the Book of Mormon. She said that it was a special book that Jesus loved and that she loved it too. What a special moment that was. My little daughter is so precious to me. It made me realize that I have taught her something and she knows how important the Gospel is to us.

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Earlier that day during sacrament meeting she asked if she could go up and bare her testimony. Of course I told her, but she had to do it herself. I have always thought that my kids should be able to go up by themselves and know what a testimony is instead of what I whisper in their ear. She decided that this was too scary to do. However, she told me what she would say. It was so sweet and simple, yet so amazing to me. I love to see the first buddings of a testimony growing in my children. Elder Bednar told us a few months ago when he came to Australia to visit that your willingness to share the gospel with others shows the strength of your testimony at this particular time. How are we all doing with sharing the gospel with others?

BRUISER

The only downfall to walking is that what goes up must come down. Rylee is walking all over now at least 10 steps at a time before she has to grab onto something. However, she also falls down a lot. I hate this part about learning how to walk. She currently has at least three bruises on her face - two on her forehead and one on her cheek. Plus this weekend we noticed a nasty one on her ear - I can't even think where that one came from. I tried to get a picture of it, but it doesn't do it justice. Kev has begun to call her bruiser.

I also had to get her out in the backyard yesterday after Church to get some pictures. She looked so cute in her little outfit, brown boots. and a cute pink bow in her hair. I thought so anyway! Unfortunately I couldn't get any looks at the camera - oh well, you take what you can get from an 11 month old who is a little tired and needs a nap.

NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL SAFELY DAY

Yesterday was walk to school safely day. We have walked to school before and it takes us about 15-20 minutes. However, we have to go through the bush and through the park just to get to the street that Madi's school is on. This isn't such a big deal except that there are stairs in the bush and the stroller has to be carried up and down them - not so much fun. It is also really wet in the mornings from the dew and walking through the bush and the grass of the park didn't seem like a good idea. So we drove to the other side of the park and walked from there. It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed our walk - we may have to do this more often. We even met up with Madi's friend Alicia on the way.

It was also mufti (regular dress) day at school today. Madi loves mufti day because she can wear "normal" clothes. I have learned to not like it so much. Due to the fact that she doesn't get to wear "normal" clothes everyday the process of finding the perfect outfit can be long and frustrating. We do the choosing the night before - which is a good thing - and it can take three or four tries to find the perfect thing to wear. Mufti day is usually a fund raiser for the school. Each child brings a gold coin (a $1 or $2 coin) to donate. This time they are donating to the Mother's Day stall. Presents will be bought with the money and then next week each child gets to go to the stall and buy a present for their mother. I think it is a fabulous idea. Cooper's school does a Mother's Day stall too but I had to donate the present and then he buys one next week. The presents at both places are under $10. For anyone who is a room mother or on a PTA somewhere this is a fabulous idea in my book.

I also keep seeing these pretty purple flowers everywhere. I have no idea what they are called, but I think they are gorgeous.

After school we decided to walk again to pick up Madi. We followed the same routine. We picked up an addition on the way home - Alicia (Madi's friend) came over to play. This time we stopped by the park for a play before heading home. Cooper did the monkey bars for the first time!

Great Day at Work!!!!

OK, I admit that I look like a geek in this picture and I will just attribute that to the wonderful gray jump suit, extra cool head phones we were wearing, and my cool hat! Or you can choose to just attribute that to me being me! But this is me and Samant standing on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

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Yesterday (Wednesday), I went to work thinking it was going to be a normal day. Little did I know that it was actually going to be fun! (Ha ha ha.) One of my friends from work (Samant Nagpal, who works with Global Commercial Card Risk) is actually moving, as he got a new job in Mexico. I wish him luck and think he will do great!

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Anyway, he also won a reward with Amex and so he was with a group of people that came from all over (mostly the US) to get a week in Sydney (I keep wondering if this was unlucky for him?). Part of the package included tours around the city, blue mountains, and zoo. One of those was the Sydney bridge climb. My lucky day that all of his really close friends couldn't go and I only had one meeting that I was able to move. So, I got a $180 AUD bridge climb for free. Plus, it was a bonus to hang out with Samant one last time before he goes this Sunday.

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It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about the Sydney landmarks in the tour, including how they used to throw hot rivets to the people standing on the middle of the top cross beams and they would catch them in a tin can and put them in the bridge. And to think that only 8 people died from falling off the bridge. One fell into the water and only had a couple broken ribs and had to have his shoes surgically removed from his feet (they hit first) --- ouch!!

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My review: Great view, fun to do, but in my opinion it was over priced!