Still here

I apologize for my recent absence. I really have no excuse other than the temps have risen and instead of heading to a park everyday (it's too hot for that now) we are usually poolside or beachside or somewhere playing in water if not doing our everyday business. So back in July when you all were taking your virtual breaks I was in mid winter and now it's my turn :)

Halloween has come and gone. I didnt get many pictures but I will try to scrounge up what I can find. We had a blast with visiting Lone Pine Koala sanctuary where we have annual passes as they did a couple of different Halloween events (nearly the only place here) that we attended. We also went to a small Halloween event for the primary kids (aged 3-12) that the youth group from church hosted.

Thanksgiving came and went. we were lucky to celebrate two weekends in a row with different feasts and different ex patriots. Since its not a holiday here there was no time off, no black friday in the stores, and so we have the feasts on a saturday. It was lovely to have traditional American fare and large group gatherings similar to family gatherings back in the states. It is interesting to see how when you look hard enough and have enough people put in all the effort you can find nearly all the foods that Australia doesnt typically have. Some had been stockpiled from husbands who travel back to the states frequently and others from specialty shops around the area. It was just a good cuple of celebrations.

And what's a post without pictures....

a couple of months ago, the Mister was travelling quite a bit and we had spoken of Santa possibly bringing EJ a big boy bike for Christmas. One trip he came home with said bike and I thought we would hide it away...

 Obviously that didnt happen. EJ saw it as soon as his Daddy walked in the door and while I tried to come up with a cover story, EJ would have nothing of it and the Mr. would cooperate with me. I pulled him aside and was asking 'what are you doing? I thought we agreed on this?' and then in his realistic/logical perspective that he always has he told me ' I thought since he would have to wait two months for Christmas and then he would leave a few weeks later for a length of time to go overseas, by the time he got back he would have hardly any time to ride it around before next fall.' Righto my dear, true that. So once again united, EJ was ecstatic that he had a big boy bike like his friends in New Castle and that it was spider man!

This picture is his I am tring to play it cool and not smile even though I am bounching around face. Notice how he is sucking in his cheeks trying not to smile. What a goof ball! He has also been having lots of fun playing with his backpack and often packs it for walks, play dates, church, and now bike rides. And yes he is still obsessed with airplanes as noted by his sticker book that is now full but he can not bear to get rid of.

This little man is so full of personality it is remarkable. He is so smart and yet sometimes he makes me want to bang my head against a wall because he seems to lack common sense. He seems to be one of those kids who can tell you all about airplane parts and what different airplanes do and exactly what his Dad does for work (which is pretty complex for a 3 year old) and yet he cant figure out why he trips and falls every time he tries to walk or run backwards for any distance while walking on uneven sidewalk. He makes me and Mr. Moon look at each other shake our heads all the time with his witty comments and hilarious logic that only a 3 year old can possess. Lately he has been telling people who ask him how old he is.. 'on my next birfday I going to be 4 (holding up for fingers), then 5 (holding up one hand), then 10! (holding up both hands)' EJ is cheeky as all get out sometimes, today we were swimming in the pool and when it was time to get out, he of course didnt want to. Finally I got him out and as we started to walk where the towels were he turned, laughed like a mad scientist and proceeded to jump back into the pool. As I jumped in after him and lifted him out of the water he was still laughing hysterically at his own antics. seriously never.a.dull.moment!

Seriously Nasty!

Exhibit A

Plenty of room to breath in wonderful Oxygen

Upon first glance at this picture you may think, eww, why are you showing me the back of your throat?

Now let me show you Exhibit B....see the difference? I know this is gross but it proves a point!

very little space for that precious oxygen to come in!

Exhibit A is my mouth in a healthy everyday state, nothing out of the norm (well at least I hope!). I actually just took that picture right before posting this to show the difference of the two pics.

Exhibit B was my throat/mouth last week when I was absolutely miserable, as in take my friends up on their offers for a couple of days to come get EJ for a few hours while I laid around and did nothing because I felt so lousy. NOt typical for me...well I lay around when I am not well but usually keep the little man with me, not this time-I used my friendly sitter passes. And luckily I have awesome friends and more offers than I needed-it's so good to feel loved and have established a support network  before needing help like this.

Back to the comparison. Did you notice in Exhibit B, that the right side tonsil (which was actually my left tonsil) is so swollen it goes nearly halfway across my throat? Did you also notice that my uvula (the hangy down part) is swollen to the size of a grape? That my friends may have been one of the worst parts of this whole ordeal, that torture swollen uvula made me feel like I was gagging constantly and was so big it rested on the back of my tongue and sat on my gag reflex. The morning I woke up with that part of the illness I came out of the bedroom and started talking and immediately had to run to the bathroom and heave because it gagged me. Sorry I know, it's way gross. The night prior to the uvula swelling my throat hurt so bad I was brought to a crying fit to Mr. Moon which I think knocked him off his rocker a bit because although he has seen me cry plenty, I don't tend to cry over sore throats. It was ridiculously painful.

And the whole point of showing you this gross illness which lacks a name (the doctor didn't know what to call it and ended up writing "throat infection"-she also didn't see the uvula-that was a day later, before the antibiotics started working their magic)............I Mrs. Moon get the weirdest most random symptoms and illnesses since moving abroad and leaving my native land. Crazy but true.

To date I have suffered hand/foot/mouth disease....common to young children, strep throat (common illness) but with vomiting and GI issues....not so common symptoms, remember how I mentioned having 'floaters' in my vision....yeah I am cool like that-rockin the eyes of someone a few decades ahead of myself in the age game, oh and lets not forget about this most recent fiasco. I hope that I never have to deal with this 'throat infection' ever again and would never wish it upon my worst enemy. Luckily the uvula swelling went down within 24 hours but I had a sore throat (mild irritating one) for over a week, then it turned into the Exhibit monstrosity.

Luckily the Moon men did not get it. They were saved. Hallelujah!

Four Eyes

I think I mentioned my new specs but here is a better picture I think. The Mister did a fine job indeed in picking out these babies. I have been wearing them nearly all the time. As I have gotten older my eyes have changed. They are more dry now, I have 'floaters' or protein deposits that cause little specks in my vision, all sorts of not so fun things. And while people my age typically dont see these symptoms yet .... well lets just say I am special and seem to get lots of symptoms people my age dont get! You will see that soon! But really my eyes are changing, not only due to getting older, but my vision is so bad that it just sort of comes with that territory I have been told (by the optomotrist).

Oh to be young again :) just kidding, I am totally young-or at least feel that way some of the time but also feel like I am swinging in a new direction. Maybe thats because I am hitting a huge milestone birthday this next year. And everyone says things start to change after this major birthday. I am a bit anxious but hopefully I can put healthy living to the test and see for myself!

Determined...maybe crazy

Last year we went to the beach a few times but we made it a goal to go way more from here on out and really take advantage of it while we live to so close to such a amazing beaches. With Mr. Moons work and both our respponsibilites at church, and general life and social activities sometimes its hard to fit in such activities. But we have found a solution.

 A semi-crazy one in my eyes.....one to my husbands delight as he seems to get a bit irritated when anyone sleeps past 0730 in this house.....we leave the house around 0600 or 0630 spend a few hours at the beach and then come home with plenty of time to go to scheduled activities, get work done, run errands, what have you. It's hard to get up and out the door but honestly it has been great! And with us trying out our hands at surfing the surf is better that early in the norming.

 This day we were at the Gold Coast and a 'Nippers' class was going. Here it is common to get into this program where you become a super strong swimmer and learn how to read the surf, learn lifeguard skills among other things. If we lived here for good or when Ej was older I think we would totally get him started in this program!

 Thought this life guard shack was cool

 The Mister

 Moi

 Our set up. HOnestly this sun shade has been one of the best purchases/gift. We got it right before we moved here. THe blanket is seperate but it has been superb for shade, and retreat from sun and surf, it folds up easy and has gotten so much good use. My mom had bought us a gift for Christmas before we moved and I had ended up returning it and getting this sun shade along with the fold up picnic blanket, both have proven to be gems!

 Our friend Keegan obliging Ej in a little sand castle building

And our little surfer dude. Such a stud. He has since gotten his hair cut stay tuned for that post. I kind of miss his surfer locks, but his hair isnt quite thick enough yet. Anyway I could on for a while about his lovely blond locks so I will save it for the hair cut post.

Flying Foxes

So you ahve heard me talk about the 'flying fox' playground equipment that Australia has at some of the parks. Those are like mini zip lines that are really fun.

Well a reall flying fox is an animal, what we would call a 'bat'. And here they are HUGE! Really you can not really capture the size in a photo properly, you would just have to see it in person. But they are prevelant here and so cool to watch at night. It feels like we live in Gotham city and batman should come zooming out of nowhere any minute. Watching the flying foxes are a favorite evening activity.

 well one morning while at a park ( I know you are probably sick of hearing about us being at parks, but its almost an every day activity and its just a part of our life here), we saw them all settling in for their daytime sleep. It was so fun to watch!

 THere was so many of them in these trees that were clumped together and I could help myself snapping a few shots.

Some of these small things are things I wish I could bottle up forever and never have the memories dull as life moves forward and we move elsewhere. So I am trying to make a more concerned effort to record these small but incredible things. I already wish that somehow I could record the bird sounds here, especially a kookaburra which sounds like a crazy monkey.

I never Knew

 So as I have been learning so much about myself and I think we are usually always trying to improve ourselves right? Well I have been trying to figure something that I can do for myself that feels good, I can do easily (as in not have to work too hard to find a sitter or change my everyday routine so much) while Mr. Moon is out of town, and I think I found a new found love of mine. Sewing! I know for practical purposes it is way cheaper these days to buy premade things as opposed to sew them on your own.

 But there is just something about creating things of practical purpose with my hands that gives a huge sense of confidence, a boost of accomplishment, and in all honestness a bit of pride that I am carrying on a long standing traditional hobby of women. I feel like with all the feminist movements a lot of traditional things have been looked down upon and demeaned, but I have a lot of admiration for the hard work and long hours it takes to do these domestic and homemaking skills. I feel like I am paying tribute to the women before me and helping to keep some traditions alive.

And really sewing is something I have always wanted to learn how to do better and have that skill. So recently I decided that I was just going to apply myself and not wait any longer to learn. So I put all I knew to practice and looked up a few things online and voila- I made a super cute lightweight quilt for this summer. The nights here in the summer dont cool off, you just have the sun blaring and so really you dont want any covers, and yet if you are like me-you still want something. So I bought fabric I thought was cute and made a very very simple top, cut up a stained piece of old duvet cover and then used the top sheet from our bed set (we dont use the top sheets) as the back and binding. Its far from perfect but its enough to feel like you have cover and yet still really cool. I love it! And have started using in the last couple weeks as temps have risen. This last week it was 94 F one day.....NOooo, not ready yet, that means high humidity is right behind. BUt that does mean many more beach and swimming days!

 Ej was not thrilled for me to take his picture on this day, but I also attempted and accomplished sewing him some shorts. I let him pick out the fabric and they are meant to be pajama shorts but he has worn them both day and night.

I am excited because this takes very little fabric and he is in need of summer pjs this season and so I can just make him up a few pairs and buy matching plain t-shirts and call it good to go. Even though I am a novice and make lots of mistakes, I feel on top of the world after a successful project. So I am going to continue to work on improving myskills and I cant wait to see where this goes!

phone dump

So major phone dump, I need to do this at the end of every month I think. I find that I take a lot more pictures of every day life things on my phone because it's always on me. They are not great photos but they give a bit more of a peek into our adventure here. Without further ado...

A friend taught me how to make sushi, and I have practiced a few times and am trying to get better. Its a great lunch!

 This is a blue tongue lizard. And the tongue is really really blue, its odd. Its a lizard but the tail slithers like a snake. They are freaky if you are not familiar with them, but they are good to have around because they eat the icky bugs. They just take you off guard. This one Ej and I came across one day on our way home from the park.

 A nice relaxing Mr. Moon sitting under the shade of a tree at south bank.

 A massive bumble bee that we found dead on the sidewalk that same day. Seriously look at that thing, it's ginormous!

 When I am on top of things, I have found a great solution to get through the grocery shopping quicker and without less whining and requests. Made a small list with simple drawings of things Ej was in charge on finding, then gave him stickers to mark off what he had gotten. Major success!

 For a while (we need to get back into it) we got into the groove of going on family runs about once a week. Ej wanted to get in on the action. We discovered he really loves to run! This was one morning, him and I were on our way to the shops on foot. All of sudden I look behind me because I no longer see him in my peripheral vision and see him stretching to get 'ready' for his walk to the shop. It totally cracked me up and I had to snap him stretching.

 Beautiful right? This is a two minute drive from our church has Stake Conference. Amazing!

 While on our road tripping holiday we stopped at a park and upon entering just out on the lawn was this peacock fanning all his feathers for the lady peacock in front of him, which had no interest and ended up leaving him about 10 minutes later. It was interesting to watch this mating ritual. The male would rattle his feathers kind of at the same time as fanning them out and following her.

 This was the view from our hotel room in Sydney. The Harbor bridge and part of the opera house.

 Bondi Beach!

 Ready for whatever water. We found a sweet deal on this wetsuit and while it's actually quite large and probably inefficient at this point (it was the smallest size they carried), it will be great coming up in the next couple of years! And it was a pretty chillly spring morning that day.

 This photo and the one below are actually life savers (or life guards) from the show 'Bondi Rescue' which I am guessing doesnt air in America. But its a show that airs here about the life guards at this beach and shows their rescues (kind along the same lines as COPS, but just at the beach). It was quite cool to see them, but I was too shy to go ask them for proper photos, even though we saw plenty of people do it.

 Our family in front of the Sydney Opera House in the Harbor

 This was an interesting thing I saw at a grocery store. I have seen xantham gum listed as an ingredient on a label but never for sale, until here. It was at one of the big name grocers here - Coles....totally crazy!

 We returned hom from our holiday on the big River Fire celebration that happens along major points of the Brisbane River. We really wanted to go but by the time we arrived home from our road trip that day we were too tired and didnt feel like braving the crowds. It is an awesome part of the Brisbane festival that runs for a month. We watched what we could from our balcony. It was a bit sad to miss the music that goes along with the fireworks and lasers but it was still a good show and lovely to watch as family from the balcony and then just walk inside to resume bedtime routine.

 THis was a pair of magpies we saw at what we call the 'lookout' park. The magpies this time of year get a little protective of their mates and nests and start attacking people. I never understood phobias of birds until I saw this crazy behavior. Last year Lindsay was pecked in the eye, you will often see bikers have zip ties spiking out of their helmets to fend them off and people often leave bloody from their encounters. Just this last week one got so close to me its feathers brushed through my hair and ears, freaked me out...especially because it came from behind. But this day they seemed like a cute little couple and we were high above them on the equipment and so they had their heads turned to see us.

 This shows a little of the Jacaranda trees that are in bloom now. They are beautiful bright purple blossoms that are up for around a month and then they fall off and the tree is green until winter again. In the background fo this picture is the blue building. THis tower has a blue strip that lights up around it at night and when we first moved here we used it basically as a beacon to direct us while driving. When we were close enough we could navigate using this building. It also happens to be the building that Ej and I have walked to often.

 I got new specs. And I am not good at picking out my own glasses. Mr. Moon picked these out and it took me a couple of days to get used to them, but I love them. This picture is not good, but at least you can get the idea.

 At a recent beach visit, we saw this blue jellyfish washed up from the tide going out. They are giant and when there is one there is usually a lot. I wasnt in the water that day but Mr. Moon said that he saw a bunch and they kind of have that effervescent (sp?) blue to them. He was boogie boarding and surfing and he said every time he saw one he would arch his back and lift his limbs to avoid being stung.

THis I just took a couple days ago and its such a good picture of spring here, absolutely beautiful! The purple Jacaranda and another 'popcorn' tree as we call them.

So there is a brief update from random phone photos. Hope you liked it!

Singing in the rain

All right, so these posts are probably seeming very random. You would be correct. I need to get my phone pics sorted and whilst that is waiting we have been busy doing our normal day to day things. Althought this weekend Ej and I came down with a cold. I have it more mildly while Ej had it fairly bad the first few days so we didnt do much outside of the house. But remember when I said we are trying to go outside everyday? Well we dont always make that goal, but we get there 5-6 days a week which works for me! One day earlier this week it was raining and it has been warming up so I thought it would be a warm down pour. I was oh so wrong!

 It was actually quite cold so we didnt stay out a real long time, but long enough to have a fun time in the rain and then go back up to our flat to warm up and feel like we got out.

 He is pointing up because he wanted me to show him our balcony.

 I didnt bring a jumper down for myself initially because I didnt think it would be that cold, so we took a quick break and each put another layer on....thus little man's rain slicker.

 then we found a little slug and took some time to look and explore

 Little man touched it...

 and was so proud of himself!

 then he decided the slug needed shelter form the rain too, and shelter him with a palm leaf

And then he took a couple minutes to listen and feel the rain fall on his slicker and then we came in.

Phone dump next I promise!