attack of the monster

 My dates are all a bit messed up I think this was in late April but it may have been early May. I had a few friends who were all due with babies within a few weeks of each other. On this particular occasion Erik and I brought home his little friend after we visited his mum and baby brother at the hospital. Once Linds got home from work he dressed up as a bad guy/monster and we had a little knight and batman defending the city.

 The knight was a little freaked out in the beginning (who wouldn't be?) and then the boys got right into it.

 Backed into the corner of the kitchen but giggling...

 They caught him and start taking him down

 Unmasked.....the good guys won!

Fun times in the moon house!

Family Preparedness

 For a long time I have wanted to get our 72 hour kits ready, and I mean fully ready. Not just we have everything or most everything but its in a billion places around the house, I wanted it ready to grab and go. When we first moved to Oz major floods has just happened. Our building had flooded, all the units were safe and dry (although the power went over for a time) but our car park had flooded and our lifts (elevators) were not working. Knowing that we were in the flood zone and just having the urge I finally put my foot down this year around April. It's hard when you move every few years to want to put them together to only pull them apart and start over but I wanted to put a plan into place that would help with that in the future.

 when looking online into what you can put in, the options and advice are endless. I read through a few and then turned everything off and just started making a list of food that would be easy and that our family would eat. I made a master meal list and master shopping list. We had nearly everything on hand but all the food. So Erik and I went and did the shopping and for Family home evening we assembled one night.

 First we did the food. I layed everything on the table and we did one grocery sack for each day for each person. I called out what to grab and everyone filled their bag. We put a sticky note on it to say who's it was and what day. Lindsay and I each took a bit of extra food for even snacks and what have you.

Next we did clothes and other necessities. Erik loved this part as well because we had gotten him a rolling suitcase for his pack that was spiderman. He was asking for an emergency so that he could use it.

 It's hard with a child with clothing because they grow so fast. But we just made sure it was all a bit big. And plan to change out or pack food and check things each General Conference time (april and October) and so we can reassess then.

 This assembly process took us longer than I thought, you can see we started in daylight and ended in night) but I think it will only take that long this initial time and from now it will just be rotation of things.

And since it was family night we had a treat after the activity. And there is nothing that can stand between this little man and his chocolate.....Don't even try

 What a goof

Funnily enough, our complex had a fire alarm happen late at night, and the building evacuated. Erik was pleased as punch that there was an 'emergency' and Lin let him take his emergency pack downstairs with him. Then they practiced a few more times over the next week to time and see how well he could do toting it around. It was super cute!

We do live a "normal" life....really

While this year truly has been the year of travel for our family....and we are not finished. We do live a pretty normal (well for a military family) life. Here is some evidence of that...

 

A sweet little face in a funny winter hat, that he loves because it has a little pocket that he can hide a gold coin (worth one or two dollars) in.

 One lazy day, when we pretty much did nothing majorly productive but enjoyed time together as a family. Erik stayed in his pj's and Lin and I had been watching tv, I went in my room to see what Erik was up to, and he was listening to music on the ipod. He is such a little adult sometimes. You can see he had been playing with his airplanes and destroyed the bedding but was thoroughly enjoying his tunes.

 Then we decided to try our hand at frozen hot chocolate. Erik loves loves loves to help in the kitchen. I have control issues though and I am trying to curb that and let him help more. He often requests to make muffins, or something that we bake.

 He really doesn't like loud noises at the moment. I guess the ninja doing its job was just too much for him.

Mmmm, those were yummy and sometimes those low key days are so soothing. Today for example, Erik got dressed but I didn't. I have put up a fort for him and read to him and am trying to get over a case of the grumpies. I told Erik last night when I put him to bed a certain code phrase, or question rather to ask me today when he thought I was being a bit mean to help remind me to change my attitude. I sadly admit, he has used that code question about 4 times. Sad, but true, I am trying and I am so glad that I have a little boy who is so much more patient with me than I with him. I am so blessed to have him around. It will be so sad next year when he starts school. I am glad that he has been such a good reminder boy for me today. I definitely need it.

back on the bandwagon

So I don't have much for you all today. But I know that I need to start blogging regularly again, otherwise I will just fade out. Which would be sad because then it would be hard for family and friends to keep up with us and I wouldn't be able to print out our blog and have our family scrapbook so easily accessible.

Currently our little family is on a big adventure in the Rainbow state of Hawaii. There has been lots of moon family tales to tell since the last time I posted. Since we are in Hawaii I have no access to our pictures from the last two months I will just try to get into updating what we are up to now and upon our arrival back home do highlights from around October on to now that way everything is documented and everyone can be in the loop.

With it being the summer in Oz we have spent lots of time outside in the water and have made extra effort to spend more time at the beach this year. Christmas was so fun and EJ really got into the magic of Christmas making it the most fun one yet with him. Mr. Moon received skydiving tickets from me and that brought on adventure for us all.

New years was quiet and then Mr. Moon set off a few days later to Hawaii. EJ and I joined him a few weeks later and we have been enjoying the escape from the heat, the lower prices and the blessings of having a military base at our disposal. My parents and family friends came and we had the fun of enjoying their company for a week and this next week Mr. Moon's parents are coming for his graduation from the NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) Academy and some vacation time.

Then its back to Oz to welcome some more Moon's for our first family visit since living down under. We can't wait!

This year will go by super fast for us I think. It's the year of company, the year of finding out our next assignment in the military, our last year in Oz. Being here in Hawaii I have realized just how many things I miss from living in the states, but also how many incredible things I am going to miss of Australia, a piece of my heart will always belong there even with all the rough stuff.

So folks, here's to updating more. Getting pics up when we get access to them, and to updating less on facebook. To me it's so hard to update everywhere, it seems to be one or the other for me. More people seem to see things on facebook, but I can't get as detailed-print as easy-and I can easily update here and still see what my friends are up to on facebook. Problem is to stop taking so many phone pics and more with our actual camera.

Basically this year is back on track with blogging. I don't know how often, but it will for sure be more consistent. We did get a new computer afterall that is so much easier and nicer to work with than our tiny netbook that got the job done but was so little it got frustrating.

Cheers mates, see ya real soon!

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.

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!