five Texans down under...
Last week we wrapped up a great summer break with a trip over to Rotto. The kids hadn’t had a summer in almost 18 months, so we really enjoyed this one. We anchored at Parker Point and enjoyed snorkeling and the stingrays swimming beneath us. Now we’re back to school, but hope to enjoy another month or so of warm weather before bidding farewell to summer.
Mary celebrated her birthday in January. Our not-so-little girl is 6! And she is old enough to know exactly what kind of party she wants. Back in December, she decided she wanted to have a family-only party… a day on the river inner-tubing. Fortunately we were in the process of getting a boat, or we would have been in trouble.
She had the entire day planned…
She picked out a picture of the cake she wanted and asked Robbie to make on that looked just like it…
The Princess Cake
She requested home-made pizza on the boat for lunch (Robbie has cracked the code on home-made pizza).
Ben liked his pizza
Dave did too
She enjoyed herself tubing…
Everyone had a good time
And she ran out of gas after a long fun day. Happy Birthday Mary, we love you!
Out of gas
This week we celebrated our first Australia Day.
I liken it to America celebrating the 4th of July. All of Perth gathers around the Swan river and picnics and patiently awaits the spectacular firework show.
I commend the Aussies on their display of fireworks. On New Years as well as Australia Day, the sparks fly long and hard and are really very wonderful. We had planned months ago to meet with our home group, walk to Kings Park and find our spot among every Perth resident alive.
We had a wonderful time with our friends at the picnic, only one family from Australia. But we have all integrated!!!! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!!! Oi, Oi, Oi!!!!
We’ve been studying our maths this summer (yes, maths, not mathematics). The latest equation is Perth Summer = 42.4 = 108.32 = Power Outage = Hot!
A little over a week ago the thermometer hit 42.4, and our power went out for almost 24 hours. Like many summer days, it called for time in the pool. Only one week of summer vacation left, and then school starts!
College football is over for the season and the Crimson tide rolled right over my beloved Longhorns… now I’m singing the burnt orange blues. Dust yourself off Coach February and get back to business. Hook’em horns!!!
I’ve missed some time in posting so I’ll try to catch us up…look at these wonderful Thanksgiving pies I made!!! Pumpkin, apple and pecan. I made them for our Australian/Canadian/South African home group friends and we told them the story behind Thanksgiving. How ya like that shout out to the future National football champs, Bethany???
Go Horns!!!
Normally like most moms, I could have my leg severed off and would still be minding my day at the sink doing the dishes, making lunches for tomorrow and thinking about upcoming birthdays and no one would even know it. However this time, I want some sympathy please. I broke my toe on New Years Eve. I was hiking on a rocky surface on the Albany Coast and I broke my toe.
This was my view.
It was worth the break. Happy New Year everyone!!!
Happy birthday to our Longhorn niece, looking forward to her first national championship! We miss you!
The fighting Katy Tiger…the star baseball player…the new driver…Happy Birthday to you, Ryan. We love you and miss you and wish you a great one!!
Happy Birthday Mom! You are missed down under. We wish we could be with you for your big day, but hope that everyone in Texas does a proper job of spoiling you. If they don’t, we’ll put a whuppin’ on them when we come home!
