One Mini m&m

Monday, August 19, 2013 - Day 25 Living Down Under

Yesterday the kids had their first play date.  The kids had a great time playing with two girls from their class and I enjoyed talking to the other parents.  I've noticed that if there is any background noise at all (i.e. kids playing) I have a much harder time understanding what someone is saying with the Australian accent.  I really have to concentrate. 

Today I went to Target for the first time.  Yes, it was in the mall.  It doesn't seem as cool or as big as the Targets in the U.S.   But I look forward to investigating it more.  I was on a mission to look for costumes for the kids since this Friday is "dress as your favorite book character" at school.  We have nothing with us to use.  Charlie is going as a Sneetch from the Dr. Seuss book The Sneetches.  I bought a big yellow t-shirt.  I will attach a green felt star to the belly of the shirt. 

"Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches had bellies with stars. 

The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars." 

Chaney picked "Barbie Princess Popstar" as her favorite book.  I found a pink frilly dress for her.  She is thrilled that it looks like the dress in the book.

"Tori is a princess.  She lives in a castle. 

She wears fancy dresses every day."

Target. In the Mall.

Erich recently bought Charlie a toy car at the store.  What do you notice about it? 
The steering is on the left! When driving, I still look at the car in front of me and
wonder where the driver is. 
And then I realize I'm looking at the wrong side...

School drop-off went well this morning for the first time since early last week.  It's exhausting.  Homework time after school was like pulling teeth.   I'm getting glimpses of what it's going to be like to have a teenage daughter.  "I'm NEVER.  Doing.  Homework.  Ever.  And you can't make me."  Deep breathing helped me and we got through it.  It's amazing what a 6 year old will do for 1 mini m&m.

Our social calendar is filling up!  I have two coffee dates this week with American ladies I met last week at the Canberra US Military Wives group.  Saturday the kids have a birthday party. Saturday night I have bunco with the Military Wives group and on Sunday we have all been invited to lunch by a family of a girl in the kids' class.

Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Do you know what they call movers that come and pack your things and move them to the next house?  They call them removalists.  For some reason I find that funny.
• I miss Walmart type bags.  You know, the plastic ones.  I didn't realize how much I used them until I don't have them anymore!  Canberra is a "bag-free" city.  No plastic bags anywhere.  If you forget your cloth shopping bags, you have to purchase these large heavy-duty reusable plastic bags.  So, mom, use Walmart bags as filler in packages you send us!
• I had to buy a scarf today.  The climate is cold but bearable.  Until the wind blows.  And the wind blows a lot.
• There are roundabouts everywhere here.  Everywhere.  The one lane ones are a breeze.  The two lane ones took me a while and I'm still a bit nervous when driving through one.  Three lane roundabouts I am still avoiding.
  
• They use the word arvo for afternoon. 
•  We are still having fun with balloons!