Cock-a-Doodle-Doo

Wednesday, September 30th, 2013

No school this week!!

Erich has started flying with the Australian Air Force.  He needs to get his hours back up since he hasn't been flying lately.  He has to get so many hours per month and he had gotten behind with our move.  He is flying with a squadron that transports the government VIPs and the VVIPs.  (Yes, that's right. VVIPs.)  He will fly again later this week and will be all caught up with his hours!

On Monday, the kids and I worked in their toy room (here they call it a rumpus room).  We organized and sorted toys and I (secretly) got rid of some. We also spent about three hours at our neighbor's house playing.  It was fun to see the kids play with another kindergartner.  It was a beautiful day and they played outside and jumped on the trampoline.  I enjoyed talking with the mom.  It was a good afternoon!

On Tuesday it was cold, cloudy and rainy.  The kids and I went to McDonalds for lunch and then to do some shopping at Costco.  (Sounds like an outing in the U.S.!) We stocked up on more American food.  I was very excited to find Lay's Barbeque Potato Chips.  The chips (crisps as they call them)here are flavored differently. They do have barbeque flavor but its not anything like the ones in the U.S.  They also have a plethora of chicken flavored chips.  I was also excited to find Hormel Real Crumbled Bacon FROM THE U.S.!!  No more of that ham they call bacon! Costco rocks.  I've heard that they are the only place in town to get a pumpkin for Halloween.  A pumpkin can be yours for $20.

Chaney playing dress-up is going out to solve the mystery.  (I don't recall what the mystery was but I'm sure it was about who took Barbi's hat.  Or something like that.)




Wednesday was beautiful! We went to the Canberra Aviary.  It was great.  I've mentioned before that the birds are beautiful here in Australia.  Today we got to get up close and personal with them.  The kids (and I) enjoyed feeding apple slices to the birds. 

 

 

 

 

Most of the birds we saw at the aviary we haven't seen in the wild.  We have seen some of the colorful green birds and some others that weren't at the aviary. 

 

After the aviary, we walked around the cute little shopping area.  We went to the Lolly Store. (candy store)  The kids each picked out a small lolly.  I enjoyed seeing some of the unique candy and the sweets imported from the United States. 

 

 

I'm a bit intrigued.  I didn't buy them but I think I'm going to next time!

Charlie chose a basketball whistle gum dispenser.  Chaney chose Nerds. I'm partial to the Nerds myself.

Imported Twinkies.  $17.50.   Wow. 

 

Our Aussie Friends!
After the Lolly Shop, we went to a café.  The kids each got a mini chino. 
It's frothy milk with chocolate sprinkles.  The grown ups enjoyed a cup of coffee. 

 

 

My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Tonight when watching TV, Erich and I saw an advertisement for a new show that is getting ready to start sometime soon.  At the end of the promo, it said, "Starts Thursday Week."  Well...  Hmmm... We aren't entirely sure what that means.  Obviously it starts on a Thursday.  But, does it start this Thursday and continue every week?  Or, does it start next week on Thursday? It's the little things that always get me!  Just when you think you got it all figured out, something like this happens!  The other day Erich said to me, "You haven't gotten used to feeling stupid yet?  I have!"  What I now have figured out is that I will never have everything figured out.  
• The weather here is starting to warm but is still chilly.  We still have the heat on.  But these beautiful flowers are on a tree in our front yard.  Spring is in the air. (My brain is having a hard time understanding that is spring is here.  It's October!  Several times over the last few days, I've been thinking to myself that since October is here it's time to unpack my Halloween and fall decorations.)

 

 

• You aren't wearing sunglasses when you are down under.  You are wearing sunnies. 
• I miss Directv.
• The U.S. Government shutdown is the top story on Australian news. 
• Tonight at bedtime, when I was tucking in Chaney, she confided in me that she wished she lived in the countryside so the chickens could wake her up. "Cock-a-doodle-do!!"  Six year olds are awesome.