I'm Going to Use a Rubber

Monday, March 17th, 2014

I'm back!! I realize it's been over two months since I've posted a blog post. I have so much to share!  We enjoyed our time in Melbourne. My parents came to visit. The kids started year one (first grade) in February. (I'm still in shock over this fact!)  Over my next several posts, I will post pictures about these big events.  I have so much to catch you up on! 


Part of the reason I haven't posted in a while is that I'm having trouble uploading pictures from my computer. It has to do with the version of Internet Explorer that I'm using.  So, I decided to use my iphone app to add pictures and the computer website to add text.  This is not working out so well since the spacing is off.  Please bear with me as I get it taken care of!




Today was St. Patrick's Day! The kids were allowed to wear some green with their uniforms.

For my birthday on March 7th, Erich woke up early and blew up 60+ balloons. He had more to blow up but he ended up rubbing a blister on his finger tying the balloons. Now that is true love! That night, we put the balloons in the trampoline for the kids to play with.  They had a great time!

This is a size Medium drink at McDonald's. This is a child's size in the U.S. Sometimes I'll order a small drink by mistake remembering my days in the U.S.  A small is like three swallows.

Chaney shows off her strength!

Chaney drew an Easter picture for her teacher.

Chaney's Easter Picture.  Do you see the Easter Bunny on the left, right beside Jesus on the cross?

Charlie has on his sunscreen and his sunnies (sunglasses) and he is ready to play outside!

This picture is First Day of First Grade!! Where did the summer go? This is the first year the twins are in separate classes. They are loving school!! After I dropped the kids at school, I went home to watch the Super Bowl. At ten o'clock in the morning. With no fun advertisements. While drinking coffee.

First day of Year One! The kids are in  separate classes this year.

Chaney on her scooter on the bike path near our house.

Charlie on his bike! Riding on the left like every other good Aussie!

Eggs come with feathers! No extra charge!

My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• People use the word "heaps" a lot. For example:  I have heaps of chips.  (and that could mean potato chips or French fries.  You never know. They use both.) There are heaps of choices.  I love you heaps.  When I asked Chaney to use the word heaps in a sentence, she said, "I have heaps of games on my Kindle."  When I asked Charlie to use the word in a sentence he said, "I have heaps of buttons."  I miss you all heaps.
• Right now the kids love the Katie Perry song "Roar."
• Charlie just said, "I need one more go."  He was saying he needed one more chance.  In Australia, you "give it a go." I am now raising little Aussies. 
• It is common for hotels not to have a 24 hour front desk.  The last hotel we stayed at had reception from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.  And I think I've mentioned before that the hotels don't have ice machines. No ice! Ever! (I didn't know how much I missed ice until I go to a hotel and can't get it or I'm served luke warm water at a restaurant.)  And they don't have soda or snack machines either. But they always have wine glasses in the room.   They don't have the mini coffee makers.  But they have an electric kettle so you can make the instant coffee or brew the tea bags they provide.  
• At some restaurants, the food arrives when the kitchen is finished with each individual plate.  That means that each person's food arrives at different times.  Me not like.
• I guess I live in my own little world because I am occasionally still surprised when I talk to someone and when they reply to me they have an Australian accent.  It's been over 7 months since we arrived.  You would think that I would be over it by now.
• Charlie ordered a cheese and vegemite sandwich at a café recently. I'm speechless.
• We have noticed that calamari is almost always on a restaurant menu. 
• In Australia, it's not a flashlight.  It's a torch.
• In Australia, it's not crown molding.  It's architraves.
• In Australia, you don't get pregnant.  You fall pregnant.
• In the United States, someone would say this sentence, "I live on Main Street."  In Australia, someone would say, "I live in Main Street."
• Did you know that the world's largest camel population is in Australia? Yep!
• You know you aren't in the United States any more when you are listening to the radio and you hear the DJ ask how to pronounce the name Ricardo.
• A quote from Charlie:   "Chaney, you are my BFF."  (My sweet boy!)
• A quote from Chaney:  "I'm going to use a rubber."
  (In Australia, a rubber is an eraser. I know this and I still want to die each time one of my kids says it.)