So, term 1 is done and we are on a 2 week school holiday! I am liking this year round schedule and so are the kids. I am still adjusting to having a long enough break that the kids can recover and then look forward to going back to school again! This last week has been one of recovery and rest, with a nice long weekend where we will venture to North Stradbroke (Straddie in Aussie!) Island for 4 days of beach, sun, and relaxing.
Alex went to her first boy/girl party on Saturday night last weekend. The theme was monster disco, and the kids' costumes were great! Everything from her interpretation of a werewolf to a yellow chicken. They had a ball dancing, singing, visiting, and eating. She told me that the mom let them play spin the bottle, but hugs only. I had to laugh-they could only play in the glass enclosed shed so were under full watch the entire time. Alex tells me she didn't play (and yes, I do believe her. This time.) but laughed at those who did. She really has a great group at school in her year and they are a nice group of kids.
We are super excited to be going to the island for the long weekend. Everything here really shuts down over the Easter weekend. The grocery stores are closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with limited hours on Saturday and Monday as well. Many eating establishments are also closed, and those that are open are allowed to nearly double their prices to cover the required holiday pay for their employees. We're taking the ferry out on Friday and back on Tuesday and staying in a basement apartment of a house on the island. The kids will bunk in one room and we get the other. A major gripe country wide is the prices of these places while school breaks occur. Prices triple! I see why so many Aussies have no problem taking their kids out of school for a week here and there to afford a vacation with the entire family! We're doing the same thing in June. . . just in case you forgot we were coming! We also have to bring our own linens and clean the place up before we go. For the price we are paying, they can't supply the sheets and towels, really?! At any rate the place is a couple hundred meters from a patrolled beach, in the middle of a bushland area, and sounds comfortable. I plan to take lots of pictures and will post my favorites next week!
Alex went to her first boy/girl party on Saturday night last weekend. The theme was monster disco, and the kids' costumes were great! Everything from her interpretation of a werewolf to a yellow chicken. They had a ball dancing, singing, visiting, and eating. She told me that the mom let them play spin the bottle, but hugs only. I had to laugh-they could only play in the glass enclosed shed so were under full watch the entire time. Alex tells me she didn't play (and yes, I do believe her. This time.) but laughed at those who did. She really has a great group at school in her year and they are a nice group of kids.
We are super excited to be going to the island for the long weekend. Everything here really shuts down over the Easter weekend. The grocery stores are closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with limited hours on Saturday and Monday as well. Many eating establishments are also closed, and those that are open are allowed to nearly double their prices to cover the required holiday pay for their employees. We're taking the ferry out on Friday and back on Tuesday and staying in a basement apartment of a house on the island. The kids will bunk in one room and we get the other. A major gripe country wide is the prices of these places while school breaks occur. Prices triple! I see why so many Aussies have no problem taking their kids out of school for a week here and there to afford a vacation with the entire family! We're doing the same thing in June. . . just in case you forgot we were coming! We also have to bring our own linens and clean the place up before we go. For the price we are paying, they can't supply the sheets and towels, really?! At any rate the place is a couple hundred meters from a patrolled beach, in the middle of a bushland area, and sounds comfortable. I plan to take lots of pictures and will post my favorites next week!
For your viewing pleasure! We finally had a beautiful weekend last weekend and headed to Wet and Wild on the Gold Coast. So, you see me admiring the native lizard who decided to spend time hanging out with me. I watched it crunch through a chicken thigh bone with meat it had found. I think it kept hoping I'd be providing more goodies as it and another smaller one stayed all day. Yes, that is a sunblock pump bottle next to me. 1 litre at a time around here! Thanks to Alex for the photography here. I had to get a shot of Annika's hands before we left. She was as wrinkled as a dried apricot! Course, all the swimmers were, and they had a lot of fun.
Ian finished his last session swim lesson on Saturday and I was so proud of him! He holds his breath and goes under for toys and under the lane markers without a fuss. He is also getting the hand of kicking and arms, but doesn't really go anywhere with it yet, but getting there! HUGE progress for a kid that would not even get his face wet the first 3 weeks, so super happy with him. He also LOVES noodle rides and kicks himself all over the pool with one.
Have a super week! We're making our shopping and to do lists for the June trip. Good thing international trips still allow 2 bags each. . .
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