Long time coming

One Entry Two Chapters....

Chapter One

Visitors

Kirk's parents, Judy and Ernie, visited in February and became honorary Perth citizens via their willingness to master public transport, consume lots of lamb and surrender to local prices! We loved having them and we saw more of Perth with them in town than we had collectively on our own.

Judy does her research! So we approached each outing prepped with knowledge and eager to hit the highlights. We drove to Eagle Bay, south of Perth in the Margret River wine country, on the way we detoured to visit the Thrombolites. Yes, we went the extra kilometer or 5 to see rocks, but these are living rocks covered with a layer of cyanobacteria. This bacteria via photosynthesis gradually contributed oxygen to our atmosphere. The "rocks" pictured below are 3.5 million years old.

Sacajawea-esque detour to see the oldest living things on Earth!

Thrombolites, these very lumps created the atmosphere we enjoy today!

Judy and Ernie with the kids on our way to Eagle Bay

Cocktails with magpies and peanuts. Magpies are like pigeons in Oz, a nuisance- maybe it is because they are huge and so well feathered that we encouraged them to join us for drinks- most likely it is just because we are Americans.

Dusk at Eagle Bay, waiting for the stars.
The Milky Way is visible each night, it was magical to look up at more stars than any of us could remember seeing!

Grandpa Ernie and Davo hit the trail

Judy and Ernie also got to play international house hunters, as our lease was not renewed at Irvine for a second year. The Perth real estate market is a volatile beast, but it was a relief to have help looking for houses. As fate would have it- Ernie and Judy had a 5:00am flight home. This early wake-up and good bye had us all up an at 'em in the wee hours of the morning. Being obsessed with finding a house I got online and started looking to see if any new houses were put on the market over night...BINGO! We moved into our new place in April and owe it all to a very early flight and lots of prayers and candles to St. Jude.

It was such a pleasure to share Australia with Judy and Ernie. The kids loved going bush walking with their grandparents and sharing in family dinners and of course Grandpa Ernie's fantastic stories and jokes! It was a highlight to snorkel with Judy and have them walk the kids to school. I know it was a haul to get here but we loved every minute of it!

Chapter 2

A Milestone

I think in every expat experience there was once so little to talk about you have to write it down and then the tide turns and there is so much to write about you don't know where to begin. So you don't. Months pass. Big things happen. Lots of little things happen. But you just can't seem to belly up to the machine and put it all down. It all seems so overwhelming and so...so what? And really, it is.

Currently we are in the trenches- carpool, play dates, after school activities, PTA, grocery store, post office, dry cleaner, repeat, repeat, repeat- the doldrums. Don't get me wrong, its all a little more glamorous knowing I'm doing it on the other side of the earth, but no one needs a recap of my chores. So in essence my silence has saved you from the mundane- you are welcome.

So what's gotten me back online....

It just so happens we've been here A YEAR last week. That's right 365 days embedded in what has to be one of the most beautiful, easy going, outdoorsy, fun loving places I have ever been. Thinking back on our time here so far we have seen and done a lot, but probably not enough. The curse of finding your footing in a new place is taking it for granted. However, life here has been punctuated with adventure and discovery- in the process finding out a lot more about ourselves.

For starters, I don't think my children have ever been so happy. Vee has assimilated seamlessly into life at the new school. She is involved in many of the after school activities sewing, karate, photography- sewing being her favorite. And if you are rolling your eyes at how antiquated a sewing class sounds- stuff it, I haven't sewn a button on anything in 6 weeks and there is lots of math in stitchery! She has found a great group of friends we affectionately call the "Nerd Herd", they are always discussing books and working on projects together- a truly unique bunch. Moving her from the International School was a huge leap of faith, but as expat posts go this is one of the only places we will ever be able to attend a local school- it was the best decision we have made.

The Herd in action!

Davis continues to flourish in the Aussie "tough-stuff" male culture; his current activity being Rugby. The sporting teams for kids here are run through a club system. You pay to join the club and you have access to the facilities and a place on the team. The only reason this makes any sense is that adults here play sports just like kids. So at our club- The Associates of Swanbourne- kids, teenagers, dads and granddads all play rugby for the club against other clubs.  Practice is accompanied by dinner and a cash bar, plus we can bring Petunia. We call it TCYC Terra Firma, mama aint never looked forward to practice like this!

No pads, no helmet, no worries!

Perth Zoo, no fence- just rope.

So with one year under our belts we are looking forward to new experiences and seeing much more of this extraordinary place we currently call home. Honestly, the time has flown by. In the beginning I was so worried and sad to leave all our friends and the safety of a life I had always known- hell bent on flying home for Christmas and summer, determined to source taco shells and hot dogs. I hated leaving my house and my garden and my beloved Galveston Bay. But today, none of that really matters- I know that we could be happy anywhere. Because it is not what you take with you, but who you bring that makes the trip worth while. I am so proud of our family and giddy with what our future might hold!