Kalbarri

On the kids school holidays my friend Sarah and I took the boys on a massive road trip...in our swift... we loaded up the tent and just about everything the car could hold around the kids and set off on our 6 hour journey...maybe a bit longer with pit stops. We finally made it and we got the tent set up no problem! Whoo Hoo!! Then we went to put up the fly, well it was super windy and the fly on a four bedroom tent has now become a giant KITE. so after hours of struggling, someone finally came over to offer up some help. So later that night while we were all just about asleep, the tent collapsed on the kids because of the wind. We figured with all the creepy crawlies out there in the bush of Australia it could wait until tomorrow to fix.

The next day we were off bright and early to do some Sand boarding. So much fun. There was some 4 x4ing on the dunes, I was scared, then came the safety talk and we were on our way. Max was the first up the dunes and the first one down, he was the first to try and succeed to stand on his board as well! What impressed me the most was that he carried his own board just about the whole time. Once it got stinking hot we took a break and had lunch on the beach before round two.

The next day we took it easy and did some swimming and fishing. Cyrus caught one, it maybe could have been saved for bait but we decided to let it go and be caught another day. It was nice to chill out and relax for a bit.

Up bright and early the next day for some nature walking and a trip through the gorges. It was really pretty and not too hot for the hike. We also decided on a canoe trip through the gorge, Max was a big help, I think he only almost tipped us 3 times and hit me 5 with the paddle until his "help" was restricted to navigation and sitting still. Sarah and Cyrus did really good on there canoe and stayed dry.

That night as we were getting ready for dinner and cleaning up Sarah seen a cat by our tent, no big deal until it came out of the bush with a freakin snake! We ate quick had a bunch to drink by the fire and then zipped in tight for sleep. All we kept hearing was something hitting the side of the tent and kicking sand on it, I am sure it was a lizard......

We got up the next day and decided that we had enough of roughing it and made our home. We stopped off at the Pinnacles in WA on the way home. In case you are ever up that way, it is not on the way at all and the signs that say 200 meters away is a croc! But we made it and drove through, took some pictures and ticked another thing off our list.

Borneo

So last March we went to Borneo! It was the best vacation I have ever been on. The place and people were all absolutely beautiful. We went for a river cruise, seen fireflies at night (millions of them), we seen orangutans, did a tree top climb, seen the biggest flower in the world, (it smells like rotting flesh) met new friends and even spent a few nights on Survivor Island Palau, We all went Scuba Diving, even the boys, and Cyrus seen a shark on his first open water dive and was so excited. We seen great big monitor lizards and enjoyed the mud volcano. I can't wait to get back there and enjoy even more of my new favorite place on earth...

The food was so great and the weather was perfect. We spent some time at a mineral spa, and sang karoke with the locals and sampled our fair share of the local liquor! We seen Mt. Kinabalu but with the kids we were a bit unsure if we could make the climb...after meeting some very active people a few days later who came from the climb, we knew we made the right decision, ha ha ha

two years in OZ!

Well it has now been just a little over 2 years that we have been in Perth. It has been an experience to say the least. We have been camping in Kallbarri with snakes. we have been sandboarding, boogie boarding, even took a trip to Borneo. I have no idea what this year will bring, but here are some photos of our journey, enjoy

First Dates and Sexual Harrasment!

So in the short year that we have been in Australia, Cyrus has managed to find a girlfriend and has had the same one for almost the whole time. Her name is Eneka and she is a very lovely little girl.

About a month ago we were on our way to yet another birthday party when from the backseat he asks me if boyfriends take their girlfriends on dates? I amswered with "well the good ones do, lol!" So then he says that he would like to take Eneka on a date and did I think that the movies was a good date?

Of course I said yes and that we would have to clear it with her mum first. So finally we had agreed and found a day that worked for all of us.

So last Friday Cyrus took his girlfriend on his first date. We went to the movies and they sat in the row ahead of us and we watched Night at The Museum 2. They shared popcorn and we would see them giggling with each other. Too cute for sure. I still think that 7 might be a little early to date, but it was all in good fun. That same night Max was at yet another sleepover with a couple of girls.

Gaia and Ella. These are 2 very confident 5 year olds. While Cyrus was at the movies, Max was being kissed and hugged and told how much they loved him. There was even a fight over who would spend time with him the most at the sleepover.

At one point Max was in a closet with one of the girls and was re arranging shoes? While the other was being left out. I was told later by the mum that Max was sitting on the stairs looking sad and said that he just didn't want to be kissed anymore. Poor kid! Lol!

Then they fought over who was going to sleep next him, mum eventually seperated them all. The next morning when I called to let him know that I was on my way to pick him up, he told me that they hadn't had breakfast yet and he wasn't quite ready to go. So he seems to be no worse for wear and was glad to see them both at school this morning.

Cyrus and his girlfriend!

Cyrus had his birthday party at a place called Time Zone, like a big arcade...He only invited one little girl named Eneka. She has been the object of his affection since last year. Well he had some points to buy some things at the counter when the party was finished and he bought the ring that I told him I had liked the last time we were there.

So when he walked up to me and showed me and asked if it was the ring I liked I totally assumed that he had bought it for me..you know his mom, but he right away said "good, I really hope Eneka likes it"

He later told Grandma that it wasn't a silver ring that you get when you get married though...What an sweetheart!

Max

I have my very first Canadian visitors! My cousin Kevin and his girlfriend Lisa. I am very happy to have them here and it was nice to see some familiar faces.

My cousin Kevin is about 28 years old and Lisa is 19, cute, bolnde and fun. So right away my boys are showing off and wont leave her alone. On Friday night we are at the table eating dinner when Max breaks into his version of 20 questions, I am almost immune to this now and only answer about every 5 questions. Lisa on teh other hand is all over it.

Max finally asks her how old she is? She answers that she is 19. Max looks very confused by this and glances over to Kevins direction and gives him a good look over before asking how old her DAD is!!! My mouth drops open and I am trying to put this all together, and Kevin starts to answer by saying that his dad is.....And Curtis and Lisa and I all jump in and say...Max wasn't asking about "your dad" he was talking about you. Well we all laughed for a good 20 minutes and will now never let him forget the day he became the "old guy"!!

Holy Hot Batman

OK so when we first got here to Perth, the weather was pretty crappy and depressing. I have never seen so much rain in my life. I kept saying "does it ever get nice here" well about Feb. 8 it does. It is so freaking hot that I can't stand to be outside. We haven't been to the beach or pool in over a week, cuz we would fry like an egg. Now don't get me wrong, I am in no hurry to see the rain again, but a breeze would be nice. It is so hot that the great tan I did have is starting to fade as I can only be outside for just about long enough to have a very quick cigarette.

I know I shouldn't bitch too much as the rest of Australia is either flooding or buring and I do feel for those people. I am not really bitching, but it is finally hot enough for me!