Last week Nuno had his first soccer game, or should I say his team had their first soccer game. I’m not sure what happened, but when we first arrived he got upset about something. A trivial thing that he normally would shake off, but in this instance he proceeded to cry/pout for the entire game, never making it unto the field. Obviously his father, the coach, was not too pleased.

We all got over it and looked forward to our next practice. Well, just about the same thing happened there too.

We approached today’s game with our fingers crossed. That, plus the positive energy that Gran & Granpa sent us from New Zealand, must have helped because he played!

We have two kids on our team who are a bit older, and bigger, and last week they were really the only two who made any contact with the ball. I was really proud that Nuno got in there and kicked the ball around like a champ.

Our team didn’t win. But my son? Well, he made his mother & father very proud.

Last year we took every opportunity to head to New Zealand. Every school holiday, other than the one where the kids & I went to the States, we went to NZ to visit family & friends. Between that, and our sports commitments on the weekends, we never seemed to get out of Sydney. Yes, we had a really busy and fun year, but it was embarrassing that after an entire year here we had only seen the Blue Mountains once and Shoal Bay once. That was it!

School here runs in 4 terms with two weeks of holiday in between each term. It’s a great system for allowing families to get away on holidays.

With our first school break upon us, I decided to take the kids on a road trip. I had heard great things about Byron Bay and had considered flying up there for a week. Yet, I thought it would be a good idea to see how the kids & I would handle hour upon hour in the car together since we are planning a big road trip around Australia next year.

Byron Bay is 10 hours away. (Daddy, I know you don’t think this is a big deal as I remember many a time waking at the crack of dawn and heading up to Canada to visit my brothers. You driving all the way. But I am not even half the person you are, so I decided to break up the trip and stop in Port Macquarie.) For one, it was half way there and also because I thought the kids would enjoy two of its main attractions: the Koala Zoo & the Sea Acres Rainforest.

The week before our trip, my friend Anna asked if she and her boys could tag along. One thing led to another and we were heading up to PM with three mums and six kids all staying together at a timeshare that Anna organized. Each ‘family’ has an older sibling (they were all in year 1 together and are all in the same class again this year:) and a younger sibling who will all be going to Kindergarten together next year. You couldn’t ask for a better set up.

Most of the fun we had involved playing at the house or on the beach. It wasn’t the sunniest weather, but a Portuguese-American, Irish-Canadian & Kiwi don’t REALLY ever expect sunshine all the time. It’s just not natural!

I was pretty useless with taking photos, but did manage a few. I particularly like this one for a few reasons. Nuno being cheeky (he’s trying to insert rabbit ears behind his sister’s head), but more than that, I love that Lana has made friends she feels so comfortable with.

Just look at her hanging off of her buddy. She has come a very long way in great part to the people we have met. (Yes, she would still get on a plane tomorrow to be with her family. She just told us that the other day.) But this is where we are right now. And I am thrilled that she is at home with her mates. Leaving ‘home’ was really tough on this little girl and seeing her happy and comfortable gives me great comfort that we didn’t do the wrong thing to come on this adventure.

The hike through the Sea Acres Rainforest was informative for the adults, but the kids were off playing soon after the tour started. No animals were spotted, but fair enough with 6 kids we weren’t exactly quiet.

We also visited the Koala Hospital. The only downside to our visit was that they only do tours once a day, so the guided tour was not that intimate which made it more difficult for the kids to hear and pay attention. Honestly, I was amazed at the crowd it drew in this very sleepy town. The Koala’s were all being rehabilitated in the hope that they could be released back into their natural habitat. My photos did not turn out so great, but I do have to tell you about one little guy who lost a leg. He has adapted so well that they are planning his release. I was very impressed with that little guy & also very impressed with the group of volunteers who keep this place going.

All in all, I have to say I didn’t fall in love with Pt. Macquarie but because of this crew I had one heck of a fantabulous time!

Some of you may know that my daughter participates in a scripture class at her public school. Most kids here in Australia do. Last year, it was the one thing that she would tell me about school. Every Wednesday there would be another story or comment. She even came home one day and asked if she could have a Bible. One thing I have a difficult refusing that girl is a book. So when we were in New Zealand we went with Auntie Robin, who is both Papi’s godmother and a devoted Christian and the two of them picked the perfect children’s Bible. Lana has read most of it, and even when she’s reading another book, her Bible has a special place of prominence on or near her bed.  I think is sweet.

Lana’s father was not as supportive of her new found interest. He, surprise, surprise, wants her to question authority and use science to determine her beliefs. I am okay with both of these, so long as she also uses SOME manners when questioning authority, unlike her dad.

Ever since Lana’s interest in Christianity was peeked, my darling husband has been going on about how “we” have to find her a kid’s book about the theory of evolution. Well, it just so happened that last week I picked up a cool looking science  book at the library for her.

Two nights ago. Papi comes into our bedroom very pleased with himself because there was a section in the book about evolution. He took the opportunity to sit and explain it to her. After their chat he asked her which she believed in. I can only imagine the biased questioning…

After a moment, she responded, “Both.” Then she explained her theory.

According to Lana, God created girls, and boys evolved from monkeys because girls are smarter and boys smell.

Sounds good to me!

After a very lazy Easter Sunday, we decided that we just had to get out of the house on Easter Monday. Unlike the States where everyone returns to work the day after Easter, Australians have the day off. After a morning run, I came back home did some laundry and we all got packed up to head over to Bondi Beach. For $2.50 each we could ride any public transportation ALL DAY. And did we ever! It was of a morning of “just in time’s”. First it was the bus into the city, then the train to City Hall, then the transfer train to Bondi Junction. Then after a short wait we caught a ride on the bus out to the Bondi Beach and we started our walk.

I had done the walk a few times before with friends, but never with the kids, so we weren’t sure how it would go. They started off without a complaint and we all were just enjoying the view and the conversation.

As we rounded the corner to Tamarama Beach we noticed people gathered on the cliff watching what we thought was a surfing or surf life-saving competition. As we walked closer to the beach we saw that it was an ocean swim. To be precise, the TamaCloey (Tamarama to Clovelly) 2.5K Cliff Side Odyssey. Even on a nice day, this swim would be a huge challenge.  But the swells were pretty big and the sky was gray. Not that I would ever sign up for such a thing, but the conditions would have been enough to turn me off.

Even wading into the water was a challenge.

We kept on walking and stopped at Bronte Beach for a terrific cafe lunch. While at lunch we were reading the flyer and papi commented on the fact that the race passed an area called Shark Point. Australian names are not very creative, so I’m thinking there is a reason for the name of said spot.

After our yummy lunch at Jenny’s, we were off again. Nuno got a little ride on his daddy’s shoulders as we walked up the hill to get to Clovelly. This is actually the suburb that we had originally planned to move to when we came to Australia. As we stood there taking in the view I tried to see the swimmers, but they were just specs to me. What I did see, was a race course that I was not at all ever interested in racing!

As we approached Clovelly we noticed some helicopters, then swimmers racing by on foot in their Speedos and they weren’t wet so we knew this wasn’t a bi-athalon. Immediately we suspected a problem. A shark problem. It was confirmed that there had been a shark sighting, so the remaining heats of racers that had not gone in the water would not be allowed to race. The helicopters kept hovering overhead as the racers already in the water swam the distance. It was nerve racking enough for me & I didn’t even know anyone in the race.

As we stood there watching the swimmers come into Clovelly, we noticed how difficult it was for them to get into Clovelly Beach. Wave after wave crashed and none of the swimmers were able to get unto the beach. The current was pushing them back out. It took some serious persistence, but they did all eventually make it through.

Yes, the helicopters were overhead. But was there a panic? No. News crews? No. If anything, the swimmers who did not swim just seemed bummed that they weren’t allowed to get into the race. Americans hear ‘shark sighting’ and think reason for a pool. Australian hear ‘shark sighting’ and think are you sure? What kind? You know they rarely kill anyone? Anyone keen for a surf?

All in all it was a ripper day. The kids were AMAZING and no one was killed by a shark. What more could you ask for?

I have done many a stupid thing in my life. And just recently, I signed up to coach 4 year olds in soccer. This is not something I wanted to do, but this kid made it hard to say no.

I used to have worries about my son’s auditory processing skills. Big worries. But just about the time we returned from the States last year, he started surprising me with what he picks up on the radio news, in a song, or from adults having a conversation within earshot. Thing is, if it’s something he find interesting, he usually blurts it out in his excitement.

So yesterday, as we sat in a quiet church, I had to chuckle when he blurted out these exciting tidbits:

“Jesus died?!?!”

“Jesus got alive?!?!”

“He said Grace of God!” Grace, being a dear friend of his sister’s.

It may not have been what the Minister was expecting, but at least he knows one person was paying close attention!

What better time than Easter for new beginnings, rebirth.

It has been a long time since I posted. There are so many reasons that I have been unable to keep up with this project: kids, worrying about dad, guests, life, tutoring, kids, etc., etc. Yet funnily enough it is those reasons that I am compelled to get this going again. First, and foremost, my dad. When we returned from New Zealand at Christmas and found out that JB was not doing well, I just couldn’t bring myself to post about our lives here in Australia. It just didn’t seem right. Now, thank God he’s doing much better. And now, more than ever I feel the need to saturate him with news about his grandkids.

There is also the fact that Ms. Andrea is also off on an adventure. Being so excited for her and dying to know what she’s up to, reaffirms my belief that a family blog is a great way to keep those you are away from connected. That plus knowing how much my father misses her too, the girl should be blogging….hint, hint Andrea!

Another reason that I was inspired to get back on track was my kids. Lana had an assignment for school to create a time-line of the milestones of her life. With no photo albums here in OZ, that wasn’t such an easy thing to do. Fortunately, we were able to scroll through kiwigalo and come up with some good milestones. I have to say, that picking “having lice for the first time” was hysterical!

I have never been good with baby books, so my blog has become that for Lana. Which brings me to Nuno. After my Bells I really shyed away from the camera. It was not until a year after that I realized that even if I did not like the way I looked on camera that I wanted to have memories recorded on film, for me, as well as for my kids. There is a chunk of time that I am missing pictures with Nuno, a time I can not get back. And as my son gets so big that I find it hard to carry him, I know these days are precious. Precious for me, him, and even for those who are too far away. I know I need to keep us a part of their lives & kiwigalo is the best way I know how to.

This past week he created this for his father & me.

This is the fist time my son has drawn a ‘recognizable’ person. This is a HUGE milestone. To me this means that my son is ready for Kindergarten next year. I have never been weepy at milestones, but man this drawing has made me realize what a gift I have been given. These two beautiful kids. As this time of the year, this time of rebirth is upon us, I chose to use it to remind myself tot appreciate my gifts and to make sure I share them with the people we love.

With that, I wish everyone a Happy Easter. And for my Jewish friends a Happy Passover.

Not sure where the inspiration for this look came from or what made him pull his socks up like that in 38°C? We have never lived in the ghetto or hung with Latin Kings. But somehow he pulls off the look.

After a lovely Christmas holiday in New Zealand, a visit from a kiwi cousin, and heaps of play dates we were all ready for school to start.

Before I tell you about Lana’s first day back, I’ll take this opportinity to explain that things here run a bit differently at the beginning of the school year. Last year Lana was in Class 1J. No there are not 10 classes for year 1. This is actually what I thought when I first saw her class was going to be 1J last year.  I figures there were class 1A-1J. Nope. Here classes are labelled by the teacher’s last name: IJ for Ms. Jasper, 1B for Mr. Barnes. It is a bit of a pain when the teachers get married and change their names but keep their old class name.

This of course has little to do with this year, but I thought I’d clarify that difference.

Well, now you know she was in 1J last year. And at the end of the year she was asked who she would like to have in her class this year. She picked three of her mates friends. Knowing the kids she had in class I was confident that she’d be happy if any of them ended up with her this year. They were really a super group of kids. And this 1J is where she would start the day on her first day of school 2010.

You see, here you do not know which class you are to report to until the first day of school when the principal gathers all the returning students from one year and reads a list out informing them which class they are to report to. Exciting? nerve-racking? A bit! And what do they do with the kids who are new to the school? They start the next day. I know. It’s different.

The days leading up to her first day were very exciting. All the unknowns had not really hit her as I think Lana really had faith that her friends would end up with her. She woke up on the morning up with a HUGE smile on her face. We had a celebratory breakfast and got on our way. I kept rechecking that we hadn’t forgotten something: morning tea (snack), check, lunch, check, hat, check. She asked if she could bring a small teddy bear in her bag with her. This is something I don’t normally allow, but I said it was fine so long as it stayed in the bag.

Half way to school she asked if I had packed her bear. Nope. All of a sudden it hit. I did the wrong thing and told her it was her responsibility to pack her things for school. She responded with, ” You know I get nervous on first days.” She was right.I was wrong. I could see the look on her face.  The one where as a mother you know everything is going to be alright, but you also know it will be really difficult to convince your child of it. I could have run back home to grab the bear, but then we would have been late. That is NOT something Lana likes. So I had to manage with what we had.

We stopped in our tracks and I reminded her of The Kissing Hand story. I took her hand in mine and kissed her right hand. Telling her that if she felt nervous she had only to put the hand to her cheek and there would be a kiss from me there. I also reminded her that last year her dad had kissed the other hand and that I was sure there were some kisses left in it. She sweetly responded, “There are. I saved some up.” We talked the rest of the way about all the scenarios: having the friends she requested to be in her class, having other friends in her class or being assigned a class with no old friends (I emphasized the unlikelihood of that). We talked about new opportunities to make friends. It was very tangible for her because when we arrived in Australia she had a very difficult time adjusting to this new place. That is not so distant in her memory. And now she has lovely close friends. I knew she understood the possibility of a ‘happy ending’ even when things started out differently than you wished.

When we arrived she went straight to her old line-up spot, with her old mates. I left her as, “Happy as Larry”.

Having faith in her (& God), I passed the day feeling like everything would be alright. And at pick up I was happy to see that my little girl was beaming. I am happy to report that she has three of her good friends in her class and that even though many are in other classes we are all (mums included) going to remain close. A bunch of us took the opportunity to go for an ice cream up the road and seal the deal that we’d all stay friends!

Well today was one of those days were things were so good, but they were also…well I can’t say so bad, but just so Australian.

The day started off just fine. It was day two of Year 2 for Lana which is SO much better than day 1 (will tell you more about that later….) So here we are at day two, we walk Lana to school, then come home to decide what to do: zoo, beach, science experiment or iron clothes (no joke).

Just as Nuno and I are about to get back home we get invited to the beach for a play.  Ummh we have to think about it. Then minutes later another friend calls to see what we’re up to as they are driving by the house. Super, it’s a sign from God that I should not be ironing. So my friend and her son are over as I am getting myself ready for the beach. The boys are having a great play until I hear crazy screaming. Oh S*%^. I run upstairs (as Nuno tears down the stairs) to find that no one is hurt, but that they have spotted a spider.In the States, you say, “Get over it.” Here you make sure it’s not a killer. Well, Otto (who is an Aussie kid & has not run away from the spider) assures me it’s no big deal, just a small spider.  As we locate it, I notice it has red on it’s back. OY VEY!!!! Did you hear that kids? A RED BACK! POI to the OI to the SO  NOUS!!!! It’s a, “It won’t kill you because the have an antevenom SPIDER!!!! I yell down to Lou to bring up a jar that is in the dishwasher and I manage to catch a REDBACK SPIDER!!!!

Okay, so here’s the funny part. Do I run and call the exterminator? Book tickets back home? Call my husband?

Nope, I finish packing for the beach, and send S a text from the car on our way their. Because people. This is Australia. You swim in the water with sharks. Live in houses with deadly spiders and get attacked by birds on your way to pick up you kids. But ain’t it gorgeous?

and this is how my boy spent his day with his mates…

Life is Good!

*We did spray Nuno’s room and tomorrow the entire house (and outside area) will be sprayed.