One of the many things we are not able to get here in Oz is Bisquick. We all know in the USA that Bisquick is the “quick” and easy way to pancakes, waffles, biscuits, etc. Well this is a country of very little processed food so I am learning to cook from scratch. Yep, you read that right. I am becoming good friends with baking powder, bi-carb soda, flour, eggs, oil and more! This morning I successfully made pancakes for M from scratch. The first one came out of the pan looking fabulous! I put it on a plate, poured another into the pan and went to butter the first one. No I don’t have a griddle (yet) so I am using the non stick frying pan. Anyway, I began to spread the butter on the pancake and the whole top layer “slid off” with shiny dough underneath. Yeah, well, it looked great on the outside but guess I didn’t leave it long enough for the inside. After the first one, the next 8 came out beautifully! M and I enjoyed some pancakes and maple syrup on this beautiful Sunday morning down under.
Toodles and peace to you and yours!
MBD
The Hunger Games Down Under
Inspired by the movie The Hunger Games that had an archery theme in it, MBD went for a 2-hour “come and try” experience with bow and arrows. A nice way to spend part of a Saturday morning! She started out with a right hand bow, but had control problems. Her instructor switched her to a left hand bow, meaning she could stabilise the bow with her right arm. That worked better!
Taking aim with the right hand bow.
The girl to MBD’s right is Victoria, a classmate of MBD’s.
How do you know which arrows are yours?
Ready, aim…
How did you do?
The Wild Bunch
OK, so for the past several months all the girls that MBD has brought home from school to visit have been somewhat reserved and quiet. All that changed last Friday when a new set came over and the house shook with the yelling and laughing of four 12-year olds! I walked into MBD’s bedroom and was surprised to see two of them jumping on the bed while MBD and another looked on with amusement. The cats were under assault from this crew from the moment they came into the house. I think it’s good for MBD to be able to “let loose” every now and then (as long as they don’t break anything!) This was one of those times when MBW and I just smiled through gritted teeth while the wild bunch had a blast!
Zara, MBD, Lili, and the horizontal girl is Thea
She’ll Always Be My Little Girl
From our last day on the Gold Coast. I don’t care how old she gets. Even now as MBD has just turned 12, I still can see the little girl in her snuggling up to her purple bear. Some things DO last forever!
Down Under, Down Under
Here is a clever idea for a large swimming area. These little things pull the kids along underwater!
At least for the kids, they’ll take you down to the floor of the pool. This is a poor imitation of a reef at the Marriott pool.
It almost looks kind of spooky to see MBD coming at me–Help! Shark!
Yep, she’s eating Prawns!
MBD points out that she does not share her father’s allergies to shrimp and prawns at Darling Harbour in Sydney last night!
Guess what? We are taking you to your first concert this Thursday night!
Evanescence! Your favourite! Happy early birthday present!
Life goes on in Australia
Yesterday MBW and I met with MBD’s teacher, Mrs. McLean to check up on her emotional progress at Manly West school since she started. We vere very pleased to see that she has done very well in integrating herself into the Australian landscape. This was one of the things I was most concerned about: How well she could adjust to a different country and culture. Well, the news is all GOOD here! The educational system is a bit more relaxed and less rules/procedures oriented than in the USA, and that environment has served MBD well. Just sitting outside the school when it let out, I saw her with a group of 3 other girls laughing together as a group. Whew! I am glad we are in a place where she can be herself and still manage to blend in with the gang.
She tried out for soccer this week. Already playing beach volleyball and has expressed an interest in understanding what karate is all about. Let the smorgasbord of life continue!
And the cats are getting bigger! LOVE my Nikon D7000!
New Sunnies for MBD
Checking out the Australian Open of Surfing that began last week and concludes this weekend. Lots of people down on Manly Beach watching surfing and skateboarding. MBD said “Oh, hey I need a new pair of sunnies…(and I can’t believe I just said ‘sunnies’!)”
The First Day of School in Australia!
First day of school at Manly West for MBD!
Comment from MBW: That was harder than leaving her at School of Creative Learning (age 3) for the first time. I have never seen her look so lost in her life. She knew no one around her. I PRAYED someone would come to her. I bent down to tell her it would be ok when the asst principle Sue McClain stepped in. She had already said hello to Mads and she personally would make sure she was taken care of. “She’s gonna be ok Mum.” Love that woman!! Update on Day #2 of school: MBD reported to her dad that she made 6 new friends today. Daddy always hoped it wouldn’t take her long to make new friends, once we got her back into school!
The Smiths in Oz 