Oh, it's been such a long time. Why haven't I posted? I suppose I was going through quite a funk for a while. I had to endure about ten months of winter because we moved to Oz at the end of March, and it was still quite cold and snowy in Pennsylvania. We had a few weeks of nice weather in April but then it started to get dark early and go into winter again. If anyone reading this is familiar with the weather in Australia and the US, you might say, yeah, but winters in Australia aren't bad, right? I actually have to admit that I thought the winter was awful, much worse than home. Here's why: first, I didn't realize the difference that snow makes. I mean that even though it is a darker time of year, once everything is snow covered it brightens things up a bit. I never appreciated that until now. Second, homes in the northern US are generally built to withstand the cold. Not so in Melbourne. At least not our house. A winter day in Melbourne never really gets any colder than the fifties in farenheit or below like 13 celcius, but I felt much colder in Melbourne than I did at home. That's because my house is Oz has floor to ceiling windows and no insulation. Can you believe that it doesn't have any insulation?? Maybe that's not the norm but I don't think so. I think that the houses are built with the summer heat in mind and you just have to bear the winters. I have yet to experience the summers, but I am afraid. I am a Yankee. I don't thrive in excessive heat. My husband, with his central american blood, should do just fine. Hopefully, I will be able to adjust, but it's unlikely. I have begun telling people that if it hits 35 C(about 96 F) that I will no longer leave my home. I will put a baby pool in the backyard and stay in it until temperatures become more reasonable. However, everyone is welcome to visit, just know that visits are BYOP, bring your own pool.
I am still in the US but am preparing to return. It has been an interesting trip back, but I will save that for another post.

Lovin' the down under...

It's going really well folks!! I found Big W today (which bears an uncanny likeness to Wal-Mart, they have "roll-backs" and the little yellow smiley face)but, more importantly, they have CHEAP STUFF!!! Yeah!! I am beginning to realize that Esteban and I just happened to move into an expensive neighborhood. AND, I found my first thrift store, or as they call them down under, op shop. Its run by a brotherhood of something and it was pretty great. I didn't really get to look around that much however because I was on my way to the Melbourne Zoo. You know, I really just want to write Mel-bun, cuz that's how everyone says it anyway.

The zoo...we had a great time at the zoo. It was a beautiful day and I have to say that Australia has beautiful clouds. I can't really even say how they are different but they are and the sky is so blue. Yesterday while we were at the zoo, the sky was just amazing. Its as if the clouds don't block the sun. And they are so white, yes, that's part of it. They seem whiter than at home. Of course, I did live in Pittsburgh! I even found a yarn store, a little pricey but good yarns, not much selection. I also took the kids on the tram all by myself for the first time and it went quite well. I took the boys down to South Mel-bun to have lunch with Papi and his new co-workers. It was so hot that day, I thought I was going to faint on the tram. The boys were all red-cheeked and sweaty. When I got the Esteban's office I commented on the heat and they responded "Heat?? This isn't hot! Wait until the summer!" But all you yankees reading this have to understand that this day was like a pretty average summer day in the northern states, like a day in August,exept not humid. In other words, I don't know if I will survive a summer here. You all will be scraping the ice of your wipers and pulling out the extra blankets and I will be here sweating to death wishing for snow. I just ask that you think of us while you shovel the drive.

What am I crazy!?!?! I'm not gonna miss the snow...I live 500 ft from a pool (or rather about 170 metres)!!! But I won't brag.

I digress, I meant to talk about the zoo. I was a really great zoo with many animals I had never seen before in my life. I have now seen a kookaburra, and that's somethin'. They are quite strange looking birds. Look them up sometime. What else?? A wombat...I saw a wombat very up close. I will say that about the Melbourne Zoo, they have done the "up-close" thing very well. I was a little to "up-close" to the lions, but the kids loved it. Wombats are like furry little pigs and their paws look like little children's hands. They are very cute while they are sleeping. I think they are my new favorite animal. Or maybe that is the echidna. I thought I was looking at a very large hedgehog. They must be in the same family. I will look to see if I took a picture.

First ever blog...

Right now the hubby is bathing the kids. This is usually when I sneak away to do something for myself. We are moving to Australia in eight days and we are trying to get our house prepared to be left alone for some time. Today I lay floor tile at our front door. I still have to put the grout in. For the first time, I think I did a pretty good job.

I am not going to get GG's sweater done. However, I am happy with how it is turning out so far. I am using a knitting pattern from Runway Knits. I think its called the seafoam shrug. Its really a cute idea, I will have to make one for myself after I finish this one.

I can't think of anything especiallly cute that the children said today. Sometimes it makes me really sad to know that I have already forgotten so many things that they have said and done even though they are so young. I can't dwell on it.

Tonight I will probably continue packing up our bedroom and try to take some photos that I can post.