So I am on the internet and thought I would quickly pop my head in and give everyone an update of things going on. We are finally in our home and it feels wonderful. I unpacked the luggage and put it out on the balcony not to be packed up again for a while...yay! We love our new place. It is small but amazing. It's the most updated place we have lived in and so open and naturally bright. We need to upload pics on the computer so stay tuned for those. We have beds and just yesterday our bar stools and dining room set arrived that will go on the patio. Erik loves sitting at the counter up with the adults. He still sits over carpet which drives me bonkers but what can you do, you win some you lose some. We have nice granite counters and stainless steel appliances (well the ones that stay with the place). We have a tv and tv stand and we heard that our home goods are in australia. They are just awaiting their turn to go through customs. So hopefully in a couple of weeks we will actually have all our stuff and then the fun really begins making this place our cozy home.

Lindsay and I feel like we are on vacation in our new place with the view of the city and beautiful walls of windows. We are grateful we found it and are so close to the markets (shopping). We have to walk about 3 blocks to get the shopping center with the grocery store, fruit market, meat shop, etc. We are one block from the city cat dock and a block from the bus line we take to get into the city. Erik most days go out for one thing or another but that is starting to get old so I am trying to figure out a new routine with specific days of going out and days staying in. But I need ideas of fun things to do with a 2 year old at home with limited resources at the moment. We do have access to the gardens (grass and flowers) that the complex shares, so we have somewhere to play. But any ideas are great.

For those wanting lots and lots of pictures, if you are not only mine and lindsay's friends on facebook...find us. I post pics I take on my phone often and Lindsay uploads most of our camera pics. Facebook uploads quicker and easier than the blog. Plus we save some pics for B and sometimes those go up on lin's facebook page. So there you have it.

I am doing much better than I was a week or so ago. Lindsay was out of town for those few days and I was just struggling. I am in a much happier state and am excited to get things in a normal daily grind and find homes for things in our house. Although I am not fond of figuring out finances I can't wait for us to get our budget figured out and know how much we have to spend to where each month. Our paychack has been different each time and our bills haven't really started so we have that weird limbo feeling of not knowing how much we can spend and how much we need to put aside. Utilities here are only billed once a quarter so we wont even know that one for a few months which is a bit nerve racking but we will get it figured out.

Weather here is great. We dont use heat or a/c right now. Its usually fluctuating right around 70 during the day and a bit cooler in the morning and evening. It's sunny most days but often have small bursts where it will rain and be overcast for a few hours.

All right until next time....have a great day!

It seems that this is all the pictures that the internet will allow for right now. The internet seems to be different here. When you pay for internet in a residence you pay for a certain amount of data per month. It is not unlimited like the states. And it can get quite confusing. We were using a lot of our time looking at homes and getting documents scanned and processed the first few weeks of being here and so I couldn't do that much blogging and other fun stuff. I do have facebook on my new cell phone so I can do that. Anyhow..............these pics are some of the things we have been doing upon arrival in Oz. A couple of days after we got here we went to chinatown with the family of one of Lindsay's co-workers for lunch. Erik got tired and grabbed his blanket and layed down on the floor. Poor guy, his body adjusted the quickest I think, but he is an extra early riser since moving here.

This is us waiting for the ferry to go to a cool place called New Farm Park. It had the coolest playground equipment ever. I wanted to take a picture of every piece just to post and show people but that will have to wait. But honestly, it will definitely be a favorite spot to visit. The ferry is just for people, it is not one where you can drive a car onto. It basically looks like a big yacht that rich people rent out.

At new farm park on a spinny something or other, they had a cool modern merry go round, teeter totters, a crazy spider web of cables that was massive for older kids and lots of treehouse like playstuff among other things.

on the teeter totter with daddy, and a music area behind.

chasing the birds (Ibis birds). Probably his favorite activity at the park. This is lindsay's favorite bird here. It is white with a skinny black neck, head and long black beak. We also saw wild cockatiels the other day near our lodging. That was sweet!

This was also just after we got here, before Erik got a hair cut. We ventured to a popular place to shop and play along the river named South bank. There is a man made beach with a lazy river and pool. We thought it was all shut down due to the floods but the pool was open with the life guards and Erik was dieing to get in, so we bought him a little speedo and let him do his thing. I thought it was adorable and he fit right in. I loved seeing his little bum in it without the diaper, so cute!

We mostly exlore different parts of the city when we can and have found a fun rhyme time story time at the local library. There are lots of fun free things to do with kids here which is nice. But I think we will set him up with a gym tots class a the YMCA (yep they have some here) to help him direct his energy. Seriously I think he has a motor in his little body that has a hard time shutting off. Since we have been here his energy has doubled I Swear. Probably because there is a lot more stimulation but it definitely needs some focus.

Church is good and while the gospel and teaching are the same it is different. I can't quite put my finger on it, but its not necessarily a bad thing just different. Erik does loves nursery so that is great, although he is still hesitant getting into there, he has a blast. We get to bring our own snack and sippy cup for our child, so I get to pick and know exactly what and how much he is getting each week. I stay in the chapel all three hours, due to sunday school being there, and also relief society for the women, it's a little odd but nice. The bishop is american and there are more than a handful of either american or canadian families which is nice. We get to attend church basically on temple grounds. You park under it all and the meetinghouse and temple just have a small walkway between the two. The temple I think is a bit smaller than the Spokane temple. Definitely not bigger. But I am happy that it is so close!

Well kids, I think I need to save some data for next time. I am hoping that once we actually move and figure out how much data we use on average and get the right plan to be on track with updating regularly. Thanks for being patient. Also I know a ton of you keep asking what it's like here. I try to think of things as they come and have been making lists too for "bits of Oz" entries but questions are easier so please anytime you think of anything specific that you want to know about email me or comment or something and it will help me to explain things better. Man I have so much in my mind I want to share but don't want to write a book for one post, especially when I just posted a long post. So until next time, enjoy!

Anyhow

I need some blog therapy

So where to start. Things are finally starting to wind down from our travels although we are far from having everything all together. I really just need to get some thoughts out and I know most people have millions of questions and are dieing to know what our experience has been like. I will get through as much as I can tonight but have to continue later.

First off though, I have to admit I am struggling a bit right now. I know I will be fine and pushing through will get me to where I want to be, but it's a bit more of a transition than I expected quite frankly. I was so confident that since there would be no language barrier and Aussies seem to be such a friendly people, and the military moving us that pieces would just magically fall into place and we would be good. Reality is pieces are falling into places, just not in my time table (you would think by now I would have learned that lesson) but when they do fit into place, it feels right which keeps me trucking along. I thought that since the church would be the same here I would meet people quickly and start doing things with other moms and women right off. I forgot that sometimes ward boundaries span an entire large urban city where it's hard to get together on a whim and meet up. So while Erik and I and sometimes Lin have been busy exploring and checking out cool sights and places and had a blast, I am missing the outlet of talking with other women on a regular basis. I literally feel like I have mounds and heaps of conversation drumming around in my mind waiting to chat with some one. I will get there, we went to a mum's group (playgroup) today for our ward which was great and hopefully that will help.

Not all aussie's like americans and so I find out in public I try not to speak and give myself away before I can tell or guess what someone will think of me. I talk quieter to Erik and it's kind of silly actually but honestly I stand out like a sore thumb. I came with Cali wear a.k.a Jeans and t-shirts. And while I thought exercise clothes were the norm. I was wrong, it just so happens there is a gym in the shopping center we frequent. So norm for women here is more formal....think business casual kind of....lots of european influence....lots of black....lots of dark and muted colors. Now imagine me in my ripped jeans, bright t-shirts, and american accent. Now do you understand why I stick out? Luckily we live in an area with lots of young Uni students (college kids) and they usually seem to be a bit more open minded and wide eyed. So around the neighborhood I am more comfortable than out in the city. And now not everyone dislikes us, just some and they are not rude or mean, they just are short, curt, and you can just tell they are not the most fond. We actually started realizing it as we dealt with real estate agents who were showing us apartments. I am pretty sure we missed out on some because we were american, but luckily we ended up finding what will suit us best in the end anyways.

Lots of you want to know our new place looks like and the area we live. Well the above picture is our complex and the awesome pool that is there. There is also a fully equipped gym so I am stoked about that. There are tiled pathways so Erik can ride a trike around our balcony is big enough that we plan on it being our dining room/more lounge space. We are lucky to have a space to put three bar stools across so inside we can eat as well. There is actually enough room inside that we could put a table in there, but it will be less crowded and most of the year you can eat outside. Lindsay's co-worker has a large balcony and they actually mounted their tv out there and that is their family room. We got a two bedroom two bath place. We really wanted three bedrooms but just couldn't find what we were looking for. Our building is on the river basically. There is one building in between our and the river but you can see downtown and the river from our balcony. Some people might think we are crazy after the floods that just happened to live on the river, but honestly I think we will be ok. If it were to flood again, I am sure that we would probably be evacuated (so 72 hour kits will be made and ready quickly after we actually get the keys to move in next week) but our apartment is high enough that I don't think we will have to worry. And realistically its all just stuff. It really sunk in with this move that our posessions are just material and we can do without if needed. Not to say it's not fun to fancy up things or shop but in the end we don't take it with us.

We will definitely take pics next week once we get there. On the river where we will live is a city cat stop (ferry) so it will still be super easy for little man and I to get around and he loves all the city transit, mostly I think because he doesn't have to be in a car seat and he likes swiping my pass on the way in and out.

I was a little disappointed when we moved here to find out that the discount store in our shopping center was k-mart. I thought I was rid of that place in T-town California, but oh no, it has come back to haunt me. Lindsay's and my joke is to sing a little jingle whenever we had to head to kmart "kmart fall apart, had to poop but could only fart." I know not the most appropriate but pretty much summed up our feelings toward the place. Now I have to admit, I did shop there when needed, but in t-town where prices were already high, kmart boosted them up even higher. And sorry to say ladies that are still in T-town but the prices that are here are about the same here. I wish there were a different store, but at least I know that I can still get my basic needs by the place and its close.

Wonderful weekend

This weekend was so amazingly great. I spent the weekend of course with my men, one big and one little and they treated me so well. As we have been trying to get our feet on the ground here they still managed to take time to spoil me. Erik picked out flowers for me and helped sign a card with his handprint. Lindsay got me a willow tree figurine and a great chocolate bar. I was able to get in some quick calls back to the states. And an extra surprise highlight was an email from S. Oh how it made me smile. We havent heard from her in a long time and to hear her accomplishments and updates was just amazing. Total icing on the cake! We are so proud of her and who she is and the path she is headed, seriously we are the luckiest people to have both our birth parents be so seriously awesome!!!!

Hope that all the women out there had a great mothers day because believe you me that even if you don't have children yet I am sure that you "mother" in some other way and that helps nurture all the children and people around you. As women we divinely were designed to be mothers, and I know that even before Erik came along I mothered as much as I could. I didn't discipline or take over for friends, but I loved to spend time with other people and nurture in any way possible, still do. It just feels good and natural.

Tidbits in Oz

Quickly I wanted to share some interesting things that I am learning and experiencing here in my new corner of the world.

-3 grocery bags is the max I can handle with the walk, Erik, and the stroller.

-you go to the grocery store average of every other day to pick up what you need.

-one must carry an umbrella on them at all times because when it rains....it downpours like crazy and it's not just a few minutes like it is Hawaii, it lasts for a half an hour or so.

-bananas cost over $6 a pound...thus Erik is being weaned from his daily alotment. Our kid is a monkey when it comes to bananas. Ask any one who has them sitting out on their counter, he will always ask if he can have one.

-while it is expensive to live here, things that break the bank in the states are free here, a la pools, science museums, and other fun attractions, also newspapers seem to be free. Or at least some of them.

-Lindsay and I have both seperately been asked if we are canadian, no one seems to know where our "accent" comes from. Interesting Eh? :)

-The ward we attended on Sunday had many more americans and canadians than I ever expected. I would say around 4 families!

-Instead of having one dollar bills, they have 1 and 2 dollar coins, so there is a ton more change, but they don't have pennies, the smallest coin is 5 cents.

-The toilet water doesn't flush in the opposite direction, it doesnt even flush in a circle. There are 2 different flushes depending on what "duty" you do, a half and full. When you flush a certain amount of water just splashes into the bowl and it all goes down. Very interesting.

-Also the toilets are commonly in a seperate room than the shower and sink. Thus making it take up two rooms of space.

So for those curious about this new culture we are in.............there you have some tidbits. I will try to continue to let in on the Oz world.

Hello Mate

We made it through all the craziness of emptying our house of tons of junk and garbage and old furniture. We made it through a week of crazy travels and long flights. We enjoyed a few days in Hawaii, and have arrived in Oz. So far its beautiful. It's stressful to be in the car with the opposite driving, it's fun to be able to walk everywhere and to see so many people out exercising. Seriously workout clothes are pretty much what everyone here wears it seems like. I am getting used to the humidity........a little. But mostly I am so relieved that we have made it this far and Erik is sleeping well, and adjusting. Nothing is perfect, he is testing his boundaries to see if we will be consistent but overall he is happy and well, which in turn helps me be happy and well.

Many more pics to come soon.