Summertimes!

It has been such a great last summer here in Oz. My heavens, will we miss this place! While we haven't traveled everywhere we thought we might during our three years, we are very happy with all we've experienced and the priceless memories that are forever etched in our hearts. Can't think about the goodbyes without tearing up, but hey, that's still two months away, so let's focus on the positive! Here's a glimpse of how we kept up this summer:

From family painting days, to ceiling/hair adornments... creativity was a-flowin'.

Lots of outdoor time. We especially enjoyed the live music at the National Botanical Gardens and our generous neighbors' pools. (Hot Aussie summers would've been a very different experience here without their kind, open invitations!)

I was very proud of these brave souls as they got out of their comfort zones to go busking a couple times. I keep telling them, do it while you're young because people appreciate it a lot more when kids get out there.

And I'm not gonna lie, they made bank.
(Sidenote: their motivation was mainly due to their mean parents who made them pay for a large chunk of the fun school camp on offer this year! Definitely fast cash.)

 

 

splurging on some gelato afterwards

Forgive my use of Instagram photos, but that's how I kept memories tucked away this summer...

A couple days I did tending trade offs of our two youngest so the big kids and I could bike ride or explore or geocache or whatever and MAN, was that fun! We kept yelling out to each other, "This is so cool - we can go so fast!" or being wowed whenever we loaded in and out of the car in under 10 seconds rather than 10 minutes. As much as we love those sweet, rowdy, little munchkins, it was a real treat to have active fun and mature conversation with these awesome kiddos of mine that are just growing up way. too. fast.

Cared for the school chooks over part of the summer holidays and I could hardly pull them out of the pen each time. Especially Des. While the other kids were diving and chasing to catch them up, he would just walk up to one, scoop it up in a hug, stand up and smile like it was no problem.

Of course, plenty of indoor fun to be had as well. This was the most laid back summer I think I've ever had in my life. I was a relaxed mum. We didn't have sports on or any real trips to speak of. We'd done all the local sights already so we just chilled out and enjoyed life. And while they didn't read as much or learn any new skills, I think the bonding that took place in our last semi-reclusive summer certainly made up for that.

Granola became an almost weekly tradition this summer.

outdoor group Suzuki classes

Fell in love with the old school Manuka Swimming Pool too. Retro cool digs complete with mosaic artwork on the walls and walkways. I swear these guys really are fish now.

And lest these pics make it seem Dad wasn't ever around, Darren took these girls on a paddle boat ride without any prodding when they were out together one Saturday. That memory's gonna last a while. :)

Jackie Chan, Who Knew?

A while back I got to take the official Embassy Residence tour and see some of the upper rooms and living areas of our Ambassador(s) and their families. And where they host their distinguished guests. The main areas of the house are generally open for entertaining as they have holiday parties throughout the year for their Embassy community, but it was cool to see the kitchens and servants' back stairs and such. The lounge rooms and library/study areas were quite impressive too.

Then they showed us Jackie Chan's bedroom (and long-since dusty boxing bag in the accompanying attic.) What the what?! Well, I guess Jackie's dad used to be the cook at the residence and his mum was running the household staff or something. Awesome history.

 Funny side story: a Marine once wanted to show some bravado on a similar tour and gave the bag his best punch. And was rewarded with a broken hand. Apparently, sand turns to something like concrete when left undisturbed for years at a time!

 I just love the giant vases of fresh flowers everywhere giving every room a regal, posh feel. It's no Downton Abbey but is a fun glimpse into a more glamorous life, nonetheless.

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Random POST-EDIT: I added a whole heap of pics to my previous "Vegetation" post recently. For anyone interested in a glimpse of the fantastic flora and fauna in this country, click the link. 

Camping at the Coast

 Talk about a vacation! Last month we escaped to Jervis Bay before the end of school/holiday rush. It was a week chock full of beauty, wildlife, mess and fun. Memories were made, folks!

 We stayed at Greenpatch Campgrounds, which had the friendliest wildlife I've seen to date. Birds all over us, possums trying to eat out of our pot (I literally had to remove them with my hands) and heaps of roos, even a snake found shelter in the bathroom block after a rainy night. It was exciting.

But the beaches were the real highlight. Beyond beautiful - exotic, rustic, and altogether EMPTY. Amazing. I'll never get over the beaches here.

Would've been the perfect picture op for a Christmas card... but I'm not that organized.
Instead, we got this:

 Camping with 5 kids is bound to be an adventure, but we were able to laugh through most of the painful parts.

 Lessons learned: 

fly nets work for mozzies too

candles are a poor substitute for an open fire

mandatory tick checks are a must before bed 

(we tweezed off 5 total)

car dance parties can be a great respite on early morns or rainy days

every speck of food must be locked up before dusk 

(or you're in for a wild night combating the vandals)

 (My attempted car nap and the elusive kookaburra.)

 We explored many of the local beaches and hikes. Our favorites: Murray's Beach, Cave Beach, and the Guinness Record Whitest Sand in the World at Hyam's Beach.

 

new sunglasses photoshoot - work it!

Lured the fam over to this cave with crazy layers of black insects above.

 Hard to leave such a paradise!