Update on the Southern/Australian Family!
We have been in Australia now since May 28! That is 2.5 months, or 11 weeks, or 77 days. Because I know you were very interested in the exact number of days and all...ANYWAY, I would just like to take a moment to reflect and share on what has happened since we have been here!
Since we have arrived we have been on the search for jobs and a house! Neither of which have been found yet. Yes, we get discouraged. Yes, we get impatient. Yes, we want to scream and cry (but we are adults and apparently that isn't socially acceptable anymore). Nonetheless we will trudge on rely on the fact the we know we are right where we are suppose to be!
Now, I am going to take some time to catch you up on us as individuals:
MY SUPER HANDSOME HUSBAND: Papa Bear
This man, you guys.... He is literally good at everything. Annoyingly good at EVERYTHING. Since we have been here, he has built a dining room table (that I will post about soon), fixed a broken guitar, been a single dad for TWO WEEKS (while I was on a mission trip to the Philippines), worked as a traveling coffee barista, and as I write this he is making a red velvet cheesecake....go ahead. Swoon away.
Anyway, he is currently looking for a job that does not mind sharing him with the University of Queensland. After he starts graduate school, it will take two years full time for him to complete the degree.
MY SUPER CUTE NOW TWO-YEAR-OLD: Baby Bear
This kid, you guys.... He turned two on June 7! WHAT?! Can anyone explain how quickly two years goes by? Before we know it it will be 5 years, 10 years, 20 years! Slow it down puh-lease.
Here are a few cute things he is saying now:
- Fire Bus = Firetruck
- He will walk up, shake your hand, and say "Nice to meet you"
- He has to tell everyone in the restaurant "goodbye" before we can leave
- Buzz Ranger = Buzz Lightyear (but he IS a space ranger)
- He greets people with a Southern/Australian G'DAY Y'ALL
- When asked what he is doing, he replies "Just Chillin"
- He also says that he is "the man"
And a quick list of his development:
- Letters he consistently recognizes: A, B, C, H, J, L, O, R, S (he calls it a snake...i'll count it), T, W
- Colors he can name: red, blue, black, purple, pink, green, yellow, orange
- Gross Motor Skills: hop with two feet, jump, kick a ball, catch a ball, throw a ball overhand and underhand
- Fine Motor Skills: pincer grasp (see what that is here), holds paper down while drawing, can stack lots of blocks, and LOVES to give me a "thumbs up"
* sorry if the lists bore you! They are mainly for my friends and family who want to know how he's growing!! *
AND MRS. ALWAYS BEHIND THE CAMERA SO THERE ARE NO PHOTOS OF ME: Mama Bear
Since I am not allowed to work in Australia until October, the only "job" I have is my America based Etsy Shop! SoI have lots of free time right now! As great as that sounds, I am getting a little case of Cabin Fever so we have made a goal of leaving the house at least once a day!
And that brings me to driving. On the other side of the road. Holy "other side of the road", Batman. I feel like a brand new driver over here! The only things I don't have to re-learn are accelerating and breaking.
Everything else about driving is different:
- You sit on the opposite side of the car. Which means you have to look different ways when checking your mirrors.
- You have to turn to the opposite side of the road
- No right on red (which would be left on red over here)
- TONS of roundabouts
- I have NO idea where the left side of the car is because I sit on the right
Several curbs have fallen victim to my "newbie" driving and I just pray that other drivers stay patient as I learn! Whew!!
All in all we have settled into Australia quite well! We still have lots of settling left but we are off to a great start!
Feel free to ask us any questions about Australia, Family Life, etc!! :)
