Footy.

 The day that I took the Ruppert’s to the airport I woke up at 3:00, got to work at 6:00 (only to find the office in a bit of a technical nightmare with no badge access or wiFi), planned to leave early and rest a bit but got stuck on a call with a dealer that kept me at work until 6:00, rushed home, changed my clothes, grabbed Em, Ty and Jay, said a quick hello to Miss Steph and Kyson, and ran out the door.  I made it!

We met the Coen’s at the train station to go to the Gold Coast Suns vs Brisbane Lions footy game. It is quite confusing, but Australia has 3 (at least) different kinds of “footy” – rugby, Aussie Rules Football, and soccer.  The game we went to was Aussie Rules Football.  The field was HUGE (and the stadium was nearly empty).  I really tried to figure out the rules, but I honestly can’t say that I was able to work it out.  I am not sure if the players even knew the rules.  No pads.  Lots of running.  Throwing the ball backwards.  Dribbling a football.  Kicking the ball for a teammate to catch.  3 different ways to score (all 3 are tracked).  Referees that wear pink and throw the ball back into play like a bride throwing her bouquet into a crowd of single ladies.  And a game that ended in a tie.  And everyone just stood up and left.  In true Aussie fashion, nobody cared that nobody won.  No worries.  Despite being quite confused the whole game, it was really fun!  It was the first time since Lily was born that Jay and I took Ty out and about alone – special night.





Easter Hat.

We received a letter from Ty’s school about his upcoming Easter hat parade.  I am not too sure what an Easter hat is – I don’t recall having an Easter hat when I was a kid – but I was up for the challenge.  We converted one of our 50 Australian Outback Spectacular hats into a Spectacular Australian Easter Hat.  I might have had more fun than Ty putting it together.

  

Date.

Em had a date Saturday night with one of the blokes she met at the Tavern a couple weeks ago.  I will respect her privacy and not share the details, but don’t worry, she won’t be marrying this guy and staying in Australia forever.  We had a fun family night in while she was out on the town.  We played Sorry – Ty is ruthless.  Lily played dress up (or down by the end of the night) and after exhausting herself completing her Picasso, she fell asleep in dad’s lap.



Cookies!

We were craving some chocolate chip cookies.  No Nestle Tollhouse here, but we used Cadbury chocolates.  They didn’t taste like what I was expecting but were ok.  It was fun to make them!  



Sanctuary Cove.

Em wanted to find some new sandals, so she and I took Lily over to Sanctuary Cove on our bikes.  It was a nice ride – definitely felt it in my legs and bum.  We replaced the calories we burned by eating yummy pizza and ice cream.





Netball.

I got to play a shooting position at netball!  So fun!  Em played Wing Defense for her team and liked that much better.  Oh yeah.  We’re netballers.





Nanny pics.

The rough life of a nanny and a toddler…





License.

It’s official!  Em is a licensed driver in Australia.  Look out!



Conferences.

Whoa.  I am a parent of a student.  I guess that makes me an adult. I know this sounds crazy, but I was nervous (like really nervous) about going to chat with Ty’s teacher for our first ever parent-teacher conference.  We don’t do drop-off or pick-up in his classroom because he has to go to before and after school care (enter guilt for being full time working parents), so we rarely get a chance to talk to his teacher.  He hasn’t received any “best in class” awards, nor have we received any notes in his boomerang book (brilliant concept for any teachers out there) about how he is a “joy to have in class”.  All I know is that he is learning a ton – he can actually read books!!!!! – and he is sometimes a handful for Jay and I.  So the first thing Mrs. Hanrahan says is “Do you have any questions for me?”  Well, yeah, is he behaving himself?  I can hear Steven’s voice ringing in my head “BEHAVE!!”  She was real sweet and cautious with her response.  She said that she has to remind herself that he is only 4 and then she remembers that he is behaving as a normal 4 year old behaves.  He is sometimes rude to the teachers (yikes – better nip that in the bud), and has a hard time staying focused long enough to complete activities.  And he has a hard time sitting still and being quiet on the mat.  But he’s only 4, and he surprises her by what he retains, so she isn’t too concerned.  Wah-wah.  No glowing reviews about how sweet and funny and awesome he is.  But she did go on to say that he is smart.  He is reading really well – going to move up to the next level of difficulty.  His maths skills are good.  Jay was able to walk away focusing on the positives, I hung onto the not-so-greats.  Meh.  In any case, Jay and I took a self to remember our first parent-teacher conference.  Stressful.



Neighbors.

One good thing about the conference is that we met one of the other dads.   We chatted with him a bit, and then found out that his wife volunteers as the class parent and she organized the prep Easter egg hunt at the park.  Great fun – a good chance to meet some of the other parents.  She also organized gathering homemade cards and a gift for Mrs. Hanrahan’s birthday.  Since we don’t get to the classroom, Ty and I dropped it off at their house.  Turns out they live 5 doors down.  Their daughter came over to play for a bit – really nice family.  

Breakdown.

I will start this next bit by saying that I am fine now.  But last weekend I wasnt.  Here’s the deal with me.  Sometimes I think I am going psycho and losing my mind.  I don’t realize that things are bothering me, until Jay says those magic words – “are you Ok babe?  You don’t seem like yourself.”  And before I know myself what is happening, I erupt into a string of nonsense for approximately one hour, intermittent with sobs and nose blowing and panic attacks.  Yes, dear readers, I am going crazy.  I have always been a tad bit on the dramatic side, but this experience occasionally pushes me over the stage.  I won’t bore you with all of the (hundred) things that came out of my mouth that night.  But what I did conclude is that having my 4 sisters all arrive within a month and a half, and having to say goodbye 3 times in the same timeframe, really really really sucked.  I didn’t realize it at the time.  I was all proud of myself for going to the airport and saying goodbye without bawling (or jumping in their suitcases), not realizing that I was just bottling it up and waiting for that wise question from Jay.  I am sure the other travelers would appreciate this reality-diverting technique.  But man, it sucked for Jay and I on Saturday night.  This past month and a half has been bothe the very best and the very worst time I have had in a year and a half. In the past I have been able to cushion the blow of goodbye knowing that someone was coming next and would be here soon.  This time I said goodbye, and I feel like that’s it until we move back home.  In December.  (Better be December).  I can hear the groans from halfway around the world.  “You are living in paradise.” “Just be happy.” “You have had heaps of visitors.”  Doesn’t matter – I can’t stop my crazy mind.  I might need to see a shrink.  Or I just need a good cry (panic attack, Kleenex devouring, wake the neighbors sob-fest) to get over it.  What I am wondering is how many dippers do I have to go through before I have completed my emotional journey and can just relax and enjoy things.  This was the biggest dipper yet, by far.  Maybe I will buy some ruby slippers and click my heels together.

But then I remind myself how lucky we are, how we are living in paradise, how I have two beautiful, healthy, and smart children, how we are traveling to amazing places, making a difference at work, and I have a husband that doesn’t bail when I go crazy.  No worries.

Country club.

The day after my meltdown, I felt like crap.  I looked like 100 bees stung me on my eye lids, but I had to power through the day.  We went shopping and then went to the golf club for a few drinks, putting competition (I didn’t win), live band, cute bartender (Em never got his number), bouncy house, and friendly chats.  We met a few more parents from school – I swear Ty knows people everywhere we go.  It really helped pull me out of my funk.



Week.

This week was challenging.  We had a price increase mid-week which kept me up until midnight, Jay’s month end, Ty and Emily’s Grandparents & Special Friends day, and oh, did I mention we are going to Sydney on Friday?  I am glad the week is over.

So yeah, I am a tad bit on the exhausted side, but the bags are (pretty much) packed, the alarm is set for 4:00 AM, the ride from the airport to the hotel is booked (no rental cars in Sydney in short notice over Easter), and I had to get a blog out.  Looking forward to a nice 4-day weekend and sharing it with you all.  G’day mates!!