Chase's 5th Birthday

We love a reason to put on a celebration. And Chase's 5th birthday was a perfect occasion.

He has caught the party planning bug too, and started flipping through the cookbooks weeks before to find a cake theme he liked. A castle was his pick.



A cake like this is a couple day project. First we baked the cakes. Distracted by baking with two kids, I forgot to add 8 cups of butter to the batter. Surprisingly though they tasted just fine. So, the 5 year olds got a low fat cake instead.

Then we made the icing and we were ready for assembly.


At this point I took over the project as two kids, pots of icing and bags of candy seems like a risky proposition.



The icing is proving a problem to deal with. It has a totally different consistency than when I make it in Canada, and after some tinkering I still end up with a gooey, runny iced cake. The strategy is to cover it with so much candy that the icing will take a back seat!



Charlie and I deliver the cake to Chase's class for morning "tea".


The brave teacher even let the kids have seconds! (They didn't seem to mind the missing butter or the droopy icing!)

The Wiggles

Crocodile Dundee. Foster's. The Sydney Bridge. Nicole Kidman. Ayres Rock.

THE WIGGLES.... all Australia icons.

Thursday the whole family stepped out for the Wiggles' Dorothy the Dinosaur Show. It was definitely the D-list cast, but the kids didn't seem to mind. Chase was fixated. And Charlie was content to climb up and down the stairs - again and again.

The Big Move

We finally got to say goodbye to the hotel after six weeks as move in day came over the Easter extra long weekend.

Sayonara Hotel Room!



The house is empty and ready for our 297 boxes! At this point I have already been stressing for a couple of weeks about where we are going to put everything. This 1920 vintage house has ZERO clothes closets.






The truck with five guys and six crates of our worldly possessions rolls into town. Everything has passed through quarantine except for a dirty bike and two straw baskets.


By mid day the crates are empty...


Despite the fact that we have paid for a full service move, we are left with this as the movers skiddaddle at midday, never to be seen again.



We realize now that we brought way too much stuff with us. But at the time we were packing up, everything seems important as you don't know what you will need. So, as we unpacked boxes we did another cull to pick and choose what to keep.


At the end of Day 1, we had a place to sleep.

Ah, my own bed...


It was a very long day, and not everyone made it to bed before falling asleep. Zzzz!

Easter

The week before Easter was busy with egg hunts (no fewer than three!)and preparations for the move to our house.

Chase had a hunt at school, plus both boys went to one with Chase's entire class at a park after school and one community one. Poor Charlie can't eat the chocolate - but I still think he had a good time.








The day before the extra long Easter long weekend with THREE!! stat holidays, Chase delivered 50 packages of Easter treats to Dad's office. Although he had requested a full bunny suit, he made do with the ears.

Call for Stamps

Chase's class is collecting used stamps for a project. If you have any used stamps that you wish to send us, we would be most grateful.

Here are photos from a recent trip to the playground. The Aussies put a lot of resources into their kids and the parks are no exception. They are on every corner (or so it seems), immaculate landscaping, no garbage and well maintained.

Charlie's face is white from the sunscreen. Mom needs to do a better job applying. But it hard to do with a constantly moving child!

First Day of School

Chase was ready by 7 am for his first day of school. At his own initiative he had packed his own lunch the day before. In fact he wanted to pack it on Wednesday after we had bought the lunch kit. Love the enthusiasm!

He is totally into the uniform - even the bright yellow hat. The shirts are red and blue which being Spiderman colours were a huge hit.

At his age the school day is from 8:50 am to 3:10 pm, but the classroom is open at 8:30 am for kids to settle in. Pretty long day for a 4 year old I thought. But when I came at lunch to check on him, when asked if he wanted to leave, he replied, "Mom, I haven't even had lunch yet!" and walked off. Full day program... no problem.


His only disappointment was when we told him on Saturday morning as he was packing his lunch that there were two more sleeps to school again.

Fruitful Day

I have now learned over the past weeks that house hunting and school enrollement are two favourite and VERY competitive sports down here. After looking at about 20+ houses we were getting discouraged. But.... We got word that the house we had applied to lease is ours starting on April 22nd! Yippee. It is modest (ie, small!) but a lovely Federation style home that has been updated very tastefully. Right across the street from a highly rated public school for Chase. We can see his clas from the front yard.

We had to muscle our way into the school. There was only one spot in his pre primary class and there was another family vying for it. They were in the same predicament having recently moved to Perth and looking for a house in the catchment area. I gather the school felt awkward accepting our application as the other family had been liasing with them for several weeks. But their lease application was still pending. It is all about the paperwork and theirs wasn't complete.

So the boys and I motored over to the school late yesterday with the documents in hand and presto he is now registered. He starts Friday! Now we are off today to buy the required supplies and uniform.

Chase is quite thrilled about the uniform as it is blue and red - Spiderman colours. Not sure how he feels about it being a full day program from 8:30 to 3 pm.

Busy day ahead finalizing house and school details.

The Beach

We have moved hotels three times since arriving which has been a mammoth effort each time. Kids are challenged by transitions and we have 20 + pieces of luggage. The hotel situation in this city is tight. We had been downtown paying $450 a night for a serviced 2 bedroom apartment. But the "service" part of it apparently is only if you request it and only if housekeeping has time before they leave at 2pm. Huh? What exactly are we paying $450 a night for then?

After sitting in a rather dingy, unclean apartment a few nights there we came to a clean, new apartment hotel on Scarborough Beach.

So, after two weeks here it was finally time to hit the beach.

I will admit that I was nervous taking the two boys by myself. However, 35 degree heat will encourage any mother trying to fill up a hot day with two kids to take a leap of faith and head for the water.

I took about 45 minutes to gear up: suits, hats, lifejackets, sunscreens, sunnies (sunglasses), cooler with drinks, beach toys....

Charlie was none too pleased about this endeavour.


My nervousness was reinforced by the reoccuring signs warning us of all the perils - snakes, sharks, strong tide.





I made the mistake of bringing the stroller with me to the beach. There is no photo of that unfortunate decision as I was too busy lugging a stroller full of gear and carrying Charlie who refused to step on the hot sand - with his sandals ON.

Chase was helpful lugging gear. He was very keen on swimming. Looks like he needs a dip in the Indian Ocean. Those cheeks are so red!




The payoff.



(P.S. We didn't stay at the beach very long. The current was exceptionally strong that afternoon and I couldn't hold both kids safely. So much to Chase's dismay we left after very little beach time. A dip in the hotel pool was a very distant second choice for an afternoon activity!)

House Hunting

I went house hunting this morning with two kids in 33 degree heat. Shall we say a recipe for tears, whining, meltdowns and bungled naps ?!

First Impressions

We have had three full days here now. Christian left for Bangkok about 16 hours after we arrived in Perth so the boys and I have been exploring on our own. Here is a brief recap of our impressions.

Chase says what he likes most about Australia is:
1) kangaroos (although we have yet to see one)
2) room service because "I don't have to have what Mom tells me to". I have advised him that this is a temporary phenomena.
3) swimming in Daddy's boss' pool on Sunday. He wanted to go back on Monday insisting that they told him to "come back anytime".

What he hasn't enjoyed:
1) throwing up on the plane. He says he isn't coming back home for Christmas.
2) the heat. It was 35 degrees yesterday!

As for me, I am enjoying:
1) just being with the kids
2) the smell of tropical warmth
3) leaving the sweaters and coats in the closet

Not enjoying:
1) the extreme heat as it difficult to keep the kids entertained inside
2) one or both of them starting the day around 3am !
3) Charlie falling in the pool. Scary but he was ok.

Gotta run! It is their feeding time...

$

Never again will I bat an eye at paying $1.29/lb for bananas at home. Organic or not.
Yesterday the boys and I trekked to the grocery store, Woolworth's. We took the city bus and with help of the iPhone map (Mom's new lifeline) got there uneventfully.

Back to the bananas.... They are $9.99/kg. I know 2.2 lb per kg but still pricey. Feels like pay back for the 100's of half eaten bananas that the kids have had.

Colgate toothpaste was $4.79 for a tube. And we are not talking about a Costco size one either.

Altogether one average size bag of groceries was $54!

Emails

Thanks to all who have sent messages to check in on us. The boys and I are all well. Christian left about 16 hours after our arrival for Thailand on business. Poor him.
Got my iPhone set up-love it! For some reason I can read emails but can't reply. So I am not ignoring you all. Just technically challenged at the moment.

The boys are in good spirits and transitioning well.

Arrived!

32 hours later and we are here! The boys were awesome travellers. On the long flight to Sydney a fellow traveller commented that Chase was the best child traveller he had ever seen. Chase has a conflicted impression of travel now. Loved flying in First Class but hated throwing up EVERYWHERE five minutes after departing Sydney on a 5+ hour flight. He is fine now although maintains he is never flying again! More to come...

Farewell Canada!

In our family, all big events get counted down by the number of sleeps remaining until the said event. Lying in bed around 4 am this morning wide awake, I counted that it was roughly 240 sleeps ago that Christian and I began discussing this whole adventure. Now its ZERO! We fly out tonight.

In my grade 12 yearbook, I put this quote:
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. There is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

We have spent these months building the foundation, and now we leave to discover our "castle" in Australia!

First Day of Retirement

I'm playing catch up a bit with the blog so this post is a bit out of sequence. My first day of "retirement" was February 23rd. SNOW day!

Goodbyes!

Last weekend the boys had a Farewell Party with their friends combined with an early 5th Birthday Party for Chase! There was some concern on Chase's part that if he didn't have a celebration with his Canada friends that he wouldn't be able to turn an official five years in Australia. Are you following? These four year olds have some very complex ideas!

Good wishes to our dear sweet Joy, who has taken such wonderful care of our boys!



Policeman Charlie hard at play...








Nothing is more all consuming to four year old boys than super heroes. So, in order to win Mom of the Year, here is my contribution of a Superman, oops, I mean Spiderman cake.



Happy (almost) 5th birthday Chase!

Where's Our Ship?

We have been tracking online our containers destined for Fremantle, Australia (near Perth). (Thanks Naomi for this tip!).

I wonder which containers are ours?!

The Zim Ningbo is currently in the South China Sea. ETA in Australia is March 9th - it will arrive before the Kittlesons do!

Goodbye Mitchell!

Dear Mitchell,

I love your house. You have lots of toys and that's why I love it. I enjoy playing lots of Spiderman games with you and I love you every day.
I will miss you.

From, Chase

(authored by the one and only Chase)

Packed and Ready to Go!

2 guys. 36 hours. 297 boxes and pieces of furniture. 2 twenty foot containers. A lot of stuff to pack.

So much stuff the movers ran out of boxes.



At the end of the third day, the truck is loaded and ready to go.



I won't think about the unpacking part of this venture till April!!

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