Changes, Changes, Changes

We all have been adjusting to the new routine of a new school year.  It is quite a change from the lazy days of the summer holidays back in January.  Even though it has been a little tiring; this has been a welcome change to bring consistency back to our lives.  Plus, I am enjoying my child-free time while both kids are at school.  I've kept pretty busy so far; mostly by catching up on some errands and cleaning that I had put off over the holidays.  I have now completed most of these tasks and am fully prepared to enjoy some time to myself.  I have started to take at least one bush walk a week during school hours.  That is one of my favorite activities in Sydney.  It is the perfect mix of getting exercise while enjoying the views and spending time with friends.

Carter started Year 3 on January 30. Aubrey had to wait another day until she could start Kindy.  That was bittersweet as it gave me one more day with Aubrey, but she was anxious to begin her adventure at school.  She was so excited when she finally got to put on her uniform and head off to "big school".

Carter on his first day of school

Aubrey all ready to go on her special day

Both kids heading off to school

Aubrey sitting with her class. The kids are wearing their yellow sport uniform on this day.  All the kids sit under the sun shelter when the bell rings in the morning.  Carter is in the photo also - he is in the middle almost to the back.  Good luck trying to find him!

School has been going really well so far.  Aubrey is absolutely loving it even though she is very tired when she gets home, especially towards the end of the week.  She is starting to make friends.  She even gets excited doing her little "home readers" every evening.  Her Kindy teacher seems very sweet and I think it will be a very nurturing environment for her to begin her academic career.  

Carter got a pretty tough teacher for Year 3.  In Australia, as well as in the US from what I understand, Year 3 is a very formative year for the students.  It is a time when they expect the kids to become more independent students.  Carter is really liking it so far even though much more is being expected of him.  I'm a little proud of him when he takes his homework out of his bag every night and goes off to his desk to complete it.  

Children change a great deal every year, but I have a feeling that this will be a year of monumental changes for Carter and Aubrey.  They are both growing up so much.  That makes me very happy for the most part.  I love seeing the kids come into their own.  But, of course, it also makes me nostalgic. 

Aubrey also celebrated her 5th birthday this month.  This happened within the first week of her starting school, so we kept the celebrations relatively low key.  We invited her friend, Audrey, to Build a Bear at a local mall.  The kids had a blast.  Aubrey's gift from us was a body board that she named "Sandy".  She got the chance to go the beach 2 times in the week after her birthday to try her new board out.  Needless to say, she had a fabulous week.

Audrey and Aubrey

Daddy helping Aubrey dress her bear

Cupcakes after Build a Bear.  Yum!!

Aubrey on her body board 

The kids standing next to a flock of cockatoos.  We just finished playing on the beach at Manly Wharf.

Now that Aubrey is so grown up, she decided to take matters into her own hands when her hair was getting in her face while coloring the next week.  So, 30 minutes before we were to leave for school, I found her out on the balcony with her hair chopped.  It was a hectic morning trying to clean that up and get to school on time, but it all turned out okay.  It was actually a blessing in disguise.  I just tidied up the hair she missed in the very back and she now has a cute bob!! We didn't even need to take her anywhere to get it finished by a professional.  Now, we just have to make sure she doesn't get any more grand ideas with a pair of scissors in her hands!!

Post-haircut.  Pre-Mommy fix.

Look at all those beautiful locks of hair!!

The final product!!

This week was the last week of Carter's summer soccer season.  His team had a lot of heart, but they did not have a lot of luck when it came to winning games.  It didn't matter though; they had a wonderful time playing (and learning) the game of soccer.  He now gets a couple of months off before the winter season starts.  Soccer is considered more of a "winter" sport here in Sydney, so it will be a little more full-on when it starts again.  He is already looking forward to it.

The Mosman Magpies

We are winding down to the final days of summer in Australia.  Even though we have been here for 11 months, it still feels odd to me that the Midwest is getting blasted with a winter storm while I sit here writing this blog on a warm summer day.  I have been seeing multiple pictures on Facebook and reading everyone's stories about the horrible traffic.  I've been thinking about all of my friends and family back home today.  I can't believe it has been almost a year since I was working at North Kansas City Hospital.  If I was still living in Kansas City, I would be out there on those treacherous roads, especially since hospital workers don't get snow days.  I think I will take summer over that!!