Some fun facts about Australia

Here are some fun facts about Australia:

• Even though you drive on the right side of the car in Australia the pedals are the same.
• You can't make a right on red when driving
• Cars have kph not mph here
• Bacon here is really ham. Not cured or smoked, like American bacon
• They don't sell Crystal Light or Kool-Aid here. We make our own lemonade.
• Australians love Lamb and Meat Pies
• Australia doesn't sell shortening (Crisco) 
• Dog food is in the refrigated section in the grocery store
• The yolks of eggs aren't yellow they are orange
• Baking and cooking take some tweaking. Different measurements and oven temperature
• No cable! We have a Apple TV and we order season passes of our favourite American shows off of iTunes.
• Most of the stores here close at 5pm and are closed on Sundays
• Burger King is called hungry jacks
• Mcdonalds is called Maccers 
• In grocery store everything is sold by kilogram not by pounds
• They charge you for a plastic bag at Target
• You have to get use to using your spare change. They have one and two dollar coins here.

They have different names for things here. 

Rockmelon= Cantaloupe

Capisum=bell peppers

Rashers=Bacon

Thongs=flip flops

Jumper= sweater

Surname=last name

Give Way= yield

Arvo= afternoon

How are you going?= How are you doing?

Loo or toliet= restroom

Boot =trunk of a car

Bonnet=hood of a car

Tick=checkmark

Pram=Stroller

Prawns=shrimp

Cushions=throw pillows

Trolley=cart

Beef Mince=ground beef

Now you know a little bit more about Australia. 

Cheers! (Have a good day) 

Starting to feel more like home

What a busy two weeks it has been. Last week we had two cyclones (hurricanes) within two days. Of course they made a big deal about saying their will be major damage to homes, no water,no power and winds up to 125kph (80 mph). Hailey even brought home a note from school that said "To use your judgement" when sending your kids to school the day after the storm. Of course not knowing what to expect during a cyclone I went to the store and got our bread,eggs,and milk just in case we were unable to get to the stores in the next couple of days.That night of the second storm we didn't sleep much at all. It was raining buckets! The wind was blowing so hard there were waves in our pool. The next morning there were a few down tree limbs but nothing major got damaged,Jason still went to work, and the girls still had school.

Two days later our sea container came! It was like Christmas in June! The first thing we set up was our beds. We went two months sleeping on air mattresses, so we needed a good nights rest.We all went to bed early that night and enjoyed our first night in our bed in our new home. The girls are loving all their toys again and their newly decorated rooms. We have pictures on the walls,toys and game pieces everywhere, and dried up toothpaste on the sink. But things are FINALLY starting to feel more like home.

A Day at the Beach

Jason went out golfing today with some friends from work. So while he was gone golfing, I toke the girls to the beach for a few hours. They had so much fun. We made sandcastles, collected seashells, and explored the beach.It was so fun watching and listening to the girls discover all the ocean life on the beach. Remember it's winter here, so we couldn't go swimming in the ocean. But I managed to get some pretty neat pictures. 

Sometimes I really have to pinch myself. I can't believe we live here! 

Winter in Australia

It is now winter in Australia. I know that might seem strange for all our family and friends back in the states. Winter in Australia is very different then the winters that we come to know back in Idaho. There is no snow, it's not cold, and there is no ice. Winter here just means rain and LOTS of it. The temperature here has been as low as 40 degrees F in the morning and that was the coldest day in May in 95 years. During the days that it rains it averages between 60 and 70 degrees F. When I say rain, it isn't a thunderstorm or a drizzle it is a full on downpour. It rains so much in a short amount of time that there are actual puddles of water everywhere and the grass is so wet it slides from underneath your foot as you step on it.
This morning the girls and I had to take the public transit bus to school today (our car is in the shop) when we left the house it wasn't raining. But when we were waiting for the bus at the bus stop it started down pouring. I brought along a umbrella but that only goes so far when there is horizontal rain coming right toward your face. So our girls went to school soaking wet. Everything from their hair to their backpack was drenched. I felt bad but there was nothing I could do. This morning was the only morning we didn't have a ride to school and of course it had to rain cats and dogs! After I dropped the girls off at school, I walked over to the shops (shopping mall) and ran some errands and got some more umbrellas. I figured we will need them in the next couple of months.
When I finally got home after all that, I changed out of my wet clothes and got on my iPad and noticed that my cousin, Marsha Mattson (Harty) was online. So I gave her a ring. I got to chat with her, my Aunt Rainey,and got to see Marsha's newest little bundle of joy, Isabella. She is so cute and has dark hair just like Uncle Jack. It was so great to hear their voice and see them even though they are thousand of miles away. After I got off of Skype with Marsha, I Skyped with my sister,Carla. It's so funny how your day turns around after you talk to family. We miss all our friends and family back in the states. So if you ever want to Skype or FaceTime, msg me on Facebook and we can work out a time to get online and chat.

Have a great day!

Fun in Fremantle

Yesterday we when to the old seaside town of Fremantle.We decided when people come and visit us this is a must see and do place. It was so much fun!We ate fresh fish and chips off of a boat dock, rode a HUGE ferris wheel, had fun in the park, shopped around at the markets and saw a old prison. We spent the whole afternoon there,until we got tired and decided to take the long and crowded trip back home on the train. That is another thing that we had to get used to is public transit,which Jason takes everyday to work and we take if we have to go into the city for something. Otherwise you have to worry about parking and paying for parking. We have what they call a smart pass. It's a card we use to tag on and off of buses and trains. We can wire money directly onto the card though the internet. That way you don't have to worry about carrying cash on you every time you want to get on a bus or train.

All experiences have been been great but, we miss our small town, simple life in Idaho.

Old Church in Fremantle

Eating Fresh fish and chips on the boat dock

Picture of the Ferris Wheel

Jayden 

Jayden 

Jayden on the Ferris Wheel

View from the top of the Ferris Wheel

Hailey on the Ferris Wheel

Beach of Fremantle

Boat harbor