Our Church

 Of course we know that the gospel is the same throughout the world, but some things are just a little different in Canberra.  One thing that is different in our ward is the nursery snack.  There isn't one.  The little nursery kids come to church with their lunch boxes and bring their own food for snack time.  

 Just because the nursery kids don't get a snack doesn't mean the other kids can't have a snack.  It seems like every week Faith, Spencer and James get cupcakes or treats.  My favorite is Music, Muffins and Milo.  Milo is supposed to be like hot chocolate, but Spencer says it's disgusting.  On Music, Muffins and Milo weeks, the primary kids get hot milo, cupcakes and they sing the whole time.  

Our primary isn't very big so Spencer and James are in the same primary class.  All the kids 9-11 are in the same class.  Faith has her own Sunbeams class.  We are the Chinese ward in the stake, so if anyone speaks Chinese or wants to be with a larger group of Chinese people at church, they come to our ward.  Most of the Chinese members of our ward are students at uni (that is what they call university, pronounced "you-knee.")There are about five American families including us, but we don't mind being the minority.  We sure love getting to know the Aussies.  

Mackers

 Restaurants are very expensive here, so we think it is a huge treat just to go to McDonald's, or Mackers,  as they call it here.  You know you're in Australia when you can get Vegemite at Mackers.  We, and by we I mean I, tried Vegemite one night and now I can say I don't really need to ever eat it again.  Supposedly the best way to eat it is with buttered toast.  

 We don't dare try this lamb burger yet.  Doug ordered an Angus burger.  It sounded very American, and it almost was if you don't count the egg and beet root on it. I guess they put eggs and beet root on almost every hamburger in Australia.

Just like McDonald's at home, Mackers has a playground.  

My Girls

 These little gals certainly keep life interesting.  When they are not screaming, crying, fighting over toys or annoying the boys, they are being adorable.  

 I do love the time I get to spend with them until they leave me for preschool.  This picture was taken at a lake we walked around with our playgroup friends.

 Making music and messes.

Being rock stars after church.

Library Day

In many ways, our life in Australia is no different from life in the States.  The boys go to school, and the girls and I keep busy with playgroups and other outings.  Thursdays mean library story time. We have a great library very close to our house.

It is always very crowded with lots of kids.  They read stories and sing songs.  They love the Hokey Pokey! The five monkeys swinging in a tree teasing Mr. Alligator are not little, though, they are cheeky. 

Paint and Play

 Every Wednesday the YMCA sponsors a great activity called Paint and Play for toddlers.  They bring every messy thing that you don't really want your kids to do at home, and they let the kids play with the messy stuff at the park.  Brilliant.

 The girls LOVE to paint.

 Play doh time.

 Faith says this playground toy is from "Splat a Lot" (same thing as Wipe Out).

Ow

Faith fell off of a chair at church and came down right on the metal leg of another chair.  Hope is constantly bonking her head, and between the two of them, it's a wonder the authorities haven't questioned us.

The Mall

 It seems that shopping malls are dying in the States, but they are still going strong in Australia.  Everything is in the mall around here:  Target, Kmart, grocery stores, etc.  Target in Australia is not the same as Target back home. Target in Australia is more like a department store in the mall with clothes, toys, books, and housewares.  I'll just tell you if you are looking for contact solution or poster board for a school project, don't go to Target.

 Because so many people have shopping carts in the mall (except they are not carts, they are trolleys), the escalators don't have stairs.  They are moving ramps that go up and down.

 Just like the malls in the States, there are playgrounds for the little kids.

 And not so little kids.

 I have no idea who that other girl is.

 Some things are just plain better at the mall here.  Take the mother's room for instance.  These rooms are AWESOME!  They have changing stations for diapers (they aren't diapers, though, they're nappies).

 They have sinks and microwaves, nursing rooms with comfy chairs...

 play centers for older siblings and a restroom for the moms and toddlers all in this one parent center.  Makes me want to have another baby so we can hang out in these rooms more.   Then again, I guess we're here enough.

Here's something else that is better in Australia's malls than back in the States.  See those red lights above each car?  The lights turn green if the spot is open.  You don't have to drive down each aisle forever looking for a parking spot. You just have to look up and check to see if there is a green light.  Love this.

Assemblies

 At the boys' school, they hold an assembly every Monday.  They give out awards to a few of the boys, and these awards are not just generic awards like "Student of the Month" or something. Each boy is awarded something very personalized and unique.  

 In addition to the awards, a grade performs a musical number.  Spencer's grade has performed twice this term, and James performed once but we missed it.

 At the end of the assemblies, they announce the Housepoints for the week.  Love it.  The different houses play sports games against each other, although, Quidditch isn't one of them.

 The girls love this chess set.