Once a month - update

Hi all,

The few who still follow the worst updated blog. Sorry.

Things in Perth have been getting busy, we have joined a playgroup on Mondays, have library reading time on Friday mornings, and have bought a car, and rented a house in the last week.

Today I have been making arrangements for Cassie to start Kindy in February, like pre-school back home, and also trying to get both Cassie and Marcus into Swimming lessons.

Otherwise things here are good, apparently our shipment has arrived and now needs to be in quarantine for a couple of weeks. Only a little more time and then we will be into our place and settling in.

The kids are growing and thriving, Marcus is getting eye teeth and still believes most of the time sleeping is optional! He is climbing everything and does not think the word no means anything, except do it again.

Cassie is growing up quick, seeming older everyday. Her language and negotiation skills are impressive, and I think we will have a run for our money when she does really want something! Like Dora tickets, who is coming live in October. Yes, we are taking her.

All is well down under, we are getting adjusted and trying to make this feel a little like home.

Below are some photos - some at home and some since we've gotten here

This is the life

Living in Australia has been pretty good so far, some bumps and issues, but that all seems small when on Saturday we went down to the beach, had lunch, played in the sand, threw the kids into the water, and just relaxed.  The winter you say, well hopefully by this time next year I am not thinking this is so cold we need boots!!

Looks like we are going to be back on the house hunt in the next couple of weeks, and I am hopeful that there will be some great options to choose from.  I am very ready for a yard, as Cassie says when we pick up Mike, and she runs on the grass infront of his office "Mommy I miss grass"  not a kid ready for the bricked outside patio we have now.

Mike is working hard, and enjoying life.  We went for a wonderful dinner for our anniversary on friday, right on the water, which would be prettier in the light.  This week I am off to find a moms group, swimming lessons and something for me to do by myself!

Well I will try and get some photos up in the next couple of days....

A Weekend in Perth

This weekend was the first here in Perth that was good weather, so we decided to make the most of it.  First thing Saturday morning, we headed out to go to Kings Park, a huge green beautiful park in the heart of the city.  It is bordered by the river, and it just stunning old growth forest.  Before we got there, though we needed a car!  Yes, my fellow right hand side drivers I was going to make the plunge.  Walking distance is good, but with 2 kids, a stroller, and 1000 lbs of gear always I was ready to have some help in the Shirpa department!!

Off we went to the car rental, and after a few dollars and a Canadian drivers license was exchanged I was off.  Mike bravely walked back with the kids since we were just blocks from the house, we still needed to install the car seats.  I drove, without any issues, but mind you it was a one way and I only had to turn for our block, but at no time did I freak out and drive into crazy traffic, as once I had a sister do!!


Well off to the park we went, walking as it is close and the kids needed the time outside.  Stopped for a flat white (Aussie Latte) and we were off.  We went to an area aptly named Sticky Beaks, and experienced one of perths thousands of kids areas.  Cassie played in a ship and on a castle.  Marcus ate sand and learned he too could go down the slide.  Swings and running were done by both.  On the way out we grabbed a little lunch Cassie and Marcus both gobbling down meat pies after generating a huge appetite.

We headed home to meet the lady who was bringing a wooden cot - crib and a high chair.  Marcus seems to be having issues sleeping and given we have 2 months until his furniture gets here we figured it would not hurt to have him in a crib, so far little change on the sleeping But I still have hope. 

Today we woke up excited to go out, and somewhat leery to try this driving thing for a distance beyond the immediate vicinity.  It was supposed to rain so we decided against the zoo and went for the aquarium instead.  All the way up to Hillarys Boat Harbour - a location 30 minutes away.  Into the car we got, 4 people, 2 car seats, our trusty stroller, which is starting to groan in complaint and a backpack full of emergency rations and diapers.  Well the drive was great, I drove there, and besdies the one time turning left I hit the curb it was great.  A little crazy when at one of the many traffic circles, and sometimes scary when turning across traffic, but we made it in one piece.  We got to the spot and were amazed to see yet again another huge area for kids, many restaurants, and a beautiful beach.  Off we went for food first and then Cassie asked to go to the beach.  Off came the shoes and the socks and up rolled the pants.  In to the water she went, a little cautious, but feet in the water.  Marcus on the other hand could not wait for me to get his shoes off, and walked right in, deep enough I had to take his pants right off to dry.  We played for a while and then headed to the Aquarium.  We saw Sharks, StingRays, turdles, baby Crocks, and so many fish.  All of us were asstonded to see the underwater moving sidewalk that took you into the tank where the sharks lived.  They swam right over our heads!!  Very cool.

Well that was our weekend, I managed to make Lasagna using I think a broiler pan, and a vegtable peeled for grating cheese, but it tasted great in the end.

Miss you all love
The Varners

July 30th

Perth winter....Here it is rainy, but only for a little bit and without much warning. yesterday around 3pm I decided I had enough of sitting in the apartment and listening to Cassie and Marcus whine, and beat each other up. Which by the way is now my life with Marcus moving his favorite thing is to grab her by the shirt and pull her down. Due to early watching of men fighting in cages, I believe Marcus thinks he can take anyone. I am sure I will now have the little monster on the playground, and will be saying "I'm sorry my child just ground your kids face into the sand"

I digress, so we went for a walk mainly for my sanity and stumbled across a Farmers Market, which had everything from a fresh flower stand, which had some beautiful flowers, all of which Cassie wanted to smell, to fresh meat and tons of veggies. We wandered around looking at all the sights, and then went outside to see Woolworth's a grocery store similar to Safeway! In we went and just in the nick of time given the clouds opened and the Aussies were dashing for cover under all the nicely provided awnings.

Cassie asked why are we here? Well to look and see I said remembering I did not yet have a bank card that worked and with only $50 I would be limited on what we could get, that and the fact that without a car, I have a stroller that usually contains 2 kids, on in and one on top, a backpack filled with bottle, sippy cup and diapers, new additions are umbrella, coats for the kids, rain cover for Marcus and my mobile phone. Not a ton of room left for food shopping.

Our apartment fridge is also one that could fit nicely into a university dorm room, and the night I made spaghetti Mike had to take shelves out to house our leftovers!

The store was wonderful, spread out in a handy fashion, with all the things I love to see. Oh wait looking for tylenol. Not to be found. There is Advil, and Paracetamol, and no I thought that was the brand name, but it is the drug. I stood there looking at the drug section for ages, until a gentleman came by and I ventured to ask - do you know if Tylonol exists? He looked surprised and confused. I have realized that my accent is sometimes a bit surprising, and men generally are not used to be asking for help. Needless to say I left without drugs and headed to the till. The cashier assured my my bank card would work, I was highly skeptical but decided to take the chance, being reasonably sure I stayed within the $50 I had. Nope, $51.90, damn! I searched through my whole wallet and was able to come up with $51.50, Arghhhh. Well I will out back the .....the same drug man behind me said,I have .40 if you would like, as I can see you have your hands full! Great Thanks I said. Stuffing the food under the stroller, picking up the bottle for the 100th time, I headed out into the rain, Marcus covered, Cassie on top, holding an umbrella and trying to push an overweight cart with one hand.....Life in Perth continues.

Life in Australia

Hi everyone,

I am going to try and keep up on the posting, but the regular caveat exists - I am really bad at sticking to it, and horrid at remembering to post often, so I will do my best.

We arrived in Perth on Sunday after a long and delayed trip. The kids were great for most of the time. The end of our flight to Sydney was tough on Marcus and Cassie was less then pleased with the delay in Sydney.

The last couple of days have been spent getting cell phones - mobile, bank accounts and trying to get oriented.

I will keep you updated on our progress and try and add photos from my phone. So far no idea how

A long time coming

Ok - so my attempt and promise to blog more is not working out so well, and I am not sure that going back to work is going to help! I will do my best, which by the way is what you have seen so far.

Today I had dinner with the Sisters, kids and various husbands, and boyfriend. Cy and Cass spent a ton of time out in the yard making dirty pies, dirty cookies and dirty juice. They all had the same ingredients dirt, then snow and water. They were covered in mud, and loving it.
I looked out the window to see Cy dumping water on Cassie. I headed out to strongly suggest we dont do that, and I heard Cassie saying "dont dump water on me, I am going to tell my Mommy!" Ahhhh the joys of little ones. I get to be her savior and I love it.

Marcus is now a crazy crawling, climbing and moving machine. He has the best grin when you say Marcus NO, and he looks over his shoulder and grins as if to say, Are you going to stop me? I dont think so.

I am really enjoying the moments between them. They hold hands and Cassie gets stuff for him all the time. She also likes dragging him around by his hand or leg, since he thinks it is the funniest thing ever.

Feeding himself is the new craze and he is getting good at food in the mouth, although Cherrios are still the main color of my floor.

Cassie and Mike now spend a little time every evening playing "I go fast you go fast" Originally she wated to call it You go fast, I go faster, but Mike was not so into that game! They race around the hall and upstairs chasing each other, and Cassie jumps onto the couch or Mike catches her. Such a relaxing game before bed.....

Another post

Today I was looking to see when Cassie said her first word, and I realized I only posted once in 2009, wow was I bad. So ok I will post more.

Marcus is crawling like crazy, pulling up and on saturday let go and stood all by himself. Not too shabby for 8.5 months. Cassie is crazy and loves to dress up and change clothes 100 times a day, regardless of what I say about not wanting to do so much laundry!

Marcus also said "up" 6 times on the weekend, his first real word. Mike did not beleive me, but then he said it to him....growing too fast. Cassie is asking us what is that word now when we read to her, and she is so focused on letters. Very cool stage.

I am getting ready to go back to work, much to my dismay, but a paycheck will be greatly appreciated.

More soon
Maybe even photos