Rainy Season

  It is definitely the rainy season here. It rains off and on all day just about every day. Sunny and hot one minute, pouring down the next. Have spotted a couple rainbows, which the kids love. School is moving right along. Half way done with Term 1 already. MA & DB are swimming at school and I have been helping as much as I can with that. So I usually in the pool 4 times between the 2 classes. EL is champ. She sits there and watches and sometimes even snaps a pic or two of us swimming. We got some special valentines day cards in the mail this week from Papa Harold and Grandma Carol. EL took her card everywhere with her the day she opened it. And Matt's boss brought some gifts back from Grandma and Papa. Thanks to Mr. Hargis and Steve for getting everything from point A (Metamora) to point B (Brisbane).  We hosted Flat Stanley for a couple days before sending him back to his family in TX. We also made some special valentines for our school friends. It isn't nearly as popular here as it is in the USA. Kids don't exchange valentines at school, no party. They don't do class  parties for any holidays here actually.

 Friday evening I sat on the balcony and enjoyed the sunshine and a glass of wine. Some days you just need to take a break.

MA just told me she is going to write a love story that never ends!

Noosa weekend

  We spent the weekend up at Noosa Heads. Hit a little traffic on the way but make it in time for dinner. The Surf Club was nice and had some decent food to go along with the views overlooking the beach. Saturday we woke up to rain. Luckily some friends were up there also so we went to their place. The kids had a swim and played. They have 3 close in age to our 3 so the kids had a blast! After lunch we headed back to our place so the kids could rest. I snuck out and did some shopping all by myself. When I got back, everyone was sleeping except MA. I took her down to the beach for a walk and some shell hunting. It was nice to spend some time just the two of us. Matt, DB, & EL met us after a while and we spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach. The kids were itching to swim in the pool back at the hotel so we stopped there for a quick dip before it was time to get some dinner. We tried a place right near the hotel called  Laguna Jacks. Best burger I have had since we moved here! Sunday we snuck in a little beach time before it started raining again. It was a wet weekend but we are already looking forward to another trip up to Noosa!

Soccer Sundays

  Matt got home from Germany first thing in the morning. It is one nice thing about international flights to Brisbane, most arrive bright and early. And once he lands, we aren't far from the airport. Unlike in IL, where we had a small airport 45 mins from the house and Chicago was a solid 2 hour drive.
  DB & EL started the Ginger Sports program today. It was at a nice park, the teacher was really good with the kids and they seemed to really like it. SCORE! There is a playground right next to the field so while 1 is playing the other 2 can run around. The classes were small and both kids did well controlling the ball and following directions.

Germany

  Matt had to travel for work. So he got to see a bit of Germany and got a taste of winter. After a full 24 hours of traveling by plane and train he arrived in Dortmund. One dinner they had was at a restaurant where you cooked your steak on a lava rock. You cooked it as you ate it. Interesting. Matt also said each beer was served in a specific glass to that beer. And the coordinating drink coaster was used. No mix and matching. They walked around this amazing Church! Cologne Cathedral. And no trip to Germany would be complete without a beer stein to as a souvenir. DB & EL got Kinder eggs, which are a egg shaped chocolate with a toy inside. MA got a new patch to add to her backpack!