New Sport for Silka....

You know how the younger sibling always wants to do what the older sibling does? Well, Rein had his buddy, Felix, over on the weekend and before we knew it they had found some boxing gloves (well one set - the other used gardening gloves ) and a couple of helmets and they were boxing in the back yard. At first,we thought we should put an immediate end to their shenanigans but we were impressed that they took the time to find appropriate protection (including taking their shoes off) and they were having fun - actually giggling their way through it. We decided to leave them alone. Little did we know that Silka, who watched them the whole time, went away with a strong desire to partake in such sport herself.
On Monday, she had Ayodhya (a Sri-Lankan boy from her class) over for a play after school. Little did he know what he was in for. Silka soon had him suited up with boxing gloves and a helmet and was about to give him a wallop with her garden-gloved hand when Tom decided to intervene. He hung up a punching bag that the Tippings left behind for us and recommended that they have a go at that instead. It proved to be at least a half hour's worth of entertainment.
Maybe I should have a go at it the next time I step in a glob of toothpaste that one of the kids leaves on the floor or Tom leaves toast crumbs on the counter.....
The kids might be onto something...

Happy Belated Canada Day!

You would all be proud of us. We celebrated Canada Day like any Canadian would. It started Friday when I visited Rein and Silka's classes to talk about Canada and help out with some activities centered on Canadian themes. In Silka's class we talked about all the animals that are in Canada, and watched a short National Geographic video on the Canadian beaver and the Canadian National Anthem on youtube. I helped them make beaver faces and Canadian flags and brought in Canadian maple syrup (yes, I did find some - but not cheap on the other side of the world!) for them to enjoy with pancakes they made in class that day.
For Rein's class we had a "Question/Answer" session where each child asked a question and Rein helped me answer them. We also played a game in which I would say the Canadian term and they would guess the Australian term - it was lots of fun. When the kids packed up to leave for the day, Rein and I gave each student a plastic spoon with maple taffy on it (I made it the night before). It was a hit!

We met up with some other Canadian exchange families on Saturday at King's Park where we had a barbecue picnic and played soccer in between rain showers. I put an end to the party when I tripped over the soccer ball and sprained my ankle pretty badly. It was too bad - it was adults vs. kids and the parents were up a few points. Tom and Mike arm-chaired me to the car and we headed to the hospital. We were there for a couple of hours and after a few pokes and prods and some x-rays it was determined that I didn't break it as I had believed and was just a bad sprain. I am on crutches for a week or two. It is now Monday and I am twiddling my thumbs. I can't do much - nothing weight-bearing. So, I have been looking for things to entertain myself and, well, here is my sad 'Canada Day' salute. Thinking about you all....

Viva Las Vegas! - Rein's Year 3 Assembly, June 29th

welcoming the parents

recorder performance

 Rein and his class had a year 3 assembly this past Wednesday. Well, he was just as good as Silka was with keeping his class performance on the hush hush. We knew that his class was going to be performing Elvis's "Viva Las Vegas" but that was all he would reveal. Well, I and the other parents were very entertained. I spent a few nights making Rein his Cowboy attire including guns (the teacher gave them the kibosh) and a holster out of duct tape and cardboard.

year 3 cowboys and cowgirls

First, up on the podium, Rein and a few other class mates welcomed all of the parents to the year 3 assembly. Then merit awards were presented to some students and then the entertainment began. They started with 'Viva Las Vegas', followed by '5,6,7,8' and then they wrapped up with a song that they played with the recorder. Here are a couple of videos and some pics- don't worry, you will not be subjected to the recorder performance - although, it wasn't too bad...
Way to go, Rein!

whoo...whoo

Draw!

Yanchep National Park - June 18th

Bougainvillea Mountain

'roos playing footy

 

Purple Gallinule

Rein's injury from a stalactite attack

Silka and Meghan feeling a 'roo pelt

learning about the Aboriginal experience

playing the Didgeridoo

making fire

We met up with some of the other exchange families in Yanchep National Park (45 minutes north of Perth). It rained on and off during the day but enjoyed ourselves nontheless. When we arrived, we met up with everyone at the Crystal Cave where we went below and walked through passages lined with stalactites and stalagmites. Rein was attacked by a stalactite (he jumped up and whacked his head on one). With the sight of a fair amount of blood and kids surrounding him saying "Ew! Look at that!", he turned white and almost fainted - Tom and I carried him out. He soon recovered after sitting down in the car for a bit. It wasn't long before everyone else emerged and we headed back to the picnic area to have lunch.
The kids played some footy after for a while.
We were off to another part of the park to learn





about Australia's Aborigines at the Aboriginal Experience". It was great! We learned about many of their customs, how they used some of their tools, how to make fire, how to throw a spear and were delighted with our teacher's impress-ive ability with a Didgeri-doo. He let some of the men in the group try (women do not play the Didgeridoo, they only make them). We were entertained with a range of flatulent sounds. We ended our day with a visit with the park's Koalas. As usual, they just slept for the most part with a few stretches once in a while. We did catch one that was relatively active and eating some Eucalyptus. It must have woken up hungry from a very long nap.

 

trying out the Didgeridoo

"Yorga Mia" - women's place

Ahhhh.....stretch.....yawn.....stretch

Aunt Tacos came for a visit...

'roos at Pinnaroo

Cuttle Fish at the Aquarium - my favourite

Museum at Houghton Estates

Aunt Cathy, Honey House

Representing the entire Spennato Clan, Aunt Cathy (Tacos) arrived in Perth on June 8th. She left her husband, Garry, family and friends behind to take a tour of the southern hemisphere on the other side of the world. Having a niece living in Australia for a year does make

the trip much easier and more worthwhile of course. She had spent more than a week touring around the south island of New Zealand before she arrived on Western Australia soil (or sand, I should say). She rested up for the first day or so and after feeling rejuvenated and energized enough to continue her explorations, we took her to various places around Perth over the next week. While Tom and the kids were at school, I shared the Pinnaroo Kangaroo experience that was introduced to us earlier on by the Professor, Stephen Satchell. We also went to the Aquarium at Hilary's Boat Harbour after we enjoyed light lunch there. Some other places we managed to get to were the Western Australia Museum, the State Library, King's Park and a tour through Swan Valley. While we were in Swan Valley, we took her to the Houghton Estate Winery, the Honey House, a couple of other wineries I cannot remember and we ended at the Feral Brewery where we had a late lunch. On our way back home, we stopped at the Margaret River Chocolate Company for the kids (and maybe some of us adults as well).

tasting some honey

busy bees at House of Honey

Tom and Tacos tasting

 Before we knew it, she was off to Australia's East Coast for 9 days. And before we knew it she was back with us for a couple more. This time she just rested up, caught up on some emails and did some laundry for her next adventure - China for 12 days - before heading back home. We enjoyed her visit very much and we are thoroughly impressed with her adventurous spirit. We look forward to getting the low-down on her cruise on the Yangtzee River. Happy and safe travels, Aunt Taco!