Adventures of the Home Run Swim Team

Friday, January 21, 2011

Tom's Exchange Partner is Famous!

We received this from Steven. The local newspaper interviewed him about his experiences as a teacher in Canada and how he and his family our coping with our cold winters.
As they say here - Cracker. Good on ya, mate!

January 21st, 2011 - A Mild Shower in the Morning....

When Tom and I woke up, we looked out and had to do a double-take. It was raining! We couldn't believe it. However, it didn't last long and, unlike in Canada, it didn't cool things down at all.

The lovely arachnid you see here is the famous Red Back - one of Australia's many poisonous spiders. I think he also came out to check if it was really raining. Don't worry, he wasn't as close to me as he appears - the zooming features on cameras these days are

impressive, eh?

January 20th - Play Date at the Local Kids Park

Cindee, Steve and Angela's good friend and now ours, organized a play date at the local park so that we could meet some of the kids (and their parents) who attend Kyilla Primary School where Rein and Silka will be going.
The park is great - fenced in, lots of trees and the play area is well shaded with a huge awning. I like the their "play dates" - the kids play while the parents enjoy afternoon appetizers and "refreshments". There is also a great deli/cafe right across the street. They have got it goin' on!

January 20th, 2011 - Silka cashes in on her "Santa Coupon"

Silka and I dropped Tom and Rein off at Floreat Beach and we went shopping - she wanted to use her "Santa Coupon" that she received from Santa before we left for Australia. He had caught wind that we were moving here for a year and knew that the kids would have limited luggage space.
Well, we didn't get far. She cashed in her coupon at the first store we stopped at. We were browsing around looking at art supplies and games when she happened to look up and something in one of the corners of the shop hanging from the ceiling caught her eye. Princess dresses! "Mommy, look! Beautiful princess dresses!"
She went for the purple one and we were at the counter purchasing it with her coupon in no time. The cashier cut the tags off and she has worn it ever since. I think she would wear it to bed if she could.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

January 19th - Hilary's Boat Harbour

Hilary's Boat Harbour - Sorrento's Quay

On the advice of Harvey and Kaye, Steve Tipping's parents, we headed up the Sunset Coast to Hilary's Boat Harbour. It is a spectacular spot and a sure hit with the kids. They originally gussied up this harbour when they hosted one of the world Cups for Sailing.
They have a water park, a ropes course, a sheltered beach for families, a quay with lots of shops and restaurants. The Western Australia Aquarium is also located here.

Swim Area and Water Park in Hilary's Harbour

Upon our arrival, we first visited the aquarium which was wonderful. We first visited the "Shipwreck Coast" which is Australia's largest walk-through aquarium where we saw sharks, logger head turtles, stingrays, and hundreds of stunning fish swimming all around and above us. The kids loved Mettam's Touch Pool where they were able to pet and touch skates, starfish, sea urchins, and other fish.
We then headed to the playground and beach where we ate a picnic lunch and the kids and I swam for a bit.
We drove over to the other side of the Quay to Sorrento Beach where the kids and I played under the "shade shelters" while Tom body surfed.
It was great day!