Ugghh!! Lice - our first experience....

Administering a treatment on Silka's hair

Well, it was inevitable that we would eventually be invaded by those pesky little critters - LICE! Well, you can imagine my horror. This is our first experience with them. It is a much more common occurrence in Australia than in Canada. AND to make it even better, not only did Silka get them but Mommy has them as well. I guess my huge head of hair proved to be irresistible. We spent the morning slathering on the conditioner, combing them out and applying a ten minute treatment. The beds have been stripped and added to the pile of towels, pillows and clothing recently worn and yet to be washed. Oh, what fun!

March 22nd - 24th: Tom's Skin Diving Trip on Rottnest Island

getting ready for a dive

Tom was given the opportunity to accompany the outdoor ed class at Mount Lawley on their skin diving trip on Rottnest Island. Greg Baker, the outdoor ed teacher who arranges this trip every year, is retiring so this was the last skin diving trip. 

Tom really enjoyed himself - went on a night dive and three dives during the day while he was over there. The teachers stayed in rustic cabins while the kids camped in their tents. The island is inhabited by Quokkas and Peacocks and Tom found himself shooing them away from their picnic area often and even had to gently coax a quokka out of the shower with

a quokka and peacock hangin' around

his foot. You are almost wading through them and they refer to it as 'Quokka Soccer'. They thrive on the island but are endangered everywhere else.
I think he has found a new sport to enjoy while here - loves diving down and swimming through little caves and underwater stone arches...and maybe he will even catch a crayfish.

quokka - so cute!

Greg Baker and a student who caught crayfish

March 17th, 2011: Rein participated in his first School Swim Carnival

Swim Carnivals are a big thing at the schools here in Australia. They go for a half or full day and compete in various races. The year 2's and 3's (Rein is in year 3) participated in less official, fun races with flutter boards and boogie boards. Rein, with all his hours spent riding waves at the beach, left his group behind in the boogie board race. He had a great time and I had fun watching and cheering him and his classmates on.

Teacher Tom rides to school

Here's Ollie suited up in his Mount Lawley get up and just about to get on his bike to ride to work. Boy, he looks sharp!

March 19th: Kyilla Primary School Fete!

Baking for the school fete

The day of the fete

Phew! I am glad that is over.....
It was super fun but lots of work and I wasn't even one of the main organizers. I just painted signs, baked and made a fake cake.

I am talking about the kids' school's fete that took place this



past Saturday. Apparently, the school and parents have been planning this for almost a year. For school carnivals here in Perth, Australia, they really go all out. There was face painting, birds of prey, rides, entertainment, food stalls, a cake stall, bric-a-brac stall, artisans, massage, cupcake decorating, lucky dips (you pay to pick out a surprise package), silent auctions, a book auction, a children's emporium, fire engine rides......it goes on and on.

Stared down by an owl....

Rein singing 'Sing, Sing a Song' with his class

Silka riding her scooter home

I arrived at 10 a.m. on Saturday and helped out with setting up. The fete officially started at 3 p.m. and ended at 8 p.m. Tom and the kids showed up at 3:30 p.m. and I had Tom signed up to work the Sushi stall while I watched the kids. By 6 p.m. I was done. After the kids ate some pizza, we headed home.