Well, we’ve been in Australia now for six weeks. I think it’s about time I really start my blog. There was so much to do to get settled here, that I kept putting off writing down my thoughts. Most importantly, we’ve unpacked and found a place for almost all of our stuff. The last step is a desk we have on order for me to put my computer and where we can webcam. We even bought a barbecue and some cheap outdoor furniture to enjoy the heat that’s on the way.

I’m actually in Auckland right now on a business trip with Ben. We decided that I would just use some of our miles and come last minute while Isaac can still fly for free. Isaac and I went on a little adventure today while Ben worked. We took a ferry over to Devonport and walked around the quaint area. After the rain cleared up, we spent some quality time on the slides and swings after sharing some eggs benedict and toast in a café together. We then walked through the neighborhoods and looked at the lovely Victorian homes on one side and the boats in the harbor on the other and ended on a beach. Isaac played with the shells, rocks and sticks while I relaxed on a bench.

Right now we’re in the midst of trying to get Isaac to stay in Nursery by himself on Sundays. It’s not going very well. A few weeks ago, we took some digital pictures of Isaac in Nursery and the nursery leaders and other kids. We then show him the pictures and read him the “story” of nursery. He loves to talk about it, but he still won’t stay. I’m hoping that over time, the pictures will help.

I’m learning a lot about driving in Australia. After driving through a tollway, without any money, I learned you can mail a check in for double to pay your toll. After parking in a marked parking spot that is sometimes a “clearway” I learned that you get a ticket for $150 for parking in a clearway, which means don’t park there. After driving over the harbor bridge in the “E” lane, I learned that it means electronic tag and not a place where you can throw change into the bin. It snapped a photo of me as I was driving through which I expect to get with a fine in the mail within six weeks. At least I haven’t received a ticket in the mail from a speeding camera yet.

Last weekend, we walked from Bronte beach to Bondi beach. It was great. It was the weekend of the Sculpture by the Sea exhibit, so there were a ton of people walking the route. The sculptures were fun and quirky. Tamarama beach, which is between the two other beaches, was my favorite one. It’s small with a great playground in the back that Isaac really liked. Lots of surfers – nice waves.

It’s funny because whenever we take Isaac out of the backpack or the stroller, and try to have him walk with us, he walks SO SLOW. Seriously like molasses and almost always the wrong direction. Most of the time, he walks up and down any steps that he can find and his favorite thing to do is find a curb or step to sit on. His travelogue of Australia would consist of the top ten lists of the best slides in Oz and the best curbs to sit on. Also, he loves to run down any kind of incline, and so those would probably be mentioned as well.