Today, the day before our two-year anniversary of first setting foot on Australian soil, our application for permanent residency was approved. We can now reside in Australia permanently, and we plan to celebrate both milestones (two years here and our new residency status) this evening with a dinner of fish and chips!

After I sold our bed, Ben and I slept on an air mattress for a few weeks while shopping and waiting for our new mattress to arrive. We resumed toilet training Lex during this time as well, so all the toilet-trained humans in our family are using the outdoor toilet in our shed while our cat’s litter tray is duct taped to the indoor toilet. We figure this is good practice for our upcoming camping trip. An air mattress and an al fresco toilet… all the comforts of home!

Nikki and Michael have had a mild cold for the past week, so I have been clearing their noses three times a day. As each has a turn, they hop up on my lap and I use a bulb syringe to clear out the ick, then lean them back to administer saline nose drops. While they are in the reclined position, I sing a song of their choosing in order to give the nose drops time to drain back into their sinuses. The kids really enjoy this. Year-round, whenever they have nose-clearing the most chosen song is ‘Away in a Manger.’

Today I saw some green goop come out of Vi’s nose, so I grabbed the bulb syringe and popped her on my lap for a nose clearing. Seeing the red syringe, Vi said ‘Way in a Manger’ as she nestled on my lap. Yes, she’s been seeing a LOT of nose clearing lately! There wasn’t anything else in Vi’s nose, so I’m hoping she’s managed to escape the sniffles.

The art deco bedside tables that I am attempting to refinish have some water damage on top which has made the surface bumpy. I started out gently gently smoothing it down with steel wool, but I am growing impatient and am considering taking our electric sander to the veneer. Thoughts?

I recently read Mao’s Last Dancer, which is Li Cunxin’s biography. It is a captivating account of his life in China under Mao and the obstacles he overcame in becoming an elite dancer. I was particularly impressed with the way Li described teaching his leg muscles to lift his body up from the splits on the floor without the aid of his hands.

I also loved the part where he came to the Houston Ballet and with his limited English he called the principle female dancer “Big Ballerina” and she in turn called him “Big Ballerino.” Nikki and Michael can often be found striking amazing poses with legs and arms in the air and calling each other “ballerina” and “ballerino,” so hearing it from an actual ballerino made me laugh!

If you haven’t already seen this time lapse video of train track and intersection replacement in San Fransisco, have a look. It is a marvel of round-the-clock construction that you won’t want to miss. (hat tip to John A Johnson)

I hope you have a marvelous Friday and a wonderful weekend!!

Lake Thetis is significant geologically because prior to the discovery of living specimens in nearby Shark Bay, scientists thought the stromatolites which grow in the lake, and which are seen in the fossil record, had become extinct.

The lake is also just plain gorgeous, and it has an easy path around it for cycling and pram pushing alike.

We made use of this picnic table on the lake’s shore, which we sat on because it didn’t have seats.

I forgot to bring a baby carrier! Vi enjoyed her first ride in a pram.

Our drive north to Lake Thetis was on the first day the Indian Ocean Drive extension was open to the public. The new section was so new that it wasn’t even open when we drove up to the lake, so we traveled on it for the first time on our way home that same afternoon.

First, we had to navigate the under-construction section between Cervantes and Lancelin.

The new section of highway opened at 3pm, and our wheels touched the new road at around 3:30. Since we followed a couple motorcycles, it almost felt like we were part of an official motorcade.

The highway extension cuts about 45 minutes off the drive time from Perth to the Pinnacles and Lake Thetis. We look forward to visiting these lovely locations again and again!

We briefly participated in City to Surf Perth 2010 on Sunday morning.

Crossing this same street on the way to church was easy, but our way back was blocked.

We couldn’t go over it, under it, or around it, so we took our family of five through it, by waiting for a slower pack of runners, going in the direction of flow, and gently angling our way across the street.

 

When we got to the other side, Nikki and Michael did some running of their own.

Our day began with blueberry pancakes, followed by a brief history lesson and rousing renditions of America the Beautiful, The Star Spangled Banner, and the Pledge of Allegiance. We loaded into the car and practiced chanting U-S-A! U-S-A! as we drove to Kardinya.

There we were greeted with classic American cars, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and American military vehicles. Local teams played American football. Vi had her lunch while Baba, Nikki and Michael stood in a long long queue for American hot dogs, and after we ate the older children explored the petting zoo at this year’s Independence Day Fair put on by the American Women’s Club of Perth.

Happy Birthday, America!

Nikki and Michael have been going above and beyond even my high expectations recently – sitting quietly during two-hour Bible studies and playing kindly with each other while I strip antique door frames.

I wanted to thank my kiddos for their absolutely stellar behaviour, so we met up with a friend and went to The Beach House this week. It was crowded when we arrived but thinned out during and after lunch. By 1:30 we had the place practically to ourselves and made the most of the awesome climbing and driving facilities while other children were sensibly home napping.

          

Nikki and Michael climbed to the top of this three-level structure, looked in the slide, giggled hysterically and came back down via alternative routes.

          

Afterward, Nikki said her favourite part was driving the cars.

Unprompted, Michael thanked me as we drove home for taking them to the ‘play place,’ and Nikki told me that she had had a lot of fun. It was a great day out!

Congratulations to Kayla, who worked VERY hard on her birthday to bring her firstborn into the world in the wee hours of the next morning. Leonydas Matthew, born to Kayla and Aaron on 26 May, is one cute baby, weighing in at 8lb 8.6oz and 22.25 inches long!

Today we stumbled upon an annual Aussie tradition, where mayors across the country all read the same book at the same time to children in their local libraries.

Little White Dogs Can’t Jump is a picture book, but it struck me as one of those that’s more for the parents than the kids. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for all these mayors across the country simultaneously struggling to explain picture book humor line by line. Nevertheless, our mayor assured us that this was his favourite event of the year.

As we prepared to make crafts afterward, the mayor asked everyone who they would give their completed crafts to. “Mum” came the reply. Then the mayor asked his grandson who he would give his craft to. “Mum.” So the mayor laughed and left without a paper dog to commemorate his visit.

     

Ben said, “No babywearing this time.” I still think he’s quite handsome.