Another Day at the Park

We went back to Rushcutter's Park today. The weather was perfect- sunny skies and about 60 degrees. We took the bus there and the kids ran right to the park.  Tucker is actually really fast!  You would think that big noggin of his would make it difficult.  :)

When we got there the first thing Cooper noticed was that they had added a new piece of play equipment- a blue, bouncy motorboat. Both boys hopped right in for a ride.  Then Tucker took off to explore other parts of the playground.

Cooper spent most of the time we were at the pack finding "problems" with the equipment and "repairing" them as you can see in the photo below.

Tucker played hard for a while, but then found his own niche (not sure if that is the right word)- he found things that were wrong or misplaced and made them right.  The first thing he did was approach a little one whose toy had fallen over. Tucker walked over, stood it upright and then knelt by the boy and watched how the toy worked. Then he was on his way.  He also found two different stuffed animals and quickly returned them to their rightful owner.  I was impressed. I thought he would just take them and play with them or just walk right by. Then again, this is the kid that says, "Uh oh." throughout the grocery store whilst (Aussie for while) pointing at all the things that are out of place or have fallen on the floor. Come to think of it, Coop did the same thing...

The cockatoos and magpies were out and about at the park.  I am still amazed and in awe of these birds. The sounds they make and the "design" of their feathers and other features are just beautiful. I wonder if seeing these birds will ever become ho-hum and we will stop noticing them.  My mom always asks me if I ever got "used to" the beauty of Mt. Rainier when it was "out" and the answer is no so hopefully the same will be true of the birds down under.

Another Day at the Park

We went back to Rushcutter's Park today. The weather was perfect- sunny skies and about 60 degrees. We took the bus there and the kids ran right to the park.  Tucker is actually really fast!  You would think that big noggin of his would make it difficult.  :)

When we got there the first thing Cooper noticed was that they had added a new piece of play equipment- a blue, bouncy motorboat. Both boys hopped right in for a ride.  Then Tucker took off to explore other parts of the playground.

Cooper spent most of the time we were at the pack finding "problems" with the equipment and "repairing" them as you can see in the photo below.

Tucker played hard for a while, but then found his own niche (not sure if that is the right word)- he found things that were wrong or misplaced and made them right.  The first thing he did was approach a little one whose toy had fallen over. Tucker walked over, stood it upright and then knelt by the boy and watched how the toy worked. Then he was on his way.  He also found two different stuffed animals and quickly returned them to their rightful owner.  I was impressed. I thought he would just take them and play with them or just walk right by. Then again, this is the kid that says, "Uh oh." throughout the grocery store whilst (Aussie for while) pointing at all the things that are out of place or have fallen on the floor. Come to think of it, Coop did the same thing...

The cockatoos and magpies were out and about at the park.  I am still amazed and in awe of these birds. The sounds they make and the "design" of their feathers and other features are just beautiful. I wonder if seeing these birds will ever become ho-hum and we will stop noticing them.  My mom always asks me if I ever got "used to" the beauty of Mt. Rainier when it was "out" and the answer is no so hopefully the same will be true of the birds down under.

Another Post of Randoms

Been a few days since last writing. Since then we have done a few things.... 

Maritime Museum

We walked to the Maritime Museum on Darling Harbour. It was another beautiful day and the walk was perfect. Even Coop who often complains about walking said, "This is a perfect day." and "Ah, this is the life."  Below are a few snapshots from our walk. 

The monorail

The Darling Harbour Monorail stop

The bridge we walked on to get to the museum

The Maritime Museum

I hadn't really planned to go to see this museum simply because the theme did not really appeal to me, but after a recommendation from another mom, we decided to go. Oh, and it is free.  :)

I love the signal flags. They are so colorful and I like that their simpleness conveys so much.  The flags on the left are hanging outside the museum. Those on the right are inside.

Just an interesting tidbit

Tuck saw this and said, "Wow!"

AU beer can boat...

The poles above on the left are called, "Tituni" and are grave poles made by one of the aboriginal groups in AU. I wish I had more time to read about the creation of these poles and their meaning, but it just wasn't possible with the boys. The poles on the left are actually coffins where the bones of the dead are kept.  Below are some representations of animals.  I am sure you can tell what they are!

 

After our Museum adventure, we grabbed some lunch and played at a local playground and ran around in nearby field.  The boys had a blast.

Just had to add this picture for fun. You have got to love the outfit!

Morning in Hyde Park

Doug arrived home from his month-long trip to Singapore on Sunday morning.  I took the boys to the park so he could sleep a bit. It was another beautiful day here. Coop decided to make a stick nest between the giant roots of a tree in the park.  He worked diligently for quite sometime and only stopped to yell at Tucker who was working just as hard taking the sticks out....

While in the park we heard a helicopter and looked up to see this. A helicopter was removing the letters from the Sydney Tower and replacing them with new letters.  It was quite a site and many people stopped to watch.  

Tucker Painting

Tucker had his first chance to paint since he painted the rug in our place in Bondi Junction. The smile on his face while he painted said it all. He was thrilled to be able to do what his big brother does.

Alarms

We had two fire alarms in our building this week.  A loud voice comes over the speaker IN OUR APARTMENT and says something like, "Emergency, Please evacuate."  over and over.  The first time it happened a hot water heater had exploded somewhere in the building. I had terrible flashbacks from all the fire alarms in the dorms in college.  Ugh.  I had a great time dressing the boys, gearing up the dogs and heading downstairs. Yes, we used the elevator- how the heck else was I going to get out? Don't worry- everyone else used the elevator too. Heck this is Australia where everyone is so laid back so of course we used the elevator! The second alarm of the week was at 5 am (mind you a mere 45 mn after I got Tucker back to bed from a crying fit). The alarm sounded and I went to get the boys who were both freaked as heck. Tucker was shaking and Cooper was in tears. Again I got everyone dressed and geared up the dogs and headed downstairs...in the elevator...with everyone else.  This time a sprinkler in someone's apartment went off while they were using the "kettle."  We were down in the lobby a good hour before we could go back upstairs.  One good thing that came out of these alarms is that we got to finally meet our neighbors!

Another Post of Randoms

Been a few days since last writing. Since then we have done a few things.... 

Maritime Museum

We walked to the Maritime Museum on Darling Harbour. It was another beautiful day and the walk was perfect. Even Coop who often complains about walking said, "This is a perfect day." and "Ah, this is the life."  Below are a few snapshots from our walk. 

The monorail

The Darling Harbour Monorail stop

The bridge we walked on to get to the museum

The Maritime Museum

I hadn't really planned to go to see this museum simply because the theme did not really appeal to me, but after a recommendation from another mom, we decided to go. Oh, and it is free.  :)

I love the signal flags. They are so colorful and I like that their simpleness conveys so much.  The flags on the left are hanging outside the museum. Those on the right are inside.

Just an interesting tidbit

Tuck saw this and said, "Wow!"

AU beer can boat...

The poles above on the left are called, "Tituni" and are grave poles made by one of the aboriginal groups in AU. I wish I had more time to read about the creation of these poles and their meaning, but it just wasn't possible with the boys. The poles on the left are actually coffins where the bones of the dead are kept.  Below are some representations of animals.  I am sure you can tell what they are!

 

After our Museum adventure, we grabbed some lunch and played at a local playground and ran around in nearby field.  The boys had a blast.

Just had to add this picture for fun. You have got to love the outfit!

Morning in Hyde Park

Doug arrived home from his month-long trip to Singapore on Sunday morning.  I took the boys to the park so he could sleep a bit. It was another beautiful day here. Coop decided to make a stick nest between the giant roots of a tree in the park.  He worked diligently for quite sometime and only stopped to yell at Tucker who was working just as hard taking the sticks out....

While in the park we heard a helicopter and looked up to see this. A helicopter was removing the letters from the Sydney Tower and replacing them with new letters.  It was quite a site and many people stopped to watch.  

Tucker Painting

Tucker had his first chance to paint since he painted the rug in our place in Bondi Junction. The smile on his face while he painted said it all. He was thrilled to be able to do what his big brother does.

Alarms

We had two fire alarms in our building this week.  A loud voice comes over the speaker IN OUR APARTMENT and says something like, "Emergency, Please evacuate."  over and over.  The first time it happened a hot water heater had exploded somewhere in the building. I had terrible flashbacks from all the fire alarms in the dorms in college.  Ugh.  I had a great time dressing the boys, gearing up the dogs and heading downstairs. Yes, we used the elevator- how the heck else was I going to get out? Don't worry- everyone else used the elevator too. Heck this is Australia where everyone is so laid back so of course we used the elevator! The second alarm of the week was at 5 am (mind you a mere 45 mn after I got Tucker back to bed from a crying fit). The alarm sounded and I went to get the boys who were both freaked as heck. Tucker was shaking and Cooper was in tears. Again I got everyone dressed and geared up the dogs and headed downstairs...in the elevator...with everyone else.  This time a sprinkler in someone's apartment went off while they were using the "kettle."  We were down in the lobby a good hour before we could go back upstairs.  One good thing that came out of these alarms is that we got to finally meet our neighbors!