The Dapto Show & my New Calling

Last weekend, Shawn, Brenna and I went to the Dapto Show.  This is similar to a county fair in the states.  You know, aiming for the prized tomato or pie, horse shows, rides, greasy food and hot weather.  It was all there!

We went because Brenna had a painting submitted from school.  It was wonderful!!  We saw a couple pieces from kids at her 'former' school and lots of baked goods, crafts, veggies, flowers and photos!  Lots of talent in the show.  We also enjoyed watching the show jumping and thought of family and good summer memories. :-)

Here are some highlights!

The three of us watching the show jumping and chopping.

 Taking a jump.

Looks good to me. They had to have a jump off!

but nobody's hair matched the horse... hmm...

 a bit of the long chopping competitions.

fascinating.  

hey, is that my brother there on the right??

although I did wonder about wearing the white pants....

 Humoring me with a pic.

Isn't she a sweetie! 

 a closer look at her painting.

 a local celebrity from "Junior Masterchef"

an Aussie cooking, elimination tv show.

 going for a ride

:-)

Oh!  And did I mention the camel racing??

I think it would be fun to have a go!

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and, now, I know you've been waiting to hear all about my new calling!!  

Well, check these out...

 what a shot!

 can't you feel the anticipation of the slam?

 such feeling and emotion here

 caught in the act...

Don't you think I have a future in wrestling photography???  ;-)

I mean, those are some fabulous action shots!!  with just a 'point and shoot' camera even!  Amazing.

Come on now... be honest...
;-)

Tuesday's Tangent - animals

I was talking with a friend recently, and we discovered some similarities between people and animals.  Actually, it was specific people with specific animals.  I know, not your normal conversation, but sometimes these things just happen... it was a "you had to be there" moment, I guess.

So, in the spirit of fun I'll share mine with you.  (that's what you were hoping, wasn't it?)  If I were an animal, I'd likely be a lizard.   You see, I have issues with maintaining my own body temperature (and it's better than a snake, they're scary).

Any brave readers out there willing to ponder this silly though and share what animal you might resemble? or have traits of?  hmm...

;-)

Tuesday's Tangent - Aussie TV

Australia has great free-to-air tv.  (aka- non-cable).  A lot of shows that are on cable in the US we can see here on free-to-air.  (sadly, it's not always the best of American tv, but that's a different thought)

What really entertains me is the scheduling.  You know, you look in the tv guide... the free one in the paper or even the one on the tellie itself (yay for technology)... and see what show is on at which time.  This helps in the all important chore of figuring out when dinner really needs to be finished by (heehee, not really, I'm just havin' fun).

Here's the fun part... tv shows here don't always start on time!  It might say that the show starts at 7:30... but it could actually start 20 minutes later, or 14.  crazy!  And, I've seen shows finish 15 minutes early.  I don't understand why it happens, or how it all works out in the end.  But, it's true! 

A bit of Aussie info ya just didn't know before, did ya?
and truly, a tangent from anything relevant... but still a bit fun.
;-)

Brown Eggs -2

A little bit of funny...

A couple days before Griffith Family Day, we were invited to dinner at a friend's house.  :-)  Good fun!  We joined the Tylers and some of their neighbors for some pizza making, mmmm....

While we were chatting in the kitchen, I mentioned my plight (only brown eggs) to the other ladies.  One of them looked a bit pondering, then agreed that Aussie eggs are cream-colored, but was sure they could easily be dyed.  So we chatted a bit then took out some eggs.  After sharing with her that eggs in the States are white like the bowl on the counter, she was surprised at how dark the local eggs were.  She hadn't  understood what I was whinge-ing about until then.

It's nothing big, or surprising, but it so made me smile!  :-) 
I like those moments. 

Thankful Thursday - sunhats and aloe

The sun is hot in Australia.  They say (no, i don't really know who 'they' are, but they do say!) that the sun's rays/effects are stronger here than in the states.  You really can't go outside without one of my new best friends, sun block. 

But I now have a couple new friends this summer.  The first is 'Ms. Sunhat'.  I had no idea there were so many styles of hats, nor that some had better SPF ratings than others.  My new sunhat has a 50+ SPF rating.  (no idea what that exactly means, but bigger is better!)  AND it's cute!  I'm not a hat person.  My sister is, she looks cute in any type of hat, but me, not so much.  So finding a hat that looks cute on me, is a big plus! 

Here's the big news...  my friend Ms. Sunhat doesn't work, if i don't wear it.  Who would have guessed??  But, wearing hats in the hot sun is... well, it's hot...  and i'm not fond of hot.  hmmm....

Which brings me to my second friend... aloe!  He comes to the rescue when I neglect my first friend.  Isn't that sweet of him?  ;-) 

So, I'm working on building my connection w/ Ms. Sunhat, trying to spend more and more time w/ her... and reconnecting w/ Mr. Aloe, who is a very steady and helpful guy.  Hopefully, I won't need to rely on him much in the future.

Brenna's wearing her cute sunhat...  guess i misplaced mine

(really, it was so hot, i don't know how anyone kept a hat on! ugh!)

Shawn and his sunhat... where did mine go??

Both pics take on Australia Day while we were in Wollongong enjoying the festivities.

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Preschool Fun

It's been cold in Jackson recently. Today was no different. So, in preparing to go to the gym, we were helping the kids get coats on and zipped. (we have to walk outside to get to the gym)

One teacher was helping a little girl. To encourage getting the jackets on quickly she said, "Get your jackets on or you'll be as sick as dogs."

The little girl promptly responded, "My dog's not sick."

:-)

pine apples

On our first trip to Australia, our meet-the-country trip, we each picked some place fun/touristy that we'd like to visit. My choice... The Big Pineapple, a pineapple plantation and tourist center. Cool stuff.

I loved our day there! but i was surprised at how pineapples grow.

For some reason, i had always thought that pineapples grew on trees. Don't think anyone ever told me that, but then again, not sure anyone told me they didn't.

When a friend blogged about being suprised by the pineapple, i began to ponder my reasons for putting pineapples on trees.

Well, i believe it was explained to me by a three year-old at preschool the other day. ...

We were sitting under a pine tree. She was looking up at it. She began telling me about the tree. It was a pine tree. It had pine cones on it. AND (pay attention now)... soon they would turn into... PINEAPPLES!!!

it makes sense, well, at least to me and my young friend... we have pine trees. we have apple trees. so, shouldn't we have PineApple trees??

Yes, we should.
but i'm not in charge, so we don't.

"the Jump Show"

Overheard as my children were watching a bit of tv...

"Would you like this to be the jump show, this to be the jump show, or this to be the jump show?"

... hmm ... who knew there was a term for the tv show you 'jump' to during the commercials of the show you're really watching???

you learn something new everyday... or at least, i did, today.

do you use 'jump shows'???

funny things...

Recently, i've been working at a preschool. Not what i thought i'd be doing right now (pretty far from it, actually). But, it's a good place to be. The school i'm at is quite impressive, lots of caring, loving adults in an educational environment. Good things.

There are a few really GREAT elements to this job, perks i didn't expect. First, and absolutely the best, are the morning greetings! I walk into a room and several little friends come running toward me shouting "Miss Kendra" (or something pretty close) and give me GIANT hugs! :-) everyone should be so lucky to start their days that way. Good times.

The second delightful perk is the entertainment factor! You just never know what's going to happen and what the children will say. I've been taught to count; to 9, 5, or 8 (my choice) by a child who counted to 8 but missed a few numbers along the way. fun.

This week's been especially humorous. Here's a few funnies...

Yesterday i had to bring a little boy in to change his pull-up (some are only 2, and we're learning). As we walkin into the bathroom, he says something. i kinda miss it, 'cuz surely he didn't just say what i thought he did... So i asked what he said... his reply went something like this... "I see your big butt!" ... "huh?" (my thoughtful reply) .... now he points, "that (yep, he points to my butt)... it's big." really, i should have known better than to ask.

This morning... a little boy calls me in the bathroom... he steps out of the stall still pulling up his pants (that's pretty normal)... and says... "Miss Kendra, I can pee longer than my Daddy!" Trying to be casual, i reply, "oh, really?"... without hesitation he responds, "Wanna see?"... uh,... no longer casual, more like stunned now (not where i thought we were going w/ the chat), "I think i'll pass, thanks."

good moments.
may we all find the joy and fun in our small friends. Life is so simple for them. just tell it like it is.

good funnies.