F1, Airshow, NGV and much more!

March flew by without us realising it. It started with the Sydney Road Street Party in Brunswick which was full of terrific craft, food and all sorts of stalls. We really loved the bags, wallets and plates made from recycled materials - bike inner tubes, toothpaste containers and old magazines.

The following weekend we went to see Bill Viola's installation (video), Bugatti exhibition, Animals in Asian Art and Remaking Fashion exhibitions at the NGV. Katya and Ben made origami cats, dogs and cicadas. All of the exhibits were amazing. It was a long weekend in Victoria so we went to the Moomba Parade on Monday and saw many wonderful floats including a beautiful and huge Chinese dragon.

We caught up with my friends Pat and Christine on March 14 and also saw the Rosalie Gascoigne exhibition at the Ian Potter Gallery. Her art is made from things she finds - shells, bottles, sticks etc. On Sunday, we went to Avalon for the International Airshow. Unfortunately it was really windy and raining, but there were some amazing aircraft including a jet engine on the back of a truck!

We visited Pat and Terry on the Mornington Peninsula the following weekend and spent Saturday night with them. Saturday was warm so the back beach was beautiful and we found a rock pool to have a quick dip. Sunday we ventured to Portsea for a great pub lunch and then Katya and Ben took turns jumping off the jetty and swimming the 50 or so metres to shore. I was really proud of them as it was quite a long way and a little scary!

Katya went to two birthday parties in the last week of March - Emily's and Maddy's. Maddy's was at the zoo and while Katya looked at the animals, Ben, Paul and I went to the Queen Victoria Markets. Sunday we went to the Dandenongs. At Sky High we were amazed at the view, harrassed by wasps, found our way out of a maze and enjoyed the beautiful gardens. Katya and Ben decided to do a bit of rock climbing and scaled a wall. On the way back down we stopped at Olinda and took a look at the wonderful craft, gift and antique stores.

Ben and Paul went to a practice session of the Grand Prix and saw the F1 and V8s. Ben loved it although he said it was really loud - we could even hear it in Richmond.

School weeks have been just as busy as weekends. Ben finally got his splint off and went back to swimming lessons. Katya has been doing great at squads, although finding the going tough. Tennis is now over and this final week of term one has been full on with Katya's excursion to the Melbourne Museum, Katya and Ben's Greek Assembly, Ben's wheel-a-thon, Ben's birthday and finally today, the Easter Hat Parade!

Ben had a great birthday yesterday going to McDonalds for dinner as a special treat, having all his friends at school sing happy birthday in class (and getting free time in the afternoon to celebrate his birthday) and finally getting a Nintendo DS which has not been put down. With his birthday money he has bought a number of bionicles and lego, a Cars DS game and still has a little left over.

Three months to go - it is going so fast! April will probably be just as full on and include a couple of Dockers games (hopefully with at least 1 win!). Looking forward to seeing John, Cam and Mick over here as well.

Karen

A busy two weeks in Melbourne

It has been a busy couple of weeks for us. School and after school activities are really hotting up along with the weather. Tennis lessons have now joined swimming after school and in school there is a lot to learn - Greek, Cooking, PE, Art as well as the 3rs.

The weekends have also been full on. Ben and Paul went riding on Valentine's Day, ending up at the skatepark near the city. Ben was having great fun doing tricks with his bike until he took a tumble and crashed into a wall - almost all day at the hospital and a fractured middle finger! The following day we took it a bit easier and went to the St Kilda Festival. There was some cool performances from skateboarders, stunt bikes and beach volleyballers, but the Foxtel exhibition was the drawcard for the kids. They had various stands set up - the kids could ride a mechanical surfboard; slot car racing; aircraft flying simulation; free popcorn and fairy floss; meet Bart and Homer Simpson, Scooby Doo and Ben 10; handball competition with AFL players and much more.

Last weekend we took the train up to John Browne's house in Eltham. He is a friend of Paul's and uses Mathematica. He has a huge property in the bush with the Yarra River at his doorstep. The bush is beautiful with all sorts of wildlife (kangaroos, echidnas and wombats) and is so quiet. Katya and Ben took a swim in the river and then took John's kayaks out (Ben and Paul in one, Katya in the other). They had a great time with Paul taking Ben down a set of rapids! We spent a wonderful day there and will certainly go back again.

We have borrowed a car from John and so on Sunday we drove down to the Mornington Peninsula to check out an exhibition at the MP Regional Gallery. Katya and Ben were not really excited with the exhibition which was about beach house architecture. However, we took them to the Enchanted Garden and Maze at Arthur's Seat which they loved!

Karen

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Squads Today!

Today I did my first squad's training.  It was really hard.  Mum said the coach thought I did well for my first time.  Ben did his first swimming lesson.

On Sunday we went to the St Kilda Festival.  It was great fun.  We did lots of things - pulled the huskies in the danger zone, went on a surfboard, did the footy handball game with a Richmond player, had our fingerprints taken by the policeman, went on the flight simulator, played slot car racing, met Bart Simpson, Homer Simpson, Ben 10 and Scooby Doo, got free fairy floss and lots of other free stuff (in the Foxtel Village).

Eureka Tower

We went to the Eureka Tower. We went on the Edge. It is a glass box. You go 3 metres out of the building and you are 300 metres up in the sky. Ben got so scared he cried. 

Swimming

Today I went swimming at the pool after school. Dad's bike was stolen today. He is upset. I'm in squads in swimming. I miss you guys so much. Ben did swimming as well. 

First day of school at Yarra Primary School

I think the school is great.  I met a few new friends called Esther, Emily, 2 Isabellas, Lulu, Jane and Jade.  Today there was a thunderstorm which cut one of the branches off the trees at school.  My teacher is called Emily.  I played 40-40 home with Esther, Emily, 2 Isabellas and Jane.

Ben's teacher is called Mr Hunt.  He plays the guitar.  On the school video (on their website), it says Mr Hunt is very good at singing.

I miss Jean, Linley, Grace, Rebecca, Timothea, Claire, Sally, Lucy and Martha.  I wonder what they are doing and what class they are in.  I hope that I am in Jean's class when I come back.

It was Wicked!

Today I went to see Wicked which is a play about the wicked witch of the east, west and the north. This all happened before Dorothy came. It was wicked!!! We went with a girl called Christine, one of my Mum's friends.


And, I had my ears pierced. I have to wear my earrings for 2 months. The same earrings!! After 2 months is over I get to swap earrings. I have to spray my ears before I go to bed and in the mornings. And, I can't go in the swimming pool for a week.


Ben rode 28kms today on his bike with Dad. Awesome!! I couldn't do that.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Currently the temperature is 44C and it is 5:20pm!!  We are sweltering.  Fortunately one of the bedrooms has an airconditioner so we have been cooling off in there.  The hot weather is going to continue for another week.  Where is the Freo Doctor?!!!

Karen

Yarra Primary School

Today we went to Yarra Primary School to get my school clothes and hats.  There was a lady that looks like our office lady at Rosalie  and she showed us around the school.  My teacher's name is Miss Saunders.  We met her when we got to the school. 

We went on a tour around the school.  We saw the classrooms, the art room, the playground, the library, the kitchen (Stephanie Alexander kitchen - famous cook) and the afterschool care.  I get to cook in the kitchen and if I get really good at chopping vegetables, I get a chopping license which I think is really weird.  The vegies come from the vegetable garden at the school.  

We went shopping as well.  Ben was complaining the whole time because he wanted to buy a motorcycle.

Australia Day - by Ben

From Ben: Yesterday, I went to the square at Melbourne (Federation Square). I had a big breakfast. It was yummy. It was really, really far and I had to ride on my new bike, that is green. I had to ride really fast. When we went back we went to the fair. I went on a big slide, rock climbing (I had a harness on and it wasn't scary, it was fun) and I saw a little piggy who was eating hay.

I rode back home and it was really short, I wanted to ride longer. Dad didn't let me ride longer.

I had pizza to eat for dinner. I didn't go to bed until 11pm. Because we went to the fireworks (at the big ferris wheel at Docklands). I really, really, really liked the fireworks. The ferris wheel went really slow.

Ben

St Kilda and Ben's new bike

Ben has been riding his new bike everywhere, every morning with my Dad. He rode 20km yesterday from Richmond to Federation Square along the Yarra River. Mum and I just stay in bed.

Yesterday we went to St Kilda. I bought some birthday presents with my birthday money. I bought a necklace, a ring and a fox puppet. Going to St Kilda was fun because they had street markets.

James and the Giant Peach

Today I went to see James and the Giant Peach - the play (by RMIT students). I really liked it. My favourite actor was the ladybird. At the end you were allowed on the stage and allowed to dance. It was fun!

We played Wii tennis at the shopping centre (near RMIT). Ben beat me!

I bought a new Smiggle packet with 2 highlighters, a stapler and staples. I really, really, really, really like Smiggle.

We have arrived in Melbourne!

We have finally arrived in Melbourne. I am not well. I have had the flu for nearly 2 weeks. Hope I get better soon.

We live in Richmond. My address is 86 Somerset St. Here are some photos.

The school I am going to is Yarra Primary School.

Katya