In The Botanical Garden, the BATS sleep while we PLAY!

Today we had big plans to go on a walk with our neighbors and new found American friends. Postponed from yesterday as they had to get stuff straight with their American and Australian taxes. I also was sorting out the babysitter for Seth's work Christmas Party. No holiday, PC party here, folks. It is a Christmas Party. It is at Luna Park ( there are rides, like an amusement park) and...get this it is 1920's themed, costume optional. Ummm..I did look up costume shops a week or so ago, but not knowing if I would really do this sitter thing, prevented me from ordering.  So wear your flapper dress on a roller coaster, Xmas Xtravaganza! So, since its summer, I hope a little cotton black summer dress I have will do, costume or "smart casual" on invite.

. View of Sydney Opera House from the Royal Botonical Garden

Here is a link to Luna Park:  http://www.lunaparksydney.com

So, back to the walk. We stop at Starbucks. She insists on paying so I will get it next time. I have been using the convenient Coffee Room and 7-11 which bookend our building. Prefer the Coffee Room, they are so nice and the gentleman there always opens the door to our lobby for me. We take a walk through the Botanical Garden. It is beautiful and our neighbor friend points out the bats...yes, the big-assed bats that fly in our park at night, sleep by day in a tree in the Garden. We plan to video them and post it, as they seem to be right outside of our 15th floor window. I would be scared to have my window open. Yes, we can open our 15th floor window. This is Australia.  But bats like me. I had them, little cute ones, in my classroom at All Saints Catholic School!  Don't want one to enter here! Then, we let the kids get out of "prams" and play a bit. Huck is enamored with our neighbor girl (17months). He just sits and watches her when together and this is the longest he stays still anymore when not confined to stroller or high chair...Huck might have his first crush. He finds Muffin's apple on the picnic blanket and gnaws on it. Basically, the kids eat their snacks and play a bit then we head back for the two little ones to nap. It is so nice to have an adult to talk to! We have to pick up the dry cleaning first (just a couple weeks here to go, dare I find a delivery for that,too? I just might!) as I am not sure we will have a chance to get out again, Finn has to nap, a grocery delivery is coming and a babysitter later to meet and greet the children and us before tomorrow night. BTW, did I mention that the grocer also delivers our wine, beer, diapers and wipers? I could go all agoraphobic here if I wanted to....not that I want to, really, I do not.

Babysitter Service: It is much like the River City Sitters Service in Richmond that I did some babysitting for a handful of times. They get a finder/arranger fee each time you use them and then you pay your sitter in cash, day of service. The price is similar, if I remember correctly, maybe not. Check into some other time. It is expensive and we thought RCS was,too. But certainly worth having CPR certified, background checked sitters.Hopefully, we feel comfortable with her. otherwise, we are cancelling. Anyway, no expectations for Viv to be asleeo unless she falls asleep watching a movie on the couch. Finn, God Bless him, will sleep, though maybe not as easily as he would for me. I guess, I will have to pump and we will see how that all goes.First times....

Baby boy seems to be coming out of his cold. Muffin seems to have escaped it and I am wiped out, but living like I am not sick. My mom and Cathy and The Man's parents got to hear my voice...I am on day 2.5 of antib's. Last night I fell asleep with Muffin, likely before Muffin, and stayed asleep, until I heard the little Huckleberry boy hit his head (my morning alarm clock at 6 something). I yearn for a nap but a little too nervous to do so with Muffin awake...though she would watch tv or play on "her green ipad:" for long enough for me to squeeze a little shut eye in. if could just relax.

The Man seems okay with new job, some of you  have been asking about that. It is a whole new thing and he is basically starting the job from scratch, coming up with strategy and plan to save the company money with contractors and vendors. He has always been good at leaving work at work, except when he never got to leave work in those dreadful MW, big firm days. Plus, hard to do anything else, but feed the kids, clean up a bit and get them ready for bed. Until that happens we are barely able to talk (you parents know what I mean). Not sure about him, but that is it for me. I am done. I keep thinking one evening I will sneak out and go walk, get nails done, window shop, really shop. But I am too pooped to pop. I will, one day, when I am well again.

I finally finished a book I got months ago, Peony in Love by Lisa See. I think I repeat read a bunch of it as I had so many starts and stops...(btw, readers out there, this was not as good as Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. .I am anxious to get a new book soon or do one on the ipad, as I am getting sucked into the blogosphere reading other peoples stuff...A magazine here is like 8 or 9 dollars. I might have to subscribe to People online. I miss my smut and it is summer time here.  My favorite time of year to read it!

Tips to know for when you come to Australia:

Rounding-there are no pennies, so they round your change at a restaurant or something.
Speaking of restaurants and purchasing: Tax is added into price of items.
Tipping is not expected...I guess they factor that in to the price of the food, too.

Signing off my dear readers....whomever you are and however you find out I have added a new message!!
TTFN!