THE CAHOONS IN OZ: June 2016

Well we've been back for almost 2 months and Andrew is already heading back to Australia next week for his exams, a one day course and his next rotations orientation! Time sure flies! I hope it flies while Andrew is gone because right now I feel like those 3 weeks are going to take forever! We haven't done anything overly exciting since we've been home - just enjoying being with family and being able to go outside without having to put on our winter gear! (like the last two times we've been home...)

Leaving on a jet plane! We flew BNE-SYD-LAX-YEG and did you know that australians need a visa to transit the states? we didn't and when we were going to board in Sydney they said we couldn't board without a visa for Elly! So they handed me an iPad and said if you can get her one in the next 10 minutes you can board this flight and if not you're out of luck! Most stressful 10 minutes of my life! (ok maybe not but close!)

Both kids did really quite well!

Almost immediately Amy put us to work in her garden!

Too bad we'll be gone by the time everything is ready...

Grayden out for a spin with us!

Hot tubs are not just for cold weather!

Charlie loves getting on his rain gear with aunt Mary and looking for worms!

For an afternoon outing I took Charlie to toys r us.... bad idea...

Elly and her boyfriend Grayden

Elly with her cousins Jeffery and Anna

Charlie's favourite activity here is going to the forest! (aka the ravine) to throw rocks in the creek and explore side paths (also his favourite) Its nice not to have to worry about poisonous snakes and deadly spiders and I can just let him roam free...

Charlie really wanted to buy some toys, so we put him to work for menial amounts of money.... he didn't last long! Although whenever he finds money he puts it in his piggy bank to buy "Thomas and friends"

First tooth!

I took Charlie on a date to McDonalds for breakfast! Then we went to Grandmas music class, where Charlie surprisingly got really into it! Especially when the shakers came out!

I thought Australia had good parks, but Edmonton has even better!

Charlie and Daddy working out

Nine month picture! She is such a happy little girl most of the time. She struggles with sleep still but loves to be awake and playing ALL THE TIME!

Elly eating Papa's tools

Charlie helping Aunt Mary make cupcakes for her last week of work! Charlie is expert at licking out the bowl!

Those cheeks...!

Amy and I managed to sneak away one night to go kayaking out at Elk Island National Park - it was a gorgeous night and we even saw some buffalo!

Charlie loves to be super helpful! This is him helping Aunt Mary do the dishes... he only dumped a little bit of water on the floor... (ok a lot!)

I took Charlie to see Aunt Amy at the dentist! We had practised the night before and I thought he was going to do so well, but NOPE he wouldn't even open his mouth!

I actually got ready for the first time in about 2 years! For Mary's bridal shower, after we got home I had to get photo proof of the monumental occasion.... it's funny that I used to get ready every day in high school and it's slowly tapered off since then into almost never...

Elly loves her grandpa! She just stared at him for ages...

And then was all smiles

This is the build-a-bear Andrew and I made before his mission - Elly loves it!

We went to go visit Alex at his firestation! Charlie was thrilled as we were driving up, but got pretty shy once we were in! He eventually warmed up a bit. We also made and took the firefighters cinnamon buns and 3 of them said they were the best they'd ever had!