Botanic Gardens & St Kilda Sunset

 After a long week of work and school we had dinner and headed to the beach with some ice cream to watch the sunset. We played a great game of football as a family and then sat and watched the sunset. It was a wonderful Friday evening. I just love this time our family is getting to be together away from the hustle and bustle of life and putting back into place the foundational things that are important to our family!!

Melbourne Botanic Gardens are wonderful. They have a fantastic children's garden with creative paths to explore, a stream that runs through it, a bamboo forest and a tower. There is also a statue of the characters of a famous children's literature book called "The Magic Pudding." Since arriving in Australia we have purchased this book and have been reading it. We have fallen in love with these characters. This was our 2nd trip to the botanic gardens and this time the kids couldn't wait to have their picture taken with Bunyip Bluegum (Koala), Bill (Rylie is leaning on his hat), the Puddin', and the penguin. We played hide-and-go-seek and the kids explored for hours. It was a great afternoon.

 watching his leaf travel down the stream

It is so fun to watch Rylie play. She has the most creative mind and loves to play by herself making up these magical games and characters and scenarios.

Before walking to the botanic gardens we visited the Shrine of Remembrance, honoring those fallen soldiers who died in WWI. It was a remarkable building.

Fawkner Park

After school one afternoon we took a tram to another new park. This park was a huge green space with cricket fields, soccer fields, and just open fields. At one end of the park was a playground next to a school. Derek found a tennis ball and creatively used a stick to make a game of baseball/cricket. I would pitch him the ball and he would hit it and Rylie would run after it. It was SO fun to play with the kids. I LOVE homeschooling where the kids have hours in the afternoon of free time to just be kids and play outside. We have had a blast exploring Melbourne!! After playing Matt met up with us since his work was not far from the park. We had dinner at Spuds and then took the tram home together.

Derek joined some local kids in a game of tag. It was so beautiful to watch him chase and run from these local kids. I was so proud of him for confidently asking if he could play.

Rylie's Reading

I have LOVED working with Rylie on her reading. Every day at the beginning of our schooling time I get to curl up on the couch and read with Rylie. I spend a long time reading to her some chapter book and then she spends some time reading to me. Just in the time we have been in Australia so far (about 1.5 months) she has improved so much. Just this week she read her first chapter book!!! It was an Ella and Olivia book. She is so proud. Her sweet little voice is such a joy to hear. I am just so grateful that both my kids LOVE to read and we can sit together on the couch and read for hours as part of our school day. Kids need to be read to and need to have time to read their own books too. Homeschooling allows me to prioritize the things I want in our day and reading is definitely a priority.

Melbourne Royal Nature Park

After school one afternoon we took a tram to the Royal Nature Park next to the Children's hospital. It was a very unique park. The kids had a blast on the park and playing on the grassy hill right next to the park. It was a very challenging park because it had a ropes course. The view was amazing!

Running down the hill.

Doing cartwheels down the hill.

Rolling down the hill.

The ropes course part of the park

Cool swing!