Reading in Australia

I am so proud of Derek and Rylie. Since being in Australia they have grown so much in their reading. I love literature and I love engaging with the kids with literature. Everyday as part of school I have been reading to the kids outloud for at least an hour. It has been one of my favorite things to do. I have been reading the 39 Clues series to the kids and it has been so much fun!

I am so proud of Rylie. I have watched Rylie go from barely reading a page to reading a whole chapter to reading a whole chapter book!! I am SO blessed to have had the opportunity to teach her!!

Derek has gone from reading the Magic Treehouse series to the Boxcar Children series to the How to Train a Dragon series to Bear Grylls Adventure series to the Bear Grylls Mission Survival Series. He reads for hours at a time to finish a book. He has been such a great influence on Rylie and now the 2 of them read at bedtime and are finishing books left and right! Again, I am SO blessed to be a part of his literature journey. 

A Few Pictures from China & Biking Around Brisbane

Matt and his brothers went to China with Matt's Dad. Paul has always wanted to go to China and has as masters degree in Chinese history, but has never made it to China. So, Matt's brothers decided they were going to take him to China. It was such an amazing trip!! Matt left me and the kids in Australia for 11 days while he went to China.

 Derek finished building his Lego set.

 Went on a bike ride through the city with Kristina.

 On the Goodwill Bridge

 I just love these kiddos and adventuring with them!!

 Rylie invited Kristina over for dinner (she asked me 1st). 

The kids took turns reading to Kristina after dinner.

Scooting Around South Bank and The Beach

Here are 2 different sun rises from our apartment overlooking Brisbane. 

Everyday the sunrise wakes me up and I LOVE it!

 Scooting over the Kuripla Bridge

  South Bank beach

 Rylie loves Typo

We have loved the Brisbane Library!

 Derek used his money to buy a Lego set from Star Wars Episode VIII.

 Rylie used her money to buy a backpack from Typo.

City Cat to New Farm Park

We were able to video chat with the Clark family. 

 We took the City Cat from South Bank to New Farm Park. It was a gorgeous day!

Story Bridge in the background

 Along the way the kids wanted to play on every piece of work out equipment. 

It is so nice not to be in a rush and explore along the way.

Also along the way were lots of trees, which the kids stopped to climb. 

Yay for climbing trees!!

 

We climbed to the top of the rope structure. There was a great view. 

If you look in the upper right hand corner you can see the buildings of Brisbane.

 Love the way the park is build around the Banyan trees

 Derek swinging from a branch!

 

 Rylie spent a lot of time spinning on this structure.

Enjoying a Popsicle as we walked back to the City Cat stop.

Tennis Lessons

It has been such a joy to bike to tennis lessons every week. The kids look forward to playing at the playground and biking around the oval before the lesson starts. 

I look forward to my chat with Julie (across the world).

 

hitting the ball from her coach (who was from Brazil)

 In ready position

Derek playing games and learning lots about tennis