food coma

Thanksgiving was a massive success. Food, friends, laughs, and a total food hangover. Two days later and I think I am still suffering the effects. Totally worth it though... I could eat pumpkin pie every single day and never tire of it. While I missed my family, the friends we shared the day with were a perfect substitute. (Read more about the day here.) Many thanks to them for sharing their day with us!

Now that Thanksgiving is over with, it's officially summer here in Oz. In fact, this week marks the official first day of summer. I am looking forward to getting out on that beautiful big blue ocean and going kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming. So glad it's beach season - I have a ton of books to read! I am trying to focus on the positives and not think about the fact that "back home" they got their first dusting of snow this week. Strangely, I am feeling a little jealous. Feel free to mail me some!

thanks giving

Even though we won't be home for Thanksgiving this year, we are still going to be observing the day. While we will be trudging off to the office on the actual day, we'll be sharing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with some good friends on Saturday. The turkey, whom we have affectionately named Kyle, is already cooling his heels in the fridge. I'm not convinced the 15 pound guy is going to fit in the oven, but we'll see.

I thought it would be appropriate, given the season, to take a moment and give thanks for the good things in our lives. It's a Thanksgiving tradition in my family to go around the table and name something you are thankful for. Given the size of my family, this can sometimes take a while. But it's a good reminder for all of us as to all of the things we really have been blessed with.

This year, if I were sitting around that table, I would first say that I am thankful for my husband. He is the best man I have ever known. Kind, smart, thoughtful, good, loving, patient, calm, and so much fun to be with. I am truly the luckiest woman in the world to have both him and his daughter as my family.

I am also so thankful for the health my entire family has been blessed with. One of my biggest worries when coming here was that something might happen back home and I wouldn't be able to be there. There have been some scares, but for the most part, I am so thankful that everyone is happy and healthy.

I am thankful for friends. The good kind - the ones who show me grace when I screw up and those who offer a shoulder when I need one. The ones who make me laugh and even those who have taught me tough lessons.

Lastly, this year I am thankful for peace. The kind that comes from knowing that I am doing the right thing, even when it's not popular. The kind that comes from knowing I have done my best, and that is good enough. The kind that comes from realising that not everyone is going to approve of my choices, and that's ok! That doesn't make them bad choices. That kind of peace is such a blessing.

To those who we hold dearest - may you have a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving this year. We have plenty of turkey to spare - feel free to stop by!

summer saturday

After what has seemed like weeks of rain, we had one gorgeous, hot, sunny day last weekend. We spent that day at the Red Bull Flugtag in Sydney's botanic gardens. A whole day, sitting in the sun, enjoying the view and the company of friends. Which led to me getting perhaps the worst sunburn I can ever remember, except for that one I had in Italy years ago... Anyway, this sunburn was so bad, in fact, that I neglected to wear shoes at the office for four days last week - simply due to the fact that I couldn't get them on my poor feet. I may have even claimed at one point that said sunburn was more painful than childbirth. I may have been crying when I said that. You get the idea. It was a bad sunburn. The moral of this story is that THIS weekend, when they predicted hot, sunny weather, and The Husband wanted to get out and enjoy it - I finally did what any responsible person would do: I went out and bought sunblock. Three cheers for me.

All that said, today we got out on the water for the first kayak of the summer. We joined a 7:30am Saturday kayak fitness class and it was fabulous. The water was calm and quiet, the sun was coming up and it was still cool enough to be comfortable. While the fitness part of it was a little annoying (says the professional couch potato), the kayaking was gorgeous and I can't wait to get back out there. I think we are going to make it a Saturday tradition from now on. It was a good workout and so much fun.


Since the kayak place is just around the corner from my office, I took the opportunity to take some photos of a couple of the things I drive past every day on the way to work. I see them each day and have been wanting to stop and take pictures. I think these are the kinds of things I'll miss the most one day when Australia is no longer home.



To me, November is the most beautiful time of the year in Sydney.