Hello Down Under, Goodbye Up Over

G'day from Australia! What a fantastic 10 weeks it was! I am so happy I took this opportunity to stay longer in the US with my family. It was great to catch up with friends more than once, give the E's a chance to experience activities like The Little Gym and Mighty Monkees, and most importantly spend time with their grandparents. My parents missed seeing Eloise go from infant (4 months) to toddler (18 months) to little girl (3.5) so it was nice they got to see Eden take his first (many) steps to full-fledged walking. And I LOVE this age, 1-2.5... then at 2.5 they start talking back.

While we miss Pau-Pau and Gung-Gung already, MissE is enjoying seeing all her toys again... and I'm enjoying the peace and quiet that has brought! It means I have time to blog!

Our Last Week:
Daddy returned after 5 weeks to pick us up.  MissE was so happy to see Daddy, plus for her it meant she would be going home soon= happy! and for me, it meant we would be going home soon= sad.  She spent the week telling us how she was looking forward to sleeping in her own bed and seeing her toys.  I spent the week anxious about fitting 10 weeks of shopping into luggage and already missing Pau-Pau, Gung-Gung and Yi-Mah.

I kept The Little Gym and Mighty Monkees going so that Daddy could watch them in action!
Mighty Monkees
I am so proud of Eloise getting her white/ yellow belt. I am so sad to be finishing here but I found a local taekwondo school here to check out so I hope to continue!

My Mighty Monkey holding the boards she broke to earn her belt

The Little Gym
I was also very sad to leaving our classes here. Sniff, sniff.  For Eden, Birds, was similar to Gymbaroo which I did with Eloise. He really enjoyed the class (exploring the equipment, ball and bubble time) and made a girlfriend, Reese, too.

For Eloise, it was the one activity she would ask every day if she was going to. She loved the arts & crafts they made (emotion flip book and jumping butterfly) and pizza for lunch. She is a master at somersaults and can easily walk the balance beam unsupported. While Eden could enroll in Gymbaroo for a similar program, there are no classes for Eloise until she is 5.

Donkey kicks

Cole's Birthday
We miss family birthdays, red egg & gingers, engagements, and often time weddings being so far away so it was great we got to go to an engagement and birthday party... and even better to spend a bit more time with my cousins!
While there was a malfunction at the splash park, the E's had fun with just a few sprinklers of water going. The very mobile Mr.E had his first BIG tantrum (3 adults trying to put on his swim diaper!) over not being allowed to go into the wading pool (while waiting for the splash park) then was a bit startled by the splash park once the water started again (then stopped). Hope that's not a sign of tantrums to come!

Eden on the leap pads

Eloise enjoying the water works!

Date Nights
Mr.H and I have been spoiled for date nights.  We had 2 in a row while MissE and Mr.E had quality time with Pau-Pau and Gung-Gung.

Off the Grid:
Mr.H and I are all about the SF food trucks.  We love the concept and events like Off the Grid (30+ trucks parked in one place!)  So we headed into Fort Mason, forgetting how cold it is there (I forgot the North Face!) and filled out tummies with delights!

Seoul Fries, Kalua Pork taco, Creme Brûlée and Chicken & Waffle popsicle
Eaten but not in photograph: Wing Wings, empanada, BBQ chicken skewer & Happy Dumplings

La Fondue:
One of our last nights was spent dining with Mr & Mrs. Martin at La Fondue.  Mrs.Martin and I had tried to have a fondue night on a GNO but failed miserably so we set the date far in advanced and were feasting on cheese, meats and chocolate.  Yum!

*Mr.H wanted a food diary so he is putting together a post on all that we put in our mouths! 

Fun with Cousins
We had a last cousin outing to Lemos Farm & Pumpkin Patch.  This will be a on separate post.

Say 'ello to my little friends!

Our last weekend was spent in the pool and playing at Pau-Pau's (how we started and ended the Summer).  Mr.E wanted as much hugging-time with cousin L as possible!  He is going to miss him so much!

So long, Farewell
Saying goodbye never gets easier.  It sucks!  I am an adult but still dissolve into tears at the airport... okay, and the few days leading up to leaving.  While part of me wishes we could just pack up and come back, it's not reality especially in this unsteady economy.  Get your act together America!  So instead, I just live in hope we can return next year (2013)... and do a similar extended visit before MissE starts school.

Survived!
We survived the flight this time around.  It helped that it's a night flight so it was naturally bedtime.  MissE fell asleep at LAX, while Eden had a cat nap from SFO to LAX then was up until we had our safety briefing.  He slept 8 hours and MissE slept about 7.  MissE is at an easy age to hand her my iPad or a colouring book.  Mr.E is a little more difficult to entertain so we did a little of everything: reading books and the Skymall magazine, playing with cars, lap games (Pat-a-Cake, Itsy Bitsy Spider), walks to get water, etc.  The fabulous and very thoughtful Mrs. Martin gave us "travel kits" which helped too!

Eden's: Lighting McQueen & Francesco Bernoulli (I think Mario picked this!), The City tee and snacks!
Eloise's: Princess colouring book with crayons, stickers, Cinderella toy & Pez, and a very cool sun-sensitive headband

 We weren't forgotten either...

Magazines, iTunes gift card, Munchies and my favourite, Red Vines.

We were still very happy to get off the plane.  Spring has sprung in Sydney so I am loving the warm days!  (I planned the perfect trip, I completely missed Winter!).  We are minus our Phil & Teds stroller but it's no big deal, if it turns up, great!  If it doesn't, oh well.  I only use it for running anyway.
*Post-script: As I was writing this, our stroller arrived.

Home Sweet Home
Eloise is home at last.  The last few weeks at Pau-Pau's she kept telling me she forgot what her house looks like, and it's true!  When she went to her room, she ran out to tell me "There are monkeys everywhere!"  Eden is a bit unsure but was happy to see a lot of toys.  He has a slight fear of dogs so it's been difficult re-introducing him to Sabi.  He likes her, calls to her but doesn't like her anywhere near him.

What's Next...
Main priority: getting over jet lag! Then slowly unpacking... Night one: MissE and MrE made it until 7pm.  MissE woke up twice: (1) she was scared because she didn't know where she was and (2) one of her friends was missing (they usually fall off the bed).  MrE woke up once but after letting out a short cry, fell back asleep.  My guess was he was looking for me (we were roommates for 10 weeks!) so in the morning, he was happy to see me.  Night 2: 7pm to 6am, plus naps!

Hopefully MissE can return to pre-school and Mr.E can start daycare to detach from my hip (although I am cherishing it while it lasts)! For me, I will be looking to head back to the work-force so fingers-crossed! Plus small projects like finally creating my photo books and well, playing with this blog too (notice I'm now labelling to make topics easier to find?)  Then it's not long until the holidays... or don't mention the C-word? (Shh! Christmas!)

Until next time...