Hi all and happy Monday!  We have had a pretty calm week here in Sydney.  This week, Heidi and I went for our monthly massage at the Blooming Spa.  We are considering getting a punch card. 🙂 So good for my back and neck.   Last Monday, Jax had her GOT party, but Heidi, Brandon, and I stayed upstairs until pizza time, since we aren’t caught up.  I haven’t watched many episodes this week; I have been trying to catch up on planning things for our trip to the States and get some Birthday presents sent off.  Lindsay and my Mom both have Birthdays in early August, so I am hoping their gifts make it in time.  The people at the post office assured me they are delivered in 3-5 days, but when I sent my sister’s present in May, it sat in quarantine in New York for two weeks!  We shall see.

Thursday night our Cremorne family and Ray went out to an Asian restaurant, Noodle Star down the street.  We all got different dishes and split them; it was yummy.  Friday night, Jax left us to nanny for the weekend and we had a quiet night in.  Brandon and I watched The Ghost in the Shell, a movie based on an anime he likes.  It was a cool movie.  Saturday, Heidi and I went to go look at some inspections (open houses) of apartments.  We both are trying to get an idea of what is out there to move in the future.  She is hoping for more space in her room and more light.  We are, eventually, looking for our own space with enough room for guests that is closer to my work.  I love where we are, the location and closeness to shops, restaurants, the bus stop, grocery store, and of course our amazing flatmates.  Everything is awesome, besides the commute and lack of sun.  Jax did get a dryer this week, so that is exciting.  We don’t have to have our clothes hanging all over, trying to air dry anymore.  The places we saw had great views of the Harbor Bridge and were very spacious, with pools, gyms, and parking, but you get what you pay for; they were expensive-$1200-1600 AUD a week!  It is good to go and see what is out there and what the competition is like, then, when we are looking seriously, it will be less intimidating.  We had some time between inspections for a drink at the Fishy Fish, with a beautiful view.

Saturday night, Heidi and I went out to a Mexican restaurant in the Rocks with some of her friends.  Brandon didn’t want to come with, he stayed home and worked instead.  Some of the guys even knew of Wisconsin; the Packers and us Cheeseheads.  Pretty funny with what people know of us; the NFL or That 70s Show. WI is not much of the tourist destination.  I am not sure if it was the food or the wine, but I ended up in bed most of Sunday.  Eating a bowl of oatmeal in the afternoon and going to church in the evening felt like great accomplishments.

Today I had off and have been working on trip planning and other business-y things.  I have marked a lot off my To Do list so I am happy.  Brandon is working from home today, so we are enjoying our time “together” as in the same room as each other.  I booked our rental car for WI and planned more of what to do in Washington.  I was able to talk to my parents.  They are still at the hospital with not a lot of improvement from my dad.  Hopefully he will start to feel better so they can go home this week.  Fingers crossed!

Brandon and I have to go over our Seattle trip plans and our taxes for our agent to do them.  We are hoping to do both tonight, along with making fish tacos.  There have been a few things we have not been able to find at the store, and green chilies is one of them.  Maple syrup was also a hard one, but we did find it by the ice cream toppings in the end.  Always an adventure.  I just know now that some of my recipes from WI will not be able to be made here due to ingredients.

Here is hoping for another calmer week, though we do have some dinner plans already.  Before we know it July will be over and our trip will be upon us.  🙂 Can’t wait to see everyone!