Time to say Goodbye

Well, it is the night before leaving Australia, and none of us want to go. We have had the most amazing time here, and would recommend this as something you need to do in your lifetime. Cairns has been so different from Sydney, but just as fun and exciting. We have had four action packed days here! Some of the hightlights were holding a koala and crocodile, a trip through the rainforest on an army duck boat and a skyrail, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, a real aussie barbecue and sing along, tea with kangaroos, and learning how to play a digideroo and throw a boomerang with real aborigines.

Needless to say, the boys have been given a real education here. We've met so many people from all over the world who have all come to this place just as we did to experience everything here. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow, we will head home. And for now, home is Japan (another place filled with culture and beauty- just very different from here)

We have taken over 500 pictures during our 9 days here. We will share some of the highlights as soon as we can.

Good Day' Mate!!

Hello all of you in the Northern Hemisphere!!

Hello from sunny Syndey- we have been so busy that there has been no time to blog. This is our last night here, as we board a plane tomorrow for Cairns, and the Great Barrier Reef area.

I can't put into words everything that we have done and seen here. This is truly an amazing place. We have toured the opera house, walked the sydney bridge, pet Koalas and Kangaroos, swam and played at Manly Beach, walked the Rocks, Circular Quay, and Darling Harbor, and we have had some of the best food around. We have done so many other things, but I will save it all for another blog. For now, I need to make this quick.

Our weather has been spectacular, and aside from a small amount of rain we received one evening, the skies have been the bluest I have ever seen.

We will report again from our next stop. We hope you are all well!

Our Taekwondo Boy

I just wanted to share these pictures with you. Patrick has recently started taking Taekwondo on the base, and he now has his dogi to wear. He is very proud of all of the moves he knows already!

Dreams Do Come True

We can't believe we are within a few very short days from heading to the land down under. I can honestly say that I never in a million years would have thought that I could see Australia in my lifetime. I am so thankful to be able to have this opportunity to see a place that was always just a part of the globe for me. I saw it as a place on the map that was just far far away. For as long as I can remember, Australia has been a dream of mine. I use to dance to Olivia Newton John on my roller skates. I thought she had the coolest accent. We would go downstairs in my grandma's basement and put on our roller skates, jam her music, and dance. I wore Outback Red shirts from the Limited when I was in 8th grade, and I use to go into Banana Republic when I was in high school and wish I could have everything in the store (it was much more of an Outback type clothing store back then). I can remember sitting in our base house in Bangor, Washington when I was 9 1/2 months pregnant in September of 2000 watching the Sydney Summer Olympics. I did not miss a single event, even the boxing and archery. I wanted to be there because every time I saw the Opera House, the bridge, and the Harbour in the background, I yearned to go. I was jealous when I watched the Today Show and "Where in the World is Matt Lauer" when they revealed his destination as Sydney. I am not sure what it is- maybe it's the way they talk (I love their accents), or the popular 80's song "Down Under" by Men at Work (okay- I am dating myself now). or just the fact that is has one of the most recognizable city skylines in the world. Whatever it is, I will find out. I will find out why I have always wanted to go and see this land of Australia.

Can I add that our boys don't even realize how lucky they are to be able to do the things they are able to do at their young ages. I remember when a trip to Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio was the highlight of my year. And no- I am not knocking Ohio or any of the wonderful trips we took as a family when I was a child. In fact, I would still get excited to go to Kings Island and ride the Beast. What I am trying to say is how lucky our boys are to have this opportunity that many people, even adults, will never have. It is sad to think that Matthew may never even remember this trip we are about to take. I can assure him that we will have plenty of pictures and journals to share with him when he is older. Someday he will learn that it really isn't Oxtralia, it is Australia. For now, it is too cute to correct him.

Please stay posted to the blog while we are traveling because my plan is to blog each day so we have a journal of all we do while we are there.

Happy Spring and Happy Easter to Everyone.

Happy Birthday to our Jazzy!

Well, I have to make this post since our litty Jazzy has turned 10. Jasmine, our little chocolate Boykin Spaniel, came to us in March of 1998 (thank you mom and dad- yes, she will always be your dog too), and she has provided us so much happiness over the years. As all newly married couples do when they get a puppy, we spoiled Jasmine rotten, and therefore, she is a princess, the Nowak girl. I realize that she is only a dog, but to us, she is so much more. Before we had Patrick and Matthew, Jasmine was my company when Brian was at sea. She kept his spot in the bed warm, greeted me when I came home, and traveled with me wherever I went.

Jasmine is truly part of our family, and we are so sad that unfortunately, she couldn't join us when we moved to Japan. It is not the same when we come home here, and her tail isn't wagging away for us as she runs to us with a ball in her mouth.

We know that she is well taken care of in Michigan by my parents, and it helps to know that she is loved and cared for every day that we aren't there.

We are lucky that she loves the us all unconditionally. Even after seeing her at Christmas and leaving her again, she still sleeps on the boys' beds at mom and dad's house and looks out the window as if waiting for her two best playmates to come back again soon. She is the best dog we could ever have asked for. No matter where we go or how long we're gone, she is always waiting at the door, wagging her little tail, as if to say, "thank you for coming back to me."

Jasmine, your sweet wet kisses are always welcome! We hope you live another happy and healthy 10 years.

8 Interesting facts about me

I thought this would be fun. A friend of mine here did it on her blog, so I wanted to share in the fun. Here are 8 things you may have never known about me.

1. I picked my husband out of a yearbook. Yes, that's right. I truly thought I would meet the man of my dreams in college. Little did I know he was miles away in Annapolis, Maryland. A friend from high school went to the Academy with Brian, came home for the holidays with the yearbook, "The Lucky Bag" and voila! I found him. And how truly lucky he is that I chose him!! I flew to Annapolis even though I was a poor college student. We met, and the rest is history. :) He proposed to me one year later on the exact day we had met.

2. I am somewhat obsessive compulsive at times with things in my house. I can't stand an open cupboard, drawer, scrunched up rug, unfolded blanket , or anything out of place!!!!!

3. I was born on the 4th of July, and I absolutely love that every single year there are fireworks just for me. Actually, when I was little, I honestly thought that the world celebrated for me and that someday, the fireworks would spell "Happy Birthday Amy" in the sky. I truly love a party always happening on my birthday. Oh- I really do have an Uncle Sam!

4. I am not a huge fan of chocolate. It's not that I dislike it, but I really never crave it. I don't like chocolate ice cream either. I would rather eat the fun kids candy like laffy taffy, starbursts, skittles, and sprees.

5. I have never broken a single bone in my body.

6. I have moved 10 times in the last 12 years. In contrast, while growing up, I lived on the same street in Richland, Michigan my entire life.

7. I have a nasty habit of biting my fingernails, which I have done since I was old enough to remember. The one time I had long, beautiful nails was leading up to my wedding. I actually stopped biting them, but it didn't last long.

8. I have been to the Oprah show two different times. One of the shows I got to attend was her famous Favorite Things Show. Fun Fun!!

Maybe a lot of you did know these things about me because if you know me well at all, you also know that I am not a very private person. I pretty much say what I want, when I want, to anyone I want.

Okay Gillian, I tag you next. Let's see it on your blog. Owen would really enjoy reading eight interesting things about his Mommy when he grows up. :)

The crud got us down

Well, some of you may think I just have gotten into another rut again, but unfortunately, we have had the crud in this house this week. I was down and out for the past three days, and Matthew has too. Today he went to school, but basically collapsed in my arms when I went to pick him up. Brian had his share earlier this week. Luckily, Patrick is the only one who has escaped it. Hopefully he is in the clear. We don't care as long as it is gone by the time we leave for Australia in two weeks.

Despite the fact that I was sicker than a dog on Wednesday, I still went to teach my four Japanese ladies. It was only the second time, so I didn't feel like I could cancel. I didn't want them to think I wasn't reliable. I managed to get through the hour. This week was an improvement from the first week. Each week will get easier as I get to know the ladies and they get to know me. I am starting to get a feel for what they want to accomplish with me.

I don't have much else to report since we have been basically staying close to home the past few days, but I do have a funny little story I wanted to share about Matthew.

Most of you have read my post about getting caught for doing a little too much internet shopping. Well, a few days ago (before I got sick) I went to get my hair done, and Brian was here watching Matthew during his lunch. Brian was sitting at the table and Matthew got on the computer. Brian noticed that he was trying to do a search for something. Then, Matthew asks, "Daddy, how do you spell goggles?" Brian spells out G...O...G...G...L...E...S for Matthew, but still doesn't understand what he is trying to do. So, my computer savvy 4 year old clicks on one of the sites for goggles and proceeds to do some shopping. He finds the pair he would like and then says, "Daddy, where do I click order?" Brian finally realizes that Matthew has spent a little too much time with his mom, and asks what he is trying to do. Matthew explains he wants some goggles for Australia and the Great Barrier Reef, so he wants to order a pair. He thinks he is being completely reasonable and doesn't understand why Daddy is laughing.

We need to watch out or before we know it, Matthew will be ordering things for us. :) Lesson Learned : Even when you think your kids are oblivious to what you are doing, they are always watching and soaking it up like a sponge.