When we think we have it all planned out... we decide to change them!

So, I know that a lot of you already know some of the answers to the mystery I'd left last week(ish); but some of you don't. Let me start by saying that it isn't that we didn't try here. It isn't because we just tucked ourselves away and kept to ourselves. We had big hopes for our family and it felt like a big dream coming true for us to have this experience to be able to live in Australia, but as I have learned, so many times over, is that you can't merely dream a general dream... you need to be really, really specific!
Wade and I always had the dream of moving and living in Australia, even before we'd me each other; it was something that actually brought us together when we first met. When the decision was made that we really, truly wanted it, we went for it and it didn't take long for things to happen. In a very short time we went from being established residents of Canada to immigrants (with no real status) in Australia. It was a whirlwind of emotions, decisions and adjustments, but we made it through and it worked out - or so we thought.
It took a lot, more than you can ever prepare yourself for, to adjust to such a move. We weren't sure what to expect when we moved to this little town, in the middle of no where, but I can say that is certainly wasn't this. We were met with COLD... cold weather, cold attitudes and a cold feeling as we walked through what felt like a ghost town.  Don't get me wrong, it was still exciting and thrilling, but there was a distinct air of disappointment for quite a few of us, not all but a few. As the months rolled by the feelings and thoughts of anticipation and hopes of becoming comfortable in this little town steady fell away. More and more we felt isolated, alone and generally sad. Many of the people we met were rarely nice even in the beginning, and that rarely changed. It came to the point were we resigned ourselves to living as though we didn't exist in this place. We spent a lot of our time else where. Every Saturday we'd drive to Mackay (3 hours there and 3 hours back) just to get away for the day. I would take the kids for the day to Capella or out to the dam. We tried to keep busy with schooling, but loneliness is a hard feeling to ignore. We certainly had our good time, many of the days weren't always this hard; but the sudden break downs from various people, and the repeated question of when we were going to make friends or when we could go 'home' never got easier. It was a combination of these things that lead to question of a transfer.
We weren't sure if it was really an option, but you never know if you don't try, right? RIGHT! Within a week of Wade letting people at work know that he was interested in transferring to another area he had people telling him where to send his resume.  We considered it as part of our wedding anniversary celebration to be flown to Singleton, New South Wales (NSW) to complete the formalities of interviews and negotiations, and have a peek at the town. (Great job honey!! We are very proud of you!) Now those are all done, and there just a few final decisions to be made within the company, but then it is done. Incase you aren't too sure what this all means... WE ARE MOVING! (Sorry, it isn't back to freezing Canada - yet.)

A photo of Singleton I found on the net.

We will be living in a bigger town, in a different province and we'll be so much closer to real cities; such as Sydney and New Castle. There are more opportunities for activities as well as a larger homeschooling community available to connect with. While Wade and I were in Singleton (thank you so much Paul and Judy for watching the kids while we went for those couple days) we met with a family Wade knew... they just had their 8th child and they homeschool! Whoo-hoo!!! It is hard to explain just how wonderful it was for me to spend the evening with them. Wade keeps saying how excited he is to check out the... wait for it.... Costco - that is in Sydney. (And people think it is the woman who likes to shop!)... love you honey! ;) But it's true, and you know it!

Sydney will be a mere 3 hour drive from our new town.
Hello Costco!

Anyway, we don't have the details of when we will move, what house we will get (because we have to find and rent our own, it isn't company provided like it is here in Middlemount), or where we will have the baby.
Yes, you read that right... we are having another baby. Surprise! LOL. I am sure that most of you thought this when you read my last post and, of course, you were right! Now let me tell you it was a surprise for me. I'd come to the point in my life where I was struggling with the feeling that I was done. I mean it was a real struggle. I'd always thought that I would want heaps of children, but over the last year I was over come with the feeling of not wanting to 'bake' any more. Wade and I discussed adopting later on down the road, and that felt right to just go that way. It was Wade who pointed out the fact that I was 'late.' I disputed this for several days, but alas he was rewarded with a picture of a postive test via email.

He has been very excited about this next one, and his excitement has slowly been rubbing off on me.  So while you might not have been surprised - I was.

Our Lil' Swimmer!

Now then, let's see how many of you can figure out what the gender is! Look at the pictures posted and let's see how many of you can determine which room this next little one will bunk in later in life - the boy's room (team blue) or the girl's room (team pink)?  Here are some of the particulars in any case, the heart beat ranges between 156-160; due date is about the 21rst of October (will be the 3rd birthday in October... don't ask why!) and baby has been sure to keep me knowing we are pregnant. I say 'we' because Wade exhibits just as many pregnancy symptoms as I do... he's had food cravings, food aversions, been very tired, eats a lot more than usual (weight gain), waking up to pee through the night, and the other day he woke up with the taste of bile in his mouth... sometimes I wonder if he really is pregnant! It is always a good source of entertaining conversation though, isn't it honey?!

Boy or Girl? We know... do you?

I wanted to be sure to include a very special note to Grandma Dzus. I have been wanting a quilt for about 4 years now. One that took my breath away every time I saw it. One that I would love and want to keep forever. I know I am a picky person, and it is for this reason I have been unable to ever find the right one. When I saw the one you made for us I literally cried, because it is so beautiful. A sincere and gracious thank-you to you for making another dream come true. And a thank-you to your friend who helped. You are both amazingly talented and I want to say this quilt will not leave our family. Thank-you!

Next week, I will go into detail about the visit we had with Paul & Judy (Papa & Nana).

We had a wonderful time, and are so glad you were able to come and visit us again. We miss you

already...

as we do with so many of you.

Until next week.

Happy Easter & A Happy Birthday!

I wrote this entry a little bit back... but was too busy to add the photos in until now. Next entry will be when I have the details... (you'll see what I mean!)

So again, there is not a whole lot to say right now. The Anniversary of Christ being resurrected was celebrated, and not to put me in the same standing as Him... so has the anniversary of my birth; so it was a "Happy Easter" and a "Happy Birthday" on the same day this year.

While we didn't actually have an "easter hunt" the kids (and Wade) did make me play a game of "hot/cold" to find the presents they had been keeping a secret from me. I am a very spoiled mommy/wife!!
Wade is home for the Easter holidays (yes, they celebrate easter in Australia) and then he is home for a spell while his parents visit us again, come the end of the week.  While he has been home we have spent some time just being together as a family.

We gave the kids (the coveted) "ripstick" to share as an Easter present, and the younger children also received a fun riding toy to share... a pumper truck!
Over the past few days there has been a lot of fun (and screaming over turns) ;) with these two toys. We have gone swimming, went to a church service, and spent some time in the city, as went to a new skate park in another town for a while. It has been fairly quiet, as it always is in this town over the holidays, so we have just been enjoying the beautiful weather and preparing... for what you ask? Well, I dare not say at this time - don't want to jinx it!
 You will just have to wait until we get final confirmation on it all - think what you'd like, but don't be sure that you know. (It isn't always the obvious you know!)

While we have made a habit of spending a lot of our time away from Middlemount, we have found a few special places to be within the town itself. One of which is an actual mountain amidst these lowly plains... it is known as The Blue Mountain; and it has a beautiful view. Below are some pictures of one of our days we recently spent exploring the top of it.

Talk to all very soon!!