Update

So, call me paranoid but the reason I went back private is because I have this map of people who read my blog and for a month I have had someone following me who lives in Iraq.... several times a day, daily. Being an ex-pat in Australia I don't want to be an easy target especially since I am sure I have talked too much about where I live, what my kids look like and where we go to school, where Stan works and so on and so forth!

Seriously, I am paranoid b/c its not like Iraq doesn't love Americans :-) and what could happen right?

I know I didn't give any of you guys time to say you wanted an invite so I just invited everyone I could think of! Email me or FB book me if you have any problems!--Eisha!

Going Private

Going Private

Walk-A-Thon!

So many of you may not know this but I am the Stake Coordinator over EFY here in Sydney. This is the first year EFY has come to Australia, so we are starting from ground zero and it is kind of funny...things I assume people should just know, but don't when it comes to the know how's of EFY. It is easy for me. I attended EFY from when I was 14-18 and loved every year. But out here no one has ever been so even the counselors are going for their first time :-)

Anyway, our ward is pretty poor, and while we have recruited most our youth to go, most cannot pay for it. $500/ youth and we have 10 going = $5,000. So our whole ward is doing fundraising efforts to help them out. One that is coming up is a WALK-A-THON! It is a 12K trail walk along the beaches (awesome) and it is in two weeks.... Dec 5th? I am supposed to get my friends to sponsor me but serious, I only know a few people....but I know a lot of Americans!! And the American dollar is better than the Australia dollar (but that is slowly changing :-(

So if you want to sponsor me, leave your name and how much you will sponsor per Kilometer and then IF I finish all 12 Km I come back and let you know how much you have donated to the cause :-) The money is not due until Jan. and not to worry I will be sure to follow up with everyone, so you won't be forgotten!! You guys are the best and thanks so much!--Eisha

Ps. You can sponsor Stan too...and Olivia or Mary or Thomas (we are bringing the stroller for Thomas) we will see how long Olivia and Mary hang in there, it could get interesting!

Happy Birthday Stan

Happy Birthday Stan! You are pretty awesome, we can't wait for you to come home from work so you can eat this awesome cake that me and the girls made! We love you!

Jacaranda's in BLOOM

My favorite season in Australia is SPRING. It is the most brilliant bright mix of colors that you usually don't see in the USA. For instance. There are two trees in bloom right now. First the Jacaranda's (you can wiki it). These trees are bright purple or blue and they are HUGE. They stay in bloom for nearly a month and when the leaves take over the blossoms the petals fall onto the floor literally covering the sidewalk like a majestic carpet.

The most beautiful wedding couples I have seen are the ones who get married during the spring here in Sydney and take advantage of this natural wonder. It is like nature has decorated just for the occasion. A lot of these trees are planted along the water so you can imagine the effect. Our street is lined with these trees so when I walk down to the park we walk on a purple path.

I am not sure what the name of the second tree is but they turn bright red/ orange and then go back green for the summer. It is crazy against the purple and blue Jacaranda's and then the deep green grass below. Serious, I have to come home and look at a white wall just to recover from going outside and being stimulated from all this color! :-)

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup Horse Races!

While Halloween is a BIG deal in the USA the Melbourne Cup (horse race) is a really big deal down here in OZ. Today is the biggest race day of the week. Everyone was placing bets and restaurants were packed full this afternoon with signs and parties going on to support the race....and this is in Sydney....imagine what it is like in Melbourne. Stan was down in Melbourne last week but decided to work in Sydney this week due to the Melbourne cup (it would have been a lost week of work) since there is so much hype in Melbourne. The horse who won was named Shocking and the Jockey (Brown (from Sydney....maybe that is why everyone is so excited out here) won his first cup this year.

In addition to the race, the fashionable hats that accompany the race are equally notable. I don't have any hats so I guess that is why I really couldn't go :-)

Last week when I made a doctors appointment for today and I had the secretary say..." you know that Tuesday is the Melbourne Cup!" I am like, "yea....I still want the Dr. apt." I wasn't sure how the race day would stop me from seeing the Doctor in the morning....:-)