snow day

Hi All,

It's snowing here! Whoh, its actually so cool. I thought I was over the snow, but this is good its fresh. :)

The kids have a snow day today so they are off. This morning we went out and played, but by the time we got out there it was raining instead of snowing so that made it a little slushy. It wasnt too cold though, however I did have a few layers on. We made a snowman and snow angels they were fun. And then we had a snow ball fight, and we took a quick walk down the street just to see what everyone else was up to. They were inside like normal people would! When we came back we did a bit of sledding, it was fun! Nikki and I on one and Dave on another. There was a slight hill we went down and actually we picked up a little speed. I was in front, and as we were going down I've closed my eyes and next minute we've plowed into a bush hahaha It was funny, I had a bit of a laugh however Nikki hurt her leg a little as she kind of stopped us Poor girl.

(The family car that I drive sometimes, its awesome I love it)

We then came in a took a nice hot shower, boy it was good. I had a great time out there, it was a first for everything!

Now the kids have gone on a play date to their Aunts and its just Dawn, Wyatt and I home. Its so quiet its quit good actually. A time to catch up on a few things.

Tomorrow we are heading to Stowe, Vermont. Its about a 5hour drive. So I think we are leaving tomorrow afternoon/evening. We are going skiing so that will be an experience. I'll try to take lots of pictures however maybe not me skiing as the camera might get broken when I fall down (that will happen LOTS.)

Anyway thats all for me, take care and I'll blog when I get home (monday or tuesday.)

Sarah

P.S I saw more deer!!

Just a short one!

OH MY GOSH seven deer just ran across the front lawn, I couldnt believe it! That is so cool. They are little (well smaller then some deers) white tailed deer. Pretty cute, they have no horns so thats good. Fewf! Man thats awesome, we don't get that often in Australia.

This morning I made some ANZAC biscuits they are a little crispy, as I wasnt expecting to be ready so fast but they still taste ok. Yes I'm a day late for Australia Day but I still got there. Also this morning I did a little cleaning. Just to help Dawn as she's working the next two days and then we go away to Vermont on Thursday until Monday, skiing! So that will be fun and what an experience this will be. Many laughs, bruises and sore body parts after this! Haha.

Today Wyatt and I are going to Dave's school for a family and friends lunch day. So that will be good to see what Dave's friends and teachers are like. Also I get to see a typical American school. I'll try to take photos if I remember.

I hope everyone back home are keeping cool, send some of your heat over here and we'll send some of our freezing cold to you. Deal? Hello to all my blog readers, I hear alot of people read so thats good. :) I hope all your well and having a great day.

I'm planning on going to Oregon before I come home, just to see our friends. I feel that I should see them as I'm so close! So that will be good, now I'll know where things are that Dad, Mum and Liv talk about in Oregon.

Anyway I better go wake Wyatt up so he can have some lunch before we go.
Take Care
Sair xxx

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Yesterday Ursula and Sheda (not sure about spelling,) two au pairs from my area went to New York City. It was great weather, blue skys with a little bit of sun but still COLD. It was perfect day for Winter really. We bused in from "Willbrook Mall" and we went straight to an Ethiopian Restuarant. A restuarant that Ursula and Lina spoke about alot. So we thought we would give it a go....! Anyway it wasn't bad, very different to what we normally eat but was good for some reason. There were no knife and folks they use this savoury style pancake instead, and you take some of your pancake and just grab some of your meat and then eat it. It's unsual but fun. It was good I like it. Ursula however ate a big chilli, and burnt her whole mouth, poor girl it would have been on fire.

Our next stop was back to the bus and subway terminal to catch a subway to the Brooklyn Bridge. That was easy and fun, first time on a subway too! It's a day for FIRSTS. The bridge wasnt far from where we got off the subway. The area before the bridge was beautiful, tall buildings, nice trees. Was good I liked it. Anyway we started walking the bridge and I started to freeze, hahaha GREAT I should have brought that extra coat! I took so many photos. The bridge is quit big actually. You walk in the middle of the bridge and over the traffic, there we 3-4 lanes both ways. Was a little scary having fast cars below you. The view was just great, you could see so far and just a great way to see what Brooklyn and Manhatten really look like from a distance. It's HUGE!! I had so much fun. It was a little windy on the bridge but I was so rugged up I could just feel it. We walked the whole bridge, which didnt take us that long really I was expected it to take forever. Haha!

Manhatten Side

Brooklyn Side

Statue of Liberty with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background (HAHAHA - no I dont know what bridge that is)

Anyway once we got into Brooklyn we were suppose to take a subway back to Ground Zero but instead we went the opposite direction. We suddenly landed in the middle of Brooklyn. Oh well, what a great way to see another part of town. Its a cool place and I finally got my Dunkin Donut :) YES a glazed and a jelly (jam.) They were so good, worth the wait I think. Once we scoffed that down we had a little look around and then headed back to Manhatten. We got off the subway and there was a man singing, gosh he was really really good! We have him some money, he was singing songs like; I cant remember, good old songs! And he wasnt using a mircophone, it was just his voice it was really good!!! I could have listened to him all day. :)

have a little stop in another sourenir shop, I think I have got lots of things now. So thats good! Then we headed to the Virgin Mega Store (a music place,) which was out last stop. It was huge! The stories of cd's, dvd's and clothing. It was good in there. :) I didnt buy anything though.

We headed to the bus terminal and waited for our bus, we were so tired. So much walking, on the way home we nearly all fell alseep.

It was a great day, I loved it!!! I'll cherish those memories and photos forever. Wonderful! Everyone should walk the bridge it really is a great viewing point.

Back at home (New Jersey) the ice is melting, and the grass is showing! They do actually having grass :O The snow is melting and is turning into deadly ice. I fell over the other day, wasnt good I landed on my knee which now have a huge bruise on it :( I have learnt now though I hope, to be careful!!

A NEW JERSEY HELLO

It's another HELLO from New Jersey, America!

What a week we have had with the President....what alot of hoo wharr that is. Really they make such a big deal about it. I saw a little on television but I turned it off as it was a little boring!

Yesterday (Wednesday) wasnt filled with excitment, I didnt get up to much.

However I got the news that my family has another au pair from Brazil. She seems really nice and "normal." She's had lots of childcare experience and shes been to university. The kids will love her I think! :)

So that means I'm coming home!

My last day will be sometime at the end of Feb. The new au pair arrives on the 27th so any time after that. I'm a little excited to be coming home even though its another month away. I get to see all my family and friends and I can get back to a little bit of HEAT! lol However I will miss my host family. Dawn who is so great to talk to, Preston and his awesome jokes, Nikki who is my new little sister, Dave who I cant control but has a huge heart, and Wyatt and his gorgoues personality! They really are a great family. I'll also miss the Australian girls I met, you guys are awesome and we will definantly have to keep touch. I would have been lost without you girls.

"One funny moment was when Nicolette and I were in LA airport and we've just dropped off our bags and about to catch our flight, when suddenly Nicolette's about run back down the stairs because shes forgotten her suitcase, hahahahaha I nearly wet my pants, and I kept saying to her we've checked them in and she kept saying no no I've forgotten mine! hahaha oh it was hilarous, maybe it was a "had to be there" moment but oh it was funny believe me. There were some other funny moments I'm sure I just can't think of them."

Today I'm not up to much just looking after Wyatt. He's been an extremely good boy, he woke up about 8am! It was brilliant, normally he wakes up about 6am, yes a sleep in for me! At the moment he's sleeping so its time for me to catch up on some written work. I've just watched one of the best movies of all time 'Love & Basketball." Awww I love that movie.

This morning the kids and I nearly missed the bus! Jack the dog got out and wouldnt go back in the house so we were chasing after him. haha it was funny. Tonight I might drive the kids to the Library as Nikki needs books for her biography, so that will be fun! It's so werid driving, I'm a little scared that I'll suddenly be on the wrong side, but no no I should be fine :)

Anyway thats really all from me.

Sarah xxx

See everyone back home soon :)

Hello once again.

Not much has been happening. I went out with my family friday night to a cousin's birthday. That was good I got to meet Dawn's brother and family. They were very nice and welcoming. Gorgeous house too, mum you would love it. It was a big place, but inside they had very american wallpaper and freezers, red walls with apple signs and stars everywhere. Was beautiful! I wish I took a photo. It was very American and logcabin like!

Saturday I went to Nick's wrestling on the weekend with Dawn, her mum and Wyatt. It was good, I've never seen it before but it can get intence. Even I was a little scared and nervous for them. But it's a good atmosphere and everyone gets into it. Nick lost hist first match but had a brilliant second so that was good.

We then went to Dave's match as he hadn't started yet, however he lost. Alot more people and families were at the younger grades. Some wrestlers were so young, about 5-6years, they are so little! It was unbelievely cute actually though to see them play.


That night I went with my family again to there friends house. I met most of the people who we wil be going to Vermont with. They were nice :) Also I tried broccoli on pizza, was unusally good.

Sunday I went with Ursula to Willowbrook Mall. It was so much fun, I had a great time. I bought great bargains too at Macy's! Its kind of like Myers for those people back home. I bought a Hurley jumper (sweater) which was originally $62, and two thinner long sleeve tops, and in total I paid $55. How good is that I bought two extra tops all for less then one jumper. Was great, I was so excited for how much I saved! I soooo want to go back!!! There was some great stuff in there with huge discounts. :) I love Macy's!!! and I love my Macy back home (my dog)

After shopping Ursula and I went and saw the movie 'Bride War's with Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway. It was very funny, and great! I hope Kim and I arent like that for our wedding dates. You've got to see it.

Today (monday) the kids were home from school being a public holiday. We played games and I tried to keep them occupied for the WHOLE day, I found difficult. But we got through it, and tomorrow they are back to school. Nikki and I did two puzzles, one was of dolphins......


Anyway thats all from me,
Take Care and I'll post again soon.

Friday 16th January 2009

Hello,
Well I spoke to Kim and her family last night on webcam, we could here each other too which was great. It was fun and cheap :) Good to see them again.

I've had Wyatt today, he's been funny. Muckin' around. I put him in these cute as clothes, a little baseball all in one which says 'Dads Team' with navy trackies, so cute! He's now getting into the paper bin and ripping it all up. Hahaha What a mess.

I'm going to a family thing tonight for a birthday, so that will be good to see some of the family. And then another friends thing tomorrow night but I may stay home to talk to some of the family back home. :)

Tomorrow I'm going to watch either Dave or Nick wrestle so that will be interesting, I've never seen it before. And then going out with a local au pair shopping either at local shopping mall or into NYC. So that will be good. Spend a little money!

We are going to Vermont soon, Superbowl is on the sunday. So that will be fun. However I was thinking I might not go and go to Boston instead or White Plans, where some Aussie girls are. But I'm not sure at the moment, I might go to Vermont and just see the girls the weekend after.

No much else has been happening, just freezing. At the moment its apparently -7*C, it seems colder though.

I felt a little down this morning, I just really want to go home thats all. My family is great and when they are home they help keep my mind off home but when its just me, or just Wyatt and I, I have time to think about home and yeh not good. I really cant wait to see you all back home. I miss you guys, and I cant wait to tell you what I have done and show you heaps of photos. Im warning you now, I have alot of pictures. lol

Anyway better go and clean up this paper mess of Wyatt's lol
Talk to everyone soon, miss you all!
Take Care
Sarah xxxx

Not much to say today, but though I'd right one anyway!

It's my first day today: the kids got on the bus well, we didn't miss it which could have been a disaster and now Wyatt is sleeping and has been for nearly 3hours. Big sleep however he did get up at 6:00am, early morning for me not use to it! But he's gorgeous so it doesn't matter. However I do keep calling him Jude (the little boy I babysat at home) I'm just so use to saying Jude instead of Wyatt.

I've just been writing post cards today, while watching Mrs Doubtfire. I love that movie! They have sky channel, its so cool!!!

Yesterday I went out with Dawn to get the dog, Jack clipped and we went in to Lincon Park, where we went to a supermarket. Its so fun looking after different things they have. Heaps of ice cream again, Americans must be big on ice cream. lol They also import Australia beef, which I thought was strange. Very interesting actually. And for the rest of the day we just chilled out and did our own thing. I played cards against Dave last night and WON. Yes! Maybe play again tonight, it keeps him quiet which is great! :)

Dawn made a really nice tea; pork chops with fennel, tomato and capers (I haven't really tried fennel and capers, but it was REALLY good.) We also had broccoli, and something else which I truely can't remember. Dawn and Preston are really great cooks, not to say my family isn't but I've tried things that we wouldn't cook in America. It's great!

This weekend I'm planning to go to NYC again with a local au pair. So that will be fun. She's taking me to a really nice resturant. That will be fun however not sure about the tipping part lol.

I'm planning on coming home, however I'm staying here with my family until they get another au pair. I didn't want to leave them with nothing. I feel so bad leaving them after all the preparation we've done but I just don't right being here. I miss home to much. I'm planning on visiting my family when I come back to America, they are truly a great family. :) All of them have beautiful hearts which have welcomed me into their home.

Anyway better go, I can hear Wyatt talking to himself.

Take Care and I'll be seeing you all soon.

Sair xx

AMERICA - NY & NJ

Well I'm finally in AMERICA!

We had delays in LA due to missing our flight but it was ok we got to NY eventually. We spent four days at our training school in NY. It was alright, the food was terrible!!!! But the group of Australians I met were brilliant, very nice. We really got to new each other well. For the first two days we were in class from 8:15am to 6pm, with some breaks but they were very long days. On the thursday after we went into NYC which was awesome, our tour guide didnt show up but we still were toured around, and got to see some icons. Like the time square (photo 1), statue of liberty(photo 3), ground zero (photo 2), the empire state building and some shopping.




On the friday, we pretty much got up had breakfast had a meeting and then onto our buses, to where ever we were heading, mine to New Jersey. Our trip was only about an hour and half which was good, I didnt even get a sleep :O lol


Dawn picked me up, and it was so good to finaly meet her. We made a few stops on the way home but I really have no idea where we went, all the towns look the same. lol

We then came back to there wonderful house where Lina (the au pair here at the moment) was here waiting. We just chatted and settled in. That night we had a family tea got to know everyone. They are really nice but I'm heaps homesick. It's terrible I miss everything and everyone at home.

On the saturday, it SNOWED!!!!! omg, it snowed the whole day i couldnt believe it. Its so gorgeous, I was sitting here on my bed and suddenly deer come past. There we about 6-9 deer, it was so cool. I took photos!!! They stayed for ages. Really cute. I also popped out with Lina and her au pair friend and did a big of shopping before the snow so that was good to kind of see a bit of the area. My family called last night and it was so good to hear there voices, I really want to go home!




This morning Preston went out to shovel snow and to move it off the lawn. I've never seen it happen before but it look pretty neat!


Today though, I went to NYC with some au pair girls I met at the school (australians) and some old au pairs they were really nice. I caught the bus in which took about half an hour, it flew really! While I was waiting for the girls to meet me at the bus station, I was waiting inside out of the cold, and I was looking around when I spotted this guy steal something, it was unbelieveable i couldnt believe it was that easy. I then went straight outside in case he saw me watching. I wanted to tell the ower of the shop but scared he would chase me. lol So not long after my friends met up with me which was good.






We went and had some lunch at Whole Foods which is a very flash and posh food court - apparently famous people go there but we didnt see any. I would have taken photos but Nicolette got told off so i wasnt game. After that we headed to Central Park it was so pretty with all the snow. Very gorgeous!!!!! I imagined Home alone to be filmed in many parts...I took heaps of photos. We even saw a squirrel, they are so cute but I can see how they can be a pest. I also saw the ice rink, i didnt go skating i went into Time Square again but it looked gorgeous.


Time Square was great, we had a star bucks - very american!!! lol We looked in a couple stores but didnt head into LEVI's damit! But was great. By this time, we had to go back to the bus station as it was time for me to go. I found my own way around the bus station and onto my bus. I had to ask one lady about the number but other then that i did really well i think :) Very pleased with myself.



Lina picked me up from the bus station and we went to Wal-mart which i have never seen before but its pretty much likea K-mart or Target. I then headed home and had a brilliantly cooked dinner by my host family.

Overal the family is wonderful and are welcoming. But I think I may head home as I dont think I can mentally do this, I feel very home sick and at the moment all I want is to be at home. Later on in life i may become an au pair again, or travel but i feel so alone in a huge country where i dont know anyone. I really do want to go home, so I may see you all very soon.

Seeya for now :)

Lots of Love

Sair

P.S PLEASE.................................comment! :)