Summer?

   According to the Australian way of  denoting seasons, Summer started December 1st Down Here. You just wouldn't know it though!!  It has been the coldest start to summer in 51 years.  We got the heaters and fleece back out.  Everyone is wearing their Uglys, I mean Uggs, scarves and jeans again.  The invitation to a year-end beach party for Mia's grade said to bring your "wetsuit, cuppa and doona (comforter)."  Jackson wants to be in our laps constantly.  It's cool, cloudy and rainy and the long range forecast calls for a cooler and wetter than normal summer due to La Nina.   The amusing upside is that it does actually feel a little bit like Christmas this way.  We'd still opt for some gorgeous Sydney weather instead! 

   Sam's class recently went on an excursion (field trip) to Manly Beach for a day of surf education.  Things were going well until the kids got wet.  With temperatures only about 65 degrees and no sun, many of them quickly became miserably cold.  The sun came out towards the very end thankfully.  Great field trip anyway!

   The weather has held off enough that Nippers has continued.  The water temperature has cooled down significantly and many of the younger groups haven't spent much time in the water.  Sam loves an event called "Flags" in which the kids start lying prone in the sand, then get up, turn and sprint in the opposite direction trying to be one of the kids to get a "flag" (piece of hose stuck upright in the sand).  There are multiple heats, with more kids getting eliminated each time, until only 2-3 kids are left in the last race.  Sam loves these photos of the last race a couple of weeks ago.  He ended up the winner since his hand was lowest on the piece of hose.

Jackson doesn't look too thrilled about Nippers. 

    The sky at sunset a few weeks ago was so bright and pink, the water even looked pink for a few minutes.  Wild!