Sculpture By The Sea

     During the first week we were here, in January, we walked from Bondi Beach to Bronte Beach.  It's a beautiful walk along the sandstone cliffs and seems to be an outdoor gallery already.  In November, for the past 15 years, sculptures have been installed along the walk for the Sculpture By The Sea Exhibit.  It has become very popular and this year had over 100 sculptures outside and more in an indoor pavillion.  Although it was a bit tricky to find a time to go due to Chris's schedule and knee restrictions, we did get there a few days ago.  Loved it!  Two of my favorite things, art and the beach, and room for an 8 year-old to run around?  Great way to end the week.  A few of our favorites -

Nippers

   Leave the house and in 30 seconds be on the beach, with lots of friends and fun, yet competitive, activities for the next 1 1/2 hours?  We can't think of a better way to spend Sunday mornings for the next few months.  Nippers, as the program is known, teaches beach and surf awareness alongside fitness and water activities.  Sam, with great reluctance, wore the Speedo suit issued to him.  He could have opted not to but when in Rome...Both kids are really enjoying it. 

Rehab

   Chris couldn't think of any original way to celebrate being 40 so he had knee surgery two days later instead. :-)  He walked out 6 hours after I left him at the hospital with 50% less medial meniscus but ready to rehab and get back to an active, pain-free life (at least outside of work).  The hard part now is convincing him to do very little while he heals for the next two weeks. 

Not a bad spot from which to work!

  Halloween is celebrated in Australia but is nowhere near as widespread as in America.  It seems to be viewed as an American tradition that is slowly catching on here and is not to everyone's liking.  I ended up having to listen to a particularly grouchy Aussie woman rant about how Americans have "ruined a day meant to celebrate the dead" (huh??!) and she "doesn't believe in it and won't have her children participating."  It seems others have embraced the fun of dressing up and ghoulish decorating.  The kids do go out early to trick or treat here, about 4:00, so it has a different feel to it.  Due to a scheduling conflict with Sam's basketball game, the kids opted not to trick or treat this year.  Given how different it is here, I don't think they felt like they were going to miss anything.  So, no costume photos this year. 

A few more recent photos -

Mia, aka "Kudzu", has grown an inch in the last month!

Sam and mates at a school Sports Carnival (think field day)

These gorgeous Jacaranda trees are blooming all over Sydney right now.  Love them!