More photos from DC, most are self explanatory, any questions please ask. NO we did not make Charlotte sit and pose for the photo looking down towards the Reflection Pool, and YES it was raining!!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Washington DC - Pt 1
Sunday we headed off to Washington DC to do a few things, and after a very long day in the car, we finally arrived at about 8:30pm. Traffic was crazy.......the trip is about 210 miles, and it took us just over 5 hours!!! It's amazing how many accidents you can see on one trip, and everybody stops to look!! None were major, but enough to slow done 2-3 lanes to a stop, and it's not suprising, indicating when changing lanes here is not done very often. I have added a few photos from the car so you can see the size of the roads, can you believe that a lot of the highway (interstate) is 4-5 lanes, each way!! Charlotte was very comfortable with her new DVD player in the back, so thankfully she behaved.
Monday Ted had to drop in at the Australian Embassy to meet his new boss and a few other Aussie's and Admin people that work there. (I had to drop him off and for those of you that have seen the movie "The American President" with Annette Bening, I got stuck on Dupont Circle too!! Traffic in DC is mental, and very confusing. Later when I had to drive back to pick Ted up I was very happy with myself when I didn't get stuck on Dupont Circle!!) Ted was also very keen to get into the cellar. The Embassy has a cellar full of Australian wine and seeing we were not allowed to bring our own, we needed to stock up. I had my fingers crossed they had a stash of Cadbury chocolate, but no such luck :( Hence we came home with a boot, (sorry I meant trunk) full of Aussie beer and wine, thank goodness for the SUV. While Ted was busy "working" Charlotte and I did a spot of shopping, Ted was nice enough to book us into a hotel on top of a shopping center called the Chevy Chase Pavillion!! Shell the photo of Charlotte with the sunglasses is for you!!
After this we decided that driving was a bad idea, so we caught the Metro (subway) in towards the White House. Charlotte loved the Metro, as you can see by the photos. We managed to see the White House, the Washington Memorial, the Lincon Memorial and the Reflection Pool, as well as the World War II Memorial. We saw so much more in the distance but, as we only had half the day we ran out of time. Next time we will spend a lot more time looking around as it is one of the most impressive places either of us has seen.
After a big day walking (all 3 of us had blisters) we had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. The meals were massive and none of us finished our main meals so the "Cheesecake" I got to "takeout". Later after Charlotte was in bed Ted and I shared it and it was pretty good!!
Today (Tuesday) we spent the day picking out our furniture for the house. Some of what we got I really liked, and some was just ok, but it's only for the next 2 years so no dramas. We still have to go and buy appliances for the kitchen, and I will also need to get some new bits and pieces like sheets for Charlotte, some baby stuff, but that will be fun :) We had a much better trip back this afternoon (only just over 3 hours) and were all glad to be home (sounds funny saying that, but it is starting to feel a bit that way). Back to normal boring duties tomorrow like grocery shopping and being a house wife!!!
P.S. Blogger isn't letting me download the photos so ill try again later :(
Monday Ted had to drop in at the Australian Embassy to meet his new boss and a few other Aussie's and Admin people that work there. (I had to drop him off and for those of you that have seen the movie "The American President" with Annette Bening, I got stuck on Dupont Circle too!! Traffic in DC is mental, and very confusing. Later when I had to drive back to pick Ted up I was very happy with myself when I didn't get stuck on Dupont Circle!!) Ted was also very keen to get into the cellar. The Embassy has a cellar full of Australian wine and seeing we were not allowed to bring our own, we needed to stock up. I had my fingers crossed they had a stash of Cadbury chocolate, but no such luck :( Hence we came home with a boot, (sorry I meant trunk) full of Aussie beer and wine, thank goodness for the SUV. While Ted was busy "working" Charlotte and I did a spot of shopping, Ted was nice enough to book us into a hotel on top of a shopping center called the Chevy Chase Pavillion!! Shell the photo of Charlotte with the sunglasses is for you!!
After this we decided that driving was a bad idea, so we caught the Metro (subway) in towards the White House. Charlotte loved the Metro, as you can see by the photos. We managed to see the White House, the Washington Memorial, the Lincon Memorial and the Reflection Pool, as well as the World War II Memorial. We saw so much more in the distance but, as we only had half the day we ran out of time. Next time we will spend a lot more time looking around as it is one of the most impressive places either of us has seen.
After a big day walking (all 3 of us had blisters) we had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. The meals were massive and none of us finished our main meals so the "Cheesecake" I got to "takeout". Later after Charlotte was in bed Ted and I shared it and it was pretty good!!
Today (Tuesday) we spent the day picking out our furniture for the house. Some of what we got I really liked, and some was just ok, but it's only for the next 2 years so no dramas. We still have to go and buy appliances for the kitchen, and I will also need to get some new bits and pieces like sheets for Charlotte, some baby stuff, but that will be fun :) We had a much better trip back this afternoon (only just over 3 hours) and were all glad to be home (sounds funny saying that, but it is starting to feel a bit that way). Back to normal boring duties tomorrow like grocery shopping and being a house wife!!!
P.S. Blogger isn't letting me download the photos so ill try again later :(
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The 4th of July!!!
Sorry for no post the last few days, it's been another busy few :) Hopefully we get the house sorted soon and then I will have a few minutes before the baby arrives!!!
We had our first 4th of July on Sunday, WOW Americans do get excited. We were planning on having a pretty quite morning as we had big plans for the evening. We had looked at a house in an area of Virginia Beach called Great Neck so thought we would check out the local park. It had a play area, so it was a good excuse to let Charlotte play outside for a while. When we were there a fire truck came by with lights flashing and about 30 kids on bikes behind it!! All the kids had decorated their bikes with red, white and blue!!! The fire truck stopped at the park and the entire neighbourhood turned up shortly after :) Everybody just assumed we were part of the neighbourhood and asked us to join in playing volleyball. We spoke with a few of the people to get an idea about the area and then left as we felt a little rude crashing the party!!!
After that we went home (I had a sleep, Charlotte decided not too!!) to get ready to go to the oceanfront (that’s what they call the actual beach here). We got there about 4:30pm, and met up with a few other Aussie families. The beach here is extremely long and there was no room to move on any of it (for those in Sydney think Bondi Beach on NYE but about 20 times longer and for the Brisbane people Ted says think Kings Beach in the middle of summer, again about 20 times longer). We found a spot and spent a few hours swimming and covering ourself in loads of sunscreen, once again it was about 35-40 degrees. Its daylight savings time here too so the sun finally went down about 8pm. Just before it did we moved up to a grassy patch just in front of a stage they had set up for the free band that night. The band was a Bruce Springsteen tribute, Mum you would be proud, Charlotte danced the entire time!!! At 9:30pm they had some fireworks over the water which was cool, Charlotte thought they were very pretty!!! After a long walk back to the car, we finally got home about midnight (the traffic was horrible). But we had a great time so it was worth it!! Charlotte fell asleep on the walk back to the car, in typical Charlotte form :) Sorry no photo, we didn’t take our iPhones, Beck one of the other girls got some photos of Charlotte dancing, I'll attach one!!
Yesterday we had a pretty quite day, Ted had the day off due the 4th of July holiday. We ventured out for a quick look at the NEX at Norfolk to buy Charlotte something to play with, we still don't have our removal so she is pretty bored. The NEX is like a massive MYER but all tax free and discounted. (Dad don’t buy a suitcase, they have good ones at the NEX, you can buy one when you get here, just bring ours over )
This afternoon we went to have another look at house we saw on the weekend (the one near the park with the fire truck in Great Neck). It's not a perfect place but it's big, the kitchen and 2 of the bathrooms are new. It has a fenced yard for Charlotte, plus a FROG (Finished Room Over Garage) for those that decide to visit :) The wall paper in one room is interesting but I can be creative with my interior decorating if I need :) The area is the best part about it, only 15mins to work for Ted and its well known for being a great area for schools (preschool for Charlotte when she turns 3) and community, as we saw on the 4th. We have made an offer and the owners seem more than happy to have us live there for the next 2yrs, just have to send the lease to the Australian Embassy to check over. I'm sure there will be no problems, the owners are US retired military, and have been renting this house to other military members for years :) Hopefully we can get to Washington DC soon to pick furniture and then can move in shortly after that, and get the Aussie flag flying (so many houses over here have the USA flag up in the front yard or at the front door, so it is expected that we will fly an Australian flag in our yard). I’ll attach a few photos of the inside of the house, I don’t have any of the outside yet.
Hope all is well back in Australia, make sure you email us every now and again to keep us updated on what’s going on :)
We had our first 4th of July on Sunday, WOW Americans do get excited. We were planning on having a pretty quite morning as we had big plans for the evening. We had looked at a house in an area of Virginia Beach called Great Neck so thought we would check out the local park. It had a play area, so it was a good excuse to let Charlotte play outside for a while. When we were there a fire truck came by with lights flashing and about 30 kids on bikes behind it!! All the kids had decorated their bikes with red, white and blue!!! The fire truck stopped at the park and the entire neighbourhood turned up shortly after :) Everybody just assumed we were part of the neighbourhood and asked us to join in playing volleyball. We spoke with a few of the people to get an idea about the area and then left as we felt a little rude crashing the party!!!
After that we went home (I had a sleep, Charlotte decided not too!!) to get ready to go to the oceanfront (that’s what they call the actual beach here). We got there about 4:30pm, and met up with a few other Aussie families. The beach here is extremely long and there was no room to move on any of it (for those in Sydney think Bondi Beach on NYE but about 20 times longer and for the Brisbane people Ted says think Kings Beach in the middle of summer, again about 20 times longer). We found a spot and spent a few hours swimming and covering ourself in loads of sunscreen, once again it was about 35-40 degrees. Its daylight savings time here too so the sun finally went down about 8pm. Just before it did we moved up to a grassy patch just in front of a stage they had set up for the free band that night. The band was a Bruce Springsteen tribute, Mum you would be proud, Charlotte danced the entire time!!! At 9:30pm they had some fireworks over the water which was cool, Charlotte thought they were very pretty!!! After a long walk back to the car, we finally got home about midnight (the traffic was horrible). But we had a great time so it was worth it!! Charlotte fell asleep on the walk back to the car, in typical Charlotte form :) Sorry no photo, we didn’t take our iPhones, Beck one of the other girls got some photos of Charlotte dancing, I'll attach one!!
Yesterday we had a pretty quite day, Ted had the day off due the 4th of July holiday. We ventured out for a quick look at the NEX at Norfolk to buy Charlotte something to play with, we still don't have our removal so she is pretty bored. The NEX is like a massive MYER but all tax free and discounted. (Dad don’t buy a suitcase, they have good ones at the NEX, you can buy one when you get here, just bring ours over )
This afternoon we went to have another look at house we saw on the weekend (the one near the park with the fire truck in Great Neck). It's not a perfect place but it's big, the kitchen and 2 of the bathrooms are new. It has a fenced yard for Charlotte, plus a FROG (Finished Room Over Garage) for those that decide to visit :) The wall paper in one room is interesting but I can be creative with my interior decorating if I need :) The area is the best part about it, only 15mins to work for Ted and its well known for being a great area for schools (preschool for Charlotte when she turns 3) and community, as we saw on the 4th. We have made an offer and the owners seem more than happy to have us live there for the next 2yrs, just have to send the lease to the Australian Embassy to check over. I'm sure there will be no problems, the owners are US retired military, and have been renting this house to other military members for years :) Hopefully we can get to Washington DC soon to pick furniture and then can move in shortly after that, and get the Aussie flag flying (so many houses over here have the USA flag up in the front yard or at the front door, so it is expected that we will fly an Australian flag in our yard). I’ll attach a few photos of the inside of the house, I don’t have any of the outside yet.
Hope all is well back in Australia, make sure you email us every now and again to keep us updated on what’s going on :)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The new car!!
WOW!! We picked up the new car today, see the photos, I think Charlotte was pretty excited :)
It's nothing real special but nice to drive and plently of room for all the visitors we will have over the next few years.
It's nothing real special but nice to drive and plently of room for all the visitors we will have over the next few years.
Ted is very pleased with himself as he has achieved a lot in the last 48hrs, mostly admin. We now have the car, and insurance (yet to get the plates from the DMV, apparently this can take hrs and is not fun, sounds just like the RTA). He also got his US Navy ID card and a social security number, opened a new bank account so we can transfer money between here and there, and new prepaid phones to keep us going until we can get our iPhones on a plan here. He even managed to get a hair cut :)
We are still looking for a house, starting to think this might take a while. We are being a little picky :) Did find a huge place on the net tonight that even has a pier, hopefully we will get to see it in the next few days.
Charlotte has been very busy spotting squirels, yesterday she saw one and was yelling at Ted "Daddy, Daddy a mouse!!" Ted's response was "yeah Charlotte, whatever!!" Then it dawned on him, a mouse!!! When he went to check sure enough it was a squirel. (I have updated Charlotte's identification criteria (Squirel Investigate Procedure) and we are confident that the correct ID will be made in future! Ted). Ted and Charlotte also went swimming this afternoon in the pool at the appartment, the fuuny suit Charlotte is wearing is the costume that Ted purchased for her at the NEX (Naval Exchange Store) today (can't believe he went shopping without me!!)
Tomorrow I see the OB (hehe) hopefully he is nice. Depending on where we end up living it might be a bit of a drive, but if he seems good it might be worth it. One of the other Aussie girls is pregnant as well and said she can give me her doctors details if I need, they are in a different part of town that might be closer. Budd has been kicking me heaps, Charlotte even felt him/her the day before yesterday, think it freaked her out a bit!! Not looking forward to the next few months, the weather is meant to get hotter and that won't do my cankles any favours!! It has just started raining here now, tomorrow is meant to be cooler, fingers crossed!!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
My Birthday!!
Well today was weird as it was my birthday here but there yesterday..........anyway thankyou to everyone that sent birthday wishes, I had an interesting day. Started out with Pancakes and strawberries for breakfast and then we went to have a 'quick look' at a car that I had seen on the internet that I liked. That was about 10am, at 4pm we arrived back at the appartment having spent the entire day with a car salesman who drove us (or let us drive) around to look at all different cars. In the end we decided that we were looking at a pretty good deal with the original car we had gone to see, so we bought it!!! (Nice birthday present I know) It's a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, so bigger than the X-trail, with 7 seats for all the visitors we will have over the next 2 years. It's pretty big, but compared to some of the trucks over here it's small!!! I'll put some photos on when we pick it up on Tuesday. Charlotte was very happy as there was a special seat for Brayden (the 3rd row!!). Once again on the way home from the car dealer Charlotte fell asleep (another photo for the collection).
Tonight we went to a BBQ at another Aussie couples place (Danny has a massive Truck with the licence plates AUS5IE. Plates are only $10 here, what a bargain, I have to decide what to get??). Everyone was really nice and Charlotte got to play with a few other kids. She saw fireflies for the 1st time, that was pretty cool. They are very slow and you can catch them in a jar, we will have to do that sometime!! She also played baseball (see photos) or as she was calling it "football" :) She had a great time and didn't want to leave :( Hope everyone is well back in Oz :)
Friday, June 25, 2010
Just wanted to add a few more pics of Charlotte at Santa Monica on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 1st one is Charlotte recovering from the flight from Sydney to LA (as you can see she is now transferring from the car to Ted's shoulder quite easily!! Ted thinks Charlotte is conducting a sleeping odyssey around America!! We were not suprised when she woke up as the fries arrived on the table for lunch!!) The next one is on a ride on Santa Monica pier and lastly Ted and Charlotte under the sign at the pier entrance. Enjoy :)
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