2+ Months in Canberra: Update for February and March 2013

At long last, I'm getting this blog more-or-less up to date.  I've been away so long that I'm going to wedge all the stuff we've done during the first 11 weeks of our stay in the Australian capital into one epic blog post.  I'll keep it brief for the most part and I should be able to stay up-to-date in the future.  In no particular order, here's what we've been up to...including the first photo on the blog that's actually taken by a family member.  (Now that I have access to Meghan's massive online photo library, I plan to switch out the photos taken by others for those of our own):

Lockie (the kangaroo), Maeve (the emu), and I (the star) doing our impression of the Australian coat of arms in front of Parliament House in March 2013.

• Parliament House Tour
• Prime Minester's XI Cricket vs. West Indies at Manuka Oval
• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
• Telstra (Black Mountain) Tower
• Belconnen Markets
• Belconnen Arts Centre on Australia Day
• Australian War Memorial (several visits, including one to see the movie Gallipoli)
• Costco, Woolies, Oporto, and Hungry Jacks
• Baseball for Lockie (both U10 and U12 teams including the U12 Grand Final game)
• Woden Valley Lightning U10 Soccer Tournament
• National Art Gallery Sculpture Garden Sunday Family Day
• National Museum of Australia
• Working out on the outdoor fitness equipment at John Knight Memorial Park on Lake Ginnindera
• SkyFire fireworks display on Lake Burley Griffin (including helicopter stunts)
• Long weekend on the South Coast (including Bateman's Bay, Moruya, Batehaven, and Broulee)
• Easter weekend on the Gold Coast/Lamington National Park (O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Fingal Heads, Dubbo Gaol, and 16 hours of driving...each way!)
• BBQing and fishing at Lake Ginnindera
• The Village Festival in Glebe Park
• Farm play dates in Captains Flat
• Captain James Cook Memorial water jet on Lake BG
• Archery practice for Lockie
• Dinner dates with friends
• Eric's visit
• Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
• Brownies for Maeve
• Meeting the neighbours on Hayball
• Lawrence's trip to Sydney for school camp, including a ZooSnooz program at Taronga Zoo.
• Weekend in Sydney for an Exchange Teacher's Conference, including a harbour cruise

Much more to come in the next few weeks as we wrap up Term 1 at school at head to the North Island of New Zealand.  Look out Hobbiton here we come!

- Lawrence