First Fashion Show

The BX had a Summer fashion show today (Saturday). Michenna REALLY wanted to participate, so we signed her up and chose 3 outfits. This morning the fun began. First, she had to have her make-up done at the Clinique counter.

Spencer doesn't like these pictures because Michenna looks so grown-up, and absolutely gorgeous. He has no problem with the fact that Michenna is so beautiful; his concern is the BOYS who will recognize that beauty in a few short years. And not really personally with the boys (or parasites, as he likes to call them), he just can't wrap his mind around the idea of teenage boys (er, parasites) liking his daughter.

Her first outfit was the "casual wear". We had practiced the catwalk walk (don't swing your shoulders) and the model "pose" earlier in the week. I forgot to teach her the model turn, though. We covered that briefly before the show began. We both had a good laugh.

Michenna's next outfit was her favorite: the dressy outfit. She chose a purple dress that tied in the back. I liked it because it was still a "little girl" dress. Apparently, once your daughter hits size 7, she is supposed to dress in "hoochie momma" styles. We have to look a little harder for the "little girl" style clothes, but it's worth it.

Her last outfit was a Speedo swimsuit. I love this picture, because her model pose is so cute.

After the show, we went to lunch at the 2-story McDonalds to celebrate. Michenna really enjoyed the Fashion Show. Next time, she wants me to walk in it as well. I'll told her, "We'll see . . ."

Soccer and End of School

Michenna enjoyed another season of soccer starting in April. This year she was on the Flaming Tigers team. Her favorite position is still goalie, but she has gotten better at defense, and at actually kicking the ball.

This posed picture reminded me of a button I had seen of Spencer as a young soccer player.

Michenna had a lot of work to do at the end of the school year. She had make a diorama of a science fiction book. She chose "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".

Michenna also reached her Reading Counts goal and ended the year with 628 points. She earned a trophy and a reading lamp.

We are excited that the school year is over, though it feels strange to have a soon-to-be 3rd-grader. Our summer plans are not too exciting. Michenna has a weather workbook and I am going to try to learn how to garden. We may try to go to Tokyo near the end of August.

This is the best part of summer: hanging out with family at home.

Sydney continued

Wow, time has gone by so fast! It's already May and I haven't finished posting the pictures from Sydney. So we'll flash back and finish the week - giving the Reader's Digest version. :)

Tuesday was St. Patrick's Day. If Spencer had had a shirt that read "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" I think several people (not just girls, mind you) would have taken him up on the offer. We started at the Sydney Tower. Then we wandered down to Circular Quay, spent some time at the Rocks Discovery Museum, climbed up the 200 steps to Pylon Lookout, walked halfway across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, discovered that my fear of bridges over water is still there, trekked over to the Opera House, and then strolled through the Royal Botanic Gardens on our way back to our hotel. We also spent about an hour at a bookstore that we discovered; it occupied the entire 3rd floor of a shopping center!

Wednesday we took the ferry to Taronga Zoo. We spent the entire day there. We found out that Australian hamburgers taste more like meatloaf and they always put a beet slice on there. Not my favorite thing in the world, but edible. We had a family picture taken with a family of koalas.

Thursday we set out to find the Sydney Australia temple. We had to take the train to the end of the Carlingford line and then walk about 15-20 minutes. A very nice gentlemen directed us to the quickest way, and then walked and talked with us almost the entire time. I believe that God places people in our path (this time literally) to direct us. Every time we have tried to find one of the temples on our trips (Hong Kong, Manila, and Sydney) someone has been there to help us find it. After we walked around the temple, we ate lunch at a large mall. They had a Target! We were able to attend a show at the Opera House on Thursday evening: The Best of the West End. Absolutely incredible!


Friday morning we went to a park that Spencer had found online. Michenna found a little friend, a 2-year-old girl who followed Michenna everywhere. We spent some time at the Sydney Observatory - but no pictures were allowed inside. One of the young boys at the observatory just loved Michenna's accent. He would giggle (I kid you not) every time she spoke. We made our way down to Darling Harbour and played in one of the water "sculptures".

Saturday we went to the Australian Museum. I think we all really enjoyed it. Then we walked to St. Mary's cathedral and the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. We spent the afternoon back at Darling Harbour watching Under the Sea in 3D. Saturday night we ate at a fantastic French restaurant called La Guillotine.

Our first day in Sydney was crazy. We went to the Sydney Aquarium where we saw . . .

. . . Perry - Perry the Platypus. Agent P. (I thought Mom and Dad would like that.)

We also saw dugongs, which ancient mariners thought were mermaids. The dugong is on the left. The mermaid is on the right. You make the call.

Our heights compared to a dugong baby, called a pig.

Next we went to Wildlife World.

Spencer hates spiders, but he agreed to be in the picture.

Spencer and the kangaroo are looking at something . . .

I found my froggie.

The butterfly room was so beautiful. The butterflies never landed on us (though they landed on others).

After we finished at Wildlife World, we walked along Cockle Bay Wharf in Darling Harbour.

We ate a snack at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe. Mmmmmm. Then we headed to the Powerhouse Museum. I was disappointed. There were many interactive displays, but most were broken. Still, we enjoyed it.

We found a park and let Michenna run around with people her own age.

Then we walked back to our hotel. We ate dinner at Dim Tai Fung. They have the "Best Dumplings in the World" according to some food magazine that was in our room. The dumplings were outstanding.