Ash Cloud Chaos

In June, a volcano erupted in Chile, South America. A few days later, the ash cloud from this volcano planted itself in the beautiful skies of Australia. Pretty neat huh? Wrong! Air travel was suspended until it cleared and this happened the day we were supposed to leave for USA! Crazy! So we were delayed leaving Perth by two days.

We altered our flight path to get to Sydney as soon as possible (Majority of international flights to the US leave from the east coast.) The good thing is that Ricky and I got to spend a day touring Sydney. It was our first time there and the weather was gorgeous! Everything happens for a reason!

Just an Ordinary Week

It was a pretty ordinary week for Ricky and me. He was working really hard...12+ hrs at the office every day! I was running and cooking every day, which are my favorite things to do! But I felt a bit lonely and far away from home. Skype chats with Leslie, Fal and Adele really helped though! I'm definitely missing my peeps! (Countdown for trip 2 to the states is underway. 5 weeks to go!)

I took a Spanish seafood cooking class on Sunday, which was a birthday gift from Ricky. I learned how to make sauteed calamari, traditional fish stew and churrrros! Churros are fried, sugary and delicious! They remind me of sopapillas, which nobody in the class had heard of . I almost died! Love me some Casa Laredo ... ha ... My next class is Moroccan. I'll snap some pics to share my experience. Should be interesting and challenging!

On a whim, I ran down to the beach for sunset on Thursday, which was my mom and dad's 32nd anniversary. My mom *LOVES* sunsets (probably an understatement). The minute I arrived at the beach and saw the beautiful Indian Ocean, I was instantly comforted! 

We're also in the middle of planning a vacation for October. The Queen's birthday is at the end of the month so of course there's a public holiday. We are taking advantage of Ricky's time off and will jet set it to some remote island.... Maldives is probably the destination!

We are very close to booking at the Waldorf Astoria Beach House!

Although I was a lil lonely during the week, we were off and running once the weekend came! Pizza and wine Friday night with the hubs is always a treat! Then off to brunch at the Naked Fig (my fav) with our friends Ashley and Bill. And Saturday night we scooted down to The Village Bar (another fav) with our newlywed friends Paul and Yanna.  Too much champagne......

I'm thankful to live this charmed life in Perth! The *ONLY* thing it's missing is *YOU*!

Summer in the States

Home sweet home!

We made our first trip back home since we moved to Perth last October. We scheduled the journey around the perfect time ... summer in Tulsa & 4th of July (my fav)!

We stayed in Tulsa for the majority of the time, made two trips up to Grand Lake and spent a wonderfully hot, few days in Dallas.

In Tulsa, we relaxed in the Beasleys pool, barbequed with Ricky's fam and spent as much time eating/drinking with close friends and fam. It was really hard to juggle the time...definitely need longer than 2 weeks to not only see everyone we love, but spend enough quality time with each person! So if you're reading this and thinking, damn I didn't get to see them. Don't you fret, there's a Qantas ticket with your name on it. Haha. Please do come! But also...we will be back in Sept - Oct for a couple weddings!

Here are a bunch of fun pics from our trip.

First I'll show you Grand Lake, then some Tulsa and Dallas/Ft Worth.

Disgustingly massive American portions. We were shocked!

Happy 4th! Cruisin on boat with my sister-in-law, Karrie

Great times with my cousin Connie and her hubs, Matt

Happy 4th! (I have firecracker shorts on!)

Ricky with his bf, Roberts

Floating in Dripping Springs @Grand Lake with sister-in-law, Karrie!

A lil Jello shot on 4th of July will never hurt anybody!

Sunset cruise with Connie and Karrie

Another sunset cruise with our good friends, Lauren and Tyler

Love my sista Karrie to pieces!!

Floatin on a mega raft to beat the heat. I'm extremely jet lagged in this one!

Wind blown after big fireworks show in Duck Creek @Grand Lake

My beautiful mom watering her flowers 

My sister Claire and dad John

Adele, Dad and Claire

The fam minus Ricky

The fam at STONEHORSE, one of my fav Tulsa restaurants

At Texas Rangers baseball game

Kim and Mark treated us to a fun night out at the ball park!

BUSTED! 

Ricky and his momma at the Ft Worth stockyards

Cowgirl at heart? I'm not foolin anyone! I'm a city gal!

Getting our Tex Mex fix in Dallas with Mark and Kim

Best Mother-in-law ever!

Winter in Perth

I won't make any excuses as to why I've completely neglected my blog. I'll just say that we've been having the BEST winter in Perth and the BEST summer in the States. Remember seasons are opposite down unda. I've been wearing my Hunter wellies in the rain while you folks have been kickin it in your sunnies and thongs! =)

Monsoon day in Sydney while traveling with Adele.

We've lit our fireplace everyday to warm ourselves from this wicked winter.... Haha. If you've been following our weather here, it's a big joke. Winter in Perth is rainy and chilly. High 60s and low 50s. The rain is nice though because we don't get ANY rain for 75% of the year. It's extremely dry. The rainy days are nice because the passing showers allow for the sun to shine several times a day. There have been lots of all sunny days too and only half a dozen socked-in monsoons. All and all, we are enjoying the weather. It's so much easier and refreshing to run outside now than it is in Oklahoma/TX right now! Sorry you guys... 105F+ sounds miserable!.

Gus staying warm by fire. Tough day at the office. 

I've made yummy winter things like chili, pumpkin everything, apple cider and enchiladas! We are now "regulars" at a new bar/restaurant in Subiaco. It's called the Village Bar. It just opened a few months ago and we made friends with the owner and bartenders. It's a nice place with gourmet, seasonal food. There are plenty of nice Australian/NZ wines by the glass and different microbrewery beers to try. We are still trying new places but love to have one place to go to every week where we feel comfortable to run in and out (or stay for a bottle!).

At Village Bar with our friend Ashley

A great Friday night at the Village Bar with Ashley!

With Adele at the Village Bar

When it monsoons, our dog park across the street floods. It's crazy! Once the rain stops, the water soaks into the ground within a few hours. Some days I avoid taking the dogs here so I don't have to bathe them afterward. But when they've been good, we spend the mornings running and playing the big temporary pond that the rain creates!

Happy Anniversary!

Cheers to a very happy, healthy 2 years as a married couple!

Two Year Anniversary Celebrated in Perth!