24 June, Sun - Day 9, Melbourne

Headed down to Flemington market with my aunt and cousin Steph. Bought a painting and some wooden craft stuff which we plan to put up at our new place. If they don't fade by the time our place is ready, that is. :)

Lunch was Hong Kong fare at Box Hill and then we headed off for last minute shopping at Target again.

After shopping, it was off to Steph's place for some tea. Check out Kieran enjoying his jam doughnuts....

Headed for a quick Thai dinner (notice we've been eating Asian food throughout. The Asian food here is really pretty decent), then it was back to pack all the shopping and head to the airport. Would have loved to pack one more thing in, but alas, I think it would have exploded in the plane.

Why don't they have Schweppes Agrum in Singapore???

23 June, Sat - Day 8, Melbourne

This morning, Uncle Jerry took us to Grants on Sherbrook so that the kids could feed birds - another activity they were looking forward to. We had gone on another day to another park but that particular park had stopped the bird feeding.

To my surprise, the 2 kiddos had no qualms about the Cuckatoos and Rosellas landing on their heads, shoulders and arms to feed!

Lunch was yum cha with my aunt, uncle and cousin-in-law James. Thereafter we headed to Costco - this giant hypermart that sells everything (almost everything) in bulk and humongous sizes. The thing is, at Costco, you need to be a member to shop there. Funny, right? Pretty fun place to shop. We bought a huge (I didn't take a picture, but believe me, it was huge!) pizza for dinner that cost us only A$14. It's so huge you can't fit it into a standard oven. We had to cut it in half! Also bought fresh oysters, as my aunt planned to make "orh lua" with them!

So dinner was another yummy affair of salad, pizza, orh lua, and of course, on the way back home, we had to buy Nandos!

22 June, Fri - Day 7, Melbourne

Today's plan was snow play at Lake Mountain. Lake Mountain was a 2 hour drive away, so we had wanted to start out early so that we could get back before it gets dark, which happens at about 5 plus.

But with such wonderful weather, the kids woke up late again and by the time we were ready to head out, it was already past noon.

By the time we got our rental snow gear and reached Lake Mountain, it was already 3pm! So we gave ourselves a maximum of an hour to play in the snow, return the gear and then head back home. Check out the scenery at Lake Mountain....just beautiful!



Making Ice Kachang



Dinner was pho yet again (we never get sick of it!). This time at Box Hill. Then it was off for dessert just down the road. Unfortunately, this place didn't serve iced desserts, cos as the waitress told us, "It's winter. It's too cold for iced desserts." We were like, "Huh???" Anyway their red bean pancakes and waffles pretty much made up for it.

21 June, Thur - Day 6, Melbourne

Another fun day for the kids.

Today's plan was to head to Chesterfield Farm where the kids could feed the animals and go on tractor rides. The weather was too cold again cos of the wind. But I think they had fun nonetheless.

Then it was back home for steamboat dinner prepared by Uncle Jerry! Steamboat is heavenly in temperatures of 6 degress celsius!

20 June, Wed - Day 5, Melbourne

Rain! And a long drawn one at that. Kept us in most of the day.

We had planned to go to Lake Mountain for some snow, but the weather did not permit. Ended up shopping at Knox City for some shopping at K Mart. Ended up buying things we didn't pick out. Didn't realise it till we unpacked the bags back home! Kaitlyn had picked out 2 extra tees! Then I recalled that she was having a whale of a time picking and putting things in the trolley. We initially pulled out the items she put in, but totally missed out on these 2!

When we got back, I was browsing through some catalogues that came in the mail. There was a sale at Target beginning tomorrow! Then my cousin Steph mentioned that the sale starts tonight actually. So we made plans to meet at Target, Knox City after dinner.

Dinner was at a Chinese noodle and dumpling restaurant at Bayswater. Then it was off to Target for more shopping! Kieran had already picked out what he wanted from the catalogue and was holding on to the catalogue all evening. So we eventually lugged this all the way back!

My husband thinks I'm mad. But Kieran gave up a Thomas tent for this! So he must really like it right? Kaitlyn enjoys it too! And with another one on the way, it's really the cost spread out by 3, no?

19 June, Tues - Day 4, Melbourne

Puffing Billy was the plan for today. We drove to Belgrave Station to catch the 1215 train for a 1.5hour train rider to Lakeside Station. It was freezing cold as we were in an open windowed carriage. Kaitlyn fell asleep. Kieran, with his love for trains (what more steam engines which resembled Thomas and his friends) thoroughly enjoyed it.

Honestly, if it were just Ron and I, we wouldn't have planned a ride on Puffing Billy. We got all sooty and there was really nothing much to do at Lakeside Station before catching the train back to Belgrave. The things we do for our kids. Thing we never thought we would. :) But the smile that our sacrifices put on their faces is just priceless.



Waiting for the train to depart at Belgrave Station



The Steam Engine we took

18 June, Mon - Day 3, Melbourne

Drove to the city today to visit the Melbourne Aquarium as we weren't sure if we sould make it to Phillip Island with weather so cold. So a visit to the aquarium would at least satisfy the kiddos' penguin viewing ( and it's prob closer than they can get to the penguins at Phillip Island anyway).

And then Kaitlyn decided to pull a starfish out of the water!

Then it was back to Olga Street for a nap.

Dinner was home cooked chinese food by my aunt. Yummers!