Augusta

While Rissie was here, she and I took the boys down to Augusta where we spent the night and explored the area.

Both boys were excited to get out of town.

Our trip included a stop at the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse that Spencer and I visited last year.  It was a windy day, but we just missed the rain, and Rissie and Eliot even spotted some whales from their look-out.

Eliot was a trooper, climbing all of those stairs all the way to the top.

It was just Rissie and Eliot on the tour, so Eliot got to have a lot of hands-on lessons in the mechanical workings of the lighthouse.

He even earned a certificate for making it to the top of the lighthouse.  You probably can't see the certificate very well, but the look on Eliot's face speaks volumes.

Four is the minimum age for climbing the lighthouse, so Peter and I stayed below and watched the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean splash up against one another.  Peter also threw rocks through the fence and told me several times that he wanted to "sim" in the "oh-sin."

Can you see us way down below on the board-walk?

We stopped to check out an old water wheel that was covered in calcification

The area was covered in rocky tide pools.  We stayed for a long time so the boys could throw pebbles into the water and explore.

Aunt Rissie and Eliot Explore Rottnest Island

Last month my sister came to stay with us for a few weeks.  It was a busy visit and I didn't really have a chance to take any pictures.  This is okay, though, because she took plenty of really great shots and sent them to me.

While she was here, she took Eliot over to Rottnest Island for a little day-long excursion.  She had visited the island alone last year when she was here, so she had some idea of places to take him.  They had a great time.

We got up early to drive them down to Fremantle where they caught the ferry.

Eliot was very excited about the bicycle rental.  Apparently he was also very diligent about helmet use and often reminded Aunt Rissie.

Exploring the rocky shoreline.

Eliot was very impressed with this life ring and was excited to have his picture taken with it.

It turned out to be a really nice day so Eliot took a dip in the clear water.

A close encounter with a quokka.  He got to feed some of them, which was a real thrill.

This was a picture taken toward the end of their day.  The look of utter exhaustion on Eliot's face means that the outing was a huge success.

A visit to Canada

At the beginning of June Spencer had the chance to return to Canada to give a paper at a conference that was held in Victoria, British Colombia.  He had been looking forward to this conference more than others he has attended because it meant that he would have a chance to see members of his family that he may not have otherwise seen until the end of our tenure here in Perth.  On his way he had a layover in LA where he caught up with cousins Melissa and Lindsey before heading north where he had a chance to visit with his grandparents and his Aunt Coleen.  He also got to stay with his brother Aaron and sister-in-law Patti, who live in Vancouver, and his brother Doug made it down from Edmonton to join them.  From what I can tell, it was a great visit.  The boys and I have enjoyed hearing about the trip and seeing the pictures of some of the places he visited.  The pictures are beautiful.  Is it possible to be homesick for a place that isn't technically your home?

Spencer and his grandparents

Visiting with Aunt Coleen

The Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC

The Butchart Gardens