We're here! And so glad to be done packing, sorting, and moving. Here's a great BIG Thank You to the dear friends who helped us out as things got crazier and crazier. We really appreciate the meals, the painting, the chicken coop cleaning, the furniture, the cookware, taking the boys off my hands, taking things off my hands, and everything else. You made this possible!

Before we could meet Chris at the airport, an officious Australian customs agent didn't like that I checked that we owned chickens . He planned to dunk us in disinfectant. So, advice to you local producers before visiting Australia--LIE! Luckily the agent who reviewed the forms and asked me about the chickens believed me when I said we had a few hens in the backyard--and that we never, never wore the shoes we had on to take care of chickens. In fact, we had thrown all those shoes away. And then burned them. And then buried the ashes. And poured bleach on the ashes. Really.

We were set free to be claimed by Chris, who drove us to Singleton, our temporary residence. We're staying in the short-stay business apartment he's been residing in for three months--and it already looks vastly different from when we arrived! It's great to land in a place with pots and pans, linens, and a bed--those of you who've heard me moan know how much I appreciate having a bed to sleep on again. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I slept all night, all day, and all night again. It may also be due to a little bug I picked up (Kristen, if you are sick also, we had both better go to the hospital right away!), but sleeping in a bed felt so good!

Regarding the title of this post--on our way to Singleton we spotted several groups of kangaroos along the road . I didn't know what the oddly-shaped creatures were until one jumped. Then we knew what to look for--a dark-colored triangular shape in the middle of a field. We saw another, larger group of kangaroos. Then, once we arrived in Singleton, Chris stopped at a local park. We got out and looked up. There had to be a thousand large bats hanging in the trees. They are killing the trees. They are called flying foxes here, though the sign warned that bats in trees cause the limbs to drop.

It's a cool, rainy day here today, and I still feel under the weather, so we're taking things easy. Tomorrow is banking, car buying, road tax application, etc. Then it's on to school! Did I mention that the boys will wear uniforms? Thank goodness the boys are going to public school. Liam love to pray to saints--usually he prays that he can have dessert--but Andy doesn't appreciate organized religion, so daily prayers would be a big problem.