Crazy Train

Hello? Is there anybody out there.....? Needless to say, I am a bit behind in my blogging. Not for lack of topics, as I'd love to tell you about our trip to Bali, the visit from Andy's mom, the visit from the Ransoms, and the perfect dog we puppy-sat for four months,  just for starters. But mostly, I haven't been motivated. Even now, I should be wrapping presents or packing for our camping trip, but instead I'll do a short post for old time's sake.
   Last week had a couple of rather interesting events. First, Aliya was invited to participate in a fashion show. The mother (I still can't say Mum) of one of her good friends teaches fashion design. Every year, the graduates show off their projects in a fashion show, and there's usually a couple of kid outfits. Aliya modeled a very cute outfit:

She did rather well for her first time on the catwalk, not that we are encouraging her to take up modeling. Stick to math and science, Aliya! Here are clips of her modeling and of the finale.

The next night was Alanna's graduation from Primary School. 

Each of the 69 students were allotted about a minute to make a short speech. It could be a thank you-type speech or some favourite memories. It might sound tedious, but they were actually entertaining, and often very touching. Here's Alanna's:

After the ceremony, the Year 6's walked down a red carpet into the Senior Learning Center, where they had their own dinner. The adults mingled in the library, enjoying snacks and our BYO wine.

We capped off the week with the long-awaited Taylor Swift concert.  

We'd seen her last year at a much smaller venue, which I greatly preferred. This time, she was playing Etihad stadium to almost 50,000 people. We were told that Taylor was the first woman since Madonna to do a stadium tour of Australia. I won't post any pics because we were just too far away from the stage. Still the girls enjoyed the show. Aliya especially enjoyed the first opening act, Neon Trees. For about a year, she played their song Animal whenever and wherever she could. The second opening act was Guy Sebastian, an Aussie singer who is very famous here, and I believe recently broke into the US market.
   We took the train into and out of town (have I mentioned how much I love the public transport in Melb?) and we got home quite easily, although it was 11:30. Thankfully our basketball games the following morning were later than usual. It would have been tough to play at 8:15 am!
   That afternoon, we had one final activity. Our school Drum Corps performed at a "Carols in the Garden" service at a local church.

Here's two videos. In the first, they did a routine from the school recital. Check out drill sergeant Mr. Hood's dance moves!

  

This week has been less crazy. Alanna spent three days at Year 6 Camp in Angelsea, a beach-side town at the beginning of the Great Ocean Road. They surfed, boogie boarded, mountain biked, climbed towers of milk crates while on a harness, and had a beach carnival. Good times.
   School finishes up on Friday, and as soon as the festivities are over we are heading to the Bellarine Peninsula for a camping trip with a few other families from school. Pap and Gram arrive a couple days later, on Christmas Eve! We can't wait.
   Not sure when I'll blog again, so I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Or, as John Lennon said, Happy Christmas and Merry Goo Year.