Trying to cope with the heat!

Driving back from dinner the other night at 7:15pm we passed a temperature sign 103F (39.4C!). It has been 36C, in the shade most days but today it has dropped a little and there's been rain for the first time. The temperature is now 24C so feels cold!

This  week Benny is at a Golf 'camp's in the morning and Ivy is at the Barn helping younger kids with the horses. Some afternoons the kids are with friends or at the other grandparents. We watched Ivy ride on Saturday.

Afternoons  involve the pool. One of their games is that one person swims with their eyes closed and the have to find us in the pool - Justin is usually 'it' although Ivy is good at the closed eyes swimming!
 

I enjoy the early mornings when everyone leaves for their activities. It gives me a chance to be outside with my cuppa catching up with all the news. We watch the football/soccer usually from lunchtime. Unfortunately we didn't see the Aussie game because it didn't start until midnight on our side of the USA. There is a big build up about the USA/AUS game - it starts at lunchtime on Friday.

I thought I might have got away without a swim today but no! We spent nearly an hour playing different games unfortunately one involved me being grabbed by the leg and dunked - shouldn't have bothered washing my hair!!

We have continued with our daily drawing of each person's idea. 

Meeting the family

 I think the temperature has almost been rising a degree a day. The mornings are lovely as I sit outside with my cuppa listening to all the birds singing and watching the hawks swinging the thermals.

Justin set up a bedroom for me in what was his office. He took out the carpet and put in new flooring, painted and added bedroom furniture. It's very comfortable. it does get hot by the evening so the AC and fan run all night.

I was lucky that Rooster - the dog - recognised me and he has accepted me being there.

Ivy and Benny have certainly grown and changed since last year!

Ivy was going to ride at a show on Saturday but her pony had a sore leg and couldn't compete but she and Lauren went as supporters. Benny and I spent time in the pool.

This week Ivy is at horse camp - she helps out with younger kids and also has her chance to ride. Meanwhile Benny is at soccer camp - I'm just watching them going through their warm ups.

I took over watercolour pencils and little art books so each afternoon we sit together and draw and paint. Ivy and Benny are enjoying it - we take turns deciding what to draw.

I think Ivy was tired and emotional when drawing yesterday. 

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

There has been jumping and diving competitions after dinner which is very entertaining. I think both Ivy and Benny could be hurdlers!

I watched Benny at soccer camp this morning - 3 hours in the heat - but all the kids, of various ages seemed to enjoy it. Benny and l spent a large part of the afternoon in the pool. I'm having trouble trying to think of games to play in the pool - they are keeping me on my toes!!!

Ivy has been to horse camp and is now at a friend's place so I'm 'chillaxing'.

It's a long day to the USA!

 Our flight from Sydney left 2 hours late because of a technical issue. On arrival at Dallas we were stuck on the tarmac waiting for an off airport engineer from British airways  to move their A380 out of it's  slot. Dallas doesn't have too many spaces for the ' big bird'. The wait meant more minutes ticking down for my onward flight!

Finally we were able to deplane and head to border control. Easiest it's ever been -  "fingers, thumb, fingers, thumb" were the only words spoken to me before I was waved on!

Next was the wait for the bags. By the time I claimed mine I knew I was going to miss my connection! It was then an hour in a line  before a new flight could be booked. Initially I was booked to Atlanta on the 9pm flight but opted to also be on 'stand by' for the 7:30 flight.

With only 3-4 hours sleep on the flight from Sydney I was seriously flagging and I still had a couple of hours to wait before trying for the  stand by flight. I think I might have nodded off for a short time as I waited!! Hope I didn't snore! I almost begged the check in staff to get me onto the early flight. I would have jumped up with glee when my name was called but didn't have the energy! Atlanta is an hour ahead of Dallas and with a 2 hour flight it was nearly midnight before I arrived at my hotel!

My first stop was the shower - who designs the shower layout in hotels. I was blasted in the face with freezing cold water just turning the shower on. The clock clicked over to 0:00 as I was about to get into bed but there was a problem - where was the switch to turn the bedside lights off?!! Flicking all switches didn't work, checking behind the pillows revealed nothing! I didn't want to look stupid calling down to reception - that was getting close though - wh   friends. They wer e straight in the pool but I stayed on the side watching the mayhem unfold! 

Ivy and Benny are so much taller but luckily Benny is still shorter than me! 

We had a good catch up between the three of us. They remembered a few years ago when we made a video of us acting different parts and want to do an updated version!

I managed to stay awake until about 8:30 pm and then I was gone until 7 am today!.