Perth Zoo with the Portwoods (January 20, 2012)

New House in Perth (January 13, 2012)

This is what $800/week (~$3,500/month) in rent will get you 30 minutes North of Perth. 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2 car garage, and a pool in the backyard...still about half the size of our house back in Pittsburgh.

Friday the 13th Freemantle Prison Tour (January 13, 2012)

A spooky night Friday the 13th tour of the haunted Freemantle prison south of Perth with the Hannans, Portwoods, and Kemps.

New Car in Australia (January 9, 2012)

Our new ride here in Perth...2012 Toyota Kluger (Toyota Highlander in the U.S.)

Bidding on Houses (January 4, 2012)

We are struggling to find a place to live. The housing market is extremely tight here in Perth, especially for rental houses. We cannot believe how expensive it is. There is no such thing as monthly rent here in Perth...they charge by the week. Anything with 4+ bedrooms that's not in a very bad part of town is at least $700/week. If you find a place that you like, you most likely have to wait for the open house to see it. The open houses are crazy! You show up, wait in the driveway with about 50 other people and then the real estate agent rolls up, gives a 2 minute speech about the place and unlocks the door while people pour into the house...you are fighting your way down hallways, into bedrooms, and don't even think about lingering in a bathroom to check it out. Bids are due the next day by noon. Typically there will be 8-10 bidders and unless the house is a dump, it will go for much more than the asking price. 2 weeks ago we bid on a house after fighting our way through the open house. It was listed for $800/week and we bid $850/week because we really liked the place. We were told that we were not even close to winning the bid...crazy!

King's Park, Perth, Australia (January, 2012)

Perth has some amazing public parks and the best one is easily King's Park just outside the center of the city.  King's Park is huge and has several parks inside of it along with countless things to see and do. We took advantage of our days off from work and school and spent an afternoon at King's Park and loved it.

 Daddy, with the kids in the tree at King's Park.

 Daddy and the kids in the giant tree at Kings Park in Perth, Western Australia.

 Nash, climbing the rocks at King's Park.

 Daddy, with Zander at King's Park.

 Sawyer and Zander going down a slide at King's Park.

 Getting some of the mist in the hot air at King's Park.

 Daddy, with the kids walking out on the lake at King's Park.

 Sawyer and Zander on a statue at King's Park.

 Zander, getting a drink at the water fountain in King's Park.

Mommy, with the kids at King's Park.