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March Madness!

Hi Everybody!

Here comes a month's worth of updates, READY OR NOT!!!

Emily's sport/activities:

Emily's Aussie softball season wrapped up! It was a short season. They play 2 games each Saturday because the ball fields are such a long distance drive for the teams to drive to. They are located in the Redlands area, about a 45 minute drive away. (Longer for other schools) She had a good time. She was asked to pitch in a couple of games. The coach didn't have her start because of a nagging shoulder ache and didn't want to aggravate it. Her defense continued without ill effect from her shoulder. It is so very nice to see a cohesive positive team and spectators. At home, it had gotten too competitive and too vocal from the stands--'nuf said. She's standing 2nd from left. Look closely at the name of the Recreation Reserve at the top left of the pic to the right.

She's also tied on her soccer boots for the season that began in March as well. She had 1 game under her belt before the school holidays began at the end of the month. She's playing a mid position and enjoying it as well!
Rowing is yet to start actual practices, I guess that is coming at the beginning of Term 2. (April 17th) Practice begins at 5:30 AM! I'll let you know about that in the next posting.

Symphonic Band and Chorale practices keep Emily hopping, as well as the Mom Taxi Service! The opportunities that have surfaced from these two groups is astounding! In late June, a choir from Harvard is touring Australia and will be singing with the choir in a concert to be held in Brisbane. Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum is an independent choir of Harvard students. This is the only High School they will be singing with while in Australia (Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane). I'm sure she'll have the chance to talk to some of them. The Symphonic Band and Chorale are planning European Tours! The Symphonic Band is going Dec of 2008, but the Chorale is going Dec of 2007 and after much contemplation we have decided to allow Emily to participate. The itinerary isn't complete yet, but the cities listed are York, Cambridge, Oxford and London, then Leipzig, Germany and many other German cities (main part of tour), then home through Venice and Milan.

Audrey's sport/activities:

Gymnastic Artistic practices are held at Somerville House (a girls' school in the city). So Audrey's school provides transportation to practice, but the parents are asked to come collect the girls. That's great! It avoids having to deal with rush hour traffic *grins*. Audrey is really enjoying herself. This is her first team experience with gymnastics. Her skills are improving and she's looking forward to the 2-day meet in May.

She let me know that she signed up for Rhythmic gymnastics too! It begins after the meet in May (I think). This is the type of gymnastics that they use the twirling ribbons (and many other types of equipment).

Her other extra-curricular endeavor is the Year 8 Production called "Eureka". It is a musical. She has a smallish role in it--which pleases her--not too much not too little! Practices have yet to start, but when they do, it will be tons of fun! They're scheduled to go on a 2 night camp for "intensive" rehearsals. I'm sure they'll be lots of down time to enjoy themselves.

Audrey continues to voraciously read in her spare time and has devoured several novels including The Garth Nix series of books: "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", and is starting on "Thursday". She's also tackled "Eragon" and "Eldest" by Christopher Paolini. She's also had to read two novels for school and will embark on The Odyssey (teen version).

Travels:

Since Mark's pinched nerve in his neck only cleared in mid-March we've not really traveled much at all. That being said, we have been back to Lone Pine Sanctuary to visit the Koalas. It was a hot day, so we passed on seeing the 'roos as they are out in an open field and was considerably cooler under the treed area where the Koalas are kept.

I went with some lady friends out to Coochiemudlo Island. It was a cloudy day, but we had a terrific time! A short ferry ride to a small lovely island. We walked along the beach 1/4 of the way around the island, then back to the dock area through the bush area for lunch and then home to do the school run. Great day!!

As a family we celebrated St. Patrick's Day at the Burns house with a ton of Aussie and American friends. It was a wicked good time!

We also joined The Rohl's (a family from Texas) and the Pearson's (a family from Washington state) for a fun filled night of bowling! Yes, even the teens had a good time! We took up 3 lanes! One lane had the bumpers up. NO!!! it wasn't for the old fogies!! it was for the young 'uns! The bowling alley had videos and music going and the black lights on----way cool! and get this---it's a no smoking facility, so we didn't have to detox ourselves upon return.

While Emily was away at Chorale Camp, Mark, Audrey and I headed up to Noosa before the surge of crowds hit for the Easter Holidays. We booked into a decent 2 bedroom apartment at a resort called Breakfree International. We enjoyed Noosa's Main Beach (in our opinion, it tops Waikiki beach!) and the National Forest for a walk along the coast looking at the waves on the left and keeping an eye out for koalas in the trees on the right. Plenty of waves, no koala sightings :( But we did spot a Monitor Lizard, huge thing!! about 1 meter (3 feet) long.


















This falls appropriately under the Travels heading: Only 78 days until The Whybrew Family arrives and 90 days until The Johnson's and Mom arrive!!! We are beyond thrilled to have visitors on their way! Anyone else want to schedule their arrival?? The invitation is open!!!

So there ya go, Hagenmaier Followers! Enjoy the pics, the updates and send your questions or comments through this website. It is my understanding that Blogspot has changed its requirements/set up and you need to have a gmail account to post or to comment. With that being said and the inconvenience that may pose to some readers, please feel free to send your questions or comments to Hagenmaiers@ausi.com I'd really like to stay in touch with each of you who are reading my posts.