Perth, AUS: Beaches

One of the perks (things that sort of stink) about living oversees is that you get to file two tax returns, one for the country you are working in and a US one. I really should be working on our US one since April 15th is fast approaching but I don't want too. Plus, I doubt I have enough nap time left to complete it. And really why start it if I can't complete it? Did I mention I have to paper file? Going through photos from the trip is way more fun. Plus, I already filed the Singapore one this week, which is also due the 15th. You really shouldn't have to file more than one country's return in the same week, right? I usually do our taxes the moment I have W2s so we can get our refund. However, since we won't get a refund in the US and Singapore doesn't do refunds, it's been easy to put it off. Singapore's taxes are really much simpler, but they don't take taxes out throughout the year. So, you file, find out what you owe, and then can either pay it off in a lump sum or make payments over the course of a year interest free. I always heard people say they don't like giving an interest-free loan to the government but I have to say it is nice getting a refund instead of having to pay a chunk of money. You pay it either way but it stings a little less.

Anyway, on to the beach! Spending time at the beaches was definitely the highlight of the trip. It was so much fun having the Smiths with us. Samara adores their kids and they are all so great to her.  It's so nice for her to have kids who are like cousins here in Singapore. The beaches in Western Australia were beautiful and clean (which is not always the case in SE Asia). The sand was nice and soft. We stayed in Rockingham (south of Fremantle) and the beaches were all quite nice and not crowded. For those planning a trip there, our favorite beach was probably Coogee Beach just south of Fremantle.  It has a big covered/shaded playground as well as BBQ pits, restrooms, and showers. We'd definitely recommend it if you were staying in Fremantle. The one place we really wish we would have gone is Rottnest Island. It's similar to Catalina, i.e., no private vehicles allowed. It looks like an amazing place so I guess that means we'll have to go back to Perth....we'll just do a better job checking our flight times.

Poor Will is the only boy in the group.  He is so cute and an athletic prodigy. They are building a volcano.

"I'll be right back guys.  I saw some good sand over here."

She fell and had a face full of sand.  She didn't mind but Ben saw it and immediately took her in the ocean to wash it off.

 I had uploaded this image in color and black and white and couldn't decide which I liked better.  I didn't finish the post during nap time and Samara came in, looked at it, and said, "Oh, I really like black and white pictures mom.  Put that one on the blog."  I'm glad she is more decisive than I am.

We found a starfish one day and that was definitely a highlight of our beach time.

Ah.......can I come back.......please?!

Samara loved getting buried and being in the ocean.  She even likes the salty water and kept slurping it off her fingers saying she was making salty soup.

This was her 'bathtub'.  She sat there for over an hour.  She kept asking me to bring her bath toys (rocks/coral).

Two little buddies.  Both of their girls are so wonderful with Samara.

The sky was really this blue!

The weather was very windy a couple days because of the storm, but otherwise very pleasant.  Not too hot and no humidity and we enjoyed the brisk evenings and mornings.  The water was a bit chilly, but after a few minutes in you hardly noticed.