Cracking the Bank (June 12)

At the beginning of the semester I purchased a piggy bank to store all my coins because I realized how much more valuable coins are here then they are back at home. I decided that I would empty my change every day/week into the piggy bank just to see how much I could save. I was really good in the beginning because I also to cash out so I paid in cash and would get change back. After New Zealand I was not as good but I still got a lot of change. I decided it was finally time to crack open the piggy bank and see how much I had saved.
When I bought the piggy bank I did not pay much attention to how I would get into it/open. Now wanting to get into it I realized this metal piggy bank had not opening or way to get in. Minna and I got creative with the kitchen appliance and went at it to try and open this thing. After some time Minna was finally able to get it open enough for me to pour the coins out. I ended up having $67 of change, Not bad for just throwing coins in a jar for a few months, wish I was a bit better with putting coins in after I got back from NZ but I am not complaining I'll take the $67.

attempt with not a very good can opener

now a knife after trying several other appliances

after going back to the can opener Minna was able to make a mouth!

money money money! MONEY!!

just under $67 : ) 

So Much Rain (June 11)

Lately we have been getting a lot of rain and with looking at this weeks forecast it does not look like it is going to stop anytime soon. I don't mind the rain that much at home or Milwaukee but here it is just straight up annoying. Not only does it just rain but it pours. As a student with no car we have to walk everywhere and if you aren't going to someone else's apartment the closest place is the shopping center which is close to a 10 minute walk. With rain like this even if you bring an umbrella you get wet. The rain falls in all different direction so an umbrella is pretty much useless. Another annoyance with the rain is that in front of our apartment we get a lake. You either have to try and jump to the tree stump but if its too high then your best best is just to go around the back, unless you don't mind if your shoes are soaked. I did not think i would need my rain boots here to walk through my lake and then walk through the part of our front yard which used to be grass but is now mud. The rain also makes it a lot colder so that is not fun. The upside to all this rain is we are in finals now so it makes it a bit easier to study since there really is nothing else you can do.

The 'Lake' I am welcome to when I come and go the past few days

you can barely see the tree stump to the right

Big Breakfast (June 10)

After such a fun night at the Ivy Rachel and I cooked everyone a big brunch and we all hung out. It started to rain so its a great day for studying but first we must get a nutritious breakfast in (especially after a night like we had)

Pancakes, bacon, egg scramble, and hash browns

Rachel and I cooking

The boys waiting

Looking at pictures from last night

and the madness begins, everyone scrams for food 

After some studying I went over to Tim and Tyler's where we cooked a delicious pasta dinner with salad, broccoli, and bread. It was a nice study break and some much needed food : )

The Ivy (June 9)

This is our last weekend before everyone has to start studying for finals so of course we went out in style! We went back to the Ivy but this time it was at night. Instead of being out by the pool we were in what was called the change room. The Ivy is really nice and always a good time. Although it is a bit pricey we got free entrance which helps out, especially with how much the drinks cost. It was a fun night out with everyone celebrating the friendships we have made and dancing the night away.

Tim, Chris, Dean, Michael, Ben, Jeremy

Me, Tim, Julie

Me, Chris, Julie

Dean, Me, Joakim

Alex, Dean, Ben, Jeremy, Johan

Me and Ben

Me and Rachel (and Dean creeping in the back)

Me and Natasha

Graduations Galore (June 8)

I am officially done with attending classes as of yesterday. It is so weird to finally be done. The only thing that stands between me and seeing my mom is one essay and three finals. I can do it! I also got my Macquarie University sweatshirt today!

As for back home it is offical. All three other Luke children are graduates. Last week Braxton graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High school and will be headed off to Beijing for College. He graduated as a IB student and played varsity volleyball. He has achieved so much in high school and set the standards high for Bennett an incoming freshman next year. Not only is Braxton going off to Beijing for college but he will be studying engineering. I am so proud of what an amazing person he has grown into and I can not wait to see where this new chapter in his life is going to take him. I wish him all the best luck in his next four years and college experience. Wish I was there to celebrate with you and see you graduate.

The Graduate with his IB cords!

Bennett the baby of the family (yes I know he is almost 15 now but I still see him as the little baby, although he is not so little anymore) has finally graduated from St. Edwards. The Luke family has officially graduated from St. Edwards school after about 18 or so years there. Bennett graduated as the ASB President and was very involved in sports. He also achieved highest honors for his grades. He is such a hard worker who has fun and succeeds in his courses while also including all his friends to his parties and activites. Bennett has also grown into a young man over this past year and I can not believe he will be starting High School next year at Santa Margarita. It will be weird for him to be the only child at home now that we are all out of the house but I am sure he will not mind being spoiled and the center of attention : )

So Stylish! (don't have a grad pic but this a recent pic of Bennett)

Devon graduated last semester from University of Colorado at Boulder. It is amazing to see her not only graduate a semester early from college but also have a job right away and is now starting her second job. She has set the bar high for all the look kids and been a great example to us. I am so proud of her and all that she has accomplished. She has truly inspired me to do a lot of the things I have done today, like go to a college out of state, travel the world, broaden my horizon, stay strong in my beliefs, and to not let anyone stop me from doing what I want. She never let anyone tell her she could not do something, if people tried to stop her she would just prove them wrong and I love that about her.

Celebrating an early graduation!

So weird to have 3 graduations in one year, a college high school and junior high graduation. Although I am sad I can not be home to help celebrate and see all of the family I knew this would happen when I decided to travel abroad. It was something I was willing to sacrifice though because when will I ever have an opportunity like this again.

I got to skype into the huge grad party the Luke family threw and it looked like a lot of fun. They definitely went all out. DJ, caterers, glow sticks, ping pong, alcohol, and of course lots of friends and family. It was so great to see everyone who came out to support my siblings because without all those people we would not have been able to accomplish all we have thus far in our lives. Like my parents always so it takes a village to raise a child and from the turn up of people it truly does take a village.

White Party (June 7)

Tonight was the last party at Ubar on campus. Since the semester is officially over they had a themed party for the last night, it was very similar to the Ranch's theme so we were able to wear the same outfits. Earlier that night we were at Ubar for the last trivia night which was a lot of fun and we won free drink tickets. We headed back changed and then went back for the white party. It was not that crowded but it was nice to hang out with the group. It was freezing cold. You could see your breathe and walking back from trivia we could not feel our feet. I definitely did not pack appropriate clothes for this weather. I may have to invest in some warm clothes. Really wish I had my uggs!

Michael and Tim

Julie and Rachel

Julie and Michael

Ben and Rachel

Tim and Me

Trying to show that you can see your breathe

Trying to stay warm

Typical 

Bright and Tight (June 6)

Tonight was the last night Anaelle was in Australia and it being Wednesday we of course had to celebrate at the ranch. It was a theme night of tight and bright so we all dressed up in neon and leggings. Julie, Breezy, Natasha, Rachel, and I decided to make t-shirts for tonight. We did not think about painting them the day before because that would have just been way too smart. Instead we decided to paint our shirts a few hours before we were going to go out. Although they were still wet they turned out really cute and we have a fun time decorating them. I felt like a little kid again, sitting there painting our shirts with our fingers and paint, putting hand prints on our shirts, etc. I loved it.

Breezy

Relearning how to mix colors

attempting to take off the wet shirts

putting them on the back of chairs to dry

It was a bitter sweet night. I had not been to the Ranch in a few months so it was fun to go back, especially on a themed night. On the other hand I was really sad because one of my favorite French girls was leaving and it also hit me that everyone I have become so close with will be leaving within a matter of weeks. As hard as it is to say goodbye it has to be done. We had an amazing night of fun, dancing, crying, laughing, and just getting crazy. A great way to say goodbye to my dance partner Anaelle. You will be missed!

Natasha, Me, Rachel

Breezy and Me

Natasha, Breezy, Me, Julie, Rachel

Julie, Joakim, Tyler

Breezy, Johan, Minna

Rachel and Me 

Natalie, Breezy, Me, Rachel

Anaelle and Me

T2 and Scribble (June 5)

Today the girls had a lunch date at a cute place in Macquarie Shopping Centre called T2. It reminded me a lot of a fancier Lavender Lounge. We all ordered tea and lunch and spent a few hours catching up and spending time together. At the lunch we realized that some of the girls only had 20 days left in Australia, which was a really sad realization. It was a lovely lunch with some wonderful conversations and much needed girl time.

Peach Perfection Tea

The girls: Julie, Rachel, Natasha, Rose, Steph, Me, and Breezy

Natasha, Rachel, Julie

Breezy, Me, Steph, Rose

Natasha's Rose Tea

Lunch Time!

The menu surrounded by tea pots and cups

After lunch we spent the afternoon shopping and avoiding the rain. We finally had to leave because the mall was closed but then we ended the game with a fun night of playing scribbles with the boys. This game is like telephone but on paper. We all have a sheet of paper and start off with a sentence. You fold your paper over and pass it to the person next to you. Next they read the sentence you wrote and draw a picture of the sentence. They then fold their paper and pass it on and the person next to them writes a sentence of what they think the picture is. It continues around the circle until you run out of room. With creative minds, interpretation of some of the drawings and even sentences can be quite entertaining. After you have ran out of room (most of the time it ends up with the person who originally wrote the first sentence) then we all take turn reading the paper out load of all the sentences and pass it around so everyone can see the drawings. We played two rounds and there were more than enough laughs to be had. It was a great night of fun and hanging out with Rachel, Rose, Natasha, Dean, Ben, Michael, Lewis, Alex, Steph, Julie, Breezy, and Me.

Some of the papers from Scribble