Fourth 'O July: Aussie-style

We started the weekend off with a grand-ole camping adventure in the back yard. Then enjoyed some serious festivities at the U.S. Embassy for an Independence Day done right. It was a treat!

 We ended up joining two bunks and zipping our sleeping bags together for one giant cozy bed - body heat being essential. In fact, Dare and I both had sick days this week from sleeping outside in the cold, heavy winds, and rain (thrice.)

But games, phones, flashlights, candy and cocoa... the kids were in heaven (as long as one of us was braving it out there with them.) They brought out toothbrushes and school clothes for the mornings - while I couldn't even endure one night in its entirety!

Oh, to be a kid again...

 We had a nice history review and rousing reading of Paul Revere's Ride followed by sparklers and <sort of pathetic attempts at> patriotic treats on the actual night, then were hosted by the Embassy the next day for the big shebang.

The U.S. Govt knows how to party right when celebrating Independence Day overseas, I'll tell you what.

Bouncy castles, dress-ups, raffle prizes (think leather jacket, chocolate bar the size of a card table, an honest-to-goodness golden Oscar, etc.), catered goodies, full brass band, vintage memorabilia, batting/pitching cages, parting gifts, and more.

I unabashedly admit to having, count 'em, FOUR cotton candys myself, so... you could say we enjoyed ourselves.

 Never had to suit up in parkas to watch fireworks before, but it didn't make a difference.

I felt a momentary surge of homesickness being so far away from my homeland during its biggest holiday. Surprisingly reminiscent of my (late) Dad's boundless patriotism, I felt a stirring in my soul and wept as the Anthem was sung.

I am truly proud to be an American. What an honored privileged to enjoy the rich history of hard-won freedom so many have sacrificed to afford us. Happy 4th of July to the good 'ole USofA!

Three Things I Didn't Expect

Darren here. One of the great things about being in a foreign country is getting smacked with the unexpected. Here are three mildly humorous encounters.

Love Boat reruns. When jet lagged you can watch Mork & Mindy at 2:30 (that show was not funny) and Love Boat at 3:00 am. These shows at this hour in this country can be completely disorienting. 

My first haircut in Australia was at justcuts. The lady at the counter explained gently, "We have a policy that you have to have washed your hair within the last 24 hours." She tilts her head slant ways, studying my hair. I'm silent. "Have you washed your hair in the last 24 hours, sir?" she asks. "Yes," I reply stoically. She pauses, giving me a chance to reconsider my answer. I'm silent. "Okay then," she states cheerfully, "right this way." My self esteem has plummeted.

The El Camino. They've been making these Holden (Chevy) Utes in Australia since 2000. Ford makes a Falcon Ute that is similar. It's like seeing extinct species reemerge, evolved. While U.S. customers may not have selected the El Camino to survive, the Aussies love them. Consider the Holden SS Redline Ute for a cool $50,000.

New Look

Like the new look? I've been searching unsuccessfully for a non-obnoxious "kangaroo-type" blog template until I remembered not everyone has the privilege of an in-house artist to draw from....

The background is an up close portion of Darren's rendition of our favorite spot on Fraser Island in Queensland. We snagged a spot under one of only a handful of these beautiful trees on the shores of Lake McKensie and it holds a special fondness of our memorable trip there.

Milestones

 We don't hit restaurants very often.

(Dad's a bit sensitive about causing a "scene" with our rowdy ones.)

But we thought we'd give it a whirl for Kenna's birthday dinner. After a nice pep talk in the car about "public places" and "manners" we walked in - cool as cucumbers. However, this irresistible water window called out like a siren beyond our table, so you can see how successful the exercise was...

 Great birthday celebrations though.  Kenna had an ART PARTY - very fitting. Drawing, coloring, painting, ironing beads, Pictionary, chalking the circle (which got a little out of hand, resulting in me out there the next day with a bucket and a broom) but a good time had by all. (HIGHLIGHT: one gal tromped a glob of paint all over the living room while mom had a heart attack, shouting "Sit down! Everyone, sit down and show me your feet!!" Nothing like blue & yellow footprints on the carpet of your rental...)

Happy 7th, special little light of my life!

I feel like our whole family's growing up. We all officially play instruments now. Well, minus Summer, of course, unless spitting into the harmonica counts...

Another milestone: Angel's picked up running.

Hmmmm.

Not sure I'm liking that.

She's also entered that awwwwwwesome stage that allows us to go on mini-treasure hunts every day! Our recent finds:

socks in the toilet

remote control in the trash

slippers in the (full) bathtub

homework in the shower

shoes in a kitchen drawer

You get the drift- it's delightful. 

(Particularly all the empty tp rolls and tissue boxes.)

Lastly, Annie's a big girl now! Another round of training wheels all packed away (sniff, sniff)

This girl falls more than anyone I've ever met (except maybe her cousin Katie - wink) so there's always a variety of gruesome scabs, bruised lumps and bandages decorating her appendages. Fortunately she's super tough, 'cause she trips on air and is a magnet for corners. (She's a regular at the school's sick bay, most recently for literally running into a pole.)

So, I'm sure there are serious wipeouts in our future, but for now, she's feeling pretty proud of herself. :)

check out that little grin

Latest Australianisms

Getting tired of these yet? They just keep croppin' up...

Full On (term of disbelief/intensity)
Tinned (canned)
Sleeps (naps)
Embiggen (enlarge)
Chilly Bin (cooler)
Lounge (living room)
Entree (appetizer)
Stockings (tights)
Pop it (place it, throw it)
Good Mark (good catch)
Assessments (report cards)

Random Shuffle

Got up at 5am a few nights in a row last month to catch a non-cloudy view of this "once in a lifetime" event: Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, & Uranus all aligned with the moon on the horizon before sunrise. I thought it was awesome.

 The kids took a glance then shuffled back to bed, unimpressed. 

But they were thrilled to see Saturn's rings, the spectacular Jewel Box, and Alpha Centauri at the school's stargazing party the other night. There were about 10 highfalutin telescopes there from the Canberra Astronomical Society with friendly volunteers guiding us around the galactic beauties.

What's with this hair? 

No product, nothing. Straight out of the shower. I'm thinking some seriously unhealthy build up of some sort?

Had to chuckle at these prices. I remember stocking up on these for gifts last year.

They were $0.88 each.

Will about had a panic attack of "they're gonna kill me" when he did this (tried to pull out a shirt that was jammed in his closet door.) The whole thing fell over.

I was just relieved no one got slice'n'diced.

Last note: it's COLD here. 

4WD Saturday

we sat eye to eye with this gorgeous fox forever - what, you dont see it? I'm slow

row on row of very well manicured trees out in the middle of nowhere

pics don't really do these lookouts justice...

 Decorated the car with some fresh gouges when Dad decided the kids deserved another turn at the wheel.

Could we maybe choose an open track rather than a side sloped blackberry bush run next time?? (For the record, I hate every second of this foolishness... but they did sorta deserve it with all the carsick vomiting on the way out there.)

Gotta keep 'em fans of the FWD somehow I suppose.