Happy (Belated) Christmas!

Sunday, December 29th, 2013

Well, this is my 50th blog post! I know I haven't been doing posts as frequently lately.  Things have just been busy!  Maybe in the new year I can post more often.

Santa at the Embassy Christmas party. 
In case you couldn't tell, Chaney wasn't into Santa AT ALL. 
You will see Santa is holding Charlie's list. 
He couldn't go because he was sick. This is in the
Ambassador's residence on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy.

Our Elf Louie continues to hide each day.  He usually sticks around until mid January. Here he decorated a picture grouping on the wall.  As a side note, we can't put holes in the walls so everything (except the iron scroll) is hanging with the 3M Command strips. I've used them everywhere.  The iron scroll is attached to a hook that we did not install.  It had been done by the previous renters.

Last Day of Kindergarten!  (*tear*)  After school we had a "School's Out" party.  We had fun snacks, lemonade (Sprite), and turned the sprinkler on under the trampoline.  Lots of fun!  I now have first graders living in our house.  Or as the Aussies would say, I now have kids in year one living in our house. 

 

Santa at the Mall

We took the kids to the mall to meet Santa.  Charlie walked right up to Santa and went over his list.  Chaney hung in the back.  After a while Chaney made her way over to be in a picture.  But she didn't want to talk to him and she never got too close.  But we got a picture!

I was really caught off guard when Santa had an Australian accent.  I shouldn't have been surprised.  I mean DUH!  But I was. 


Charlie shares his extensive list with Santa. He is pointing out how stickers mark his top favorite toys.

Australian Love

We've been lucky enough to meet some great people since we've been here.  Three different Australian families invited us into their homes this holiday.  Christmas Eve we went to a neighbors.  Christmas Day we went to another neighbors.  And on Boxing Day we went to a house of a girl from the kids' kindergarten class. 

Christmas Eve

We enjoyed our Christmas Eve evening at our friend's house.  They live around the corner and down the street.  Our other good friends and neighbors, the Flemings, were also there.  And in true Aussie style, we had sausages and chicken skewers from the barbie for dinner. 

Striking a pose while grazing at the food table.

Chaney and her friend, H. (I'm not going to use her whole name.)

We left cookies for Santa.  We of course left Aussie hundreds and thousands cookies
(cookies with sprinkles), Timtams, and oreo truffle balls. 



Our tree on Christmas Eve night. 

 On Christmas Eve I also got my Christmas gift.  I got a new lens for my camera.  For those of you that know about cameras, I got the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens.  Bottom line is that this is the lens that will stay on my camera most of the time.  It allows me to take pictures without flash in lower light. I love it!

 Christmas Day

Let the madness begin!

Gifts from Santa.  Chaney received a FurReal Friend.  Its a cat named Daisy that meows and snuggles, etc.  Ever since we lived in the hotel apartment when we first arrived, Charlie has wanted a safe like the one the hotel room had.  It was important that the safe have a punch keypad.  But Santa was also smart and made sure it could also could be opened with the "mommy back-up key."  That Santa sure is a smart one.

We continued our tradition of having pancakes after we open our gifts.

Later on Christmas Day, we went over to our neighbor's house and joined their extended family for a traditional cold meat Christmas meal.  It's too hot to cook inside.  So in Australia they have cold cuts or something from the barbie on Christmas day.


Chaney and H enjoying dessert.  Jelly (Jell-O) and ice cream.   Yes,  Jell-O and ice cream. The Aussies couldn't believe that we hadn't heard or tried this before.  Go scoop you up some ice cream and put some Jell-O on the side.  Let me know how you like it.  (And H isn't unhappy, she is chewing her Jell-O and ice cream.)



Our neighbor's visiting relative gave tips to Charlie on the game of cricket
and how to hold the bat.  This is a good thing since we are clueless
about the game and can't help him one little bit.

Our neighbors skyping with their sister-in-law who is visiting in the U.S.
(You might notice the destroyed gingerbread house on the
 table.  Renee let the kids destroy and nibble on the gingerbread
house they put together.)

 Boxing Day

For those of you that don't know, Boxing Day is the day after Christmas.  In Australia, Boxing Day is a day of big sales. Similar, but in no way comparable, is Black Friday in the U.S.   I think the U.S. needs another holiday!!

Doesn't this look delicious!  It was!  This is Pavlova, a traditional
Aussie dessert.  Our friends who we spent Boxing Day with
made this.  We also had traditional lamb and sausages from
the barbie.  (My autocorrect keeps
wanting to capitalize the word barbie.)

Holiday

 In Australia, they use the word holiday like we use the word vacation or break.  For example, someone in the U.S. might ask you, "What are your plans over the holiday break?"  In Australia they would ask, "What are your plans over holiday?"   Now, in this great land I live in, the whole entire country takes holiday at the same time.  The same time.  The holiday over the Christmas and New Year's season is the same for everyone.  Schools all over the continent break at the same time (give or take a week or two) for the summer.   I'm still figuring this out, but from what I figure, most service providers take holiday and completely shut down for two to three weeks.  So, for example, the kids speech therapy clinic closed down the week before Christmas and won't open again until the second week of January. Same goes for my hair dresser, the car repair place, and any tradie (the Aussie word for tradesman).  Hope you don't need to get a leaky toilet fixed over the next three weeks!  Everyone is on vacation at the same time.  (Grocery stores and malls are still open.) This is totally natural and expected.  I find it a bit unsettling that if I had a hair emergency, I couldn't ring and get a booking to get it taken care of.  (Like how I used the Aussie words "ring" and "booking"?  I'm starting to get the hang of this!)   

In Canberra, the only big city not located near the coast, Canberrans are known for heading to "The Coast." This specifically refers to the coast in New South Wales, the state that the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) is located in. If you want to go to "The Coast" you need to make a booking 6-8 months ahead of time.  Everything fills up at crazy prices with week long minimum stays. 

And by the way, they say "Happy Christmas" here.  It sounds off to me.  Go ahead and try to say it.  It's kinda like saying "Merry New Year."  Also, they frequently call Santa "Father Christmas."  Okey dokey. 

 A final note...

Wow.  This has been one long blog post!  We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday.  I miss everyone, friends and family, very much.  I am not going to proof read or reread my blog post tonight.  I always do that!  But it is 1:30 in the morning and this has taken me much longer than I thought it would.  So forgive any typos, etc. 
So, Merry (belated) Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Sunday, December 15, 2013

St. Monica's Christmas Nativity

On Friday, Charlie and Chaney's school put on the Christmas Nativity.  It was done totally by the three kindergarten classes.  Chaney had the very important role of Angel Gabriel.  Charlie had an equally important role of Christmas Star. It was very well done and adorable! Erich and I had front row seats so we got some good pictures.  I really wish you could've seen it! 

The Kindergarten Classes performing the Christmas Nativity



Angel Gabriel had a special seat.

Charlie really gets into the song and dance.

The Angel arrives to tell Mary she would have a baby.

The star takes his job very seriously.

Charlie, the Christmas Star, shines over the Holy Family.

Angel Gabriel is on her way to spread the word to the wise men.

 

 

 

Charlie and Chaney with their Kindergarten teacher

Charlie and Chaney did a great job!  After the nativity, we took the kids home early with us.  And soon after that, Charlie started crying in pain. He had a horrible tummy ache and was rolling around in pain.  I felt so bad for him.  And then he threw up.  Joy.

U.S. Embassy Family Christmas Party

Friday afternoon was also the U.S. Embassy Family Christmas Party.  Since Charlie was sick, I stayed home with him and Erich took Chaney to the party.  They had a great time!

The party was at the Embassy at the Ambassador's
residence (seen in the background).

There were a lot of games outside for the kids.

Daddy pulled Chaney down the hill on the sled.

Chaney and Boomer

Santa's sleigh pulled by the white boomers.

 

 

 Santa was also at the Embassy Christmas party.  Chaney was reluctant to sit on Santa's lap.  Erich managed to get Chaney to pose beside Santa and himself. The Embassy photographer was the one that took the pictures. So once we get the picture, I'll be sure to share them with you!!

 

Summertime Christmas

It certainly doesn't feel like Christmas here in Australia. I knew it would be different but I didn't expect it to be so hard to make it FEEL like Christmas. I've been going through the motions, but I'm beginning to feel like it's Christmas time.

 

I also had to make some other minor changes...

Before

After

Since I don't sew, I feel pretty darn proud of the work I did to make the long sleeved dress into a short sleeved one! And did I mention that I sewed all the tinsel garland to Chaney's dress.  I've said it before but I'll say it again.  I'm Martha freakin' Stewart. And check out my Oreo Truffle Balls I made for the Embassy cookie contest.

 

My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• If you came to Australia and I said we were going to eat "fairy floss" and a "darn" I would be trying to tell you we would be eating cotton candy and a sausage.
• Tonight we ordered pizza from Dominos.  Here is the LARGE pizza we ordered.

  

  Notice the 12 inch purple ruler.

• If I told you to bring your esky to the picnic, I would be trying to tell you to bring your cooler. 
• The bathrooms in our house have no air ducts.  They get cool in the winter and are stuffy in the summer.  Part of our house has a large closet off the laundry room beside the hallway to the garage and the guest bathroom.  There is no air duct in that whole area.  No heat.  No cool.  This seems strange to me.  It gets freezing in the winter!
• Tomorrow is the beginning of the LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL! Wow. 
• Chaney walks around the house using her play princess cell phone to call her friends.  Before school on Friday, she had to make a call to her boyfriend.  Yes, I said boyfriend.  She stood at the dining room table for about 3 minutes talking on her phone.  I have no idea what her boyfriend was saying, but she listened attentively and responded with enthusiasm.  She also told him about her day and what she had planned.  He also must have responded appropriately because she seemed thrilled with his answers.  We are in so much trouble...

  

  Being a good listener.

  
  

  

  Telling about her day.

 

 

 

 



Martha Stewart

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Tomorrow is Friday!  Woot! Woot!  The kids' school, St. Monica's, has a tradition of having the kindy (kin-dee) (kindergarten) classes acting out the Christmas Nativity. Erich and I will both go tomorrow to see it.  We can't wait!  Tomorrow is also the U.S. Embassy Family Christmas Party.  It should be fun!  We get to visit with Santa, and they will have a bounce house, a sausage sizzle (an Aussie tradition) and a cookie contest. (the contest was not optional if you were attending the party.)  I'm not a baker.  But I think my Oreo Truffle Balls will win.  Erich said if they don't win, he is going to cause a scene.  

My Oreo Truffle Balls.  They look good and taste even better.

Louie is hanging out by the gingerbread house Chaney made.



Charlie is checking out the gifts under the tree.
(Yes, he is sporting Batman undies.)

These are the gift tags I bought here in Australia.  They don't get snow.
And even if they did, it wouldn't be in the SUMMER.  Hmmmm...

Louie was playing with the tape.

My first haircut/highlight here in Australia. 
You don't even want to know how much it cost me.



Face painting from the zoo.  I love this girl!

Charlie had them paint the San Antonio Spurs icon
on his face.  You can't see it but he is wearing a Spurs jersey.
He loves basketball and football!

My Random Thoughts and Observations...

• Remember our beautiful Christmas tree that I pictured above?  It is a pre-lit Christmas tree.  A U.S. pre-lit Christmas tree.  So the plug for our tree won't fit in an Australian outlet and it needs to be converted to 240 volts.  We have the cord stretched across the floor (since the placement of and lack of outlets in this house makes no sense to me.)  and it plugged into a converter that converts the Australian 240 volts to the American 120 volts.  (Or is it 125 volts?  I can't remember. And it doesn't really matter.  And I don't care.)
• So world maps here look different than maps in the U.S.  It makes sense.  Think about a world map you would see in the U.S.   North America is in the center of the map.  Well, in Australia, the world map has Australia in the center.  The United States is in the upper right corner of the map.  Check it.
  
• I've been doing this long enough now, and I can't remember what I've told you.  Have I told you that my soap opera that I watched in the U.S. is shown here??!  I was so excited to discover this! When I tuned in (that's an old phrase!) I discovered that the soap, The Young and the Restless, is about a YEAR behind where I was watching it in the U.S.   Bummer!
• Our neighbors have a sand box and our kids have rediscovered the fun of digging in the sand!  And I have rediscovered how much I can't stand getting sand in clothes. And in shoes. And in socks. And in underwear. And in hair. And stuck to legs.  And stuck on arms. (You get the picture.)  But I love watching the kids have fun in the sand.  So I decided to get them a sand table.  A sand table is something they can stand at and play in, but they don't sit in the sand.  Sitting in the sand is when the sand gets into places you just don't want sand.   But sand tables they sell in the stores are too short for my kids and are made for toddlers.  SO, I decided to design my own sand table. The kids love it.  And we aren't getting sand everywhere!  It's a win win!

  

  I used a blue shell that is to be a pool or sand box.  I just set it on top
  of two sturdy, empty storage tubs.  My plan is to find a used
  coffee table height table to set the sand box on top of.

  
  

  

  Covered up for the night.

• The kids are just 6 school days away from summer "holiday"!!  Holy crap. And then they will be in "Year One." (1st grade).  Double crap.  When in the hell did they grow up?? It's happening too fast. TOO FAST I TELL YOU!  I miss being with my babies all day.
• Chaney made her first marriage proposal.  Well, it wasn't actually a proposal.  She just informed a boy in her class that she is going to marry him. :)  I asked Charlie who he wanted to marry.  He thought for a moment and said, "Well, I'd like to marry you, mommy. (pauses) But no one marries their mom."  (*love!)
• Like other foods, meat is different here in Australia.  The cuts are different.  Some meats taste different. (I hear its the difference between grass fed and grain fed meat.) And don't get me started again about the bacon and the hot dogs... Remember this?
  
  But I digress...  Australian stores don't have sausage the way we think of sausage.  There is no breakfast sausage.  No Jimmy Dean.  My kids would eat sausage almost every morning in the U.S.  Well I feel like Martha Stewart!  I made our own breakfast sausage!!  And the kids love it! Welcome to Australia, where you make your own sausage and hang your laundry to dry outside. Like I said, Martha freakin' Stewart.