...Can't stop laughing

Ben and I had an experience this week that has inspired me to start a new series that will run on the blog from time to time. The series will be called "I'm an idiot". Now, I know I am a with-it person. I am smart, witty, intelligent... But sometimes I do things that make me say to myself, man, I am an idiot. This, the first in the series will be called:

"I'm an Idiot... or am I?"

Friday night Ben and I had gotten ourselves all pretty, we'd arranged for a sitter, and we were heading out {late} to meet up with friends for Thai food. Just as we got in the car and fired-up the ignition, we got a call from one in the group who was calling to tell us that some others in our party were stuck in traffic on the expressway, and could we meet up in an hour and 15 minutes instead of 15 minutes ago. We are casual people, and these kind of "set-backs" usually prove to work out even better for us than the original plan, so no problem.

Since this was now the case, I told Ben to turn around so I could get some things I'd forgotten to get in the rush to get out the door. We ended up turning up a cul-de-sac that connects to our street so that we could u-turn and go home. Once we got to the top, my eye caught sight of something I had been dreaming of getting for the kids since before they were even born, a swing set! It was nothing fancy, but I have come to the conclusion that a reasonably nice, used set would be perfect for our temporary situation anyway. It was beautiful, just sitting out on the grass bordering the curb, and it looked like it was just waiting for a nice family to take it home and love it. Was it for sale, or could we possibly be so lucky that they were just giving it away!?

Ben slammed on the breaks and I went tearing for the door to inquire. The lights in the house were all dim and I realized after knocking 10 times that they must be out. Dirty Darn. I ran back to the car and Ben and I started talking about just lifting it up and carting it down the street, since it was obvious they were getting rid of it -and we wanted dibs! We now had the time! But we thought better of it, maybe it had already been sold on Craigslist or something, and it was just sitting out here for them to come pick it up tonight or tomorrow.

I was giddy all night, thinking of the moment when we were finished with our evening with our friends so that we could go back to the house and see about this swing set. We left the restaurant at 10:30, which was late, but I figured it was the weekend and what was the harm in driving past to see if they were now home and still awake. I was nervous as we turned up the street, wondering if perhaps it had been picked up during the few hours we were out. But as we pulled up I sighed a sigh of relief as I found it was still there! What luck!

The owners were home, and they were in their front room watching TV. I decided it just couldn't wait until morning, it could be gone by then! I knocked on the door several times. No one was getting up from the movie. I decided I had probably already exceeded the number of appropriate knocks for this hour of the night, and started walking back toward the car. Just then, some one came walking up from the street. It was some one who lived there! Finally, time to talk details! Please bless it's not sold Please bless it's not sold Please bless it's not sold!

I said hello and small-talked for a minute, and then decided it was time to cut right to the chase. And these are the very words that escaped my mouth, "So... I see you've got that pretty little swing set just sitting there... I assume you are getting rid of it. Or do you just do your swinging in the front yard?!" Followed by a nice meaty laugh, like, how absurd right?!

She just stared at me. Finally, my laughter died down to awkwardness as she broke the news to me that, yes, they do do their swinging in the front yard. That is the place they found appropriate for their swing set. It was being given away, nor was it for sale. This multi-million dollar house has a $200 swing set in front of it, at the curb, because that is how they roll.

Just then the man of the house opened the door and the woman scurried in like an obedient animal and I was left saying my polite goodbye's to myself, praying that she didn't tell this brute why I was on their doorstep at 10:45 PM. I immediately regretted telling her who I was and where I lived {literally 30 seconds, by legs, away}. Man, I really, really need to perfect my fake Aussie accent so that I can be an Aussie anytime I want to completely humiliate myself.

I felt about this big at that moment. But it didn't last long. By the time I got the the car, and related the story, Ben and I could barely see straight we were laughing so hard. Tears were streaming down our faces. We replayed all of the events and conversations and plans to just take it over and over until we were just sick with fits of laughter. All in a days work I tell ya...

Here is a picture so you can be the judge on this one. The picture is terrible, mainly because I had already completely embarrassed myself once, going back, in broad daylight, to get a picture for the blog was too much. Though I still did it, and I was not as inconspicuous as I thought I should have been. I basically stood right there in the middle of the street, taking a picture of a stranger's house. Embarrasing enough even without the swing set debacle... In any case, you can't get a full feel of the dimensions of how close this was to the curb since the yard slopes down and makes the distance from the house to the set seem shorter. This also only captures 1/4 of this huge house. That ladder wasn't there when we came before. We need one of those too, that would have been a nice little bonus to go along with our new swing set.

We've arrived

Wow, 6 long months. Our lives still feel like they are in a bit of an upheaval. However, I am finally realizing that we are happy here, and the most important thing is that we are all together. I really felt a lot better after my rant. And as time has gone on the past month or so, we are starting to feel nearly settled, in the house, and in the state of mind.

We are making friends, really good friends. We love our neighbors and have quite a few friends from church or other random places. We are hosting some couples at our house Saturday night and going out with others on Friday night. People drop in, call, or invite me /us over! I guess I was too unhappy to realize it, but actually I have made more good friends in a shorter amount of time than any other time in my life. But now I see it, and I am grateful. Bottom line is that we are home. It is starting to feel like we are a part of things here and that we are needed, loved, and appreciated. And we in turn feel the same for many people here.

Lately I have been busy painting the kids rooms and some furniture. Probably by next week I should have a little tour of our casa. Laine started dance class last week. It is a great little studio in the Fred Caterson Reserve. It is basically in the forest with a little park for Gabe to play in while we wait, which couldn't be more convenient for our situation. It is close enough for me to ride my bike, which I was planning on doing if I hadn't remember at 3:26 that she had dance at 3:30. We were late, and Gabe wore two different shoes, one of which was an old pink croc that used to be Laine's. This sort of thing happens all of the time, and I didn't even notice he was wearing two different shoes since he has worn that combo before. Then when other people are laughing and giggling at how funny it is, I stop and realize that it probably looks quite silly to other organized moms. We don't mind. Little Gabe has such a self confidence at 1 that he proudly parades around town in his pink crocs, whether it is one or both. Okay, that or he has a cheap and lazy mum...

I know, not the best picture...

I got to go to the Sydney Good Food and Wine show this past weekend which was great! I saw Gordan Ramsay live, which I thought would be the turning point in my career. I had visions of being selected out of the audience, wowing him with my wit and charm, and Gordon saying he'd be damned if he let me get away! My people would be in touch with his people... It didn't happen and I was so over it I didn't even bother waiting around to meet him at the book signing. I'll pave my own way Gordan, thanks anyway. The rest of the show was incredible and I picked up some fabulous foods I'd never heard of like Lemon Myrtle infused Macadamia Oil, genuine Aussie style.

yeah, the picture doesn't really capture this one either. it's my only proof!

This really is such a cool, cool city, and Ben and I had a new resolve to take advantage of all it has to offer while we are here. Anyone want to join us in our quest?

Not Much

Laine just stumbled in with her eyes closed and said, "I can't see. I fink I need glasses." Reminds me of someone, oh! Me! I always wanted glasses, contacts, and especially braces. I always put those skinny licorice ropes across my teeth, pretending it was a retainer. I also thought a towel wrapped on my head could be magical, beautiful long hair, and a long robe tied around my waist was a beautiful, full-skirted princess dress with a train...

Other than that there is not much going on, unless you want to hear about the dead bird in the pool. Oh, you do? Well, I've been dreading fishing it out, and finally just bit the bullet. The kids thought it was "swimmin", which was good, because I've had a long day and I wasn't in the mood to start the whole "pet heaven" conversation. Laine was actually excited to fish it out, I was wishing she was a little older and capable of doing it. We ended up doing it together and she said, "good little bird" and laughed as we caught him in the next and threw him into the trash.

On a completely different topic, Laine has had this new obsession with soap and keeps putting it in her drinking cup in the bathroom and then later forgetting and taking a drink of it. Today she came out screaming and crying and with each word she would blow a new bubble to go with the smaller little ones littered around the outer edges of her mouth. It looked like she was frothing at the mouth. For a minute, I had forgotten about the soap in the cup obsession and wondered what the heck was this?! Then I realized what had happened and I just lost it. I couldn't stop laughing at the poor wretch! It was so, SO funny, I'm telling you. She is such a good sport, because I always laugh at her distress, it's just too funny not too! Laine, I'm sorry I am a bad Mom sometimes, and thanks for being patient with me.

...Bubbles of a different sort

It must be...

...Gifts wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper with masking tape, cliche *pink* flower cupcake cake, 1 birthday candle and 3 huge dining room candles lit on said cake, no invitations sent out for the party that still isn't planned...it must be some body's birthday!

I guess it goes without saying that I am the worlds least organized Mom. Laine sure let me off the hook this year and acted as if it was the best birthday yet. My little girl is 4! I think we are finally past the terrible 2's and the horrific 3's, Laine has really turned the corner and is back to her sweet, sweet self {usually}.

She is so talented. I have always had a secret dream of some one thinking I am a really good singer and paying my voice a compliment. It still hasn't happened, and I'm starting to loose hope. But I don't think Laine will have the same problem. She has now moved on from mere harmonizing to every song she knows how to sing {her repertoire is quite large} and has now been reworking some of the melodies to her favorites, such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She really amazes me!

She has a thirst for knowledge and loves to learn. She can already write her name unassisted. She knows all of her letters and colors and numbers, she is just like a sponge!

Though it appears that the worst of her OCD phase is over, there are still some remnants left. She still has to hear "Good Girl Laine" after going potty and "Laine's tired" after she yawns and reminds us to say it. She thinks she owns the number three "Mom, there's my 3!" and always has to be given 3 of everything -I suspect it will be 4 of everything as of today...

She always has to make herself into the characters she sees in books or pictures. And if she can fit all 4 of us in the story, so much the better. For example, she got a birthday card from Ben's Grandma Riley. It had a bear, a kitty, and a bunny having tea. She decided Gabe was the bear, she was the bunny, and I was the kitty. I saw her looking at the card and pointing saying, "There I am, having tea, I wanted to wear piggy tails in my hair and that's my birday cake..." {the bunny had pigtails and was eating cupcakes}. There is a book that my Grandparents gave her for Christmas called "Bunny Christmas". Since it is a story about 2 parent bunnies, and a daughter and son bunny, she just thinks it's perfect. Every time we read it she says "There's you Mom! That's you and that's me" as she points to the big fat Mom bunny bending over putting cookies in the oven with her big FAT bunny butt is wagging in the air...wow, thanks Laine, I'm soooo flattered!

Tonite she blew out her candles and made a wish, in the sweetest little four-year-old voice she whispered "I wish I want some ice cream". She LOVES treats {like me}. She also told me that she wants her bear to turn 4 too. {yeah, she started sleeping with this bear that my Grandma gave her last year. Strange that she is all of the sudden so attached to something!}

It has been a wonderful, challenging, stressful, beautiful, exciting 4 years. And I'm so glad to have you for my little girl and I can't wait for all of the girly adventures we will continue to have! I love you Laine, Happy Birthday! This is your life...

TV junkie from day 1

Cutest little bunny! Baby's first Halloween

I always loved this picture. Laine's 3 month pics...

Laine was born in Korea on the exact same day as Maya, my friend Stacey Gibby Lau's daughter. For Oremites who care, yes, Stace is Matt and Katie Gibby's sister and sister in law to Haley Kocherhans. We were all living in Korea at the time. Aren't they so cute in their little pig tails?! Happy Birthday Maya!

Laine at our favorite park in Taiwan 1 1/2 years old

Lantern Festival, Taiwan some time in '06? Ponchos were in style if that is any hint.

Great Wall with Daddy -May '06

Laine's face says it all. New brother, first day home

Gabe's Blessing Day. She changed her mind and decided he wasn't so bad after-all {sort-of}

Laine's 2 year old pictures... at age 2 1/2. She is ready to start in the field of journalism

Laine opening her presents tonite. It looks pretty weak, but that's only because we didn't get a pic of her new bike. She also got a digital camera {it probably came too late to save ours from her wrath, which was the original reason for buying the gift} and of course the Grandmas and Grandpas sent some love her way. Grams Riley made her some *cute* aprons and oven mits, pics to come. Gaengy and Pop Pop sent a goodie bag of treats, and some spending cash. They also sent a Dora cape for Laine and a Nacho Libre cape for Gabe, again, pics to come

Happy Birthday!

And Happy Father's Day to all of you Dads out there! Especially my two Dads, the Kev and the Big Al. Since it is not Father's Day here, Ben will have to wait until Aussie FD in September

Why Do I have No Spine?

Why? I am just wracking my brain as to why I allow myself to live the way I do. If you push me, magically I have a spine. But if you are someone who is trying to sell me something, nope. No spine.

I just got back from the Towers, to my Americans that means the Mall, which is where I do my grocery shopping. As I was walking in, I saw this little tent that had been erected near the entrance with sales demonstration written all over it. Great, somebody is going trying to sell me something. You can't not walk by it to get in the store, there is no way out of this situation.

They of course stop me and try to sell me this magic car cleaner that uses no water. It cleans every inch of your car, outside, inside, mirrors. Now, I have a not so secret love affair with an immaculately clean car. Ultimate Tire Shine{Tyre for the Aussies, yes, that is how you spell it here. You also spell jail - gaol which is madness} anyway, Ultimate Tire Shine or Tire Wet would be a perfectly appropriate birthday gift or stocking stuffer for me. I'm borderline obsessed with it. Anyway, you'd think this would be something I am interested in. However, it just the exact opposite. As a fan of cleaning products in general, I respect the fact that all cleaners are designed and formulated for specific purposes. It is not a selling point for me that I would be cleaning {and simultaneously waxing} my car with the same cleaner I would then do the glass and upholstery with. I also like using water to clean things.

Graeme, the salesman, wanted to walk me to my car to show me how this Genie in a Bottle works. I said I would love to, after I finished my shopping. What?! Did I really just say that. I am not at all interested. Inviting him to my car for the sales pitch only makes saying no after his presentation only that much more difficult!

I shopped and was walking out, wondering if I could muster the courage to tell him no now, or if I would end up put us both through the sales pitch. FYI, they had reminded me that I did need car cleaner, and incidentally I had already purchased an arsenal of car cleaners in the store.

It was then that I remembered there was an exit that I could go out that I could possibly slip by. I took my chances, and even though I had to walk an extra mile through traffic that was not for pedestrians, putting Gabey's and my life in danger as we played life sized Frogger. There was a spot where I would have to get close to them, and I thought I might be seen. I was now practically running past, casually of course, so as not to draw attention to myself.

I got to the car. I made it! Then I realized to my dismay, that I would have to drive past them, right past them, and they would surely see me, on my way out. I might even have to stop in front of them because their tent was at the crosswalk to enter the store. Crap. What now? I reverse out of my stall and start driving towards the exit. I do end up having to stop, right in front. So I roll down my window and say, "Hey, sorry, I ran out of time, I have to go pick up my daughter from school {big fat lie, it is not 4:30 in the afternoon with Laine standing there, the last one to be picked up} -Will you be here through the week? You will, okay, we'll be back tomorrow!"

Great, I hope I got everything I needed since I can't show my face at the Towers until next week. This is just typical example of what I have to do every few days when salesman are out looking for an easy sale. I used to constantly get accosted by Mary Kay ladies at Walmart. They would pressure me into giving them my contact details, which I would. They would call, I would think up a lie and hang up and promptly save their phone number in my phone as "Don't Answer". I had several of them programmed, and they all would occasionally call. When I was single I could never tell guys I didn't want to date anymore, I had a few bad situations and since I can't name names, there is probably no point in elaborating. I would always give guys a fake number because I could never say I wasn't interested. In fact, I think that "don't answer" bit that I use now was back from my single days. And don't even get me started on the Jehovah's Witnesses! The same set of witnessers has come to my house 3 times {that I know of} in the last 2-3 months because I politely agree to read their literature.

Anyway, I need to be better at just saying no. I feel bad, I don't like to let people down, I am too much of a pleaser sometimes. I need to find a nice polite way of declining so I don't have to deal with situations like these that take a lot of my time and energy!

Since every post is better with pictures, even if they have absolutely nothing remotely to do with it, here's some of little baby Laine. She used to love to eat berries and since they are so healty, we didn't really care about the mess. Man, Laine is sure getting some love from the blog, it is her birthday later in the week so she really will be getting all of the attention. I wanted to do a post about Gabey, but Ben said no to the pictures of Gabe in girl's pajamas on laundry day...

A wonderful, magical, golden era

Okay, so sometimes caring for two toddlers is taxing and stressful. The house is always covered in crumbs and sticky fingerprints. There is some whining and carrying on that occurs daily. But recently, I was reminded of some of the perks on the horizon, like the fact that Laine is almost old enough to do chores. Not like her chores she has had up until now of helping carry in the grocery bags or putting the poopy diapers in the garbage. I am talking about the kind of chores that I had as a kid. If you hold on just a tick and I think I can scrounge up some photographic evidence i.e. Nicole and I doing nightly dishes at age 2 and 3.

I know my Mom worked hard and even felt as most mothers did that her job was never done {the house was immaculate and the counter underneath the answering machine was wiped daily. NOT an exaggeration. There was a constant threat of having to wash walls and baseboards when we acted up or wouldn't go to sleep} But we as 5 little girls in the house felt that we did quite our fair share of the work {looking back we probably didn't, but at the time we did feel like we did a lot} Anyway, I think back to those times and am now excited that Laine will soon become somewhat more of a helper and hopefully less of a dead weight.

There have been some subtle clues lately that the time is arriving soon. We have now reached the days where I can offer her "incentives" for doing me "favors". Like just last week at the Gold Coast, for instance. The jets on the hot tub kept running out so I kept telling her that I would give her a dollar if she would go turn them back on. She would get so excited and carefully run around the corner and they would instantly turn on as she pressed the button. She would run back and I would say, "okay, here you go, thanks!" and give her a pretend dollar. She loves to imagine and pretend so much, that this fake dollar is no doubt even better than a real dollar. She is so into it, and one of the times she forgot to collect her "dollar" and about 10 minutes later reminded me of it. Oh, silly me, here you go, here's your dollar...

Laine has also seen her TV friends receiving medals. She loves to give and receive fake medals. I now have a whole closet full of them. If they weren't imaginary, I think they would be taking up too much space and I'd have to get rid of them. Thanks goodness their fake! They are fun, and are another great way to help "inspire" Laine to help me out with things that need done around the house, like getting me my drink or fetching my slippers, rubbing my bunions and corns, etc. And the best is yet to come, I haven't even broken out the, "do it, I'll TIME you!" bit yet, which of course works every time and is shear genius.

Laine loves TV {she calls everything movies though, so I guess I should say she loves her movies}. Anyway, she loves her little Movie friends so much, {she is constantly saying things exactly as they are said on tv -"oh no!, now we'll never get home!" "oh no, it's ruined! We will never fix it!" Wait, I have an idea!"}

She kind of reminds me of a cuter, more wholesome, not creepy, kid version of "Model Walk" MW was a girl at USU who always walked and talked like there were cameras following her every move. You would be talking to her and looking around, instinctively desperate to find where these hidden cameras were, all the while thinking, Model Walk, come back down to Earth, please, no one talks like that. No, seriously Model Walk, there are no cameras, no one is paying attention. Stop prancing, stop giving me canned mumbo jumbo like you are in a beauty pageant. -Please tell me some one out there remembers who I am talking about, Rex, I know at least you Ben and I will. If you didn't know this model walk, though she was one in a million, maybe there are other MW's out there that you have found and can relate nonetheless

Okay, I think I've rattled off on Laine and MW long enough, sorry Gabe, all of the cute things that you are doing will have to wait for another day. I'll leave you with some of Laine's recent one liners:

Said as we were reading The Hungry Caterpillar together: "Look! The caterpillar is going in his raccoon!"

I promised the kids we could go to the park on the way home from the Towers. We spent too much time shopping and it was dusk as we pulled out of the parking garage. I told Laine it was probably too dark to go now. All of the sudden, from no where, she starts singing to the tune of One Republic's Apologize: "It's too late to go to the park, it's too late..."

In Laine's primary class they were talking about their siblings and Laine agreed with her classmates: "I have a sister too, but he's a boy"

Hello. Again. Hello.

No, we're not dead. What a relief right? We just went on a little mini vacay. We're back now.

Ben had to go up to Queensland to arrange some details for an upcoming convention. Since the Gold Coast is the home of many theme parks and other such fun, the kids and I couldn't resist tagging along and making a long weekend {or short week however you look at it} out of it. We weren't blessed with the best weather, but we made the most of it and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

We took the kids to Seaworld and Warner Brother's Movie World. We went swimming and hot tubbing at the hotel while Ben was in meetings. The kids loved it, they are such water babies. We walked the beach and boardwalk until dusk...

So here is a picture of the camera bag, right on the bookshelf where we left it before leaving the house. Yah, no pictures. We did have Ben's phone but that somehow maybe didn't make it home with us...

A lack of pictures won't stop me from recreating the events for you so that you can clearly picture the amount of fun we had. Here is what we basically looked like arriving at Sea World, ready for a thrilling day. Except we are not Asian and had a double stroller that the kids were sitting in.

Flash forward two days later and this is almost what we looked like on our way into Movie World

Here we are, this is really close to what we looked like ready to enter the Looney Tunes Village at Movie World

Here is the Royal Woods, where we stayed. I don't think I have spent that much time in a pool since I was 11 years old at my Granny's house.

Here we are this morning. Me in my bathrobe until noon allowing Laine to rot her brain watching cartoons while I catch up on some email, blogging, and TCB. There is the suitcase I should be unpacking, and looking for Ben's lost phone.

Hot Potato Hot Patato, Cold Spaghetti Cold Spaghetti...

Okay, I know it's been a rough few weeks and I often wonder what I am doing here. I have to see kangaroos at a zoo just like we did at home. I have to deal with all of this crazy moving stuff and anti-American sentiments, I miss my friends an family. But then again, there are these little gems to look forward to that I can partake of in Australia. No, I am not even talking about doing a Tim Tam Slam, drinking Milo, or eating Meat or Gravy flavored potato chips. I'm talking about SEEING The Wiggles LIVE!

For some of you this would not be a plus, it would no doubt be a major con. You might even rather stick your finger in your eye than go. But for us it was an exilerating family event that we have been looking forward to for weeks. That's right, we have seen the wiggles in person. We danced and sang along to the songs, we even dressed like them. The lighting is no good, but here we are awaiting the start of the show as Jeff, Murray, Anthony, and Sam / Greg. We miss you Greg! You'll always be a Wiggle to us!

Okay, yeah, we are pretty much major nerds. Sometimes I get these ideas that seem great at the time. I think to myself, I am not really a member of society here so I don't care what anybody thinks, yes, I think I'll have us dress up as each member of the Wiggles. Then you get there, and everyone is dressed normal, and you kind of realize you DO actually care. Poor Ben, why did you ever go along with my stupid plan? Some one even asked him if he was a Wiggle! No lie!

The concert was great and the kids had a magical time. It was held at such a small venue. I could literally almost see Anthony's glowing white teeth and the scars from his nose job. It was, I mean, ah, amazing. It really was fun to do something to get your kids all excited about. We were watching a lot of the show on tv in the previous days, you know, trying to practice and get ready so we were sure we knew all of the songs. Two days in a row Laine said, "I just love the Wiggles..." It was hilarious.

Here we are after the show outside the Hornsby RSL club. We were ever changed from this moment, we will never be the same again.

We chased the concert down with an hour of driving around looking for a Hungry Jacks to eat at.

Look familiar? Yeah, it's the same. We got Whopper value meals which tasted just like the one's at home. Yup, they made me just as sick as at home, and I regretted eating it just like at home too.

It was a great day. I had a really fun day visiting a new friend in Double Bay yesterday, which I now realize is the Beverly Hills of Australia. There I was driving myself there, passing and waving to the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bay Bridge on the way. It was amazing. Sometimes it really is so cool to live here. No, I'm not manic as you may be thinking from the complete change in temperature from some previous posts. It is just that there are really high high's and really low low's. 3 cheers for it leveling off poste-haste!

My Dad, the Hero

I have always loved and respected my Father so much. I have always looked up to him in so many ways. He has more integrity than I've ever known any one else to have. The man raised 5 girls {no boys} enough said.

My Dad always worked really hard to make a good life for our family. He was a firefighter. We weren't a rich family, though many around us were. I didn't care though. I was really proud to tell people what my Dad did. We loved visiting him at the firehouse when we were little. It was great as a kid, and so much fun to go bring Sunday dinner to him and hang out at the firehouse, pretty much the coolest place on Earth. And on those days when you get to go visit the firehouse for a school field trip, I could have given the tour myself, which was another reason to be proud.

It has been so great that since 9/11 that more people realize and appreciate the service and sacrifice of these men and women and their families, as well as other branches of law enforcement. This isn't some job they have, they are a brotherhood. They risk their lives together, and I've seen my Dad the day one of his men has fallen. It's like nothing you can describe.

Today I got an email from my Mom, and maybe it is the stress or that I sometimes get homesick. But I was proud again, and I was moved to tears. My Mom said that a member my Dad's crew has a brain tumor. They were hopeful, but the cancer is aggressive. Just yesterday, when the results came in, they discovered that even with more chemo and radiation, this man will die within 6 months to a year.

My Dad has taken it very hard, as well as the rest of their crew. In order to show their support, they have all shaved their heads. This would be touching already, but man, you didn't know what a gorgeous head of thick lustrous hair he had. It was beautiful. Thanks for your service, and thanks for showing us what it means to be a friend and brother.

Thanks for once again being an example to me Dad. I love you.

Save me from myself

Okay, this is not going to be the most "upbeat" post ever. I've really had it today. First of all, I really hate complaining, and I hate complainers. I hope you can tell the difference between complaining, and being honest. I probably should just delete all of this and forget it ever happened rather than actually posting it, but I'm not gonna.

I had a friend that I had been keeping in contact with over the years. I love her so much, and I miss living close to her. She was such an example to me, and taught me many things. We fell out of contact over the last few months, and I often wondered why. I felt it was a little one-sided, as I really would have loved to hear from her. I finally broke down and wrote to her. She wrote me back such a heart-wrenching email about what her life has been like lately. I really, really felt for her. She indicated that she wasn't able to write me because she just wasn't in a place where she could be happy for me. My life seemed to be perfect and I seemed to be having new adventures and great experiences.

So let me just lay it all down on the line so no one is confused. This move has been unreal. It has been so incredibly challenging for both Ben and I personally. So many times lately I have wanted to give up, and Ben and I both agree that if there were and easy way out and we could move home with our tails between our legs, we might just do it. We are 90% there. But there is that last 10% of us that thinks and hopes that maybe the adjustment period is almost over.

Ben has had to put in incredible hours since we moved here. He is exhausted and hasn't had a moment to relax since we arrived. Most days he comes home, has a quick bite, and sits and works while I watch tv at night. Most days are boring and mundane since I don't have many friends, everybody works! Everyone who is around is very tight-knit with their family. It is not like it was before, when we moved overseas. Surround by good friends who were in our exact situation and you had so much in common {then again, there are no men hocking loogies constantly and I can speak the language and of course the food situation goes without saying...}

Being an American overseas SUCKS! Everybody hates us and I'm sorry my Aussie friends, I really am, but some people here take it to a new level I have never experienced before.

I AM NOT AMERICA!

I AM A PERSON!

I am not the US Foreign Policy! I am not the cause of your Economic problems! I am not loud, or annoying! I am not rude! I am not an idiot, and I, like most Americans DO know where Sydney is and DIDN'T think it is in England or "wherever"...

For all of the ignorance you claim that we, as Americans posses, you really would be embarrassed at the things I have been both asked and told since I arrived here {as well as before, I am sad to say I have had this experience with Aussies before I moved here}. I seriously in my wildest dreams would not EVER dare to say the things to some one's face that have been told to me. But yeah, I would say them behind your back...

but that is beside the point!

There are many people here that I love, that help get me through the day. But man I wish people here felt about Americans the we we feel about them! Americans LOVE Aussies. We love their accents, we think they must be the funniest, most down to Earth people. In fact, besides terrorists, we as Americans love all, okay most, cultures. We think to ourselves that their quirks are "charming". Even the French. I just wish that favor were returned to some degree, and that so many negative assumptions weren't made about me because of where I come from.

I really do want to thank my friends who I do have here. I love my friends at the butcher shop, they are so great to me and put a smile on my face. I love my neighbors. I have made some good friends at church as well. I have met some great people, so I regret to take away from them. But I have to get it off my chest! It has also been so theraputic to have my hobby, Hot Garlic, thanks to everyone who participates. It really helps to have something you enjoy to look forward to.

Notwithstanding everything I just ranted about above, it has been difficult in many other ways as well. It is hard to be away from family and friends. I won't get to experience spring, the best time of year {besides summer} for a whole year and a half! It has just plain been stressful and a lot of work to move and unpack and attempt to get settled into a new life. We have so many loose ends flying everywhere all of the time. We are constantly so busy chasing down minute details that we don't get anything done! There are so many reasons I can't describe, or even put my finger on, it's just been hard!

But don't cry for me Argentina. I'll be fine and the dust will settle, I hope.

Okay, I'm done now. I feel better. Thanks.

PS : My sis Kate had this on her blog a while ago. I thought it was so hilarious, and always wanted a reason to post it on my blog. I think the time has come, it doesn't get any more appropriate than today. I do, however, think this is less of the world according to Americans, and more the what others in the world think Americans are thinking.

Ben + Monkeys = Disaster

Sorry, this video has come at the high cost of my sanity, as well as the life of my computer. I think uploading this video and the events that ensued, have aged my computer by 12 years. This video was supposed to accompany the text below, as well as the other video. This is more what I am talking about when I reference Ben's "love" for animals. It is quite a bit longer than it needs to be, just get to the middle of it for the good part.

By Popular Demand

Ben's retecence for animals is well documented, and only matched by my undying love for them. Funny story. I loved our family dog, Cujo, with all my heart before Ben and I married. We used to sleep together and she used to pee with excitement whenever I came home from college. The first night we stayed at my parents house overnight after we got married was a little rough for both Cujo and I. Ben and I went down to my old bedroom in the basement, and Cujo followed right behind, thinking this would be cozy with Ben added to the mix. Ben said no and Cujo sat outside the door and scratched and whined for what seemed like hours. It was heart wrenching! I started crying, but I knew I had to choose my marriage over this dog I loved so much. I know, break out the Kleenex...

Anyway, I hope that story makes the above video of Ben all the more funny. He was good enough to oblige my secret wish of having a day of frolicking and laughing with monkeys. Little did I know they would be so stinky and greedy. It was still pretty fun, and the trip gave us some priceless footage. We have told some of you about this, and others have had the privileged opportunity to preview it. Here it is, back by popular demand. Please keep in mind that I was a nursing mother with a bad bra and a bad haircut to match, and bad clothes. I was on vacation! This is us on our Bali Trip in '05. Enjoy.

Clifford 101

In case any of you are wondering what the Clifford face is, I hope this answers your questions. And if this movie so happens to pop up on Showtime or TBS, go ahead and DVR it and save it for a rainy day. It will be worth your time.

Haircuts much? Spiders Much? Forts Much?

I love it, I love it... and I don't care who knows! Yes, I do love getting my hair cut at the local Beauty School. Some would call me cheap, others maybe frugal. Yet others would say ridiculous. But I love it just the same. I have been going to the beauty school since I was young, though I did take a break in high school and went to the most expensive salon in Orem. I started going again in college and have never looked back. When I was first married I went to a school in Bountiful and got my hair cut next to Olene Walker. We even chatted since I knew her, Ben was working for the Governor at that time. Anyway, things run a little differently here. It took me months to figure out the system, but I finally found a government run Tafe school and booked an appointment.

I got there and I was in luck, free haircuts that day! You can't beat it. I splurged on lunch since I was saving the $10 a haircut costs. I made an appointment for next month where I am going to add highlights to the mix for $15!

It was a very, very interesting experience. There was this gay European guy in skinny jeans, I was really, really hoping to get him. Instead I got this husky English woman in her 40's. I was disappointed at first, but she really came through for me! She did a great job. Above is the picture, I got Laine to take it. I couldn't get a decent shot out of the 30 I had her take. She was dancing and wiggling all over the place. In the end, I decided that I preferred a decent face shot to a good hair shot, since I couldn't have both. I know the pic doesn't really flatter the hair much {please, I am not trolling for compliments here, I know it really doesn't}.

I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying. "So would you like some fringe or just keep it the same?" "Would you like to keep the {some word I don't remember, started with a c} or would you like me to even it out?" "Now, you need to use this purple shampoo weekly so your blonde doesn't look daggy, come round to the basin and let's give it a wash". I felt really lost in the whole process, I am looking forward to next time and I am bringing a friend who can translate for me.

Getting your haircut in foreign countries is a very cultural experience. I cut my own hair in Taiwan, but in Korea I used to walk to this little shop near my house. They would just slap the he!! out of my head! They would pop my ears and do all sort of crazy stuff. Even just the way they mix your hair around while they wash it was so different. It was different here as well, but no slapping or popping.

Since that wasn't raw enough for you Stace, here is one of the pics in my photo shoot with Laine. It looks like my best "Clifford" impersonation, {love that movie} "Natalie, please, make a face like a real human girl!", But alas was just one of the better shots when you are having your 3 year old take the picture and you've got this blasted overhead lighting going on. I'm in love with that double chin action.

And here's this little guy that moved into our boxes whilst they were being stored in the garage. He had also come and planted himself on our front window one night. He is HUGE and quite scary looking, but thanks to our handy-dandy chart of which nasty spiders are lethal and which ones aren't, we learned that he is a Huntsman or Wolfsman or something, and harmless.

We finally moved out all of the boxes and had them picked up. Ben made a little fort out of them for Laine to enjoy before the garbage man came round to pick them up, she quite enjoyed it.

A very merry un-birthday to me!

Jenny, I know you are totally going to be jealous about this and I'm sorry. But Ben threw me a surprise half-birthday party this weekend. It was so random. Seriously, Ben is great, and I'm not going to complain. But there have been birthdays and anniversaries where he has literally been so busy beforehand that I don't even get a present or a card {don't worry, he makes up for it with random $200 gift certificates to the spa for Valentines and surprise half-birthdays}. Needless to say I was totally floored when he came home from "golfing" Saturday morning with half of a birthday cake, hats, masks, streamers, noisemakers, and half of a birthday card.

It was hilarious, and so creative, which also was surprising. Sorry Ben. He got the kids all into it and they all sang and everything. This was a completely different day than the below pictures, so as you can tell I am no liar about the chicken suit. It is also obvious that I was very surprised, as the house is wreck, I am in my exercise clothes sans hair and make-up getting ready to do Turbo Jam, Gabe is not dressed... I am very vain, enjoy this pic, you will hopefully never see me, my house, or my kids this raw ever again. I only allowed this pic to be taken because Ben was so excited at his clever wit. I also figured there would be a before and after, or at least a fake shot where we all looked perfect and pretended the surprise was happening right then at that very second! The moment passed, however, with no second photo-op.

Anyway, we got a sitter that night and went out to Chinese food and sipped hot cocoa at our coffee shop and we chased it down with some grocery shopping. I know that may sound boring, but I LOVE the grocery store and few things excite me more than perusing through the aisles dreaming of things I can create. Ben got a bad case of "shopping legs" but tried his best to humor me. Anyway, thanks Ben, it was the best half-birthday I've ever had!

Funny kids and "Double" Prams

So somewhere along the line Laine has been educated in the wonderful art of the knock-knock joke. She seriously just came home saying them one random day. I have no idea where she learned them or who "taught" her. She thinks she is hilarious. They go a little something like this:

Laine: Knock Knock

Me: Who's there?

Laine: Dinosaur

Me: Dinosaur who?

Laine: Dinosaurus Rex

This is promptly followed by an uproar of laughter coming from Laine, per usual when she tells any kind of "joke"

L: Knock Knock

M: Who's there?

L: Dora

M: Dora Who

L: TV Dora

...More Laughter...

L: Knock Knock

M: Who's there?

L: Flying in the air

M: Flying in the air who?

L: Me

As promised {though I am pretty sure no one really was waiting by the computer}, here is a pic of our double stroller. We actually have a Joovy, which is a sit and stand type of stroller that I LOVED when Gabe was a newborn and Laine was 2. But it is pretty heavy for these hills and all of the walking you have to do when you are a one car family. It just got to be too much and I resorted to this because I am a weakling.

When we went to Fiji, we seriously only took this umbrella stroller. And this is what we looked like everywhere we went. I also was seriously taking Gabey on the 10-15 minute walk to Laine's school to pick her up, and then bringing them all the way home like this. None of us really minded at the time, but are really glad we have our bike trailer / jogging stroller now! And oh yeah, since it is winter we are back to dressing the kids in their warm Halloween costumes as jammies. Laine is living in this chicken suit, she never wants to get out of it. She has even cast off her beloved "space" suit {aka track suit}. But not the space ships unfortunately...

And as of tomorrow we will finally have a second car! It has been a LONG four months sharing. And by sharing I mean me not having a car but once every fortnight. And by fortnight I mean once for every time we built a fort, which has not been that often lately. We bought a Nissan X-Trail. They are really cute, it is a smaller SUV, pewter color since I know you are wondering.

Park Fun

So I got back on that horse and took the kids to the park. We've actually gone a few times now, no incidents to report. Today there was no one there so I got to do the monkey bars and slides and swings, the whole bit. Thrilling. I decided as long as I had dragged myself out of the house I should get in some physical exercise. Wow, I am not as fit as I tell myself I am. While there I got to wondering where all my gymnastical talents went.

As a kid I was like 1/2 monkey -which genetically explains why Gabe is 1/4 albino monkey. Somewhere in the mix of junior high, crushes on boys, high school {okay, those 3 are all synonymous} college {still synonymous} marriage {nope, not anymore. Just kidding!} and kids I lost my gymnastical talents! I didn't even really notice until now. I am a complete chordo up there! And I almost really injured myself trying to prove otherwise.

It might not be of any help that I bought the only pair of "exercises" shoes that I own 6 years ago when we first got married, and they still look basically brand new. Now don't go all jumping to conclusions on me like it's so unfair that I'm not overweight. The reasons for this are many fold:

First and foremost, I get plenty of physical exercise getting myself in and then out of trouble, which can be done wearing any kind of shoe. This has been evidenced many a time on the blog. I also get lot's of exercise laughing at myself. Second, when I do formally exercise, I have a very bad habit of not wearing shoes. I guess this happens quite a bit with informal exercise as well. Sometimes my feet are bare or depending on what I am doing, I may also be wearing flip flops. Other times I am borrowing shoes {and socks, thanks for lending both to me many a time through the years Chris!} because I have forgotten to bring them along or out of possible laziness. But I digress..

Anyway, I am going to take every chance I can get when there is once again no body around at the park, and I am going to get all gymnastical again. If anyone is looking for a great way to keep in shape, I highly recommend investing in a bike trailer. Though as I am typing this I am realizing this will be of no benefit to my single or childless friends. You will look pretty crazy riding around with one of those on the back with no kids in it. Though it could be great for groceries or any other gear you want to haul around. Anyway, we bought one before we left and thank goodness because no one has heard of them here! Ours is so great, it converts into a jogging stroller, which I have never had. I took it to the Castle Towers, where I do my grocery and clothes shopping. My butcher litterally asked "what the heck is that, is that a tent?" He'd never seen one before. My kids LOVE it and I love it too, it is really fun exercise that I will actually do. Pictures and more information on our specific model to come, as well as before and after pics of our previous "double" stroller.

For now, here is that little albino monkey himself. We enjoyed the park over the long ANZAC weekend. Happy belated ANZAC day everyone!

Mission Accomplished

I know many of you have just been on pins and needles, wondering when the day will come that you hear more about the Kangaroo Mince. How was it? Was it weird? Was it gross? How did you eat it? Well, that day is today. We did it.

A few nights ago, I pulled it out to thaw in the fridge, forcing myself to face it. I kind of forgot about it and then rediscovered it 2 or 3 days later and realized that I better just do it or it would be spoiled by the next night. I decided on making a Kangaroo Shepherd's Pie {I know, it makes it sound like I made it out of the Kangaroo Shepherd}. My plan was two-fold: 1. It would be a dish that would do it's best cover up some of the taste. 2. Another added bonus was that it had so much other stuff in it, which could make it seem like I ate a lot if indeed I just ate the potatoes and green beans and moved the meat around with my fork.

The best part was when I said to Laine, "Guess what we're having for dinner tonight... Kangaroo!" She just laughed her head off and said, "Mom, you're funny!" "No, I'm serious, we really are ha...oh nevermind"

I was totally prepared for it to be really gross and even more prepared for it to be gamey. It actually really wasn't! It tasted so much more like beef than I was expecting. In fact, though my gag reflex was in hyper-drive, I know in my mind that it tasted really good. If you could get past the fact that you aren't eating something "normal" then it actually would taste excellent. I however really couldn't. I ate my helping that night {helping, what am I, on a ranch?} and then had another for lunch the next day and called it good.

Would I do it again? I guess I have to at least once more. I freakin' bought a 1 kg package and I didn't make that size of Shepherd's Pie. I just browned the rest and froze it. But would I buy it again after that? I think it would be a funny joke to play on visitors actually, so probably yes, yes I will! I've said too much...

So I posted the recipe up on Hot Garlic. The bio is pretty much the same as here, but the recipe turned out really pretty good. Let me know what you think!