Savannah!

For months now we have been basking in the notion of a girl arriving in February.  Tom tried to tease me by saying the baby was a boy - as if I would care - I love boy babies!  But a girl - now that's a treat.  We don't have many girls.  I can hardly wait.

She's going to be called Savannah - it's embroidered on her quilt!

Uncle Bear

That's the name Max has settled on for himself come February - yep - Kathleen is having a baby for us!  Max was going for Gramps originally but after some deliberation settled on Uncle Bear - Louisa is going for Ga in the hope that her name will be our baby's first word.

(Notice how I am using the words 'our' and 'us' a lot - I have a plan.  If I start out treating the baby like it's at least partly mine then by the time it arrives I will have brain washed Tom and Kathleen into thinking we share.)

Kathleen is sick of course but it's a small price to pay! (At least for me.)

We are deliriously happy - and now we are hanging our to discover a gender - 7 weeks to go for that.

Easy to please

Roger found a dryer at the dump and took it apart, bought a part and fixed it for $26.  It's very glam - for our purposes that means it has a timer and temperature control and probably won't burn the house down any time soon - and has a digital time display.

Then Roger bought silverbeet seedlings and tomato seedlings and a mandarin tree.

Then I planted the seedlings while Peet cooked dinner and did the folding.

Which brings me to end of a very pleasing day.

Weather Chooks

We call Wonka Bonka and Whitey our weather chooks.  If it's going to be a fine mild night they will sleep in the trees.  But if it's going to be wet or windy or really cold they will roost with the other chickens in the pen.

Tonight I went down at about 5 pm - while it was still light - with the scraps.  I was hoping to lure them both into the pen for the night. (I am pretty sure Whitey is laying somewhere but it's not in the nest we provided.)  And there they both were - already on the roost.  The other chooks were still out and about but those weather chooks had already secured a place in the middle of the roost.  It's not rainy or windy so I think it's going to be a very cold night.

New Hobby

Jesse has announced a new hobby - baking.  This does not bode well for me.  Last week she made chocolate swirled marshmallows, rose petal macaroons with a chocolate basil buttercream, and chocolate butter to have with sourdough bread and sliced strawberries.  They were insanely delicious - but good grief!  She promises that this was just a chocolate week and not every week will be this devastating to the waistline.

Out of order

When we were in America for Jesse's conference, Clarissa*  was moving to her new home in California.  That meant that the timing was right for us to get a visit from Mark, Jeanne, Ammon and Clarissa.  Jesse said it was the highlight of her trip - mine too.  They stayed at the same hotel as us and brought a post conference supper of strawberries and ice cream.  Ammon sent home a present for Max - a photo book of his trips to Australia.  We had it out just a day ago and it reminded me that I really love this photo.

And this one.

*For the Walker/Thomas side of the family Clarissa is my niece - the daughter of Mark (Roger's brother) and Jeanne and Ammon is my nephew.  And Clarissa is tall - but you could see that already.

Things that happened ages ago

In no particular order:

We had an engagement party for Tom and Kathleen - it really was ages ago - engagement parties do come before weddings!  All the rain meant I wasn't quite game to have it at our house - well that and I didn't really want to clean up that much(!) - so we had the party at Susie & Graham's - a blessing on their heads.   Their house is always gorgeous and they made it even more so for the party so all I really had to do was cook.  And send out invitations.  Oh wait - that was Tom & Rogers job.  It was in fact the only job they had while I was in America with Jesse,  And still it wasn't done when we got back - so invitations were late - and I think some never did get out.  (I guess it's just not a boy thing - thinking about parties that is.)

Kathleen's family came up for the weekend which was lovely for all of us.

Daniel came home from his mission in Lansing, Michigan.  Those little boys were so excited - so was Jesse for that matter.  It's lovely to see the boys starting to come home - and nice to know there will be a little break in family missionaries till Peet goes.

This is Tom & Kathleen's garden - they built it the first weekend back from their honeymoon - my admiration knows no bounds.  Roger assures me that we will get on to the garden thing and show those smarty newly weds a thing or two - but we all know that's not going to happen.  They actually have two  gardens - one of which is overflowing with tomato seedlings, some of which are coming to our house.

And they have chooks.  One Saturday afternoon Tom wandered down and across to Roger's shed.  We called out to say hi and what are you doing.   With adorable naiveté he answered "Just getting some tools to build a chook pen - it's the last thing Kathleen wants me to build."  He couldn't understand why we all fell on the ground laughing.

Jesse is not far off her license - poor girl - if her mother didn't have such a paranoia about driving she'd have had her hours long ago.  (Peet has been out and about with the camera of course.)

Kathleen says that our family likes things that are depressing but interesting - she bases this on the movie Jesse, Joan and I went to with her - The Roundup.  An amazing piece of film - moving and thought provoking without being too sensationalist - about the roundup of the Jews in Paris in 1942.  Of course we all sat in the cinema weeping at the end (and hitting Jesse across the head - it was her idea.)  And then we spent all afternoon talking about it and begging everyone else to see it.

But for balance we went to Pirates of the Caribbean that night.   And Max would like it recorded for posterity that he has seen XMen-whatever-it-is-called.  Roger & I also saw Get Low - loved it.

Tom & Kathleen have moved into the hut that Roger and I lived in when Tom was a new born (till he was 4).  It is much more palatial now than it was then.  Thomas painted it and Roger laid new carpet tiles.  A new (from ebay) kitchen is waiting in the trailer to be installed when Roger & Tom get a minute.  Kathleen came with a dowry of quilts she made and crossstiches and books - so it is a charming home.  Peet promises after shots soon.  Here's before:

My "cousin" Michael Larson and his wife Katie and baby Michaela visited.  Luckily the main purpose of their visit was to see some football games before they go back to Canada.  That's lucky because we got to babysit.  Michaela is adorable.  Max and Louisa were besotted - okay so was I. 

Both Louisa and Max got to put her to sleep - I do agree that there is no better way to spend an evening than putting a baby to sleep.

Pine visited the Buddhist temple - Max was a baby last time we went.  I don't go on many excursions these days and every time Max goes alone I fret.  He doesn't need me but he is so proud and happy when I do go.

We had a ward movie and soup night at our house last night.  Someone (that would be Roger) decided to start at 5pm which means it is still light which means that all the windows have to be cleaned and the yard has to be spick and span.  It's a lot of work.  Of course, were we to clean the windows once in a while without a pressing engagement it would be no big deal.  Which means that no-one thought to say "My Kim, what clean windows you have."  But once we got over the cleaning hump it was a lovely night - soup and bread, an outdoor movie and a bonfire.  Simple (if you don't count the cleaning), but fun in spite of the cold.  Do I sound bitter about the cleaning - I might be just a little - I shall try to do better!

Harry came to visit.  I hesitate to include this on the blog because the kids will be reminded that Harry visited and they weren't here - and that does not go down well.  But he's just too cute, musically talented too.

Max has taken up fencing - we had a trial day and I was hoping the instructors were nasty so that he wouldn't want to continue.  No such luck - they are not only really nice but they keep telling Max how good he is.  So because he has no actual fencing equipment Max took matters into his own hands and made a practice sward from dowel and a milo tin lid - I had to buy milo but let that be evidence of how very supportive I am.

We have a new favourite recipe site - witcheskitchen.com.au - today we made mandarin curd to spread on sourdough bread - except that I was the only one who used the bread.  Everyone else spread it on ice-cream instead.

In the last month we have had two baptisms at church (yay), the Relief Society broadcast, the Young Women broadcast, three birthday parties for Max to attend (all girls), Peet has photographed two bands and one of them has offered to pay him for another session, Peet and Joan and Sue went to New Zealand (more on that later), Roger has returned to shift work (not so bad - Louisa and Max love the night shifts when they get to sleep with me), Jesse spoke at the YSA mini convention, exam blocks have come and almost gone, Jesse & Tom both had minor meltdowns about assignments they were certain they failed then got 6's for, have found a fox lurking around the chook pen, a couple of dances,  a Kelvin Grove music concert, I have agreed to run two book clubs, and so on.

And it's cold which means that all I really want to do is read.

Jesse

At the school picnic I chatted to a very pregnant mother to be.  She asked about my births (at school I have instant credibility on all matters birth related due to having 6 children).  I said that each birth reminded me of the child - Jesse for example was somewhere between 6 and 9 weeks early.  It was as though she was just ready for the next stage.

And not much changes really - the War and Peace: A Mormon Perspective went really well - her paper was well received - it was great in my opinion.  She spoke confidently and had interesting things to say.

And now she has been invited to submit an extended version for consideration for inclusion in an edited book.

Like I said - always on to the next thing - perhaps a little earlier than expected.

And now she is knitting and planning menus for upcoming parties  - she's a well rounded girl.

The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas

Last night I browsed the bookshelf and Max joined me to ask if I thought he could read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.  I didn't think so.  Max burst into tears.  Through the sobbing I managed to discern that he was worried about not being able to read that level of book yet and that he really wanted to read that particular book.  Jesse came to the rescue and empathised and suggested that I read it to him.

And so we sat right there on the reading couch and read for a long time.  We are up to chapter 5 and Max thinks that from now on we should read during the day - 'not because it will be scary but it will get sad' - which is true.

Later that night Max mused that he always thought the pyjamas would be blue striped when the book says they are grey striped.  I suggested maybe a grey-blue stripe.  "Oh yes," he answered, "like the grey-blue distance."*  And off he went to watch Call of the Wild on DVD.

* That's a reference to My Country which includes the line 'Strong love of grey-blue distance'

Alec

 - is still in Armidale - and likes it.
 - had a baptism last weekend.

 - has been trout fishing - and catching little trout.
 - likes his companion Elder Chan.
- is teaching quite a few Chinese students - and is therefore grateful for Elder Chan who speaks chinese.
 - thinks he will be home on November 15.
Hooray!

Winter - Queensland style

We are loving the chill in the air and the early nights.  Max has begun to memorise My Country by Dorothea McKellar - he's about half way through.

Peet continues to take lovely photos.

There is knitting going on - booties and scarfs and coasters.

Dressing gowns are out of hibernation, Fisher is wearing her coat, oven dinners are favoured, quilts are draped over the lounge, and we're trying out new brownie recipes.

Brisbane has just the right amount of winter for me - enough to enjoy winters pleasures but not so much that it becomes tedious.

Happy Mothers Day - to Roger

Roger's birthday fell on Mothers Day this year - we think it's a good idea.  Lots of celebrations - lots of food - lots of presents.

Max caught up the chart that we colour in to mark the months till Alec returns - it's starting to look good at last.

Then it was on to baking.

 And relaxing.

 And a little bit of tidying even though it was Sunday since Anne, Lee & Joan and Thomas & Kathleen were all coming for dinner.

This was a good year for presents - which included a big stack of handmade tortillas for me to freeze from Tom and Kathleen, photos from Peet for Roger and I, food from Louisa, soap and a game from Max, manly presents for  Roger including a bullet puller, a thermos, and a book and for me a quilt from Jesse.  It's divine - the backing is part of a blanket Lee brought from Canada more than 50 years ago.

I love it - and I am not alone.

The days menu went:
Breakfast - baked oatmeal.
Lunch - make your own left overs
Dinner - a cheese board as an entree followed by roast venison with a rocket, pear, blue cheese and walnut salad and a warm pumpkin, feta and beetroot salad, and a three milk cake for dessert - delicious.

And then Alec phoned - and we talked for a couple of hours.  Max and Louisa both sobbed intermittently and only managed a few words.  Alec sounds happy, complete, and fulfilled - and looking forward to coming home.  Not as much as we are looking forward to having him home though.

The day ended with family prayer with a long list of grateful things.

The Wedding

I had always hoped that Thomas would marry someone kind, and smart, and strong, and sensitive, with a loving and supportive family, a faithful, gentle type of woman.

I always worried that he might get it wrong - that was time utterly wasted - he got it absolutely right.

It was a happy and relaxed day for all of us - it helps when you are the interstate family and hence have no wedding day responsibilities beyond getting the groom to the temple - and, let's face it, wild horses couldn't have kept him away.

The wedding was gift enough for all of us - but there were some bonus moments for me - meeting the Fornaro family again after the engagement party, seeing Donald and Lisha and their lovely boys for a couple of hours (that doesn't happen often enough), having a day in Melbourne with Anne and Joan and Louisa, having Samantha Gilkes (complete with her wicked sense of humour) there, and being in the temple on Good Friday for a sacred and lasting moment.

More than a few photos follow.

Max in a rare cheerful moment.

A more representative Max moment - he spent most of the day in tears - and this in spite of the fact that Tom and Kathleen will be living about 100 m away.

One of my favourites - just after the wedding.

Kathleen with one of her twin nieces - just quietly I am very excited to see what cute kids the Fornaro girls produce!

The official wedding party.

The Fulcher side at the temple - David and Daniel, Anne, Lee & Joan and all of us (except for Alec of course) - you can see how pleased I am to have had each of these with us since I am including a bad photo of me! 

Roger took this photo - I think it's my favourite.

Max - still crying - with the girls who were working to cheer him up - it was starting to create a scene. 

Tom with his in-laws - fabulous family - no wonder Kathleen is delightful - a brother is missing from this photo too - Michael is also on his mission - and in the same mission as Alec.

Just us - totally wishing we had Alec.  (Max looks a bit like he is being sent to the gallows - the pashmina doesn't help but he was cold and weepy so what could I do.)

Peet is actually taller than Tom now.

Tom with his groomsmen - Peet & Daniel - they did make a gorgeous trio.

The reception was lovely - beautifully decorated tables, a bridal waltz that was as sweet as the couple themselves, a little bit of dancing (but they missed the Macarena and the Hokey Pokey so we worried that the marriage might not be legal), and another chance to admire such a pretty couple.   It was an elegant and relaxed affair  and couldn't have been more lovely.

We did miss Alec all day long - and I guess the Fornaros missed Michael all day too.  Can't wait till December to have all of my family together for the first time!

Mexico

So once we recovered from the excitement of Jesse presenting at the War and Peace: A Mormon Perspective conference we started to plan the trip and a big black cloud settled over Jesse and I as we contemplated a few days to a week in LA doing really not much else but shopping.  (We are not good shoppers - we keep trying - but we're just not that good.)

Then - I discovered that Mexico was right next to California - who knew!  And so began my search for cheap flights to somewhere cool in Mexico.  Mission accomplished - cheap flights were available to Merida which is right near ancient Mayan ruins.

So that meant the choice was shopping in LA or climbing ancient ruins in Mexico - now that's a no-brainer.

So much fun - Merida is a delightful town - it's a big tourist centre for Mexicans but very few western tourists - which means it's totally set up for tourists but still exotic and fascinating.

We found a great hotel right on the main square which cost us all of $25 a night and included a great breakfast of crepes, fruit, yogurt and wholemeal bread rolls.

The main square was the centre of everything - and every night from Thursday to Monday there is Salsa dancing in the street - families turn out with their littlies and grandparents alike - all salsa-ing away the night.  Traditional Mayan dancing - which turns out to involve trays of tequila balanced on heads - and a boy band to finish the night.

Jesse salsa-ed with one of the locals boys about town - that means she has danced on tables in Nepal, in a cafe in Greece and in the street in Mexico. (How do I keep her down on the farm!)

We spent a day admiring the architecture - well.. admiring and pondering what it all meant to the Mayans - and sampling the chocolate - and loving the markets.

Then a day at Chichin Itza - it's one of the wonders of the ancient world for a reason.  It's also gruesome - all about human sacrifice - but incredible and beautiful.  We took a tour which was a mistake - a long lunch at a big tourist place and not enough time to wander.  

So the next day we took the bus to Uxmal by ourselves.  We bought 2nd class tickets - which turned out to mean no seat belts.  Chichin Itza was great and we both thought it was worth the trip but Uxmal was one of the great days in life.  It is just as beautiful as Chichin Itza though not as big - the big difference is that at Uxmal you can climb anywhere - even inside a little bit.

The buildings are massive and quieting - and there was no human sacrifice at Uxmal.  We spent the whole day wandering, listening in to the English speaking guides, sitting and wondering, and climbing.  Jesse is not a fan of heights but did the climb to the top of this tower anyway - and gingerly made it down to the applause and congratulations of a group of German tourists.

We made it back to Merida after dark and walked home along little narrow streets where people smiled and where we both felt completely safe.  The whole day felt like a dream really.

Then it was on to California for the conference.

At the Mexico City airport we amused ourselves by people watching - our favourites were the flock of long haired suave Latino boys heading to Miami who swanned around the departure lounge striking a new pose every few minutes.

Mexico City is high on both our lists of places to visit -' sprawling' doesn't even come close to describing the view from the air.