Eight is Great

Elle is eight. My baby is eight. Or almost ten -- the age at which she is allowed to get her ears pierced -- if you ask her.

The day before we went down to town. There were indeed presents waiting at the post office.



Look at that face. Is she excited or what? That was some koala Webkinz thing from Nana and Papa.



And a set of secret invisible spy pens. You'd think the poor kid never received a gift in her life. Still haven't trimmed those bangs.

The big day started out with a trip to Em's for coffee and a peek at the baby goats born the night before. I'm not a big fan of goats, unless their jerked or in a vindaloo (it's those sideways pupils that get me), but the babies were pretty darn cute. As of today there are ten. Em was literally up to her neck in baby goats and had to take a shower before we all left for Cairns.



It was a little too chilly for bathing suits, but that didn't stop Elle and Em's son (her best friend) from splashing around.





Next up was sushi downtown and a movie. We ended up seeing Kung Fu Panda. It was better than I expected. But not much. That's all I have to say about that.

We ended up back at Em's and had kebabs for dinner. My mother will be horrified to learn there was no official birthday cake, but even better when we finally got home, Grice made us a pan of brownies from scratch for a nearly-midnight snack.


The old believe everything; the middle aged suspect everything; the young know everything.

-- Oscar Wilde

Back by Popular Demand!

Well, it's really only one cousin and a girlfriend in Florida who requested I post more often, but still, give the people what they want, right?

So, for those who need to know, both of you, we've finished the first of a two-week winter holiday break. There have been a few cups of coffee consumed at a friend's house, dental appointments, a trip to the dump and the post office, and a little shopping with more coffee consumed, and that was all on the first day! Other than that, we've watched a few movies (Juno, finally), slept in, read a little, played on the computer, cleaned the house, and listened to Elle's seemingly hourly updates on her impending birthday. Exciting stuff, glad you asked, hey?

And because we're so busy, and even though I'm a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom with no work schedule to juggle during holidays, I sent Elle to vacation daycamp on two separate occasions. Retired Nuclear Physicist Neighbor was a special guest at camp, bringing his woodworking tools for a demonstration. The kids all came home with beautiful little turned wooden tops. She went the next day as well, under the impression he would be back (again, by popular demand), but we were mistaken. Instead she simply enjoyed another big day of socialization. And no head lice. So we're done.

We missed the fireworks for the Fourth and have been enjoying Uncle M's visit to Gettysburg vicariously (and jealously.) He has been instructed to book a room now for the 2013 event.

The big excitement comes this week: Another dental appointment, another trip to the post office (it is rumored there are presents on the way) and the dump, and then an action-packed day in Cairns. Elle decided for her birthday she wanted to see a movie, eat some sushi, and play at the Esplanade, so we are riding down with Em and her son to do just that. Outfits have been planned already. She is very excited. There has been some debate and trailers viewed online over the choice of movies, but as of today the verdict is Prince Caspian. WALL-E would have been our first pick, but it's not out here until mid-September. Sarabelle may or may not be playing with the strings ensemble for a fundraiser, depending on the availability of the other members, and we might finish out the week with a visit to the big regional rodeo. Yee hah!


A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.

-- Ray Orben