Lots of pics, since I’ve been gone.
March 26, 2006
Filed under:The Number Nine
Sorry I haven’t been writing in here (or anywhere) lately. The job’s kept me busy as a one-legged man at an ass-kickin’ contest. Here’s some pictures of what we’ve been up to.
Jan. 29th is my boy’s birthday. I baked the cake, Jo made it prettified… with our powers combined we can Rule The World!
We got him these mini-overalls during Christmas in the States and he loves ‘em. Go on, say it, “Awwww, just like Daddy.”
We had several cake-blowing-out-of-little-firesticks ceremonies. This one was at Nanny and Poppy’s and George thought she’d help.
Damon and Bianca, better known as “Bean,” have only a few days separating their birthdays, so the “twins” usually share a party. This is Beanie being her interminably cute self.
George actually stood still… and posed… and looked cute… and didn’t wriggle, put on a fake smile, talk, point, or pick her nose. Sweet Geebus, that kid is adorable. And her dress is “booful” as well.
The “twins” sharing a birthday hug. Beanie absolutely ADORES her cousin and they get along like they’ve known each other all their… um… lives. Which they have I guess. Hmmm.
The “twins” sit and eat and be cute and Georgia asserts herself into the sugary, salty, crunchy bits of stuff everywhere world of kiddie-fun-places birthday parties.
Beautiful Imogen, Bean’s older sister, turned 8 on Jan 3rd, so she shared in the party goodness too. The three did pretty well with the candley bidness.
Yes, the parents also climbed up the claustrophobia-inducingly small towers and rode the slides down. I also bounced the 4 kids up towards the ceiling after being told that even fat daddies were allowed on the bouncy castle. Heh.
Over March 5th, Jo’s birthday weekend, we loaded everybody up and went 400K south to Albany to visit Roni, Sam, Beanie, and Imo. It was a phenomenal weekend, and the bestest birthday Wife’s ever had.
Me and the littlies before I tried to drown ‘em. Many a ride was given a la Sea Turtles.
Squirming boychild wanted back in the water until I started pretending that he was a giant sub sandwich and nibbling on his little birdcage ribs. He loves that.
Beautiful Imo. She had quite a time hangin’ with her favorite Auntie and Uncle.
Wife frolics, Dames watches, Georgia stands, shivers, and looks terribly cute.
“Swim Kid! Here she comes!”
“RAWR!”
“Squeal!”
A ride on Mommy’s shoulders before she gets tossed in too.
Beautiful Imo pulling faces at dinner that night. The restaurant was crap in so many ways, but the evening was still most enjoyable.
Well… not entire enjoyable by all. He was a bit tired from the day, from not having dinner arrive for over an hour (see “crap” in restaurant description above), and probably a bit put off that I was shoving the camera in his face when he was already feeling pouty and sulky. He’s still adorable, even when pouting.
THAT’S the fake smile from George. I knew I had one in here. Gorgeous little things.
The whole crew. Lovely Ron, Squinty Sam caught mid-smile, Bean, George licking the table, Imo drinking someone’s wine, Danny (Jo’s youngest sib) drinking somebody else’s wine, and yours truly drinking the last of too much wine. Heh.
Bean showing her class and style.
Roni looking gorgeous as usual, and ANOTHER fake smile from my little girl.
Happy Couple.
This diary is named for a funny story that happened in Albany during my first trip, so I was beyond tickled with our motel room number.
Next day we set out in search of nothing but an easy-going good time. First stop was the Marron Farm, they’re just like mudbugs or crawdads near as I can tell, and Jo proudly shows off her “America Shirt.”
I got All 17 different kinds of excited when I saw Rainbow Trout! Sure, in a big tank because they aren’t indigenous to Oz, but still.
Wonderfully scenic Albany countryside.
And Wonderfully Scenic Wife.
We stumbled onto this place called Two Peoples Bay and found a slice of pure heaven. White sandy beaches, the bluest of water, huge granite boulders, and a lush green countryside running right down onto it.
“It’s Mah Beach.”
Barely anybody around and we vowed to come back and spend the day… someday.
With enough wistful looks, we’re gonna do that too.
Seriously, this place was so Blue Lagoony that we almost got naked and built a hut.
Across the bay and they honestly classify as mountains to me. This place is simply amazing.
Colorful little inlet that had some dudes in snorkels cruising around and lots of cool crabs and fish.
Me looking at the crabs and fish and contemplating a very cold swim.
Dudes before they started snorkeling.
More of the bay from atop the rocks.
Beautiful wife only adds to the pictures I figure.
Jo digging around for some elusive creepy creatures.
Lots of these tiny, little, dead, dudes that looked like they got swept up during high tide and couldn’t make it in the upper pools.
I LOVE catching her with these candid shots, being all windswept and gorgeous.
Could’ve spent all day there easily. Some day.
Next stop was both of our first time to a winery. We got FREE wine (or “tastings” as they call it, heh) and this for a view. It was most awesome. We even bought a few bottles and occasionally act like grownups when we drink ‘em out of real glasses and all.
This is yet another part of that very diverse coastline they have down there, where a huge sand dune makes up one whole section of beach.
This dude was crossing the road kind of slowly and is yet another Aussie creature new to me. I called it all sorts of names in effort to be funny (”scaleranderooderup” and “muggagalunch”) but we still don’t know what kind of reptile it is.
Things will settle down in this new section of Life that is “work.” I’ll take a few more pictures and write a few more words in here and none of us will feel so distant anymore. Yeah, who’m I tellin?
Stay tuned, I’ve got pics of lifetylife coming. An insight into what every day is like around here. Barring the nudity and swearing, that is.
Okay, minimal nudity and swearing. Heh.