U is for...

Uber chic!

Julia wants to do everything herself these days, putting on her own shoes, picking out her own clothes. She's gotten pretty good at it all too. But given total freedom to choose it all, her fashion sense consists of a diaper and accessories...nothing more. This particular day the chosen accessory was a pair of my boots that came up to her waist!

These boots are made for walking...

T is for...

Takin' it easy...
I'll do my best to catch up on the blog soon, I promise. The last few months have flown by as I've been incredibly busy. Classes are over now, but I've still got exams ahead of me. In the meantime, here are some pics of the few times when life slows down a bit and we can relax with the kiddos.

S is for...

Shoplifting.

On my way to the grocery store today, I stopped into the drug store. Liam was sound asleep in the front carrier, and Julia was sitting in the stroller. I talked to the pharmacist and then left the store, proud of Julia for being so quiet and patient when I knew she was hungry (I'd promised her a treat at the grocery store). I leaned over the sun shade of the pram to praise her for being so patient and noticed that she was eating something. I rushed around in front of her to find her munching on a Mento (and holding the rest of the package)! Before it clicked for me that she'd swiped them from the counter at the drug store, I said, "Julia, where'd you get those?!?" Clever girl sensed my tone, immediately spit the Mento into her hand and held the slobbery Mento and the remaining package out to me, saying, "Ta" (that's Aussie for "thanks"). Totally embarrassed (and feeling like an idiot for parking the toddler in front of the row of candy bars), I went back to pay for the stolen Mentos (they were nice and didn't charge us), and I crouched down in front of Julia and tried (very seriously at her eye level) to give Julia a short lecture on how you can't just take things at the store, but the moment had passed ("Julia, when we go to the store, we have to pay for things that we pick up." -- blank look-- "Mama?" -- "Yes, dear?" -- "Move please").

[Now that I can laugh about it, I can't believe I didn't have my camera with me!!]

R is for...

RED, white, and blue.

It's winter here, and Australians are still loyal to the British, but we did celebrate Independence Day with the handful of other American ex-pats here in Brisbane at a picnic organized by the Australian-American Association.

Aside from eating hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch and later watching the children compete in relay races, the picnic wasn't exactly a typical 4th of July event (perhaps they should've let the Americans organize it instead of the Aussies). But we did have a good time chatting with people and enjoying the sunshine!

The highlight, by far, was watching Julia run in her first race!

Eying the competition

The Big Race!

Savoring her prize after the big event

Ready for Round 2 "Hey, where'd everybody go?"


Wheelbarrow races for 2-5 year olds (I don't think the event planners really thought that one through)

The kids on the right were trying to teach Julia to walk on her hands

Q is for...

Quirks. Ages ago Brittany tagged me to post 5 quirky things people might not know about me, so here goes...

(1) I have "consistency issues" when it comes to food-- I don't consider myself a picky eater (Matt might disagree), and I'm pretty willing to try just about anything once (I've even eaten chili salted grasshoppers in Mexico). However, there are certain foods that I refuse to eat, not because I don't like the taste but because I don't like their consistency (e.g. mayonnaise, sour cream)

(2) Continuing with the food theme.... I have never eaten Cheetos (not even one). In fact, they scare me. That shade of orange just isn't natural for food!

(3) I can't sleep in socks. When I do, I have bad dreams.

(4) I used to ask my cat Frankie questions as if he could understand and respond to what I was saying. When Julia was born, I started talking to her like that and it actually surprised me the day she talked back.

(5) I love the show Friends and have seen every episode so many times that I can find a Friends quote to relate to just about any given situation.

Okay, Katy, Amanda, and Marcie. Now it's y'all's turn!