Photos to make my dad wish he was here and Happy Halloween

My mom is in town for a couple of weeks. She's about halfway through her trip and it's been wonderful having her here. We've been trying new recipes from my 30 minute meal cookbooks (have yet to make a meal in 30 minutes or less), we took a trip out to Straddie and she's been spending lots of time with her grandkids. :)

So what's missing? Or should I say: Who is missing? My dad. He decided to stay home this trip, but I bet he's wishing he was here. Especially after he sees these photos:

Nana hiked with Roxy in the backpack at the Koala Reserve! Go Nana!!

Nana meeting Murdoch for the first time.

Me and my bubba. His shirt says, "I love my mummy," but his face says, "Get me outta here!"

Roxy wears overalls just like her granddad G. 

Nana does the dishes after every meal ("It's therapeutic!") and she misses her normal-sized sink.

Wish you were here, G-Man.

Happy Halloween!

Grandpa Charlie's Visit

We're moving house this weekend! That means we have interrupted internet beginning on Friday and it might not get reconnected for a week! I figured I had better put up some photos from Charlie's visit while I can. What has he been up to these past three weeks?

Lawn Bowled on the weekends

(Roxy spends her time at Bowls in the sandy gutters.)

Explored the rugged scenery on Straddie (and took pictures meant to scare Grandma Doreen back at home).

Acted as a barber.

Played Wii tennis and baseball.

Climbed an epic boulder in Girraween National Park (Can you make him out about 2/3 of the way up?)

Assisted Roxy on her first bushwalk (she walked 500 meters mostly by herself to Curtis Falls in Mt. Tamborine National Park).

(She didn't like being carried through treacherous sections.)

Worked out with Nate.

Spent time being Grandpa.

He also played lots of mandolin, ate meat pies and kebabs, went to an Aussie Rules Football game, caught World Cup fever, celebrated Nate's birthday with oysters, visited some museums, ate up everything I cooked (even the disastrous rugelach), went on an historic walk, helped out immensely when we were searching for a new place to live, was a great friend to this homesick stay-at-home mama AND also managed to fit in a whole lot of nothing (he's on vacation, for goodness sakes!). 

He's leaving tomorrow morning. :( Come back soon, Grandpa! Until then, Roxy will make sure you get tucked into bed for plenty of nap time. I wonder where I can find a tiny wooden mandolin...?

Busy, busy (but who isn't?)

It's been pointed out to me that I haven't updated since the beginning of May! Sheesh! Where does the time go?

Ah yes, the time goes to building impenetrable forts!

I guess there's nothing really new or exciting to blog about. Life in Australia is pretty boring these days. The weather has cooled off nicely and we're enjoying bundling up under blankets at night. This is the best time of year to live in Queensland: cool nights and warm days and not too much rain.

Our good Aussie girl wearing her Uggs on a chilly morning. (She's wearing an eyepatch to help get her peepers aligned. No pirate jokes, Aunt Becky!)

We're looking forward to a visit from Nate's dad next week. He will be here for three weeks, with a solo sojourn to Sydney in there somewhere.

Roxy put Grandpa doll into bed for a nap. She's practicing for when he gets here.

That's all for now. This last picture was requested by Katie (about a month ago). Taken tonight of preggo me just days from the six month mark. No endless summer pregnancy this time around!

Now accepting name suggestions! We are at an impasse for a boy name!