Christmas morn'

Hope everyone had a great holiday! We played it very low key--presents, yummy food, black and white movies . . . The best, tho, was that Ruby is finally old enough (you know, those long two years we've waited) to get what some of it is all about. And she definitley loved the presents.

Sidenote: After two years of owning our camera, we just learned it can record video. Yeah, we're really techy :) So we bring to you some of our Christams morning. It could have been much longer, but once Dave and I edited out our weird facial expressions and dumb comments, this is all that's left :)



Christmas comes early this year . . .

Yesterday our concierge called up to let us know two packages had arrived for us and to ask should he bring them up. "OF COURSE!" For the two minutes it took him to get to our door we danced around in excitement because (1) we had fun packages and (2) we have a concierge! I mean does it get cooler than that?

As it turns out, the packages were christmas presents from mom and pops. Thanks guys! Here are some pics so it's kinda like you were here with us:

These are the paint-it-yourself x-mas ornaments Ruby received. Up until the paint spilled, I was leading her to believe she was involved by letting her choose the color I painted. And she was pretty content. She's every control-freak mom's dream. But then she accidentally spilled the paint and I figured since they were all going to be a muddy blah anyway, why not let her take full credit? I know, I should write a book on good parenting.

Our run-in with the law

Very early this morning we got a call on our home phone. We ignored it as we always do because there just seems to be no way of explaining to telemarketers that we live in Australia so we’re probably not interested in what they have to say. But a little girl with a fever and a little boy who needed feeding kept us up anyway. And, because if my husband is awake more than 60 seconds any moment of the day he checks his blackberry, we were able to find out who called.


It was the U.S. Department of Agriculture—three of them—standing at our front door in Highland, Utah demanding entry into our house. You ask, “what could Dave and Carey possibly have that the Federal government would be so interested in?” We wondered the same thing. As it turns out, they wanted my lemon and lime trees as much as I seemed to last May when Dave ordered them for me for my birthday. No. More. They definitely wanted them more.

They told Sue—who they called and who had to go down and run interference (Thanks Sue!)—that their orders were to “seize and destroy” our trees. As if it were a new crop of anti-patriotism I was cultivating. And apparently that’s just what they did: chopped them into pieces and carried them out in black bags.

I guess the guy in Georgia we bought them from (despite all the online testimonials) had smuggled them in from Florida, before which they had been smuggled in from China, carrying with them a pretty invincible bug posing a big threat to other citrus trees in the state.

The crazy part is, the government has big enough muscles to track down all of this naughty seller’s buyers (19 just in Utah this year!) and take back their trees, but not to stop the guy from doing it again. We’re told this is the second year he’s done it.

At three in the morning the whole thing seemed so funny to us that we couldn’t stop laughing, but now, in the light of day, I’m really kinda mourning the trees. I’m told the lime tree was bursting with white blossoms! That’s just enough motivation to try again next year.

Just more pictures of our cute kids doing fun things . . .

Okay, so when I heard Maisy was visiting the Sydney libraries, I knew we had to get in on the action. After a two hour walk, we got to what I thought was the closest library (it was, I just took the really really really long way), Maisy visited with the kids for about 10 minutes. And it was totally worth it! Ruby loved every second, wouldn't let go of Maisy's hand, and tearfully mourned her loss for a half hour after Maisy left. Ruby's nothing if not passionate about her friendships.

 

Off to the zoo. Ruby is becoming very sensible about sun protection :)

Have I mentioned how much we love the zoo here?

This weekend we decided to do the impossible and load our kids up for a 4-mile walk along the coast. They were angels and we had a great time. The walk connects four separate beaches just south west of Sydney with lots of restaurants and shops along the way. (It's no Cinque Terra, Chole, but it's pretty close :) ) Behind Jude and me is this old cemetery overlooking the water. I told Dave that if he could get me a plot here I'd reconsider cremation.

Yes, yes. I'm aware of my side boobs in the picture.

 And lastly, my sweet husband's birthday. Yes, there are 36 candles on that cake. Happy Birthday, Hubby. You make me very happy.

Finally, Some pictures!

Okay, so after three weeks we finally remembered to bring our camera out with us! You know, to prove we are in Sydney and not just hiding out in our basement. Truth is, we've been running all over the city--zoo, museums, aquarium, beach, parks--and we can't get enough of this place. We knew we'd love living in Sydney, but we seem to find something new to love about it everyday. I once watched a TV show that described what it was like to have a relationship with a city. It was a foreign but cool concept to me  at the time. But I kind of get it now. It's too bad we wont be here long enough to work into anything long lasting. :(  But rather than mourn our city fling, We'll show you all how great it is!

Thia is our view from our balcony. The iconic Opera House is in the background and between us and it are the Royal Botanic Gardens that are so so fun to go running in. Right of the Opera House is the harbor over which we take a ferry to go to the beaches and th zoo. In fact, you can sort of see the zoo. It's that green patch  beyond the water on the right hand side of the picture. It's the coolest zoo! Its all on a hill and covered in trees (which is why you cant see any animals. Well, that and the incredible distance from which I took the picture).

This is Ruby at Manly Beach. She actually loves playing in the sand more than in the water and that says a lot because she LOVES playing in the water :)

Jude's first encounter wiht the ocean. . .

Ah, my cute family . . .

Okay, that's it for now. And I promise to bring my camera out with us again sometime in the next three weeks :)

Some crushes never die . . .

My posts are never as timely as they should be. But last week Beth and Chad took me to see Martin Sexton perform in SLC (best present ever, guys!). You'd think after 5 times I'd get kind of sick of seeing him (heaven knows I have of other artists!), but him? Nope. I still swoon every time. The news of the night is that he jumped off stage and confessed he's secretly loved me for years and that even though we are both happily married to other people, I truly am the inspiration for "Gypsy Woman" and I'll always have a hold on his heart.

No? Okay, the real news of the night (for fellow MS fans) was that he is now performing with a band! Like me, you may be disappointed since MS's one -man-band was something you had to see to believe. But really they were too good together to not enjoy it. The harmony (vocal and instrumental) was impressive even to a non-musician like myself. So if you havent heard, check out his new album "Sugarcoating" (http://www.martinsexton.com/). Beth, I tried to get "Stick Around" to play on my blog this week since your rockin' out was so rudely interupped by a beer shower, but I couldnt find it with my limited techy skills. Instead, you all (all three of you!) can enjoy the classic "Diner" that's got you swinging as you read. :)

One woman's everyday tedium is another's monumental accomplishment. . .

Last fall, Dave's sister, Sam, gave me this adorable fabric she had designed. Although I'm sure everyone else who got a sampling of the fabrics used them for projects months ago, I just barely finished mine. (The real task was finding a pattern that I thought was worthy of the fabric. :)) Aren't they so cute!? I'm very proud. Thanks Sam!

Greetings from New Zealand!

Dave's been on a whirlwind tour of Australia and New Zealand for the last two weeks and finally comes home tomorrow! I've been quizzing Ruby and, yes, she seems to still recognize who Dad is :)

Dave sent along some pictures of New Zealand. They really make me want to visit someday! (And help me to better appreciate some of the sheep jokes on "Flight of the Conchords"!)

It's about time she earns her keep!

With Dave in Australia for two weeks, Ruby's really stepped up her household contributions! :)