Tuesday, December 29, 2009

It's Raining, It's Pouring...







We received so much rain yesterday that it started flooding out many of the streets and McDonald's even closed early. We went for a drive, because we are the crazy curious Americans, and there were toads all over the roads. James had fun hitting them. Don't feel too bad they are all poisonous, so the locals have told us to kill them and throw them out so that the kids and dog don't get sick. The best thing to come from all the rain was the cooler weather. It is so nice today in the 70s. The girls and Cooper even had a blast dancing in the rain. Love it!!!

Monday, December 28, 2009

For the Birds...
















We took the kids down to the 'Big Rig' and walked through the museum of Roma's oil patch history. It would have been more interesting if we didn't already know about how the oil field operates. The most fun part was at the end of the tour. We were able to purchase duck food and the kids got to feed all of the birds. It was the first time for the girls to have them eat out of their hands. We are now sitting at home enjoying a much needed, beautiful summer thunder storm. Ahhhh, cool air :)

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Only 363 more days until Christmas!

This holiday season has been a strange one for us this year. This has been the first time that any of us have celebrated Christmas in the heat and without snow. It all started when I went to the store to buy ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner and either couldn't find them or didn't want to pay $65 for a 12 pound turkey. Since our stuff has not arrived we were not going to have a tree this year and it felt so strange. I was just not is the Christmas spirit this year. Especially with everything that has seemed to go wrong lately. Then, James was going through one of the storage sheds out at the base where he works and happend to find a 4ft tree. We bought some lights for it and the girls made some paper decorations. It was the best tree we have ever had. I happened to find the lens for my camera that went missing. I tore the house apart looking for it and we just assumed that someone had taken it off the counter in the kitchen where I left it. It turned up just sitting in plain sight on the floor in my room just barely tucked under James's night stand. I can't tell you how many times I looked there. Our neighbors just down the street, who are also members, called the Mission President and got the ok to get permission from the General Presidency to start up a branch here so that we don't have to drive for 3 hours to Dalby every week. Our house in Casper also went under contract again last week. Everything is starting to fall into place and our prayers ARE being answered. I have truely been reminded of the reason for the season and we have all been so blessed this year. I hope that all of you find the blessings and comfort that you are in need of. Merry Christmas!


The giant sugar cookie that Sierra made for Santa. He even forgot to eat it this year until the kids came in to wake us up. He rolled over and said, "Sh!t, do you know what I forgot?' I said, "no, what?" Then we heard the girls say, "Santa didn't even eat his cookie." That was his ONLY job before coming to bed.


They even wrote these nice notes to him!!!


Crazy girls modeling their new pj's from Grandma and Grandpa Campbell.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas songs...Aussie style!


Australian Jingle Bells
Dashing through the bush,
in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust,
esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side,
singing Christmas songs,
It's Summer time and I am in
my singlet, shorts and thongs
*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
*
Engine's getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard,
he is welcome too.
All the family's there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way,
by the barbecue.
*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
*
Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go,
we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through,
before the washing up.
*
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Deck the Sheds
Deck the sheds with bits of wattle, fa la la la la la la la la
Whack some gum leaves in a bottle, fa la la la la la la la la
All the shops are open sundies, fa la la la la la la la la
Buy your Dad some sox and undies, fa la la la la la la la la

Deck the sheds with bits of gumtree, fa la la la la la la la la
Hang some deco's off the plum tree, fa la la la la la la la la
Plant some kisses on the missus, fa la la la la la la la la
Have a ripper Aussie Christmas, fa la la la la la la la la

Say g'day to friends and relies, fa la la la la la la la la
Wave them off with bulging bellies, fa la la la la la la la la
Kids and babies youngies oldies, fa la la la la la la la la
May your fridge be full of coldies, fa la la la la la la la la

Chop the wood and stoke the barbie, fa la la la la la la la la
Ring the folks in Abudabe, fa la la la la la la la la
Pop the stuffing in the turkey, fa la la la la la la la la
Little Mary's feeling ercky, fa la la la la la la la la

Rally rally round the table, fa la la la la la la la la
Fill your belly while your able, fa la la la la la la la la
Joyce and Joany, Dave and Daryl, fa la la la la la la la la
Sing an Aussie Christmas Carol, fa la la la la la la la la

Dry Christmas by Trevor Williams"

Sung to the tune of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"


I'm dreading another dry Christmas
Like all the ones we have these years
Where the tree tops burn and Fire Fighters yearn
To feel raindrops on there faces
- - -
I'm dreading another dry Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
With the bush fires burning so bright
And we pray for rain before Christmas night
- - -
I'm dreading another dry Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
We pray all the fire fighters will be alright
And they can all be home by Christmas night.

Six White Boomers

Firstly the introductory narrative.
Early on one Christmas Day a Joey kangaroo,
Was far from home and lost in a great big zoo.
'Mummy, where's my mummy? They've taken her away.'
We'll help you find your mummy, son. Hop up on the sleigh.'

The song commences here.

Up beside the bag of toys little Joey hopped,
But they hadn't gone far when Santa stopped.
Unharnessed all the reindeer and Joey wondered why,
Then he heard a far off booming in the sky.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Pretty soon old Santa began to feel the heat,
Took his fur lined boots off to cool his feet,
Into one popped Joey, feeling quite okay,
While those old man Kangaroos kept pulling on the sleigh.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Joey said to Santa, 'Santa, what about the toys?
Aren't you giving some to these girls and boys?'
'They've got all their presents, son, we were here last night,
this trip is an extra trip, Joey's special flight.'

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Soon the sleigh was flashing past right over Marble Bar,
'Slow down there,' cried Santa, 'it can't be far,
Come up on my lap here, son, and have a look around.'
'There she is, that's Mummy, bounding up and down.'

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Well that's the bestest Christmas treat that Joey ever had,
Curled up in mother's pouch feeling snug and glad.
The last they saw was Santa heading northwards from the sun,
The only year the boomers worked a double run.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Getting Caught Up



Sierra turned 10 last month. I have no idea how she got that old already. She invited a few friends to the pool and we made some fairy cakes. It is tradition here to celebrate with fairy cake; it is bread covered in butter then rolled in 100's & 1000's (aka sprinkles). We decided to go with a more modern version.




I have been priding myself on how well I have taken to driving on the other side of the road, then I backed into a green pole. The only thing that makes me feel better is the fact that you can tell that others have also backed into the same pole. Damn their rear in angle parking.



It has been very hot here and we have been told that they are forcasting January's temps to be in the mid to high 40s (C). We have been spending a lot of time at the pool and have been using a ton of sunscreen, so we decided to buy it by the 1 litre jug.



Tyler decided to start playing water polo. It has been fun watching him. It has also been good for him. He is becoming a stronger swimmer. We are trying to convince Kayla to start playing after the summer break.


Brooklyn has also become a good little swimmer. I helped her with the basics and she practices every time she gets in the pool. She has also been eating Cheerios every morning for breakfast because it says right on the box, "helping kids to swim." She is just sure that is why she can swim so well now. (bottom left corner, sorry the picture is so bad) It is actually an organization that provides swim lessons to underpriviledged kids. I just didn't have the heart to tell her that.



Brooklyn's teacher painted all of the kids faces one day at school and she chose a butterfly.


Monday, November 23, 2009

Questions???

I have been receiving a ton of questions from everyone. I would like to answer them all for you. In order to get them answered, leave your questions in the comments (even if you have already asked them) and I will post the answers when I get around to it promptly.

VikiViki said...
My first question is: How do you get those crossed out words in your blog? It's awesome!
Go to settings, basic, scroll down to select post editor and choose updated editor.

My second question is: How long are you gonna be living down under?
Our work visa is for 4 years. After that, who knows.
Here's a plain old comment: I love those uniforms - seriously - it reminds me of when I moved to Argentina and I had to wear one to school! =)

*Lissa* said...
I can't remember everything I asked!!

Private school?
No it is public school, but ran very much like a private school.

Do the kids like school?
The kids have really liked it so far. They are the popular ones. Everyone wants to know about America.
Have you driven?
I have driven. Everywhere! Ok, the town is a smidge smaller than Jerome, so it is not like I have had to go far. It was scary at first, but now that I am used to it the only time that I have trouble is when I pull into a parking lot. I have to really think about which side I should be on.

Hunted any crocodiles?
No crocs, but some wicked cool lizzard things. Not really hunted. More like almost ran him over.


How's the shopping?
The shopping sucks! Everything is soooo expensive. I find myself putting things back because I know that I can get them cheaper in the US.

Does James have an Australian accent yet?
He doesn't have an accent, but he does use a lot of their slang.


What are the seasons like?
We are headed into summer right now. It is hot and only going to get hotter. Lucky us!

That's all for now. ;)

First Day of School...in Australia!


They only have 3 weeks left in the school year here, but we figured it at least gives them something to do until our air shipment gets here. The school year here runs with the calendar year. The kids are super excited about that because it means that they get to skip half of a year and go into the next grade level. I was surprised that they go more by age for grade placement than anything else, so this means that I have one kid in high school and another one there in January. Yikes! I don't know if I am ready for that. Guess it gets them out of the house sooner...LOL! I am liking the idea of them going year-round with the heat here. It will be good for them. I hope that they made some new friends and are enjoying their classes. Now it is time for me to find a job. Do you think that they will find it funny if I walk in and just say, "I am job?"


Sunday, November 22, 2009

Pictures as promised...finally!

Here are the pictures that I promised of our adventure. Amazing how much we accomplished in just one week. We miss all of you, but are enjoying Australia.

This is of the kids at my mom's Taco Time in Jerome with their cousin Morgan.








These were taken at LAX while waiting for our next flight. Can you tell that we were all really tired? I couldn't even manage to get the pictures in focus. I am pretty sure that I thought they were when I took them.


This was downtown Brisbane. Don't know who the guy is, but those birds are everywhere.


This is our new puppy, Cooper.




He has already made himself at home.




These are the crazy birds that attack everyone when they ride their bikes.


Fun in the HOT sun at the local pool.




James after swimming laps.






We thought this was strange...just a random door in the middle of nowhere.


We almost ran this guy over. He was just hanging out in the middle of the road.


My kids were so excited. Kayla wanted to catch it and bring it home as a pet.












These Roos were just hanging out on the golf course.