Literary Phenomenon

the view from Mt Coot-Tha

Brisbane Botanical Gardens

Today's Lesson

 Today's lesson is on…
What? Pay attention, I'm trying to teach!
Now, today's lesson…
What?  I forgot pants? Right!
Pants are so overrated, so back to the lesson.

Skinless Souls and Parking Lot Madness

Ever seen that movie or perhaps commercial where the baby in the shopping cart goes rolling down the hill? Cut to today.  That doesn't just happen in movies, folks.  Today Fiona sailed 50 feet through the parking lot before I could catch her.  But I did, she was laughing and it all turned out alright.  But if I pick up smoking, this might be a clue as to why.  On a side note, I was so intent on catching her that I didn't feel the pain in my feet.  The Barbie bandaids holding the tattered skin to the bottoms of my feet came off as I had had an intense water running class at the Yeronga pool that morning.

Braveheart Baby

Twice Cooked Duck

Maddie had trouble sleeping so she snuggled up on the couch with us to watch the Vietnamese cooking show.  The chef was preparing duck for the sultan and it looked fantastic.  Maddie watched quietly and intently, for she always enjoys cooking shows.  She was especially taken with the twice cooked duck because her eyes grew large and she licked her lips.  She turned to me and exclaimed enthusiastically, "Mom, you need to make that!" The she turned to Dan and gave him simple instructions in a very serious teacher-like voice.  "Dad, when you go to work tomorrow, if you see a duck you need to catch it and bring it home."

Train

Have I mentioned that we love public transportation?!

Look Mom, I dressed myself!

Yes you did, buddy! and you chose jeans on a 90 degree day...

Maddie's first day of 1st Grade

Wicked Storms

We experienced some crazy weather here.  This is the view from our front yard.

Sporty Fi

She throws a wicked fastball

Noah's Favorite Playground

Doll Maker

Maddie is the toilet paper tube doll maker.  Here is her collection.

Noah Phelps

 I heard Michael Phelps had a lot of energy as a youngster, so I have decided to employ his mother's strategy...

How do you know when you're too loud? When the possum living in your eves moves out! (because he can't get any shut eye during the day) Way to go Gerhardts, kickin' out the local wildlife.

Tonight at bedtime Maddie and I had a discussion about food.  I am amazed that she knows that it goes into your mouth and down a tube into your body.  I am not surprised that her favorite part is that somewhere along the line it becomes, "brown and black with little bits of stuff in it that comes out your you know what," and with a wrinkled nose informs me about poop.  After that we chatted about how your body loves veggies, how your heart gets sooooo excited about them and they help your body pump blood all over your body, including your brain.  So I asked her why it was important that blood gets to your brain? I am so filled with pride as i see her chest expand, her eyes bug out, and her mouth half full of teeth, wild hair filling her aura in an expression of pure genious, "So you can think a million thoughts, Mom!" and she is not far off.  Maddie, I can't wait to see your astonishing accomplishments...

Only in Australia...

I had one of those days filled with funny occurrences.  Let's start with the local radio program.  Just driving along listening to the "best of the 80s, 90s and today" when the music broke for a commercial.  Now, normally I tune out, but this on in particular made me turn the radio up.  It spouted out a heap of statistics about how many animals are hit on the road each year.  I believe the mayor of Brisbane even participated in the dialogue.  In the event that one runs over an animal with ones car, one is advised to call the Brisbane Animal Ambulance.  Imagine hitting a deer in Wisconsin and calling an ambulance...too funny.  So we have purchased everything we have needed here second hand.  Car, fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee pot, etc.  As I was admiring the microwave we just got two days ago I happened on a setting that made me look twice...instant action.  No wonder Dan likes the microwave so much! Don't ask me what it does because I haven't pushed that button yet.  But, it has been the source of many jokes and one liners between Dan and I, so that should suffice.  Then the bus rolls by and Maddie shouts, "there's the 107 bus!" immediately followed by Noah's shout, "The bus is only seven!" 

I write this morning from the comfort of the front porch, waiting patiently, (or impatiently as is the case for Noah) for the garbage truck.  It is for some reason the highlight of his week. The breeze is cool, the birds are singing and we are on the verge of 100 degree temps for the rest of the week.  I have had some quality time with Noah this morning as he was up earlier than the girls.  He ate his breakfast unassisted which is an achievement in our books and since then has been waiting out front for the garbage truck.  He said something yesterday that made me melt.  We walked into the dining room to find Fiona standing Tarzan style on the dining room table, throwing back the last of someone's breakfast juice from a glass cup.  Noah's eyes filled with wonder and pride as he observed Fiona and he turned to me and in a quiet, reserved voice remarked, "Fiona's a big girl." Now most of you that are familiar know that Noah has only one volume: loud and his statements usually border on caveman linguistics.  We love Noah for his quirky and charismatic personality and boundless energy. It is especially gratifying when little moments like this blossom out of such a simple event.

UQ

Yesterday we took a stroll over the Green Bridge to the University of Queensland campus at St Lucia.  This is just minutes down the road from us.  The campus is gorgeous, with gardens and trails winding through the campus buildings.  Makes me want to go back to school!  One of the most beautiful campuses I have seen.  Today is NYE and we will just have a laid back evening with friends.  Not going to party til midnight; we will be lucky to make it past nine!  Look out 2013, here we come!

The Pool

Today we went to the pool, like every other afternoon.  Let's just say our pool membership is well worth it.  Throughout the course of the afternoon, we committed several blunders.  Can you match the activity to the family member?
1.  Poop in pants
2.  Knock a tooth out (by swimming into the wall...with goggles on)
3.  Throw the baby into the 50 meter lap pool
4.  Lose 30 cents (we dive for loose change)
Boy am I pooped! (But it wasn't me who went in my pants)

Our days have been spent finding new places nearby to hike and spend time.  We did a 5km hike with the kids up Mount Coot Tha.  Maddie was a trooper, Noah whined most of the way, unless he hitched a ride, and Fiona enjoyed the ride entitled to a one year old.  The kookaburras were calling, a sound somewhat akin to a monkey and very loud, which were fun to hear.  Being the mean mom that I am, I coaxed Noah into using his own two legs to carry himself up the mountain by telling him the kookaburras were after him.  The look on his face was priceless as he ran uphill, nervously checking over his shoulder, screaming.  So of course I had to tell him kookaburras especially like screaming boys.
The next day we did a follow up visit to Mt Coot Tha, this time driving to the more commercial lookout point to enjoy the views of the city, mountains, rain forests, and Pacific ocean.  It was quite grand.  We coasted back down the mountain to the botanical gardens at the base.  There we had a leisurely stroll through a variety of vegetation and garden styles.  I enjoyed the Japanese gardens.  We stopped midway for a pic nic.  Then....we melted.  We were so hot and sweaty!  Maddie is very competitive and put us on teams to see who could do everything first--blue team boys, green team girls.  Dan argued that he and Noah wanted to choose their own team color---red and blotchy.

Maddie's School Disco

Mom getting nostalgic...

As I reflect on the day, I think of the wonderful new experiences this move has brought.  But I also think of all of our wonderful family and friends and miss the traditional holiday commaraderie.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve Rainforest Trek

Tamborine Mountain
December 24, 2012