Have I Changed?

Of course I have. To be on this journey and not change would leave you either psychotic, catatonic, demonic or safely back on American soil. Some of the changes are small, barely noticeable inner changes, some are linguistic or turns of phrase and some are in your face, you really REALLY live here kinda changes, like this one:

No...my change is NOT that I now have a tiny cute perfect cellulite free baby bottom, I wish tho! My change is that I am generally and historically uncomfortable, and one might even say opposed to naked babies/kids at the beach, a very very very VERY common occurrence here. I am not a freakish prude, my issue are the real freaks that could be watching my baby, and the high exposure of UVA/UVB rays to their perfect skin. I am also opposed to the people who clearly knew they were going for a swim but can't be bothered with a proper swimming costume. 

Today we got our first glance at a real clear blue sky in days, we rushed to the playground at the beach in the late afternoon to soak it in. One kid was dying to go in the water so the others followed suit in their undies, until one of mine pulled off his undies and that fad caught hold like Tickle Me Elmo. 

The same guy who also started the "no undies Tuesday fad," had been a bit(EXTREMELY) "backed up" ALL DAY and poo'd the biggest poo I have ever seen right there on the shoreline. Think large for an adult. I almost died. I was laughing, crying and mortified all at once. I literally froze and could not get a plan together for what seemed like minutes. I scooped it up in the undies that no one was wearing anyway and threw it away, undies and all. We hit up a little shoreline saltwater bidet and we were all in again! If you told me a GIANT turd at the beach would not deter our fun I would have never believed you. 

Now, please do not read this and think I am suggesting Aussies poo at the beach on a regular if ever basis. I am just saying I am a bit more relaxed about certain aspects of life than I ever imagined possible. 

Grate'full' for Ozgivings and Thanksgivings

No that is not a typo, just my failing attempt at a clever wordplay. A few Thursdays past when all of America was busy lighting garages on fire with flaming hot turkey oil, eating like it may be their last meal, rehashing the same old family arguments and drinking enough wine to make it all seem fun, it was just a regular ol' Friday here in Oz. Now, in typical American spirit, we will not let a little thing like "actually not a holiday here/way too hot/not the right foods available" get in the way of stuffing ourselves to the point of new stretch marks. Oh no, not us, we are loyal to the flag Yanks!

We celebrated the entire weekend. Literally.

First, we gorged ourselves at an Oz Giving Feast. An Australian take on the traditional holiday. Think tradition in a different way, pecan dip, fruit turkey, heaps of snags (a bunch a sausages, some turkey), turkey burgers, quinoa salad with pumpkin, you get the idea.

The 2 cutest turkeys I have ever seen!

There is a real American luxury in this pic that you may not notice straight away...a red solo cup!
Believe it or not, as much as they love to party outside, this cup has not made it big down unda

We are thankful for great friends!

CM is thankful for cute blonds.

More cute turkeys!
Who is the cheekiest?
It appears each child in this pic has met their match!

Still thinks stealing a ball from a girl will impress.
Or perhaps, older women are more his style?

NO Oz Giving is complete without a pumpkin pie eating contest.
Thank you Costco! 
You have made this country a better place just by being here. 
My love for you knows no bounds.

For real? I am at a pie eating contest beside a cute girl in a bikini? 
Is this real life? Yes...it is???
Oh, This is soooo cool!
If 3 year olds posted status updates, this would so be one.

Another favorite...in traditional Oz Giving fashion...pin the tail on the roo!

We had barely digested our turkey sausages when we were off to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast, complete with ham, turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn bread, homemade pumpkin pie and apple pie.

My beautiful Martha Stewart/Donna Hay friend made the most delicious apple pie. EVAH!
She tells me it is sooo easy...HA! 

CH's hero, Big C

One big bird that required much TLC! (we won't say which one)
I will say, you are looking at a semesters worth of tuition on the rotisserie. No turkey BOGOs here!

Beautiful friends!

I thought this was a cupcake?
Seriously? Who forgot to frost the corn bread muffins?

There were two factions at this party, the big kids and the little kids.
 CH really wanted to be with his hero in the bigs...it was not to be.
But really... how cute are the littles?

This could work, one likes blonds, one likes brunettes.

A food coma looks the same in every country.
But the view does not!

It is hard to believe that this time last year we were meeting these people for the first time.