Playdough

I started trying to make playdough very soon after we got here. However, I soon realised that we needed to look a bit more for ingredients, and I wasn’t going to let my kids play with playdough on someone else's cream carpet. Today was finally the day for pulling out the playdough (second day home from holidays, pouring rain).

The embarassing thing is, I managed to make the playdough match the plates. I think it must be something in the water around here. I was aiming for blue, and got a really nice sort of teal. I'll make red next.

First American shoes

With growing kiddies, it was bound to happen, and finally we had to admit that the shoes from Aus were too small. We found the same brand that we buy in Australia, but they have different ranges and styles.

Whatever the design, they are half the price. I don’t know how this happens.

Late pink cherry blossoms

These came out just before we left for NYC.

 It seems that the best has been saved for last – here are some big, pink, extravagant cherry blossoms for the end of the flowering season. I love these the best.

NYC - Food

This is a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese, chopped in half for ease of eating, for breakfast. Joy of joys. 

I think I have three things to say: cheesecake, pizza, bagels.

Unfortunately, we only managed one piece of New York Cheesecake, and I love any sort of sweet dessert really, so I’m not sure I’m a good judge of taste. But it was very nice! My ideal way to eat cheescake - with a cup of tea, slowly, with good company. How I ate this cheesecake - hurriedly, while trying to stretch the baby just five more minutes, just before he got really sick of sitting down and got away and started trashing the place. Also, while trying to convince the baby that the dollop of cream wasn't ice cream, and while trying to not let the children eat the whole dessert. 

Secondly, pizza. It has a flat crust, very little by way of toppings, and they’re HUGE! Also, garlic knots, which are knots of pastry covered in oil. We found a pizza shop up the road from our hotel and ate there twice.

Finally, bagels. We found a little bagel shop up the road, it was like a bakery, only it sold bagels (and coffee of course!). The bagels were so good. We had bagels for breakfast twice, and bagels for lunch another day. I need to learn how to make bagels.

We had hot dogs from hot dog stands, and my more adventurous hubby even tried an Italian sausage, but more than one hot dog in a four day period and I start feeling like I’m eating stodge. Luckily, we also found a deli selling salad, which I had for lunch one day.

My number one recommendation for travelling with children, is take apples. It is difficult to insist on salad in a restaurant, even more difficult when you’re eating pizza, but I had the little zip lock bags and a sharp knife, and every morning I would chop an apple into a bag for both the kids (and another two whole ones for us), and make them appear just when the kids got grumpy at about 9.30am for morning tea.

NYC – The High Line

An abandoned bit of above ground freight train line has been turned into a walking path with gardens. This is very beautiful, and I recommend it. If you don’t have children, I recommend the early walk (before 9am), because there were heaps of other tourists, and it did get a bit crowded at times (although, not as crowded as the Brooklyn Bridge!). Actually, I recommend doing things early all the time if at all possible.

Developers wanted to pull down the high line and build on it, before it was turned into community space, and now, they’re happily advertising that their building overlooks the High Line. This is probably a really good example of adjusting to change, and finding the advantage in all situations.

NYC – Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty only reopened a few years ago, after closing in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Centre in 2001. In hindsight, I would say that the security measures implemented take quite a lot away from the visit, and perhaps a boat tour is enough. But we didn’t die wondering. I was sad that Battery Point has been turned from a garden of quiet reflection into an area of barriers and queues (who knows, maybe there were queues before the reopening?!).

However, we caught the boat, nice and early, we got a Junior Ranger badge, we looked at the statue, and tried to explain that Liberty wasn’t previously a real live person to a four year old (Because most other statues we’ve looked at are of people who previously lived!).

Quiet wander in the afternoon. More pizza for tea!

NYC – Central Park, Rockefeller Centre, FDNY centre

Central park really is big! And filled with tour groups, joggers, cyclists, horses and carts, police, park workers, buskers/stall holders, and today, a charity walk… Our plan was to have a bit of a wander in the southern third of the park. We really enjoyed the space, especially after braving the metro with a pram, and after the initial experience yesterday of walking to our hotel on busy crowded streets with huge skyscrapers all around.

In the afternoon, after a sleep, we went to the Rockefeller Centre, built at the height of the depression, and with some lovely decorated entrances. The ice skating rink was still running, we had dinner in a café looking out on it, which was a bit pricey but just what we needed at that point. We went up on top of the Rockefeller Centre at a quieter moment, just after a downpour of rain, and just before all the lights came out, in a weird, windy, cloudy atmosphere. I really enjoy the views from high things!

Before dinner we also went to the FDNY fire centre, which is actually just a small shop front in the Rockefeller centre. Very underwhelming for the adults, but as there was a cut down/model fire engine for the kids to sit in (and that was really just about it), it is shaping as one of the favourite activities with the peanut gallery.

NYC - arrival, Brooklyn Bridge

We're in New York City for a four day weekend. Drove up to New Jersey, then caught a ferry. Everything has gone fine so far, considering that we're sort of flying by the seat of our pants! Got to the hotel by 3pm, I had cup of tea to recover from the navigating, then back out to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  Had a lovely afternoon, topped off by finding a really nice pizza shop up the road from our hotel. Our hotel is in lower Manhattan, just around the corner from Wall St.
The downer to the whole day is that after getting in at 6.30pm with an overtired baby, we find no portacot has been delivered, in fact the manager is driving to Brooklyn to get one, and may be up to two hours.  Not sure how the baby will go tomorrow after a two hour delay in bedtimes (actually, I have a fair idea, I'm just too afraid to actually say it).
My initial impression of New York is that it is such a big city, with so many tourists! But I have seen quiet(er) leafy(ish) side streets with townhouses just like in the movies.  It is meant to be pedestrian friendly, but it feels so crowded, with so much traffic.
Postscript to this - We got the cot by 8pm, baby asleep no worries. A bit overtired the next day, so luckily we had a quieter morning!

A tale of Two Plates

Here are two plates, at an equal distance in time from when they were put on the table. Baby has finished, Captain Fussy, well, thats the one on the left.
On the menu tonight, chicken pie filling with puff pastry squares. The upside of the puff pastry squares is that we have puff pastry to offset any objections to the veggies in the filling. The downside is that we have puff pastry, all over the table, the chairs, the floor, the children, etc.
So, two plates delivered, with one small baby fork per plate.
Mistakes:
- sitting down with adult sized fork in front of baby, who immediately needed a bigger fork too.
- giving a teaspoon to Captain Fussy (at his request) to eat the filling with, in front of the baby, who immediately needed a teaspoon too.
- assuming the baby could eat mouthfuls of puff pastry holding it in his hand, like I was (he did try, that was the problem)
- not cutting the puff pastry in to small enough squares for the baby
- putting puff pastry on other side of plate, so baby reaches across the pie filling, and rests arm in pie filling to get better leverage to pick up puff pastry. By now, he is also fumbling with three eating implements and a cup of milk as well.
Other happenings - baby gets pie filling on hands trying to shovel it onto fork/spoon, and from eating it with his hands (too slow with teaspoon/fork). Then baby tries to wipe puff pastry crumbs off his lap and off the chair he is sitting on. Luckily tonight he didn't choose to enthusiastically rub his hair and face as well.

In the meantime, Captain Fussy was eating one pea at a time, with dainty bites out of his puff pastry, while simultaneously developing such a ravening thirst that he needed a drink straight away. He finally finished a satisfactory portion (about 2/3?) approx an hour after sitting down to the meal, after some serious threats re breakfast menus were made, and a time limit put on the finishing.

Catching buses

This is a bus stop. I think in some places, there is a shelter, and some seats and everything, but here, it must be frontier land, because we get a stick in the ground, beside a four lane highway. It is difficult to get to, and slightly worrisome to stand there, watching cars rush by, hoping you have impressed on your children the importance of staying against the barrier on the side of the road.
The buses are small, about five rows of two by two seats. Not pram accessible, so when we hop on, I am carrying the baby, the stroller, some money, and holding the hand of my older boy. The driver does not take money, you put the correct fare into a little box beside them. It costs $2 for a trip, or you can buy a $4 day pass. Then you shuffle on to the back of the bus, and we three all end up sitting in a row on two seats. I'm usually on the aisle, watching over the cord that is just under the window that you pull to let the driver know you want to hop off. It is very accessible, even to the baby. The pram goes in the aisle.
The buses come once an hour. The happy thing is, we are just near a bus route that is about five mins from the mall. We have not made it to the library yet, because we would have to change buses at the mall (and travel for about 3 hours to get 30 mins in the library!). With this warmer weather, I might consider trying again for the walking route.
When we travel on buses, it is a whole day excursion, and I get home exhausted. I carry a back pack with enough food for everyone, and take all the spare cash for emergencies! I never thought I'd say it, but I miss the buses back home.

The kindness of strangers

I have long wanted to write this post. Unfortunately, I can't make it anything other than what it is, which is sort of sappy. No photo either...
Arriving here, no family or support network, just us, we have been particularly dependent on the kindness of strangers, and it has not been slow to arrive.
The new boss, who not only picked us up at the airport at 9pm, and took us first to dinner, then to our apartment, but also bought us some groceries to get us through the first 24 hours (We made them last about a week!).
The children's ministry co-ordinator at the church, who found me outside the church and near tears, with two children who were tearing up the corridor (jetlagged, I think), and took the time to explain the creche and sunday school system to us.
The many people that we have met who gave us their numbers and let us know they were happy to help. This included inviting us to lunch/dinner/biblestudy, and helping us to move!
The very patient anonymous help line operators, whatever company, who slowly walked us through whatever we were having trouble with this time. The bus driver who said 'take your time' when I was getting stressed about getting myself, two kids, and a pram on the bus.
I'm sure they are not all mentioned here, but I am very grateful that people have been so willing to help, and so friendly and encouraging. It really has been an eyeopener to see how small gestures become so big!

Comments on this blog

Also, just a note about commenting. Had a few people mention that they couldn't. I honestly don't know whats up with the Wordpress issue (not accepting a Wordpress login), although if you google a little bit, this is not just a problem that is limited to this blog. However, I did look at my settings, and realised that it was limited to only registered users, which might be why people without a google sign in weren't able to comment. I have altered that to allow anonymous people to comment, but that extra freedom brings extra responsibility, and I will be moderating all comments, incase there are wierdos reading this. So it might take a while for your comments to appear.
Thanks for your patience!

Another happy cupboard

Looking at the bottom shelf, not the cheerios! We finally got the second plate set, so we can stop rationing plates during the day (very interesting with two small children). I am enjoying the splash of colour. I am also loving that my teatowels match the plates. I'm not sure what that says about me. Wondering idly about introducing some sort of pink now, to offset all the blue, but that is a way off, if ever!

Easter Sunday - Hallelujah!

Source - http://www.turnbacktogod.com/easter-wallpaper-backgrounds/

(free to use!)

Easter Sunday, and all the little girls were wearing their spring dresses, as predicted. Mums too! The fashion amongst the little boys is these collared checked shirts (that require ironing). I'm wondering how long I can continue to stick to polo T's (that don't require ironing) because there aren't many in the shops now.
I looked at the order of service, and saw that the choir was going to sing the Hallelujah chorus as the benediction at the end of the service. Sounds good I thought. Then I noticed that there was an invitation to members of the congregation to go sing it with them. I didn't go up, but plenty did, they filled the little nook that the choir stands in. I saw a dad go up with his son, so it wasn't limited to the women.
And it was so nice,  you could see that the singers were having so much fun (and it sounded great, I got goosebumps). Whoever thought of this idea deserves a pat on the back.

Easter Extraordinaire

General scene from the food area

Our church put on a family funday on Saturday, all completely free and open to the community. They filled three quarters of their carpark with stalls, emergency vehicles, a big food area down the back, pony rides, a live rabbit to pat, a photo stall, and several jumping castles. They had Easter egg hunts for the children, and a demonstration by the police K-9 dog unit (K-9, geddit?!). It was lots of fun, with the downside for our family being that we left the hats in the car, and got a bit pink (who would have thought it!), and we had to leave before the police dog demonstration, as it was past nap time already. We're looking forward to next year!

Not such a holiday house after all...

I have probably talked to people about the joy of living in a house without too much stuff. I think I hoped that it would be a bit like a two year stint in a holiday house - and my memories of holiday houses are of refreshment, of change, of making do. Part of the beauty of a holiday house is that it doesn't have all your stuff in it, it is located away from your housework, and you don't have control over its contents. Nor do you have responsibility!
And the big one, you're on holidays!! - ie, your husband is home to share the kid wrangling, you think up new activities/places to go every day, you eat some special food (chips, in our children's specific case).
So I think I am a bit sad now that we're moved, and it is getting to feel just like, well, home, with very little magic in the air. We have a huge amount of undone projects. I would estimate for every thing that gets done, three others that are just as important don't get done. The kitchen is full of 'small electrical', and awkward cupboards I can't use, the hot water pressure is mysteriously low, and we still haven't filed all that paperwork in the filing cabinet! And, of course, I'm on my own, thinking up activities and outings, without having my friends nearby to visit.
I am trying to celebrate the hints of holiday house-ness. Today, here is a photo of possibly my favourite corner - the kettle, and the jug from goodwill to put the utensils in (thus freeing up a precious drawer for something else!).

Garden Maintenance in the communities

Our playground trip this morning turned into a watch-the-garden-maintenance-men working morning...(although there are none in this photo)

It is a quiet peaceful morning.A truck pulls up at about 9am. Usually a twin cab with a covered tray, pulling a trailer that would fit atleast one horse in it. I've also seen a sort of army style truck with a canvas covered back. There are usually two vehicles.
Then, you realise that the truck has dropped the gang off somewhere and driven in somewhere central to park, because the world explodes, in edgers, wipper snippers, about three different kinds of mowers, people with rakes, wheel barrows, etc.
As far as I can see, they throw labour at the job - at least 6 people this morning. They have a large collection of tools (about 5 wipper snippers on a special rack anyone?)/engines, and they sort of arrive, fill the air with noise, then move on after about 45 mins. They move across the community, from one end to the other, and leave the place spick and span. Not necessarily perfect, but definitely trim.
They come back the next day to do the detail work - edging around trees, putting down compost/barkchips, random wipper snippering etc.

Hot Cross Buns

There is no big public holiday fest over Easter like I'm used to, and I haven't seen many hot cross buns in the supermarkets. I know there aren't any with choc chips in them, as that is an automatic buy from the grocery shopper in the family...
So, with small, overexcited helpers, I set out to make some, using our newly obtained breadmaker to make the dough. I'm pretty pleased with the results. They are not as spiced as the ones I'm used to, and the crosses are made out of an icing mixture, which just invites small consumers to eat the top off the bun and leave the rest! The next challenge is making more to go into hubby's work.
They are a bit long to make with kids, all the rising and sitting is just not really tolerated, and I spent the morning explaining the concept of bread making to people who struggle with the time taken to make choc chip biscuits.

Tulips!

I discovered that the things that looked like weeds coming up beside/around people's daffodils (see previous post) are tulips! I'm so excited, I don't remember seeing tulips growing casually in a garden before. They are really showy, and just adding to the spring colours. These tulips are next door. Don't they just make the scene?!

Flowers by the road side

Daffodils were the first sign that the winter was going, in various gardens around here. Imagine how pretty they look mass planted on the highways! I didn't manage to get a photo, but I got a photo of some in a garden we walk past. When I say highway, I'm talking four lanes either way, and they still take the time to plant a 2 x 4 m square patch of daffodils around a sign, or an exit.

Cooking USA/Australia dictionary

Raisins = sultanas
Zante currants = currants. both sourced from sunny california!
Peppers = capsicums
Shortening = hydrogenated vegetable oil, apparently very bad for you, substitute with butter
Biscuits = scones, I think. I have yet to make the recipe, but it is coming up a lot in context with southern cooking (shrimp and biscuit). Possibly used as a bread substitute?
filet = filet, but pronounced the french way - ie, filet of fish, pronounced fillay of fish.
grill = BBQ. People do have BBQ's, but they refer to firing up the grill. We still have to find sausages, but we're currently pursuing 'breakfast sausages', which, we think, when found in beef (lots of chicken and turkey out there) might taste sort of like an Aussie sausage
Confectioners powdered sugar = icing sugar

Not getting attached to pots

So, you buy a set of new pots, because nice knives and pots make it so much easier in the kitchen...And then your two year old discovers the cupboard where they're kept and insists on using them in his play kitchen. And you know in the scheme of things, this isn't something you have a problem with, but at the same time, with your nice new shiny pots?!
Rule number one, don't get attached to anything the children have access to.

Precut fresh food

These are carrots, peeled and chopped to look like 'baby' carrots. We also buy bags of prechopped carrot, cauliflower and brocoli mix. We buy our capsicums and tomatoes whole, but the lettuce is big 300g boxes of mixed leaves. 

The good - very convenient, I'm eating chopped veggies for afternoon snacks, and there is less wastage in our fridge, however, it is more expensive, and possibly more packaging. The supermarkets are full of ready made salads, sandwiches, precooked rice etc, to the point that I think the supermarket is the first point of call for a quick healthy lunch.

Cherry Blossoms DC

Went to see the cherry blossoms in DC yesterday afternoon, and this is what was most interesting.
Just kidding. Here's another photo!

The trees were in full bloom, some petals starting to drop, but otherwise, mass display of pink/white flowers on trees, all around a big lake, which I thought was going to be a sort of pond. Our original plan of walking around the Tidal Basin was shortened to walking to Thomas Jefferson Memorial and back. The amount of people was not impossible, but definitely crowded. We dream of being able to get there at the crack of dawn with tea and bagels, and suchlike.

Remember this day...

Left on his own to play while I had breakfast, the little one suddenly got engrossed in his brother's cars.
And lined them up all neatly. I was flabbergasted enough to take a photo. Please note the pile of books in the background that were tipped out of their box yesterday.
Now he is quietly taking them on little drives and talking gibberish to himself. I must remember this day.

Loungeroom competition

I am opening a competition for ideas on how to rearrange our lounge room. This photo is taken from the 'dining area', which opens straight out onto the lounge. There is a bay window at the front. There are two entrances down the left hand side as shown in the photo - to the stairs and to the front door.
We have three couches (three seater, two seater and one seater), an ottoman/footstool, and eventually, we would like to add a tv/video. However, I don't want the TV to be the focus of the room (nor do I want to have to move couches to watch TV, as the couches are heavy). There is the option of taking a couch downstairs to the basement. We also need some open space for games/toys/toy storage.
Submit your entries to our family email. I can send more photos if requested. Multiple entries accepted.
The prize is either a ten pack of microfibre cleaning cloths, or some Hersheys chocolate, take your pick.
Entries close end of April.

New house!

Well, just to pack it in this weekend, we moved today after church. Another family came and helped with moving and childcare, so it was heaps easier than expected. Pizza for tea, and the nicest cup of tea ever (I think because we had worked so hard and were so exhausted!). The downside to our new place - three levels, so lots of stairs. The upside - our own space, and lots of it at the moment, because we hardly have any furniture. Here is picture of the townhouse, plus our van. This looks very average, but it is actually a very triumphal sort of photo, because we feel like we are making headway!

National Aquarium, Baltimore

Visited the aquarium in Baltimore, which was great. We missed the Animal Planet Australia exhibition, which had a replica North Australian river gorge plus fish and small animals (birds, lizards, and a few crocodiles).
Greatest amusement gained from children bumping heads on the glass because it was so up close and personal with the fish they were forgetting it was there (the glass). We visited with a member and missed the queues, but for average Joes, I'd get there early. Highly recommended, but very busy.

Which well?

source for picture - http://scripturehandmaidens.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

John 4 - the Samaritan Woman at the well
Had messes in her life that were quite obvious. We all have mess, some of it more easily hidden than others. Jesus reached out to her in spite of her mess.
If we dip the bucket of our soul (ie, find identity and meaning) in wells other than Jesus we will never be satisfied.

Maryland state flag

Maryland's flag bears the arms of the Calvert and Crossland families. Calvert was the family name of the Lords Baltimore who founded Maryland, and their colors of gold and black appear in the first and fourth quarters of the flag. Crossland was the family of the mother of George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore. The red and white Crossland colors, with a cross bottony, appear in the second and third quarters. This flag first was flown October 11, 1880, in Baltimore at a parade marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of Baltimore. It also was flown October 25, 1888, at Gettysburg Battlefield for ceremonies dedicating monuments to Maryland regiments of the Army of the Potomac. Officially, it was adopted as the State flag in 1904 (Chapter 48, Acts of 1904, effective March 9, 1904).
Source - http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/flag.html

I also picked up the idea that this flag was a compromise between unionists and non-unionists, but that's not what the official Maryland at a Glance website says. So stay tuned, I might be able to work that one out later.
We think it is very bright and cheerful, and sort of ye olde english. It looks great when the whole town is decorated with it.

More USA/Australian dictionary

Photo of our back yard, which I'm missing right now. Also the sunshine. It doesn't appear to exist over here. We are out of the habit of wearing hats. No wonder everyone looks so young.

Master bathroom = ensuite - the bathroom off the main bedroom. Do not say ensuite, they will get very confused. Especially if you then call the other bathroom the main bathroom. I can't remember what the main bathroom is.
Duvet = Doona. I still can't work out if people use blankets here. Don't say doona.
Trash can = garbage bin
Lamp = light
Cookie = biscuit, usually sweet, because there are also Graham crackers, and animal crackers, which I haven't managed to sight yet.
Love seat = two person couch (sofa)
Cuddle seat = slightly smaller than two person couch, but bigger than a one person couch
Crib = baby cot
Garbanzo beans = chick peas
Full = double bed size (and there are young children's linen sets in full size)
Twin = single bed size
Armoire = big sort of old fashioned cupboard that you can keep your TV/entertainment system in. Not where you put the family's guns.

Lucy

We are discovering the joys of walking a dog. Very different from my experiences walking a dog as a child (being pulled through paddocks by a blue heeler/border collie cross anyone?). Lucy is about the size of a large Chihuahua. She looks a bit like a terrier of some sort, maybe a long haired one? She is very affectionate, although a little nervous around stamping gumboots! I hope we can continue this for the next two years.

The cheese files, continued

We found some yellow cheese - rectangular skim mozzarella... Seems wrong, hey, but it is the best flavour so far, I think. Softness is on par with colby jack, so a little hard to cut in thin slices. The baby loves it, and I suspect his first full sentence will be "More cheese please" (Which really fits, as his first word was "more"). I'm not 100% sold on it, but as I don't do the grocery shopping, I will have to wait for the next offering, or the next time I am in a grocery store to see what else is around.