The forms, the forms...

Tax in the US is due 15th April, and I'm not sure who has watched The Simpsons, but that episode about Homer doing the tax at the last minute finally makes sense. We're not quite at the last minute, but we are getting towards the end of time, and patience...

Forms are not named, but numbered - ie, a W2 is a group certificate from your employer, and there are hundreds of them.

We are filling out form 1040, which is a form for jointly filing taxes for a couple. There is a 104 page explanation document that is supposed to help you fill out the form.

Every three lines or so, another form might be called for - ie, there is a tax credit for having children (I think Australia should look into this), and to get that you need to fill out Form 8812 (I think), and submit with the 1040. But in the process of filling out 8812 we realised that our children need to have either a Social Security Number (SSN) or a ITIN (can't remember what this stands for, but if your child isn't able to get an SSN, they can apply for an ITIN). to get the ITIN, we need to fill out a W7, and then travel to an IRS office that can validate their passports, which means...Road Trip!! to Baltimore, to submit our 1040, and W7, and (with the children present) get their passports validated. 

After sorting out the federal tax, we need to fill out a separate form(s) for State Tax.

Before April 15th. No pressure. We think, as insurance, we will fill out Form 4868 to apply for an extension of time...
Another example - to fill out Schedule B for 1040, I had to investigate whether or not we needed to fill out Form 8938 and FinCEN Form 114...

Chicken and Rice Soup

I didn't know, but chicken and rice soup is a bit of an institution in some US states. This is a recipe from my friend, who switched out the wild rice with Sprouted Red Jasmine Rice (frozen) from Trader Joe's. It is a seriously nice recipe, I made it gluten free, doubled it for our family biblestudy and fed about 15 people (inc children).

Fruit Mince Pies with Nana

I forgot to put this up earlier, but one activity scheduled for our trip home was an afternoon of cooking fruit mince pies with Nana. We have plenty more tips on how to make them, and some proper trays that were spare.
So, does anyone know what these trays are called, so I can find them on Amazon and buy more?!

Hammond Harwood House Museum

Our second historic house - built as a fashionable townhouse by a local tobacco grower - Mathais Hammond. Seems not to have been a family home - rented by various families, and then the last owner died without a will and the furniture was auctioned off. St Johns College bought it, then it was bought by the group that made it a museum. Apparently, in dribs and drabs, the auctioned off furniture, a lot of it original to the house, is being returned, which no-doubt makes the current managers very happy!
However, it means that this is a beautifully furnished museum, that is not particularly kid friendly, especially when the 3 yo is acting a little crazy. Chairs that are invitingly along the hall can't be sat on, bits of china are the real deal expensive antiques, and the bed, that someone in our family asked if they could jump on, is an antique from England and one of the original furnishings... you get the picture. It is beautifully painted specifically to show off the wood carvings, because the interest in this building is less the owner or the occupiers, and more the architect, and the architectural details, woodcarvings, and the beautiful furniture (and original old oil paintings). I honestly hadn't picked up that they called themselves a museum, and luckily hubby hadn't, or we probably wouldn't have visited.
I think I would enjoy seeing this house again without the children, and not the last tour of the day, which was very large, but a bit hurried. We didn't get to linger in the garden because the tour took all of the available time before the house shut for the day.

Charles Carroll House

As part of the Maryland Day weekend celebrations, lots of historic places were open for free or for $1, so we decided to visit a couple that we hadn't yet seen. First up - Charles Carroll house.
Charles Carroll - the only catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence, had a large house in Annapolis. It was home to three Charles Carrolls - the Settler (1706), of Annapolis (1720) and of Carrollton (1770), so it is a really interesting example of old renovations, as the house grew. The Carrolls were all seriously wealthy people. The house in Annapolis was probably the country home, because they had a house in Baltimore, and presumably lots of tobacco farms.
It was the last Charles - Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who signed the Declaration. Interesting, given that at that time, Catholics were prohibited from participating in politics. (presumably by the British?)
The Redemptorists Order (Catholic order) bought the property in 1852 and slapped a great big Rectory and Catholic Church in the front garden of the house (along with a small graveyard in the back garden), but you can still appreciate the beautiful setting, and remember that in 1852 people were not so interested in saving houses for historical reasons as they were using them...
Today, St Mary's is still in operation, as well as the rectory, but the link that connected the House and the Rectory (150yrs old) was recently removed, so you can see where the front door used to be (in photo above, along with the extra windows on the ground floor because the Redemptorists also dug out the front and added windows to the basement bit).
This is a very child friendly house to visit as it is empty of furnishings, with a big garden you can eat apple in and enjoy the view of Spa Creek.

El Toro Bravo

What we realised, when thinking about the lack of Asian restaurants (apart from generic Chinese and the really nice Thai place we have already been to, oh, and sushi trains...) was that we have a lot more access to 'proper' mexican food - it is just south of the border. We got organised with a night out and decided to try mexican.
At first I was overwhelmed by having to work out exactly what everything was (I use taco/burrito/nachos sort of interchangeably, and my knowledge of options is limited really to what Old El Paso sell). But we took our time, and ended up getting chicken chimichangas and the El Toro Dinner, which was two tacos, tostadas, and a roasted pepper (capsicum) filled with cheese.
It was really nice - not as greasy as your average pub meal, but lovely and filling, and a bit different. I reckon I'd go here again. My only insecurity was that the staff talked to each other in Spanish, making me feel nervous that they were gossiping about me in front of me.

More snow

A quick little storm came through on Friday, lovely to watch, but just cold and miserable by the afternoon, because everything melted pretty soon after landing. Rain came in afternoon, with a little chill wind, so wet and cold. Slush on the stairs. People are really waiting for the spring now!

Spring has sprung!

We've seen some super large 'V's' of birds (Canadian Geese?) heading North again. They are heaps larger and more dynamic than the little neat V's drawn in books. And pretty amazing to watch.

Makes me wonder: How do they know when to take a break? Stop for the evening? Leave the next day or have a rest day? Do they always travel in the same group?

Just Because (Take III)

This is the latest offering.

Just Because (take II)

I think the explanation was that he was making a tunnel for people to go through to get into the house (imaginary house, I think). I was too amused to be cross. Plus, we had just achieved a rest time that didn't involve calling down the stairs every five minutes.
I'm not sure if it is an improvement on the old habit of 'paving' his room with the books he was meant to be reading, or not.

Just Because...

Because putting the trains away was just too difficult. Because we wanted to park them somewhere. Because we have an attraction to bulk displays of small vehicles (or jigsaw puzzle pieces). Because we're three. I'm not sure.
I have noticed recently that I am less irritated by small areas of parked vehicles (under the table, on the lounge, under the edge of the bed, on the play table, etc). They are less 'clutter', more just part of the furniture. Every so often (about every three days?) we have tidy time and put them away.

Ham and Pea Pasties

We had some leftover ham given to us, so I got thought of ham and pea soup, but got distracted onto pasties - Ham and Pea and Ricotta Cheese Pasties.
Spent a whole dinner teaching some visiting little boys the word 'pastie', only to have the mum later hysterically laughing in the kitchen because I forgot that in the USA, pasties are also what you wear over your nipples when wearing something brief/shear when going out at night' (I think that is how it works?). Oh well.
The pasties are delicious. I liked the pastry recipe, and am hoping to revisit it, perhaps with leftover casserole (leftover anything, really, that's the whole point!)?

Hairstyles/makeup

I have had this picked as a possible topic for months... and eventually convinced myself that I was seeing things. But having been back to Australia, I don't think I am... Hairstyles are more 'done' here. I think there is more emphasis on not stepping out the door without doing ones hair. And doing ones hair doesn't just  include blow drying it but adding in those miscellaneous curls around the place. Or putting some sort of wave in it.
There seems to be a lot more long hair, worn out with curls cascading down the back - even after having children (that pull hair when little, and eat up self-preparation time). And very few people with naturally curly hair/bad hair days!! I used to sort of walk out the door without really thinking about it, but I am back to pulling back or braiding my hair 'up', mainly because I can't blow dry my hair (that would require buying a hair dryer), and I can't trust my hair to maintain niceness while down, and because pulling it into a sort of messy bun seems a bit lazy. Just a plain, sleek pony tail is a lot more common in Australia.
I might add, makeup is less of the natural variety (ie, you've done your eyes but left off the foundation, and just gone for a natural lip colour), or the  non existent variety, and more of the full face done up makeup (but they do look gorgeous). It is worn every day, not just for meetings, or work parties (me...). There definitely seems to be a public 'hair done, face on' emphasis. It all seems very sleek and sophisticated.
On one hand, I love the idea of spending a bit more time on me, and hopefully feeling more like a human every day, instead of whats left over after the kids have had a go. On the other, I cannot comprehend taking more than about 10 mins in the bathroom every morning. And, of course, there is the issue of not owning a hair dryer.
ps - the picture is from one of those 'hairstyles for long hair' websites. I suspect this is a possible bridal do (I was sooo ahead of my time!), but it is also very close to how some people manage to do their hair - every single day...(or every single Sunday, I guess)

Posties

I am always amused by the little trucks the United States Postal Service sends. Impressed by the six day a week delivery, and bemused by the fact that the USPS has allowed itself to be outranked in parcel delivery by FedEx and USP (United States Parcels? A big brown van). Also, how the physical post offices are generally run down or non existent. I sort of imagine that the reason they're still in business is because they deliver junk mail, and lots of it. Our mail boxes do not have a slot that is open to the public, so if you want your flyer in our box, you need to send it via the postal service. There are no brochure runs with people wheeling prams full of brochures here! (for that matter, in this part of the country, there are no pavements for them to wheel the prams on either, but that is another story)
Here is a picture of an Aussie postman, on a bike - either motor bike or push bike is common, or they push a little cart down the main street to do businesses. Very very bright yellow safety gear (although that is rain gear too), very red bike.
Contrast and compare with the cute little van that comes to do our post here!

Australian Sausages

Here are some sausages. We bought 3 kilos of them while in Australia, and really enjoyed them. Ingredients - mince meat (ground beef), stuffed into sausage casings. Choices of various spices do exist, and also how much fat in the mince (4%, 10%?). Also, you could choose short fat ones, or longer skinny ones, but more and more, I just see the skinny ones for sale. Cook in a pan or on a BBQ or under a grill. Eat with friends, beer and tomato sauce, and salad if you want.
They should all be the same length, this particular butcher must let the apprentice do it.
Our one regret is that countries are so picky about importing meat, otherwise we would have bought a box full and attempted to get them home... Ah well.

Waffles...

... in the shape of Texas! How cool is that?
Free breakfast at our hotel during our bonus 'holiday' on the way home. No nutritional value at all, except maybe the tea and wholemeal toast, but still free! (And the waffle shape was particularly fun. I wonder if you can get all states, or if it is just Texas that lends itself to waffles?)

Never Forgetting

This is a sticker they gave the boys for walking through the metal detector at the airport in Texas on the way home. Not sure if it will show up in the photo, but the small writing around the outline of Texas in the middle?
*9-11-2001* Never Forget*
One of my friends commented, it is a bit like Dec 7 being a infamous day in one generations memory (Pearl Harbor). Likewise, while we have no first hand memory of Pearl Harbor, there are kids born since 2011, who didn't get first hand experience. Interesting to think about.

Too little ambition

"It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea."
C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Severe weather areas

I thought, when first seeing this sign in an airport on the way to Aus, that someone had a sense of humour, and possibly, a collection of stickers they left behind them as they travelled. Maybe a comment on the sucking power of the American toilet, which terrified the baby for a good two months when I was trying to get him to use a toilet.
I finally put two and two together, just before the flight home, after seeing tornado shelters marked up on a mall map.
Its not someone trying to be funny about toilet habits, it is a Severe Weather [shelter] Area! Because like the school buses being yellow, the bad weather doesn't just happen in the movies....

Even Better Snow Day

Sun came out, so it was all sparkly and white, with a beautiful blue sky...
Snow makes the cold worth while. Snow makes everything brighter, and more beautiful. Snow relaxes people out of their usual routines, and creates opportunities to do things like shovelling (and chatting) together. And I love sledding with the kids! We had so much powder, barely melted, that we could roll comfortably down the hill as well. Still not good enough for a snow man, but maybe tomorrow?

Snow day!!

Just as I was feeling glum about missing all that lovely snow too. The storm has come through later in the day than expected, so we get to watch the snow fall instead of waking up to lots of snow.

Getting out the door to the park in Winter

How I got to the park this afternoon (written mid-Feb just before our trip but not posted)

Made tea in thermos for me

Mr 5 had to finish apple, then we read library book

Mr 5 needed jumper and jacket

Mr snotty insisted on fireman costume. But tried to take jumper off first. Also didn't want jacket on outside of fireman top. 

Put fireman top on outside of jacket - tight fit...put shoes and socks on baby Fireman. 

Initially he was going in pram. Then he changed his mind to riding. But wanted to wear fireman hat. Then didn't want bike helmet clipped under neck. Wanted it on chin, or undone, I can't work out which. Put his bike back in cupboard. 

Got other bike up from basement. Insisted on gloves for Mr 5.

Baby realised that fireman top was too tight and consented to taking it off. 

Put bike out on pavement, then carried pram out. Settled Mr Fireman, who refused gloves and was unhappy his helmet wouldn't stay on in pram. 

Shut door and then discovered that basketball wouldn't fit under pram. Went back inside and got bag. 

Got to tennis court. Baby constantly grizzled that he wanted to go to park. I ignored him to give Mr 5 time to ride around. Drank cold tea. Cheered Mr 5 as much as is possible with Mr Fireman grizzling in the background.
Went to playground, watched with heart in mouth as Mr 5 rode down a hill close to parked cars and around a corner almost completely out of control.
Pushed Mr Fireman on swings, but he started crying as his hands were cold. Got gloves on him, which involved taking off jacket, putting on gloves, putting gloves back on.
Mr 5 decided he needed his beanie, but I didn't have it. Baby copied the distressed noises. Got baby his beanie. Mr 5 decided he was freezing, but couldn't use my beanie when offered.
We went home. I think we spent close to 45 mins getting there, and about 15 mins there, all so they could get some measly (cold) outdoor time, so they wouldn't go crazy around dinner time...

Wait, what?

We are safely back from our trip. I hesitate to call it a holiday, or even vacation, as it was pretty tough on our family, especially the little one. The down side to the timing of our trip is that we appear to have missed the SNOW! I think we are the only ones disappointed by this. Some are suggesting some sort of genius. It was simply not thinking things through enough, we assure you, because given a choice, we wouldn't have missed this...
However. Here is a photo of the beach we stayed near. I would happily stay here again. And everytime I start feeling disappointed about the snow, I look at these pictures.
PS - for those unfamiliar with The Flags on the beach - the red and yellow one is one of a set of two that designate a safe swimming place between them. The black and white flags are set on the outside of this area, and the gap between the black and white and the red and yellow create a buffer between surfers (outside the flags) and swimmers (inside the red and yellow flags), because being hit in the head with a surfboard hurts. Small children on boogie boards are ok in the swimming zone.
This photo was taken at low tide, on a pretty flat surf. The kid in the bottom photo is not mine.