26.9.07

Go Cats!!!

So some of you might remember that we live in the city of Geelong, VIC. Last week our AFL (Australian Football League) team the Geelong Cats advanced to the finals, aka the Grand Final. They haven't been in a Grand Final since 1994 and they haven't won one since 1963. So the town is a bit excited. It is kind of like the Colts getting into and then winning the Super Bowl or the Cubs getting into and winning the World Series. Come this Saturday afternoon there will be a hush over Geelong except for in homes, pubs, bars, or any other place with a TV.

One other thing a player from the team, Jimmy Bartel just won the Brownlow Medal. This is kind of like being named the MVP for basketball. They call it the best and fairest award.

Here is some stuff bout the Cats so all you Americans can get up to speed on the glory this Saturday will bring.

Our Clubs Logo

Our Clubs History
The co-founder of Australia football, Thomas Wentworth Wills, recommended the formation of the Geelong Football Club in July 1859 making it the second oldest club of any code in the world, the Melbourne Football Club credited as the oldest, formed earlier the same year....more history here


Our Clubs Song

We are geelong, the greatest team of all,
We are geelong, We're always on the ball,
We play the game, as it should be played
at home or far away
our banners fly high, from dawn to dark
down at kardinia park!

Second verse hardly sung but is on my mug at home.

So stand up and fight, remember our tradition
so stand up and fight, it's always been our ambition
throughout the game we fight with all our might
cause we are blue and white
and from when the ball is bounced, to the final bell
STAND UP AND FIGHT LIKE H*LL!

The video isn't the best but it was all I could find at the time.




24.9.07

Discovering

Last weekend we went to Dixon's Creek for a working bee. We mostly cleaned to get ready for the upcoming youth camp. After lunch I wondered around as I sometimes do and found some interesting plants....here is the first one.

Pterostylis monticola
Large mountain greenhood
Pterostylis is a genus of about 70 species of terrestrial orchids, most of which are Australian but the genus extends to New Zealand, New Caledonia and New Guinea.



From the Australian Plant website ---"There are 107 orchid genera containing more than 800 species growing in Australia. Most are unique to this country. About ten new species are discovered each year as botanists study these plants using modern technology."




I also made a discovery at Vinnies the local opshop. I found this great table for our kitchen. We have needed some extra space and this table works great. The best part is that it only cost $1!!!!. I was very excited.





What else. We are watching the Heroes series. I am trying to potty train Jolene this week. I don't feel like it will be a successful training week. She doesn't seem to care at all and I can't find any undies that actually fit her tiny waist.
Saturday I and my friend Lucila held a baby shower for another friend, Brit. Baby showers are a new thing in this country you don't have any registry type deal as you would in the States.

8.9.07

Count it all joy

I was needing to apply James 1: 2-4 today for two separate occasions, although one I realized than I should have.

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,


because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.


Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.



The first occasion: I am going over questions for the Youth Fellowship Group that Brandon and I help lead. Alastair is the main leader and we come along to help as much as needed. Brandon and I are leading discussion groups on these verses. I'm leading the girls and Brandon is with the boys. The discussion questions have to do with these verses. After looking at the questions I realized the second (what should have been first if I had had these verses in my mind at the time) occasion of the day.

The second/should have been first occasion: I was talking to my friend Melissa on the phone today. They just found out that the rental house they just moved into, maybe 3 months ago, is up for sale. They found out through the realtor even though the owners had just been by for a checkup a few weeks earlier (seems like they didn't have enough guys to say it themselves).So every Saturday for the next several weeks there will be an open house that they have to prepare for even though not by their own choice. Talking on the phone to her I said how sorry I was to hear the news. I was especially sad because of the really hard and long time it took for them to find it. They were looking for a place the same time we were and were having the same problems as well (i.e. very high demand + very low supply = wrestling with ten other families for one house). I realized after going over the questions tonight on James 1:2-4 that I should have said something more encouraging and along the lines of this passage.

7.9.07

A new member in the family

No I am not pregnant....we have added a dinosaur to the family. As you all know Jolene is getting older and we felt it was time for her to get rid of her paci (dummy or pacifier). Sunday night I told her that she was a big girl and that we would be throwing the dummy away. She told me "I'm a big girl now, I don't need a paci". "Ok" said I, "no more paci". So Sunday night we put her in bed without it. As soon as her head touched the pillow she was asking for her paci. I told she had said she didn't need it any more. She just looked at me and asked again. No, no paci. That night didn't go so well. I think she cried for an hour or so but eventually fell asleep. The next day I took her to the store and said she could get a special surprise since she gave up her paci. She picked a stuffed triceratops, fondly named her Dora (I have to say the sex of Dora changes by the hour), and now we are a family of five.
The first nap time was terrible even though Dora was there to rub her horns on Jolene's face. Jolene cried for the whole nap time. I almost went crazy. I stood firm though and no paci.

Jolene is fine now. The next night she went to bed without any crying. Brandon told her a story and that seemed to be enough. The following nap time went well too. It seems that stories are a requirement for sleep now as Jolene asks for them every night. Her favorite right now is Daniel in the lions den. That might be due to the fact that she has a stuffed lion as well.


Adele is getting her first tooth! I'm sure the second one is not far behind. She is also "waving" goodbye and making sounds that are very similar to the words. I think she will be talking even earlier than Jolene. Adele is also on the verge of crawling. She goes backwards fine it is the forward motion that stops her. She can get on her hands and knee and puts her little bottom in the air but is just not brave enough or coordinated to get the hands and feet going. Jolene as no idea what will happen in a few weeks time. All of Jolene's stuff will be at the mercy of Adele. Oh joy for me. They already fight now and Adele isn't moving all over the place yet. When I mean fighting I mean Jolene will take a toy that is laying beside Adele and Adele will yell at Jolene. Jolene will then follow suit and yell back only she will raise Adele one and add a shove to make it a combo move. Lovely, who said little children are innocent and can't do wrong? They have obviously not seen Adele when she is angry.
------------------Adele making her pirate face and getting into the chalk----------------------------

What else, oh yes. The flora and fauna of Australia. I took Jolene and Adele on a walk down by the bay today. We found two huge jellyfish (almost dinner plate size), at least I think that's what they were. They had been in the sun for awhile so the tendrils were gone. I wanted to bring the nicer looking one home with us so Jolene and I could dissect it but I didn't have a bag:-( I didn't really want to wrap it up in Adele's baby blanket either too messy. I cut the more yucky one open with a shell to have look. I was surprised at how dense they actually are or at least this type was. It was like cutting really dense agar. Maybe if I would have taken it home and soaked it a bit the composition would have changed, not really sure. I am debating on whether I should go back tonight and get it before the tide comes in. The birds will probably tear it apart before then anyway. So no picture of mine to show you, I know you are as disappointed as I am :-) Here is what I think it is from looking on the web


Blue Jellyfish - Catostylus mosaicus