Today in the land of Aus (they are a day ahead) ...
it is Australia Day - January 26th.
This is what I would consider the equivalent to the 4th July in the USA. It is in the thick of summer with lots of fun to be had.
I always, always miss Australia at this time of year... for lots of reasons but I think the cabin fever and the fact that I would give my right eye to thaw out in Australia on Australia Day is really up there!!
I thought as a tribute to all things Australian, being Australia Day and all, I would give you a bit of a look into the things I love (and miss) about Australia.... I will warn you, this might be a long post, but it is just a look, so it won't be as long as I could make it!! :)
First off, my family!
I miss them like crazy at the best of times and even more at the worst of times. We truly have been blessed to have such frequent visits!
Today, they will be together (most of them) at my sisters house enjoying this...
Where I would be getting my laughing gear around one of these sausage sangas...
After that, they would be heading here... Newcastle Beach
...to do some of this...
beaching and relaxing while the kids play...
OHHHH to click my heels and us to be there with them....
I would then be enjoying this for dinner perhaps...(if mum was up for cooking her lamb roast)
If not, we would all chip in and enjoy some fine dining of fish n chips! CHICKEN SALT please....
Then... we would all enjoy some 'oh so delish pav'....mmmm
Where we would then all watch this....
believe me when I tell you, nothing beats an Australia summer sunset! ahhh the serenity!
When Cory and I were chatting and I was thinking of all the things we love and miss, it was fun to reminise. I am so glad that he was able to enjoy the same parts of Australia I did and even more so in some ways....
I miss alot of the food and goodies I grew up with and Cory is particularly fond of these things too... here are a few...
TOTALLY top of the list... cadburys chocolate, and I mean the REAL stuff! (My favourites are Peppermint, Black Forest, Top Deck and Snack. Cory likes those too, but his fave is Crunchie)
I particularly love this little baby.... (although Nestle make him, he is a good one)
Lollies...oh lollies...how I miss you...
Weis Bars... you are just lovely...both Cory and I agree that Mango, you are our fave
Bickies...
Monte Carlos...heaven...
Mint Slice...think, girl scout mint thins on crack! They have a smooth mint center, like a york peppermint pattie in a cookie!
Now for the savory...
Cheezels...
...Burger Rings (they sound gross, but trust me... they are mmm mmm good)
Bakery items... oh how I miss you, on those cold, cold days (which are plentiful here) when I crave you daily when pregnant... ahhhh I miss you..
Lamingtons... (I use to call these wellingtons when I was a little girl...memories...)
Meat pies... HAVE to be from Bakers Cottage... THE.BEST.BAKERY.E.V.E.R!!
Sausage Rolls...with sauce (ketchup)
Apple Turnover with cream....
Chocolate Mud Cake (with King Island Cream)... THE BEST!!
Vanilla Slice...AND chocolate ecclairs..
Scones... oh you call my name almost daily!
These would be the only "cold ones" I would be slogging back on Australia Day, and any other day for that matter!! Sars and Ginger Beer are like the equivalent to Root Beer, just depends on your taste. I am partial to Sars myself, think sweet, homemade root beer...even better!
I found some really cute tributes to Australia and thought I would share...
I also found a blog that had some fun facts... some of it is a bit shonky (yeah another Aussie word)... but it was a bit of fun none the less...
I seriously could go on and on! I got to thinking of all the lovely smells and sights of the familiar parts of Australia, but thought I might leave that til next year!!
One Friday, after a frustrating and frazzling day, my house was a mess (which these days is VERY rare as our apartment is being shown constantly), I was a mess, I was depressed and feeling a bit defeated when Cory told me the weekend would be better as he had it off (little did I know he was in on the secret). Then as I was sitting at the computer someone poked their head between my blinds and said, "Yoohoo!" It freaked me out. I was thinking, "Did they even knock, I didn't hear it?" Then I open the door to MY SISTER AND BROTHER IN LAW!! I about died. I could not believe it. I cried instantly. What a great end to an otherwise hard day.
Cory was laughing, all my family were in on the secret of my surprise visitors! It was awesome. I had suspicions months ago when Annette called Cory's phone not mine... hmmm but I had since forgot about it so this was 100% a surprise.
We had almost 2 weeks of visiting with Netty and Ronnie and it was so nice. Thank you, thank you for taking time to come to us, for all you did while here and for your friendship and love! We love you and miss you!
It is only 76 days until my sister Allison, her husband Will and their 3 little lovelys arrive to us for their first ever White Christmas! Can you tell we are all a little too excited!!
While my mum was here she could not sit still, was always wanting something to do so she finished up some sewing projects I had going and altered some skirts that I needed mended. Cade was the ever helpful child!! Here are some cute pics of the 2 of them...
This month has been an eventful one for our little family. I finally have a chance to sit down and collect my thoughts (and photos)! My mum came to visit for the month on August and it was SO lovely. We relaxed most of the time when we weren't out and about seeing the sites in Salt Lake and visiting family. It was so nice to have her here. It was just comfort for me, like she had always been here and it was hard to say goodbye that's for sure. She made it home safe and well and was greatly missed by my nieces and nephews as she tends them quite a bit and they just love Nanny T. My niece Shaylie wrote her a sweet card saying she counted down the days until she returned and cried and cried when she left. Just a tender moment for my mum and Shay when they finally did see each other. We miss her already and it seems strange to be out and about without her company. I love you mum!!
Here are some pics of us at the airport waiting for mum to arrive. She missed her connecting flight which we didn't find out until a freak out session by me, having her paged for 30 minutes and asking about 10 different times at baggage claim, but she got in 5 hours later and all was well. Well, she wasn't well, had a sinus infection which robbed her of her voice for almost a week...
Cory and I have been married for 9 years and are the proud parents to 2 happy, gorgeous little men. Cade, 5 and Ethan, 3, with our 3rd little man due early August. Cory is busy working for P&H MinePro and I stay busy at home with my boys! I love, love, love it! I love to be healthy, and create, will try my hand at anything crafty. I enjoy blogging and catching up with friends.
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