Getting There

How do you prepare two preschoolers for a long overseas trip?  Well, whether they're Aussie raised, or Aussie born, at least pack a jar of Vegemite in their suitcase.  I'm pretty sure that at some point over the next couple of months, (once the novelty of rich American food has worn off), that this little jar of black goodness will make me a hero (at least for a minute or two) and them 'happy little Vegemites' :-)

Then, let them pack something they love!  For my kids, that would a baby doll, a tiger, and two muslin wraps (that once upon a time were used to swaddle their tiny selves!)  It's a lovely thing to enjoy more than two months of minimal stuff (suitcases only), but it's also a good thing to enjoy a piece of comfort from home.

Packed for the journey (oh, and as a side note, check all zippered compartments before leaving the house in case children have stashed a few extra items there)

And before you go, capture a pic of a sweet friend to take on the journey.  Both of my kids have already talked about Zahli and Aanya before we hit 48 hours of being gone.  Noah opened his eyes yesterday and said 'Muuuuuum...I'm so excited....I'm so excited that Aanya can't (s)tand up!!!'  Me too, buddy.  Me, too.

Lastly, check the validity of each passport.  We carry seven for the time being. Thankfully, all were valid for this trip.  The picture on Ella's US passport is absolutely hilarious.  She was six weeks at the time the picture was taken and unimpressed with this whole picture taking thing.  And I think every airline employee or customs/immigration agent that handles her passport makes a comment on it.  

Once at the airport, let them help!  Our little troopers carried their own backpacks and insisted on pushing a suitcase all through the check in line (which I think took about 50 minutes)

Ella took care of each passport and departure card after I'd finished filling them out (this is one thing I really dislike about international travel...the whole filling out customs forms, entry forms and so on.  So tedious)

And then all that's left to do is settle in to our 'home' for the next 15 or so hours.  

Sure is a long flight, but the entertainment a delight!

We had to make a few adjustments with the earphones to make them stay on little heads.  But that's why you pack extra clothes, right?

Aahhhh...finally on the ground in Texas.  Waiting on our bags.

All bags accounted for.  Now ready for more lines.

Oh these little faces.  Much cuter than my jetlag face, that's for sure

And the key to jetlag recovery with small children?  Grandparents, an aunt and an uncle!

Homestay

Well, the tables turned and I feel like we're officially 'all grown up' now.  I know we do have two kids of our own and all, but there's something about taking on responsibility for someone else's child that makes me feel like a real adult.  

Shiori, our beautiful exchange student from Tokyo City University is hardly a child, but I did hear her referring to us as 'mama and papa', and I quite enjoyed taking her under my wing as another child.

Jason and I have both been exchange students as young adults.  Jason, during his college years, spent a month in Japan, and later some time here in Australia.  I spent a month in Japan when I was 16, and then an entire year in prairie Canada when I was 17.  Both my Japanese and Canadian host families took me in as their own; our relationships spanning FAR beyond the weeks and months spent under their roof.  

While living in Japan after graduating from university, I would receive phone calls from my host father who lived many prefectures away.  "Nicole, tomorrow it will snow, please don't wear high heels and take care!" "Nicole, are you eating well?"  They sent me boxes of seasonal fruit and other goodies during my years in Japan.  When it was time for me to leave, they journeyed by bullet train to Tokyo to say goodbye...this was ten years after we first connected with their family.

And Canada . . . well, I can't think back on that homestay experience without a lot of emotion.  I quickly fell in love with my host family.  My family sacrificed a lot for me to have that experience and my host family sacrificed also in keeping me as their own.  The goodbyes were gut wrenching (it still kind of hurts to think about it).  But little did I know this wasn't the end!  I ended up visiting them every summer during university, and after graduating, I lived in Japan with my host sister, Jenny.  We got to show her mom, Cheryl, around on a visit she made to Japan (including a very memorable trip to an onsen together!)  Jenny was my maid of honor in 2002 and I was hers a couple of years later!  NEVER would have dreamed these things!  I didn't know when I said goodbye to them in 1995, that 7 years later, we would both be living in the US, just a seven hour drive from each other.  Two years ago, in Oklahoma, I watched my kids hunt Easter eggs with Jenny's girls, and sit and read books with my host mom and dad.  Amazing!

All that reminiscing to say, we've had wonderful experiences as the student and were so excited about being the host family!

And a wonderful experience it has been.  We have been so blessed having Shiori in our home.  She is a 2nd year University student studying Early Childhood and our kids LOVE her.  Ella looked at me in disbelief when I told her Shiori would be returning to Japan tomorrow morning.  

Shiori has read books to them in English and Japanese and sung songs.  They have done origami.  She has come to ballet and swimming.  She has just fit right in . . . helping with dishes, made some sushi, and played games with us at night.  She has endured a bit of crying from the kids, been patient with our very lived in home and been exposed to some immodesty from my son :-)  

A sweet experience and tomorrow we'll say not 'goodbye' but 'Ja ne', because for all we know she'll be that boomerang exchange student like I was that just keeps on coming back!  So glad we could do this!

Our Sunday group that met at our house.  Dinner was sushi!

Just fitting right in

We got to know a few of the other students also through carpooling to and from the uni each day

Such a happy group of students.  This isn't all of them...I think there were 33 girls and ONE boy on this trip!  

Baby Wearing

For the past five hours (and counting, he doesn't look like giving in anytime soon), my son has been 'baby wearing' with a stuffed tiger down his shirt.  I first noticed it when I lay down in his bed at nap time (I guard nap time fiercly, which means I often choose to lay there and make sure he doesn't get up and start yahooing in he and his sister's room).  

I thought surely he'd ditch the tiger for a more comfortable nap.  But no, he slept that way, woke that way, has eaten his snack that way and is currently sitting on the sofa with one arm cradled around his little baby for extra support.  He even just used the potty this way and has given him a drink!

Post nap (cuuuutie!!!!)

All wrapped up!  Perhaps he remembers the security ;-)

I guess they've seen a lot of baby wearing in their short lives and are going to carry on the tradition

Snacking with his 'baby'

This little scene has taken me back to the years of wearing my babies.  When we had Ella, baby bjorns were very popular and ours has had some good use.  Since I was pregnant again so soon, Jason took up wearing the baby we had while I grew the next one :-)

Chilling out in Austin at a garage sale we had before moving to Australia (wow, this seems like yesterday)

Enjoying a stroll in Abilene

And...exhausted!

One of our favorite places to go to 'get out of town' is Carrington Falls.

With Noah soon to arrive, and Ella at the tender age of not yet even 15 months old AND not yet walking, we had to get a bit more creative with the baby carrying/wearing.  Jason scored this fantastic Kathmandu backpack at a car boot/trunk sale.  

Ella was not impressed with her new ride at first.

 

 

But she came around! On our annual family retreat just before Noah was born

 

Good for being carried in.  Good for taking naps in.  Bless her.  A brand new big sister of just 10 days, Viva la Gong festival was just too much for her.

I can't remember exactly how old Noah was when I purchased a baby wrap.  He was in pain due to colic, was so fussy, and I was exhausted.  Best money spent!  I certainly got my moneys worth out of this thing.  It took some time getting used to putting it on but soon it was his our happiest place.  SO comfortable (waaaay more comfy than the bjorn), SO secure, and I'm not going to lie...I quite enjoyed having my baby close to me so often :-) 

And so, snuggled in the baby wrap, there he grew, and slept, and learned to suck those two fingers, and grew a little more.  And I got a lot done; from dishes to hanging out the laundry, to just enjoying a happier baby.  I think I wrapped and carried him until he was 17 months old, and often with Ella on one hip.  It was definitely a conversation starter!

I did occasionally let him out of the wrap for a ride in the bjorn :-)

 No stopping us now!  8 weeks old and out and about enjoying the Blue Mountains

Definitely a lifesaver for our young, busy family

My little boy

There are so many things about Noah, at age 3 years and 4 months, that I think I'll never forget.  But really, I know better.  And so I sit a while to record a thought or two, a few memories, and a junk load of pics that capture my son better than any words will.

This little guy kinda sorta overwhelms me.  Melts my heart with his cheeky smile, funny antics, and Aussie drawl.  And every now and then makes me want to set my hair on fire.  This face?  Really?!

Noah -- you are absolutely hilarious.  

You aren't afraid of pink, or tutus, '(s)parkly shoes or leaping off things as if you can fly.  You think anything other than undies and a cape are either overrated or optional.  A cape and undies together means 'well dressed' to you, it seems.  

You are often spiderman or batman, sometimes a king, and occasionally a princess.  I hope one day you will thank us for allowing such creativity!  You are providing excellent (and endless!) material for a slideshow for your 18th or 21st!  Why wait, though?

Your love your sister fiercely and dearly.  You are loved fiercely back and handle it well . . . most of the time.

You can play along and yet hold your own.  Beneath your growls and roars is a tender heart (you're quick to share and make things right).  Today you prayed, thanking God for the things you hold very dear to your heart; 'for this day, for Lightning McQueen and for cars.'  You sing boldly in the supermarket 'Jesus loves the children of the world'.  

You love Lord of the Rings stories and tell me 'When I was born, I lived in a hobbit hole with Bilbo Baggins'.  This makes your dad sooo proud!

I love your (s)nuggles.  So. Much.  

I love listening to you role play with your cars, watching you run and jump fearlessly. I love how you're right by your sister's side when she's a little shy.

I love how you sleep with one hand under your cheek (and often the opposite hand to cheek...so cute!)

You love being outside but are often found inside, crafting or coloring away; wrapping things in paper and 'ticky pate' (sticky tape) and then asking me to tie a string around it to make a 'snowman thing' (ie an ornament)

You act like a cat when you're in a new situation and it makes me laugh every time.  You rock the gumboots and the UGGS, ask for "greek yogurt and honey in a bowl with a spoon" (so specific!) at least four times a day, and have greeted far too many guests in your birthday suit.

You're loved for all these things and more.