How you going?

At Bondi Beach with nephews Beckett and Wil.

Yes, that is how Wil smiles on demand.

... and "Good day, mate," "No worries," and "Take out the rubbish." That is just a small sample of the lingo we were privileged to during our recent trip Down Under. That is right, we went on a little trip to Australia, to visit Nathan, Lindsay and the boys. We brought back a wombat and a koala bear too. Unfortunately they are fake; the price we paid for them would make you think they must be real, however. But I don't want this blog to sound like Elin is complaining.

We had a delightful time in Sydney. Elin enjoyed sitting in the house and reading books she could read anywhere in the world, and I enjoyed seeing the sites, swimming at Bondi beach, eating kangaroo meat and other exotic wonders. I figure if you are going to fly literally halfway around the world, you should at least act like you are halfway around the world. That is also my justification for wearing a speedo to the beach. I'll let you imagine what that looked like, considering my svelte new 230 lb body.

Forrest and Wil building sandcastles at Bondi

The view from Bondi

Much to most of your disappointment, I, being Elin, am going to take over from here, because Forrest went to go shower. I don't have the wit and charm he possesses, but at least I can set a few things straight. Like how I didn't just sit in the house and read the entire time I was in Sydney. Indeed, I did read two books while I was there, but I am a fast reader and it was while we were all at the house or while I was sitting on the glorious beach. I saw as many sights as Forrest did, although he did not think I was near as enthusiastic as I should be. Nonetheless, Australia is gorgeous and we are both forever grateful for Nathan and Lindsay's hospitality. Here are just some of the wonders we experienced while we were there:

Standing (elin) and Swimming (forrest) in real ocean waves.
Riding the ferry from Sydney to Manly

Trip to Budderoo National Park = amazing waterfalls and a rainforest

Visit to Darling Harbor, the Chinese Gardens, and Wildlife World
Tour of Sydney on the Big Red Bus

Stopping at an Australian pie shop and eating the most delicious berry and cream pie on earth

Experiencing fish and chips in a location from which you can actually see the ocean

Picnicking at the Botanical Gardens

Here is the Sydney Bridge. The Opera house is nearby.

Forrest in front of the Dragon Wall at the Chinese Gardens

Nathan and Oliver and your two narrators.
I am holding Wil's plastic crocodile, in case any of you are wondering. He must have dropped it one of the times he hit the ground while he was running around. He scraped up both knees pretty bad.

And now, though I vowed at one time that I would never take pictures with the mere purpose of showing a baby bump, because Rachell has now asked nicely twice, I have done what I vowed never to do. And I must say, I felt like this was a mug shot or something. So Rachell, these are for you, because I love you and miss you. I would have included some of the ultrasound pictures but they are too blurry. Apparently she is an active little thing. The doctor said she looked "long of limb." Hmmmm, no surprise there. But much to Forrest's satisfaction, the doctor noticed she has a prominent chin. Thank you, Roberts and/or Allred genes for the blessing of facial bone structure. That certainly is not a trait that my family enjoys.

I definitely look wider, anyway....

It's not really a bump, per se. More like, everything between my sternum and hips is pushing outwards.