A post of Christmas past, and Christmas future.

It seems we are laying tentative plans to fly to Australia for Christmas 2009! Maybe we'd be able to afford it more comfortably for, say, Christmas 2012, but until she's two years old, Adelaide can fly for free. So we're going to take advantage of this wonderful thing.

It is, you see, one of the only wonderful things left about flying.

I don't know if they've done this over in Australia, but some of the domestic airlines here (United Airlines is one of them) have started to charge for every checked bag. It used to be you could get two bags checked at no charge, but now every single bag you check will cost you a sweet US$15. I guess it will mean people will try to pack lighter, therefore reducing fuel consumption or something, I guess. But you know who is going to be negatively impacted by this most? Families. If we each pack one bag, that's $45. If I take a stroller, that takes it to $60.

Not only THAT, but I've also heard today on CNN that they are going to be more strict about carry-ons. Well, that's great. Not only are the airlines going to charge us for checked luggage, but on top of that they're going to go all carry-on-Nazi on us. Fantastic.

I'm not saying airlines can't introduce fees or restrictions where they see fit. When it comes down to it I'd rather pay an extra $15 or $30 and be able to go back to Australia for a bit, than to not visit at all. But it's going to make traveling frequently a lot more unattainable for us. Which is sad.

Anyway, this post wasn't started so I could gripe about airlines. I wanted to share with you all my exciting news about Christmas 2009!

At this point in time, Aaron's brother Matt, and Matt's lovely girlfriend Sarah, are planning to come over as well, but will probably do some of their own thing rather than spend the entire time with my family (fair enough - I go crazy spending time with my family, and I'm one of them - can't imagine what it's like for an outsider... poor Aaron ;-P).

Mum and I have already started planning - Christmas on the beach! We'll rent a couple beach houses or shacks, either down at Kingston or closer to the Coorong (if it hasn't been completely extincted or dried up by then...), have some seafood on the barbie for lunch, have a hit of beach cricket, go for a swim (maybe even hire some surfboards??), and get hammered. A typical Eckert family Christmas wouldn't be complete without getting hammered.

Exhibit A: Submitted for your approval - particularly Kerrin - the time she got wasted and I believe there was a SuperSoaker and peanut chucking war started, including peanuts being ditched at the kids over the neighbor's back fence? And I believe Kerrin was overheard saying to her 18-month-old baby, "Hello Vallie, Mummy's very drunk!"

Exhibit B: Then there was the time Aunty Chris ordered two alcohol baskets from Chrisco, and Sam was mixing drinks for Dad and Gaz first thing Christmas morning, so by the time I got back from church most everyone was on their way to being well and truly sloshed, and we polished off a bottle of champers on the way to the cemetery to say hi to Gran and Lala? And then Dad drank the cream?

Ah, memories...

If you don't know of these events and are now viewing me with some apprehension, please be assured that I'm usually the sober one. Hence why I remember all these events!

It sure is going to be interesting introducing little Adelaide to her extended family. The kids are all nuts (but adorable), the bogan streak is well and truly alive in the entire family (some more than others...), they/we are all very loud, and our way of thinking is very "small town". Not really anything like the subdued but awesome Plein family! Hopefully there will be within her an unquenchable Eckertality (see, Kia Rondo, I can make up words too) that will come out and prepare her for The Crazy. We'll see what happens.

Sick! or, Father's Day 2008

"I don't like Fathers Day." This was Aaron's final summation of his very first Fathers Day. Personally I don't blame him one bit, considering at the time of his uttering aforementioned phrase, he was in bed battling nausea. And it was such a 'neat-o' experience that he shared it with me.

Father's Day began pretty nicely. Aaron did have to work that morning, from about 5:30 til 9:30, but he was used to it so it's not a huge deal. Then after Laidey and I got home from church, we all with John and Mary made a Fathers Day brunch. I'm not sure how widespread this type of brunch is in Australia; all I know is I never experienced it quite like this til I came to the States. Bacon, eggs, French toast, biscuits and gravy (biscuits = huge-arse buttery scones), juice (my new favorite, pomegranate blueberry - yum), and fruit. We had cantaloupe (= rockmelon), watermelon and strawberries. Everything was incredibly tasty, and we all ate quite a bit. Aaron opened his gifts (a two-year subscription to Motor Trend magazine, and his first inaugural Fathers Day Cheesy Tie), we lounged around and basically had a nice lazy morning. John and Mary went into town (= Brainerd) to do some shopping, and then to visit Mary's mom and dad, and once Laidey had napped and was ready, we would join them.

Aaron and I fell asleep on the couch, which I thought was due to a) him getting up early for work; and b) me getting up early for church. In hindsight it was probably the beginning of the whole sickness thing. Anyway, so we woke up and Laidey woke up, and we all got in the car and headed into town. On the way, I started to feel kinda weird. I guess Aaron did too, but he never said anything. We went and spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa, who were very pleased to see little Adelaide. Who of course showed off her new mad skillz by creeping across the table several times, and rolling and sitting like a pro! *bursting with maternal pride*

Soon, though, Aaron was looking tired, so we headed out. On the way home, we discovered we were both feeling pretty crappy. Which made itself known very rapidly as soon as we arrived home... poor Aaron threw up before we even got inside. The rest of the evening was spent making sure he was comfortable and that Laidey was entertained... before it hit me. I tell you what, nothing is more miserable than laying in bed, waiting to throw up. If Aaron wasn't sick too, I would have sworn it was morning sickness all over again.

So... yeah. That was Father's Day. Monday was spent with both of us at home. I think Adelaide got bored with just hanging out with Mumma on the couch, instead of playing with the other kids at daycare, but she did well and thankfully she didn't get sick.

Oh, which reminds me: not only did she dazzle us all with her creeping skillz, she also had her first taste of big-people food on Sunday!! I froze a piece of cantaloupe and put it inside a mesh pacifier thingo so she couldn't actually get any of it into her mouth. She was just able to suck on it and have a taste. I'm not sure entirely how successful the endeavour was - she seemed to enjoy the coolness of it on her gums to begin with, and when she reached the actual juicyness her expression changed. I don't think it was "Yuck" or "Yum", it was more "...well this is different." Of course she got very sticky, which meant Daddy gave her a nice warm bath in the middle of the day.

But it's back to work today. We're feeling much better. :)