Whew.

I can't believe that Christmas has literally flown by.. and now it's New Years Eve down under. And in true down under style (and casa de baby style) we will hopefully be sleeping ringing in the new year on the beach. Until then, can't help but dance.

XXX Kiki

Yes. This is happening.

And Cara seemed shocked that I knew all the words...

Hello Fall?

It's Kiki calling.

Except around here, it isn't fall. That's right people, it's springtime in Oz (and I have Charlotte spinning her web behind the toilet to prove it ... or she has decided to entertain herself by tormenting my every pee). But enough about baby spiders, there are a lot of wonderful things about spring. It's finally warm enough to go to the beach (yay!) and get sun burnt between your shoulder blades (where is Ma's awesome lotion paint roller when I need it?). I know the Australian sun is hot/awful/blistering but it isn't really summer until I get sun burnt. And with Thanksgiving last week and Christmas music starting to be played, I am trying to subconsciously tell myself that it can be Santa time while sweating like a maniac. My subconscious isn't buying it. This time of year, you should be out smelling leaves. Piles and piles (and piles and piles at casa de Newcomb in the CVL). And apple picking. And sweaters and scarves. And be able to tell it's going to snow by the smell. And see obnoxious Christmas lights plastered throughout every American suburb. Without the increased electricity bill subtle hints that the time has come to eat too much turkey and chop down a tree, how am I supposed to sing Christmas carols?

So I did what every good American should do - I baked and sugared the crap outta some pumpkin. And then I blasted Mariah Carey as loud as it could go.

See my apron!

It's not a holiday until a Newcomb does a Jaeger bomb

Pecan blue cheese sweet potatoes

Apple cider pear brussel sprouts

 I won't lie, even the pictures of everything I've cooked look good. The secret is out, I can feed people. And thanks to inspiration a la Mimi Fitzpatrick, I got myself a fun apron. And in case you haven't heard, I am in love. With a mister baby named Trip. Here's an old video from Trip's first visit to Adelaide and his first ever Belgian Beer Cafe experience (BBC is my haven, good beer on tap! Shocking for Australia) and his pesky hat.

Sorry that it's sideways... (computer illiterate, and even though I can only watch it vertically, the interweb insists you watch it horizontally) but it's definitely still funny.

XOXO Kiki

Apple cider pear brussel sprouts:
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in fry pan, place brussel sprouts cut side down and brown for about 10 minutes, flipping only once. Add a diced apple and diced pear, sprinkle with cinnamon (I bet ginger would be good, I added candied balsamic vinegar and it was a poor choice). Cook until soft, about 5 minutes, add 1 cup apple cider (I used The Hills hard cider, if you like to drink it, why not use it?) and simmer until all the liquid is gone. Yum!

Can't stop

Listening to this. Added bonus, he's a fox.

Stay classy, friends.
Love Kiki

For Cara

Because this is awesome. On repeat.

Love,
Kiki.

Video killed the radio star

As many of you already know, C+T don't have cable television. They do have a TV and DVD player thanks to Nan (who I am surprised hasn't stopped by with an iron yet). So we can enjoy family movie nights and all pile onto one couch, trudge the 12 inch screen in from under the ping pong table, and cushion the floor with an extra mattress. There is no sitcom watching marathons or randomly checking into whats happening on the New Jersey coast. I will admit, I was a little scared of not having a television, no access to the news or learning how to renovate the bathroom I don't have thanks to HGTV or TrueBlood. No swapping Jeopardy answers with Papa Newcomb. Occasionally, I still have one of those days or moments where I would love nothing better than to just curl up on the couch and watch something mind numbing, but for the most part I don't really miss it. It does mean that sometimes, when we are bored and don't want to read a book or work in the garden or paint at the shop, we have to get a little more creative to entertain each other and ourselves.
Just the other night I decided to sing Trip an actual baby song. And so it began hush little baby don't say a word Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird and if that mocking bird don't sing Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring and if that diamond ring don't shine Mama's gonna buy you ... buy you ... Only two lines into the song and I couldn't quite remember the rest of the words, so what did I do? Call it a night and pack up my singing voice? Re-sing the same two lines over and over and over again? Wrong and wrong. I ploughed ahead, and although I will never actually be able to sing the exact words again, there were some amazing purchases made for baby that night, including a large piece of pie, a thing of hay, and my personal favorite pants like Sinbad's. The song only ended when Toff suggested an Aunt Kiki and if that Aunt Kiki isn't great, oh wait! Aunt Kiki is always great, the end.
And so, what began as a random stumbleupon when I was back in the States turned into an actual project. It's no secret that Trip's main animal theme right now are owls (thanks to a gorgeous owl quilt made by Great Meme) and what's an Aunt to do? Why make a sock owl mobile! Pleased to introduce the newest members of the family:

Natasha and Boris

Simba and Rafiki

Cher and Sonny

And although they are still being placed sporadically around the house, they will become a mobile at some point... whenever I am done playing with them. I also may be slightly obsessed with making them now, so if you would like a sock owl ornament for your Christmas tree, just tell me where to send it. And lets be honest, even if you don't tell me you want one, you may just get one anyway.

Last night I just may have topped myself with Morroccan Lamb Meatloaf: garlic, ginger, carrots, mint, zuchinni, cinnamon, onion, bread crumb, spice deliciousness.

SMOOCH,
Kiki.

Growing say what?

It's hard not to think about age and milestones and mortgages when you surround your days with someone who changes and ages literally from day to day (and I mean Trip, not C+T's bakery, duh). Every morning I wake up and say "you are totally bigger than yesterday/this morning/the last five seconds" which was funny until it started to speed up. If there is one thing this kid is good at, it's eating and growing. After complimenting him on his growth style I can't help but be a little sad about what things I'll be missing when I leave and then I can't help but be super insanely jealous of everyone here who gets to watch what I won't be able to.
In four months I'll be 26 and I'll only have one more month in Oz and who knows how big this kid will be. I'll be closer to 30 than I am to 20 and am I supposed to feel more mature? Should I rush back to Virginia and get a mortgage and a dog and hopefully a plant that can live to the end of a week? Should I stop thinking farts are funny? Because I don't really feel that way. I'm not feeling "clucky" or "nesty", I have no desire to have my own spit up maker right now or house or new denture, the old one works just fine and hasn't broken yet. Farts will always be funny. I actually can't stop planning this massive road trip (roadtrip!) for myself when I get home. Because C+T seem to have grown up without planning it and maybe that's the way I'll roll too. Maybe I should start listening when Australians say "no worries". With all this growing up happening around me, I don't feel that grown up. And yet at the beginning and end of everyday I can't help but feel a little better every time I brush my teeth, false and all, and Homer Simpson critiques my technique.

Hugs galore,
Kiki.