Thanksgiving and my 20th birthday

Hello. Im slacking on writing to you, but i figure ive written three posts and its only been two months, thats not too bad.

this year being away from thanksgiving was bringing me down, so i decided that i (with the help of my loving boyfriend) i would do thanksgiving anyway i knew i wanted it big, the way we did it at home and really yummy. so i started looking online and consulting with family on correct recipes and dishes. the end result was amazing! worth all the work. end up being something like 13 people. the noons, deb, alex, their kids, ro, dave, geoff, lynda and us! it was quite a full house. when i started actually cooking there was no way in my mind that i would put out every dish i was trying to accomplish, no way. i just figured i would mess up some how but no everything came out. a few glitches here and there but all was well. i made, turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, candied yams, grandmas 7 layer salad, stuffing, green bean casserole, gravy, corn, two pumpkin pies and an apple pie. it was delicious! everything tasted just like home. i was very proud. geoffs parents pulled out the champagne and gave me a toast. i was honored. i was missing my family in california but was happy with my new family in canberra. anyways here are some pictures........

the aftermath.

yummy cherry bier

everyone minus Ro

everyone minus me

thats just about everything.

had to get a picture of myself.

this was the largest pan geoffs mom had. we're lucky, it barely fit.

in the 7 layer salad i had to change a few things. the closest thing they have to our cheddar cheese is white and their bacon is nothing like ours. the salad was unforgettable though. in fact geoffs mom wants me to make it for christmas. :)

and that brings me to my birthday. thanks again if you contributed to the "visit heidi fund". it was much appriciated. so geoff actually got my present in the middle of november. he had about a month to tease me about what he got me. jerk. :) hed give me colors and sizes but nothing really that would help me guess. some ofthe colors he listed were black, red, green and blue. one night we were joking about it. and i gasped and said i know what you are getting me!!! a PANDA! black fur, blue eyes, red tounge, green bamboo its eating!!! we both just laughed.

so geoff had a brilliant idea..... he got a giant bear and had his sister make an amzing panda mask. and they hid my present INSIDE!!!!

anyways it was really amazing.

i got a laptop! brand new with windows 7 and all my files already transfered. its a beautiful thing. :)

anyways. missing you. ill take lots of pictures for christmas. :)

if you were to walk around Canberra

these would be some of the things you'd see.....



lots of this. :)

orange and poppy seed cakes and muffins. (instead of lemon and poppy sead)

lake gininderra. its right next to the mall.


these are the license plates.

dee's comic book shop. geoff shops there every friday for the newest comics. dee's really nice and says thank you a lot. hehe

that would be just a few things.
its been quite warm here in the last couple weeks.
other then geoff i think i spend the most time with his mom. shes amazing. :)

time are changing though, i have a job and will be meeting more people on my own. which i hope will end up being good. im still a little chicken at making friends at times but i hope that will wear off as i meet more people.

geoff and i are supposed to see Tim Minchin in early december. thats going to be so much fun. if you dont know who he is... look him up right now. hes a little inappropriate (for all you older folks) but hes hilarious. im really excited about that.

also thanksgiving is coming up!!! incase you didnt know, im doing an aussie/american thanksgiving. it was something i was looking forward to this year then i moved away. so instead of being bummed about it, i am going to make my own thanksgiving thank you very much! im making it how we always have thanksgiving in the states. im pretty excited about that too. althought technically i might have to work the day before (booo!) but i told them id need that day off or at least a half day. im hoping they can work something out.

geoff cut his hair!! just incase i forget to mention. yes he really did and yes i know he loves me. haha. it looks really great. its a big step to take. and im really happy about it. i have lots to be very happy about.

I am starting to miss some of my stuff though, stuff i am planning on getting here at some point. its just really expensive. so we're waiting to see if we can get a good deal on it. i think ill feel a lot more at home when i get that stuff here. when i look around see my things. not really sure where i could put anything though, we've already been very creative in how we use space. but that'll be a problem that ill leave for future heidi to figure it out. shes the perfect one :)


so thats what ive been up to. :)

Floriade, Mailbox, Rockstars, and Halloween

I thought I would update.
Ive been here for over a month now.
just got a job (post pictures of it later)
learned how to drive (on the wrong side of the road)
and just STILL trying to get settled.
here are some pictures of some of the things you missed.....

Floriade...

Its a flower festival! we spent the day looking at flowers.
we brought the girls

I was reminded what a beautiful city i live in.







Mailbox....
some local kids blew up our mail box. chunks went everywhere. broke a window to our living room, broke a tail light on the car. we're pretty sure they put fireworks in it.

Rockstars....


Halloween...
Australians dont really do halloween, so we didnt want to send the girls around the block asking for candy. they likely wouldnt receive any. so we got creative, we did things easter style. hid the candy and the kids had to run around and find it all. Im pretty sure Ro (geoff's mother) and i had more fun then anyone :)










we baked the pumpkin seeds and some brownies. they all yelled "this is the best halloween ever!!!" we all laughed because it was their first halloween ever :) it was a great time.

Ive got more pictures to come but this is good for now. im missing home but as time goes by i feel more and more comfortable here.

we rearranged our living room this weekend. its soo much better. i cant wait to get a bigger couch. its really open. i love it.

ENJOY!

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year

welcome home.

welcome to this new world
welcome to his love

welcome to this family

welcome to this country

welcome to this continent

this is my new life.

i just moved,

from san diego, california, the usa

to canberra, australian capital territory, australia

alone.

im excited and nervous and lonely and full of love.

i moved for geoff. the best man ive ever had the pleasure of meeting.

im making a life, but i cant help but miss the comforts of familiarity.

and well... shelbi.

"taking the jump"

i had to.

to live, to really live.

i had to.

im glad i did it.

i take mental snapshots as i walk around all the mean while thinking of how i wish you were here.