Around Christmas Time
(that's summer here)

Julia enjoying the clamshell kiddie pool. Sadly, the kiddie pool has gone the way of all cheap plastic in high-UV sunlight. However, some friends who were in the midst of moving (Tas and Emily Stacey) gave us their old kiddie pool, which is made of much sterner stuff.

We usually spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Iain and Mary Smith but Mary was away in Scotland and it did not work out this year. We stayed in Launceston and had the Patricks over for Christmas Day instead.

Above and below are a couple of pictures of the hot Monopoly action on Christmas Day. Nathan and his John slaughtered me, but I went down like a man.

We were playing a special version of Monopoly: The Grand Rapids Edition! The only thing it was really missing was a square for each Christian publisher in Grand Rapids.

John is really into his Monopoly. Watch out, Donald Trump!

Our budding artist! Julia absolutely loves to paint, though her mom doesn't actually bring the paint out very often.

Job!

More Job!!

After Christmas, we went to Kmart to check out the sales. Martha (yes, it was Martha) saw these Tonka trucks on special and thought we had to have them. The trucks were a good deal, and Job has been making lots of truck noises lately, so we got them. (He blows raspberries.) You can see how thrilled he is about his new toys.

A day or two after we got the trucks, Martha drew a small series of roads and roundabouts (traffic circles used to direct traffic instead of traffic lights or "robots"- as some call them) on our barbie (patio). Great fun.

My mother and stepfather sent us a Christmas package (more pics below). My mom made a beautiful quilt for Job. He is laying on the quilt in the pictures above and below.

I'm not sure what my wife is planning with that sticker on our son's head, but I am sure the friends and family in North America will make Job feel right at home. (Actually, it was Julia who stuck it on her brother. She loves stickers and often puts them on her or our hands, arms, legs, or foreheads.)

Job and Julia having breakfast. (No, he's not actually eating table food yet.)

"Hey, Mom! Where's mine?!"

Julia joyously opening the Christmas package (they often call them parcels here).

Job loves the taste of Michigan!

The second greatest thing in the world: stickers! (Lollipops come first.)

Job getting a little help with one of his presents.

Some friends from the Hobart congregation, Ian and Jen Ashby and their four children, visited us on a Saturday afternoon before they moved over to the main land. The Patrick family came over as well and we had a nice time of fellowship.

Hannah Ashby zooming across the barbie.

Julia's scooter is probably the most popular outdoor toy with other kids who come over to visit.
Above, John Patrick is enjoying the scooter.

Evelyn Patrick, Julia, and Andrew Ashby make good use of the chalk!

Jaslyn Patrick is always happy and full of smiles!

Always!! :P

Julia enjoying a banana in the Chewbacca t-shirt her Aunt Tristan gave her.

By the way, in case you did not know, stuffed Chewbacca toys are the evidence that Santa is not real. (This was one of my deductions when I was about 6 years old and "Santa" did not know what a stuffed Chewbacca was. We now have a stuffed Chewbacca... and no Santa visits.)

Andrew Ashby on the scooter!

Job and Daddy chillin'

Julia has not yet mastered the difference between sunscreen and toothpaste. She loves to use them both. This is toothpaste.

Job taking it all in. Someday he may sail over the seas and visit our good friends in BC who gave him this outfit. (Thanks, Jill!)

We had a great time New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, but I forgot the camera. New Year's Eve we continued our tradition of getting together with the Kingston family. This year, we went to their place and had a BBQ, played games, and brought in the New Year with Scripture and prayer. The Kerrison family, members of our church living on the mainland, were staying with the Kingstons as well. It was a great opportunity to catch up with them, too.

New Year's Day we had a church BBQ at the Trevallyn Dam. We had a beautiful day and enjoyed great food, fellowship, and backyard cricket (the sport).

Melbourne Trip Part 3

David Stewart and Job hanging out after dinner.

We went into Melbourne another day. Julia Short and the daughter of a family friend went ice skating with Martha. While they were chilling, Julia, Job, and I went into downtown Melbourne and hit the streets.

After exploring a bit, we picked up the ladies at the rink and went to Chokolait, a chocolate cafe in a little "arcade" (mini mall) in Little Collins Street.

Even Job is amazed at the stunning quality of the treats.

Julia Short, the one to thank for directing us to this superbly indulgent place

Good thing Terry doesn't like strawberries... more for the rest of us. :D

Eating with children generally requires flexibility and determination.

Job: Should I give in to temptation? (No, we didn't really give him any.)

Yes, it tasted as good as it looked.

It was amazing!

One evening we got together with Rev. John Nelson, his wife Elizabeth, and their whole family.
Before we all got together for a marvelous meal and great Christian fellowship, John took us out to an older section of Melbourne for a little sightseeing.

One of the many things we saw on our quick trip was a great view of downtown Melbourne.

Another evening, we had tea with the Withers family. Martha met the Withers through the Ladies Bible study at the Presbyterian Church of Australia (P.C.A.) in Launceston. Stuart Withers was an elder at the P.C.A. and a sheep farmer until the Lord called him to study for the ministry. Stuart now attends the Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne. It was very good to get together and catch up on how they are, how he is handling seminary, and the overall state of Christianity in Victoria and Tasmania.

In the above picture is Stuart's wife Adele and one of their children. Adele is a true mother in Israel and has been an encouragement and help to many P.C.A. ladies in Launceston.

Chatting about theology, family, and seminary studies with Stuart

Job is always keen on guy time

Back at the Stewarts' home: the serious Klaver men :)

Julia finishing breakfast being supervised by the Stewarts' dog Sophie. Sophie had surgery while we were staying with the Stewarts and that is why she has the cone on her neck. Occasionally Julia would grab Sophie by the edges of the cone and say, "Hello Sophie," and have a little conversation with her. Until Sophie got the cone, Julia was a little intimidated by her; but once Julia had control by grabbing the cone, everything was fine.

We visited the largest shopping center in the Southern Hemisphere in Chadstone, Victoria. We only saw about a third of it but what we did see of it was amazing. The variety of things available in Melbourne as opposed to Launceston is huge.

Martha really liked the T2 Tea Shop.

There were three food courts on the bottom floor of the Chadstone shopping center alone. We had lunch at a kind of all natural curry place. I got spicy beef curry and fresh coconut juice. Mmmm...tasty...

Julia really likes coconut juice too!

Our last little excursion before we returned to Launceston was a pancake house. Martha saw an advertisement for a real deal pancake house. We had not found a place that serves real North American style pancakes in Oz until we came to Melbourne. They have crepes and pikelets (tiny pancakes) in Tasmania but we have not come across what we would consider proper pancakes.

I am having some of Martha's chocolate malt and Julia is enjoying her sparkling apple juice. They called it apple cider but it's not at all like what Americans call apple cider. Although Tasmania is called "The Apple Isle," real apple cider seems to be something unknown here as well.

Job chilling out waiting for pancakes.

Perfect for those really lazy weekends... (what are those like again?)

The decoration and theme of the restaurant was eccentric and included some Alice in Wonderland characters.

An explanatory sign that left me still wondering why

The menu

We had a blessed time in Melbourne and an uneventful trip back home to Tassie.

Here we are waiting for our ride back home.