Telegraph Station

There is no shortage of beautiful parks around Alice Springs and this weekend we explored another one.  The Old Telegraph Station. 

There a number of trails thru and around the Station that I hope we are able to try before we leave.  Some are definitely too intense to do with the wee ones, but others look like they might be doable.

We didn't actually tour any of the buildings, but we did have a lovely morning tea (lunch) tucker (picnic).  We met a friend of Jamie's (Rio) and his mom (Simha) there and the boys had a fantastic time. 

We were joined by some birds and critters, including a newly "hatched" cicada. 




Orange Drummer Cicada Nymph



Orange Drummer Cicada (by the river)



Yellow Throated Miner joining our tucker
















The highlight of the morning was playing in the Todd River, which still had water in it from the previous week's rain.

Post swim snack

5 Months Old

It is really amazing how fast time is going.  Our littlest ones turned 5 months old yesterday, so we continued the tradition...

Braden

Gavin

Holding hands...

Busy Weeks in the Alice

Sorry for the long gap between posts.  Its been pretty busy around here.  First, both boys have learned to roll over.  Now, they both learned to go from their tummies to their back pretty early, but last week they managed to get from their backs to bellies (and back again).  Pretty exciting stuff for us.  Gavin did it first on Nov 9 and Braden quickly followed on Nov 11.

This week was also my birthday (Nov 18).  Ian generously offered to get up with Braden both for the 3AM and 6AM feedings, which would've been wonderful except Gavin decided it was time to prepare for a growth spurt and he also woke up at 3AM.  Ian did go in late to work, so he made me waffles as my birthday breakfast.

I then took Jamie to Ineke's and the babies to my friend, Amie's for the morning.  I got to go see the very first showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I at the Alice Springs Cinema.  It was a great movie and a wonderful way to spend the morning.  Amie also had us all over for dinner that evening and made Beef Stroganoff and a birthday cake.  All in all, a great day.

So, we've had a very rainy November here.  Wouldn't be notable, except that its pretty unusual to have rain in November, let alone nearly 100mm in one week. 

So, the Todd River flowed again.  This time it closed one of the two crossings from our side of town.  It is truly beautiful when there is water in the river.

Todd River at the Taffy Pick Crossing

We are definitely taking advantage of the mild summer to spend as much time outside as we can.

Creepy Crawlies...

Warning!!!  Spiders below...

Apparently, I didn't warn people early enough in the Halloween post about the snake.  So, to all arachnaphobes... there is a picture of a spider in this post.  Read on only if you want to.

So, in addition to all the reptiles in the desert.  We are learning about all kinds of creepy crawly critters.  First, are the stink bugs.  These are about 3 times the size of stink bugs we have in Virginia and they SPRAY.  You can't shoo them or step on them or you will reek for ages.  Although, they are good in a way, because they are "predatory" bugs.  Meaning they eat other bugs.  Regardless, I don't really enjoy them and wish they'd stay off of my front walk.

Next are the cockroaches.  These guys are huge!!!  We had one that was about 6cm (3in) long sitting outside the front door.  I was just glad he wasn't inside.  Now, these are about as big as Palmetto bugs in Florida, but they are really and truly cockroaches.  Just GROSS!

The redback.  Sounds very innocuous, but they are quite dangerous.  Worse they are very common.  In fact, I had to kill one in the garage this morning.  Apparently, they really like build their webs under patio chairs and tables and playground equipment.  We'll have to spray down our furniture and toys every morning to be sure we dislodge any new residents.

Of course, the most prevalent and annoying of the creepy crawlies are the ants.  Big ones, small ones, black ones, red ones.  They are everywhere!  Jamie thinks its fun to put his hands down on top of their hills and let them climb all over his arms.  Fortunately, he's just found the little ants. They bite, but it doesn't seem to bother him too much.  I'm sure he'll be convinced to stop this, if he finds the bigger ants and the bites are a lot harder.  So far, my telling him this isn't doing any good.

Today is...

GRUMP'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Jamie, Braden and Gavin helped Mommy make and color pictures for Grump and then everyone was so cooperative with picture taking.  Even Puff stopped by...

Hope you have a great day today!  Wish we could be there with you to celebrate!!!!