Before Heading Back to Australia

This post is dedicated to our last couple of weeks at home before heading back to the land of the hot hot heat!  (Sidenote: we're actually already back.  I'm a slacker I know, I really should have done this post before coming back because now that we're back I have a million and one things to do - like unpacking from our move that we made right before going home, and unpacking from home, and cleaning....) Oh well.  So, this is mostly going to be a picture post (which lets be honest are the best kind) and I'll fill in some commentary here and there!!!

I apologize in advance, the pictures are somewhat out of order and it won't let me rearrange them!!!

We had an Australia party with Aussie burgers, and I must say they were not as good as the authentic ones!

Oh the adorable fatness!

We took Gid on a walk and two funny things happened.  First a dog came up and was acting all crazy around Charlie and Gid got super defensive and was growling at this other dog and chased him away.  (Good job Gid!) and then Charlie wanted to hold Gids leash while we walked him... well Gid is a huge dog, and is really strong!  He started moving quickly and the retractable leash was running out of length!  Silly Charlie, he just held right on and luckily Andrew saw what was happening and picked Charlie up, which is a good things because Charlie didn't let go and would have gotten dragged!!!  I LOVE Charlies face in this picture!

Potluck dinner in Tofield, Charlie likes to stab cookies with his fork...

Charlie just loved my parents dog Gid.  He would always try to climb on him and play with him!  Gid was such a good sport

TimTam slams

Grandpa and Charlie at the Olive Garden

This boy loves his bread

Charlie loves to move/carry heavy things

Some in-between family picture shenanigans 

We did a sisters day (well it was more like an afternoon since the morning was taken up by family pictures) where we put pockets on matching shirts.  We also went shopping and did our nails.  You know, girly stuff.  We even started making clay jewellery but didn't manage to finish it.

Aunt Mary took Charlie to get some frozen yogurt (and for his mom too)  Thanks Mary!

Charlie loved it!  That boy has quite a sweet tooth and was super spoiled while we were home, we're going to have to sugar detox him1

Andrew and I got to go on a date one of the last nights we were there!  We went mini golfing at West Ed, got pictures in the Photo Booth and then got dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory!  It was nice to get a little break from Charlie...

All the shopping at West Edmonton Mall really wore Charlie out!

Its melting!

It was so nice for about a week!  Above zero, which is really unusual for January.  So we had to take advantage and go for a walk!

Grandma and Charlie on a walk

I taught Charlie how to make and throw snow balls!

These two were obsessed with each other!

Grandpa took the Friday off before we left so he could take Charlie to Galaxyland!  Aunt Amy also had the day off so she came too!  

Charlie loved these little cars! Well as much as Charlie "gets excited" about things... 

Grandpa was a good sport to go round and round!

Charlie and Grandpa at Galaxyland

My boys were all tuckered out from the excitement of Galaxyland!

We're leaving on a jet plane!

Our farewell party

Charlie slept a fair bit on the way home!  It was a miracle!  It also helped that going back the long flight was overnight, whereas when we were coming it was during the day...  He also learned how to jump and say 'jump' on the plane.  It was when he was trying to reach the overhead lights.  It's the cutest thing ever.

Our trip home to Canada was awesome!  It was really hard to leave family behind (again).  Charlie is especially feeling it.  At home there were always heaps of people around to play with him and give him attention, and now that we're back he gets so bored with just me during the day!  It was nice for our family to spend time with him though, during these younger years.  He learned several things while we were home and grew so much.  He learned how to high-five, fist-pump, baby signs for more and all done, he started liking baths, he says several words and can copy words really well.  He always wants to feed himself and he's harder to trick!  The only name he learned while we were home was "Amy" and he will chant it constantly.  If he only knew what it meant...  hahaha.  He's more aware of his surroundings and knows what he wants, he'll get you to hold him and then he points in the direction he wants you to take him!  He has learned where noses and ears (well that was on the plane ride home) are, and he's really good at smelling things, especially scentsy bars and vicks vapo rub (he loves that one for some reason!  It's so strong, he's crazy)  He loves other kids and loved playing with his cousins.  It was kinda sad, the day we got back here (gorgeous day by the way it was 26 and cloudy, a perfect welcome back present!) I took him to the park and he was following all the kids around and if he saw a dog he would try and follow it.  Poor guy, I need to find him some friends here!  It was hard to leave home, but on the bright side there are adventures to be had here and we're not here forever!