A week to go....

"Santa & Mrs. Claus" hand out presents to the kids. They've all spent time in the pool!

Jonnene converses with one of her nieces at the family Christmas gathering.


Already down to my last seven days in Oz...as usual, the time passes slowly at first but picks up speed like the snow ball going downhill. It's been a wonderful time here with Jonnene, yet we're getting close to facing that gap between times of being together. But the next time we get together it should be for good!

ULM won their game 23-3 over North Texas, their second win in the last three games. There's one more against Louisiana-Lafayette this Saturday and then it's on to next year. The boys have greatly improved the last few games and it should make an easier transition to 2007. I spent Sunday morning listening to the NT game over the internet and hope to hear some of next week's game, too.

The highlight of Sunday was the annual Christmas gathering of Jonnene's family at Sue and Peter's house all afternoon. Probably around fifty people who share in some way the same basic DNA as Jonnene showed up to visit, eat, and watch the kids splash about in the pool. The temps were near 100 degrees but the sea breeze coming in, plus the abundant shade available, made the event quite nice. It was also an opportunity to re-visit "the scene of the crime" or the place where Jonnene and I were married. Another wedding is scheduled there soon which will make three so far that the home has hosted. Jonnene's brother and sister-in-law were the first to set the streak. I got to chat it up with most of the folks who attended my wedding and catch up on their lives as well as update them on what I was doing, along with answering any questions about the States. I hope I did a decent job and made some sense at that!

The couple we had visited with in Busselton back in May, Cam and Sally, were there. Sally is pregnant again, expecting in April, so it was a surprise to see that little bump since the last time I saw her she was slender! Cam was also a surprise in that he had shaved his head the day before! As he said, "I don't have to look at it so it doesn't bother me at all!" All of Jonnene's aunts were there and I spoke to them at length. Trish and Jeff were there with their kids, and Trish asked about my Mom. She absolutely adored the way my Mom spoke (Arkansas with a touch of Southern and Louisiana mixed in, I guess) when we were all here last time.

The evening was a quiet one. We all walked the dog to work off some of the food and sweets we had consumed, then watched a touch of Australian Idol, which is down to its last two singers. We didn't watch all of it since Raelene was recording it for later.