Halloween 2012: Bob the Builder (in drag)

So we were invited to a Halloween party for kids last week, which (*gasp*) I actually thought about skipping for lack of a creative costume (for those unfamiliar enough with our current locale - fresh bread is a treat, let alone ready-made cute Halloween costumes).  Fortunately my lovely friend Kay offered an emergency Samurai outfit - which, unfortunately on our tall, tanned, blonde boy, made him look more like someone that should be hanging out at the Playboy mansion with a cigar, than a celebrated Japanese warrior.  Luckily I spotted a 'tool belt' I had bought for Luka eons ago at Ikea if memory serves, so we decided - right, 'handy man' it is - we contemplated the accompanying outfit he should wear, when Chris suggested that 'white onesie' - meaning the designer, expensive, virgin white onesie my mom bought at a lovely shop in SA, which we have never put Luka in because, who  would put Luka in WHITE?

Given his obsession with shoes, Luka proceeded to test out his own footwear for the occasion which ranged from the effortlessly casual flip-flops, to the dependable black court shoe mamma wore to her UK college examinations and graduation ceremony.

Bob the Builder does 'casual'

Bob the Builder in 'drag'

Bob the Builder on the move

Gorgeous little Bob the Builder in a rare
stationary moment with his mamma

Bob the Builder contemplates his next move..

Bob the Builder announces the END of this
party!

You'll have to excuse all the photos being in 'MOTION' - if you have to *ask* - you obviously haven't seen Luka recently....

Hangin' with my peeps

One of the nice things about living in Dili during the recent baby-boom is that there is plenty opportunity for socializing (for both bubs and 'rents alike).  Tuesdays at Nicole's has become somewhat of an institution - no less for the great company than for the great coffee (fabulous espresso or cappuccino) and awesome cookies.

What is great is it seems to benefit everyone - parents (many of whom steal away from work to say hello to their bubs), nannies (who all know each other and hang out) and of course, the little ones - whom most of which have just come into a place of development now where they are actually noticing other babies around them.

Here is Luka with buddy Morrison - his Australian-South-African brother (with a daddy who is 6foot 4 (at least) no wonder he is Luka's size despite being two months his junior!)

Hey there mate! 

Bubba Brunch Club

Since moving to our new house in town, we have thoroughly enjoyed simple pleasures such as going for a walk down to the beach, to a favorite cafe for breakfast, and especially in hosting again.  Yesterday saw the first 'Bubba Brunch'.  We invited two other couples with young ones about Luka's age, as well as another couple with a young son.  It may seem unnecessary to state this fact, but it is great for parents with babies to visit other parents with babies.  There are the obvious benefits (changing table, wipes in case you forget), but also the more important - comfort.  Watching the other two moms constantly bouncing, walking, standing while eating, dodging spit-ups, breastfeeding, changing nappies, all the while having a great conversation, makes it all seem so normal and acceptable.  I am not saying you can't visit someone that does not have a baby, on the contrary - but it is nice to know if your bub is a little fussy because of teething or tiredness, that everyone will understand.

As for brunch, everyone knows that babies do best in the am.  Add to that the fact that most parents do best after 9am, and you pretty much end up with a timeframe of between 10am-4pm - which is pretty much almost as long as our brunch lasted yesterday.  Truth be told, Chris and I did jump out of bed at 0700 to go for a 30km mountainbike ride (my first in over a year), thanks to a babysitter that showed up at 0730.  Once home, we had a shower, then started preparing brunch which included 2 home made breads (whole wheat and french), a spinach, mushroom and cheese strata (prepared the night before by Chef Chris), home made yogurt and fruit (the yogurt, not the fruit), roasted beef sausages with apricot chutney, and Susan's (well, with a little help from Alice Waters) whole wheat buttermilk banana pancakes.

The beauty is that sometime during brunch all the bubbas (most of them at least) will be down for a nap, and when they are awake, they are delightful and interested in everything and everyone (in Luka's case this means mostly the food!).  The food is great (who doesn't love a brunch?), and by the time your guests leave (and the cleaner does the dishes) you can run out for a nice sundowner walk to the beach with bubba in a stroller (and yes, return in a torrential downpour) just in time for bath time and bed time.

Perfect day to spend a Saturday.  Unfortunately, I was not organized enough to snap a photo of yesterday's festivities, so watch this space for photographic evidence of the new Bubba Brunch Club.