We finally did it!

A while ago, we gave Paloma her first little haircut. 

But that was a while ago, and her hair had grown a lot since then. 

Long, lovely locks. 

It was finally time to cut the mop-top. 

Hello little curls!

We sat her down in front of Sesame Street for a few minutes, and took up the comb and scissors. 

This time, we didn't much around. 

We cut off a LOT of hair (and, yes, some of it is taped into the baby book). 

Bye-bye curls!

We think it looks pretty darn cute. 

She thinks it's pretty cute too.

Plus, it means that Mama doesn't try to put her hair in pigtails (which was never much fun). 

Haircut in action, searching for rocks on the San Juan. 

Australia - friends and family and adventures

Here we go with another bombardment of photos, in no particular order:

1. At home on the farm

Rearranging Grandmama's kitchen drawers

 2. A visit to Geelong and the Surf Coast to see some Turners.

Playing with cousin Kayla

Auntie Jeni with Rachel (L) and Rebecca (R). 

The proud grandma's!

Chatting with Nana Turner

Paloma's first experience of the beach - woo hoo!

Pondering the ocean blue

Uncle Simon and Baby Rachel, enjoying the beach at Torquay

The beautiful coast

More sandy adventures

Exploring rock pools (can you find Paloma?)

Off on an adventure!

More pondering the ocean blue

 3. A day out in the Grampians

On the Dunkeld-Halls Gap Road. It was just re-opened after the landslide (in the
front left corner) earlier this year. 

View from the mountains (can you see Wickliffe from here?)

The road was hazardous, so we decided to walk

The local guides carried our lunches

Washed out creek

Big cobble! Washed down in the floods (?)

Giggles...

 4. Back on the farm, the Aitkens came to visit

Family portrait

Is it possible to get everyone to look at the camera at once? 

Apparently not. 

More time on the beach (this time, it's the Hopkins River)

Showing Rachel how it's done

 

I love that little hand on Paloma's knee...

 5. Visiting the Severinos in Melbourne!

Paloma and Holly holding hands

Paloma still talks about Holly and tells me that, "Holly is my friend."

Enjoying the Melbourne street art

Dean enjoying the graffiti (apparently, he was googling to find out where to find
the best graffiti alleys)

An artist admiring art

Story time in the morning (And the Bear Snores On...)

 6. A trip to Wagga to see Deana and Rachael and their tribes

Picnic time!

Silly Sharni!

Everyone loves chocolate cake!

7. All of that traveling gets tiring...

We loved seeing all of you in Australia! See you again soon!

Australia - on the farm

OK. We know. We have been back in Albuquerque for three weeks and you haven't seen anything of anything from our trip to Australia. 

We have been attempting to compile witty little blogs and saving them up to write at just-the-right-time, but that still hasn't happened so I decided to do something else. 

I'm going to bombard you with photos instead. 

Two of my favourite people in one of my favourite places. 

"Huh?"

Oh. 

'Mum's cousin Morgan' shearing his first sheep. 

Uncle John re-living his rousabout days. 

Howard having a go at shearing a sheep. 

Paloma admiring the shorn sheep. 

Canola was blooming!

The river was flowing!

The river was flowing! (And looking wonderful after the big floods earlier this year.) 

The river was flowing! (And everything is so green!)

Canola was blooming!

Paloma and Howard having a serious discussion about a beetle on the track. 

Hiding in the canola. 

Lambs! How did that spotty one get in there?

Making friends. 

Hello, friend. 

It's a pleasure to meet you. 

New gumboots. 

Considering a puddle. 

Considering three puddles. 

Splish, splash. 

Looking for little creatures...

Stop to admire the view.

Onward, ho!

The river is still flowing! (And looking fabulous.)