Initially I had envisioned individual posts detailing the various activities we got up to with the cousins, but that was when they were here. Not a month down the road. So now the plan is to cover the rest of their visit in Adelaide in this post. It will be long. There will be many, many photos. Prepare yourself. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically. Are you sitting down? Are you comfy? Do you have a snack? 
The house was packed (although this is not a very packed picture - people were spread out) we had over 20 people here (as I said, the public holiday meant that all the family could come), the food was traditional Thanksgiving fare (although I also made rice, which was lucky because quite a few were not big fans of pumpkin.) 
Wow, this looks quite meagre now. Especially for 20 odd people. Anyway the meal consisted of: Mashed potatoes, rice, pumpkin Khoresht(which is like a thick Persian stew made with butternut squash, chicken, saffron and prunes - I know it sounds really weird, but it is actually quite good and Bayan loves it) sweet potatoes, green beans, salad, pumpkin soup, cornmeal muffins, stuffing and a big 7.6 kilo (over 16 lbs) turkey that (with some strategic maneuvers) just fit into the oven.
For dessert there was: apple crisp, chocolate brownies, pumpkin bread, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cream pie and banana pudding pie (both of which Celeste brought. That girl can make Great pie!) as well as a large bowl of cherries - courtesy of our efforts in the hills.
The kids had a great time playing with their friends and cousins and Ruhi is already planning for next year.
Later, in the early part of the evening, we took the kids to a nearby park to play. Ruhi played ball with the boys
and later with Baby Bayan.
Anisa practiced flying a kite...
into a tree.
Sana was most amused.
Later they sat down and helped make a stick house complete with roof and doors.
Bayan enjoyed the swings.
And Sonia had a blast playing ball with her dad.
A lovely end to a lovely day.
Most of the time that Mehrdad and Mitra were here was spent visiting with family and friends. Many invitations were issued and we all enjoyed catching up with people we hadn't seen in quite some time (many years in Mehrdad's case). Here are the children having lunch (Persian style) at Hamid and Celeste's.
Group shots are impossible to take and have everyone looking ready, especially when children are involved. But we did try. Many, many , many, many times. Say cheeeese. Oops! I mean paneeeer.
Here are the girls giving Grandpa a cuddle.
And all the cousins together before leaving for the airport.
Saying good-bye is never easy. The children had gone from shy strangers to great friends in a very short time. Here are Sana, Anisa and Ruhi in a group hug shortly before the cousins and co. boarded the plane.
Tears were shed, plans were made and a couple of last photos were taken. (Note the red purse.)
Sana does not look especially pleased, neither were Ruhi and Anisa, although the girls were more upset by the fact that they were not going to get on the airplane, not going to have chocolate mint ice cream and movies while they flew off into the sunset bound for adventures yet unknown, oh well...perhaps next year...
We returned from the airport to a very quiet house. A house that only hours before had reverberated with the sound of children chattering, playing and running around and that suddenly felt empty and sad. We miss you guys! And hope to see you soon!
2 comments:
I chuckled over you preparing your audience for a long day of stories and photos. "Are you sitting down? Are you comfy? Do you have a snack? Alrighty then. Let's begin..." Teacher's tips for managing a group of children.
You are an astonishing cook! I do not know how you do it all. And it sounds like a good tradition off to a good beginning. May they all go as well.
And did I say, I am so glad you found your camera, as now I feel introduced the family and will be able to remember names and put them to faces, as well. It all sounds like you had a lovely time.
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