Pop's Funeral

Last night I was able to sit in my kitchen and listen to my Pop's funeral service. Oh how I wish I had been there in person, but I'm so grateful for modern technology that made it possible for me to be there virtually.

I've just been reading blogs from my cousins Toni, Lisa and Chrish. Seeing the pictures from the graveside service and seeing my older brother Dion wearing my Pop's war medals sent tears streaming down my face. My Pop was a WWII veteran and so at the end of the service an Australian Flag was placed on the coffin and the Last Post was played as it was lowered into the grave.

I'm so proud of my heritage. My Nan and Pop had 6 children, 5 boys and a girl. There are 29 grandchildren and 58 great grandchildren. They've left an amazing legacy. When I moved away from Tasmania at 18 to go to university, I didn't really appreciate the amazing family I came from and what I was leaving behind. Growing up it seemed that there were cousins and second cousins everywhere. I just thought that's how life is for everyone and that everyone had that many people around them that loved them. It gave me a wonderful sense of identity, I knew where I belonged in the world. And I still know that in my heart, Tasmania is home. More than anything, I want my children to know where they belong too, which is why we make it a priority to go back to Tasmania every couple of years and to attend family reunions on the Bingham side too.

I'm so glad I was able to visit Pop one last time just 3 weeks ago. It helped when I was crying today, that the kids knew who I was crying about. Sam is always so sensitive and several times has tried to comfort me and say that he misses Piggy Pop too. Even little Owen drew a picture of Piggy Pop for me tonight. He drew one shape for Pop and then another and said it was the box (I guess the coffin) and then he said that Piggy Pop was going to eat the coffin (not quite sure what that meant!). They looked at the pictures on my cousins' blogs and could see their cousins there and I was able to say how much I wish we had all been there too.

Chris likes to tell the story of the first time he met Pop in December 2002. Pop was down at the river flats on a tractor. He saw us coming and came off the tractor and said to Chris something like "You had better treat her right, or I'll kill ya". Somehow, saying that made Chris like him all the more. Of course it was said with a smile on his face and then he put his arm around Chris. Pop was such a like-able guy.

I will miss you Pop. You've been a wonderful example to me of how to live and make the most of life. How to love everyone, live righteously, work hard, be honest and to laugh.

Good bye Pop

Happenings in the Bingham Home this week...

When we were in Tassie Owen started climbing out of his port-a-cot (pack-n-play). Not too hard when you're two and a half! Last week he realized that he can climb out of his cot (crib) at home too. So it was time to move up to a big boy bed. He had a bed already in his room for him to move up into. All we needed to do was to add some safety rails so that he doesn't fall out. That night Owen moved into his big boy bed. As you can see from the photos, he moves around quite a bit during the night! And more often than not we find that he has fallen asleep with a book on his face. He's our little book worm.

I love this photo of all four kids playing together happily (and not fighting over who had the toy of the moment first!). This box of Duplo Legos I picked up for $10 at a yard sale in Calgary. It's the most played with toy in our house!

I've tried to make it a tradition to cook yummy Australian Food each year for Australia Day and share it with friends and family. And so on Wednesday I went to Sam and Ella's preschool to read Possum Magic and share some Lamingtons and Vegimite sandwiches with their classmates. I was so surprised when more than one of the preschoolers asked for seconds of the vegimite sandwiches! I put them on a pretty plate to make them look enticing, but it wasn't necessary, they enjoyed them anyway. One of the mums even asked me where you can buy Vegimite because her daughter came home saying that they just had to go and buy some! Unfortunately I haven't found Vegimite anywhere here in Augusta, but I did just find Marmite last week which I was excited about. I know it's not the same, but it's better than nothing!

Good-bye Pop

My Pop Triffitt passed away peacefully yesterday. I feel so fortunate to have been able to visit with him one last time just a couple of weeks ago. The hardest thing about living on the other side of the world is being away from family. Right now I wish more than anything that I was still in Tassie so that I could attend my Pop's funeral and be with the family. I think I'll be the only grandchild not there. I love my Pop and I will miss him. I'm happy though that he is not suffering anymore, but I'm sad for Nan, I know she is going to miss her companion.

We gathered the kids last night to tell them. It was good to be able to point to a picture of Nan and Pop and say, do you remember when we visited Nan and Piggy Pop a couple of weeks ago... Sam was sad and asked a few questions. For Family Home Evening tonight we made popcorn and then watched the videos that Lisa made in 2007 (see below). Sam wanted to watch them all a couple of times each. Thanks Lisa for making them. Watching them makes me realize just how amazing my grandparents are. I'm truly grateful for their lives and examples. I'm sad that I won't be there on Friday to say goodbye to Pop.

Remember When
Grow Old with Me
Pop Army

Jan 6 & 7 - Our last two days in Launceston

On Jan 6th we arrived back in Launceston for two last nights before we headed back to Georgia. Here's what we did...

We had a good bye party at the Lanuceston Bike Centre. Tammy suggested it before Christmas and we were lucky to get a spot. It's only $17.50 to rent it for two hours. I remember going there as a child when we lived in Launceston and I just loved it. It hasn't changed much, but the kids sure enjoy it still! Simon and Simone, Tammy and Jason, Jacquie and Jared and Lisa all came with their kids. It was so great to see everyone one last time.

Jakob pushing Ella. Looks like she's enjoying putting her feet up!




There was a great little BBQ area for all the parents to hang out. Tammy and Jason...

Jacquie....

This shot is so funny. It's really just a decoration on the wall, but it looks so authentic!


Lisa had a great idea to have all the kids lie down together in a circle.

On Thursday, Jan 7, Mum, Tammy and I went out for Lunch at Still Water Cafe to celebrate Tammy's 40th birthday which was on Dec 18. I don't think we've every done anything like that before, just Tammy, Mum and me. It was kind of impromptu and really fun. So nice to escape from the kids for a bit and be able to be together. Next time I want to be more organized so that Kay and Simone can join us too.



After lunch we went to the aquatic centre for another swim with the kids. Unfortunately I don't have pictures for the blog. Then we headed back to Tammy and Jason's for one last sleep before our flight back to the US.

And now I'm all blogged out!!

Jan 6 - Visit with Nan and Pop Triffitt

On January 6th we headed back to Launceston. We stopped in Deloraine for one last visit with my Nan and Pop Triffitt. Mum and Dad just told my last night (Jan 20) that Pop is not doing well and so I feel really fortunate to have been able to visit with him and to have him in good spirits. He was quite perky and shared several stories with us.

The last time we were in Tassie, 3-years ago, Chris asked Pop to share a story with us and so he did. He shared the same story with Sam and Ella on this visit, it's about how you need to obey your parents. He showed Sam and Ella how the tops of two of his fingers were missing and told them that he had lost when he was seven. His parents had told him and his brothers not to go into the shed. Which of course they did the minute they left. There was a wheat thresher in the shed which the boys started playing with. Pop wanted a turn and tried to stop the machine, when he did it cut the tops of two fingers off.

I also talked to Pop about how I didn't expect to see him again after the last visit 3-years ago. He said he hoped to be around a while longer too!

Nan's eyes just sparkled the whole time we were there and she was obviously happy to see us even though she couldn't say so. She has the most beautiful blue eyes. Nan also held Elliott several times. She seemed to really enjoy that.

I'm so glad we got to visit with them. I am so grateful for their example and I admire them so much.

Jan 3 - 6 Back to Oma and Pop's House

After our time in Bridport we returned to Ulverstone for one last stay with my parents. Here's what we got up to...

A final BBQ with the Burnie Triffitts. It was a really really windy evening. We ended up having the BBQ in a shelter and then coming back to my parents for a final photo. The kids loved playing with their cousins one last time. Savannah and Owen in particular are really going to miss each other.

Sam playing cricket at the BBQ.

Owen's turn batting. Now that we are back home again, I really wish we had brought back a small plastic cricket bat. We have a larger wood one, but it's too heavy for Owen. Today, 2 weeks after we got back, Owen came out with gum boots on and a "helmet" and said that he wanted to play cricket. Unfortunately it was raining buckets outside.

Sam helping Pop build a fence in the back yard.
Owen after he raided Oma's dress-up box. I can't remember who he thought he was.
Ella wore this combination out to run errands. Such a stunning outfit. If you look closely she is wearing a wide belt on top of the hat

I also had a chance to catch up with two friends from high school / Don College. Samara, her husband Mic and their 15 month old son Felix. And also Bec and Tony and their two children Annie and Thomas. We had a lovely, impromptu picnic in my parents back yard. It was so fun to catch up. I hadn't seen Samara in probably 8 years.

Bridport - Dec 28 - Jan 3

Next stop on our tour-of-Tassie, was a week in Bridport with Simon and Simone and their children - Sarra, Hallie, Oliver and Jonty. We couldn't have asked for a better week of weather and we had a great time relaxing at the beach and enjoying the sunshine.

Here's a picture of the car packed ready to head up to Bridport from Launceston. If you look very carefully, you will see 2-year old Owen in a very cosy seat in the back. He thought this was the best seat in the house!!

Hanging out at the beach with Simone, Lisa and Jacquie..

Jonty giving Elliott loves. This is one of Simone's pics, and she has a great series of the boys together on her blog.

Owen, ready to hit some waves. We found the wetsuit at a sports store in Burnie for $20. What a bargin!






Simon played so hard with the kids and they just loved it!


Elliott taking nap in the sun tent. He slept so well on the beach each day. When I was pregnant with him I would listen to "sounds of the ocean" relaxation music. The sounds of the waves at Bridport sure did the trick. I think he thought he was back in the womb. He fell asleep in my arms every afternoon at the beach without any effort and would sleep in the shade for an hour or two.

Dec 26 - Boxing Day

On Boxing Day we went to Beaconsfield to join some of my Mum's side of the family for lunch. It was so great to catch-up with my cousins Aaron, Phillipa and Adrian - some of whom I hadn't seen in 20 years. I also got to meet Adrian's wide Kiyomi and Aaron's wife Alecia. Sam, Ella and Owen hit it off with Lilly and Zen and had a great time playing with their second cousins.


Kiyomi making balloon animals for the kids.

My Mum's sister Willy and Elliott.

Lilly, Ella and Sam hanging out.

Dec 25 - Christmas!

Christmas morning finally arrived!! Of course Sam, Ella and Owen were up early at about 6:30am. But I was quite impressed with how patiently they waited for everyone to get up so that they could open their presents. By 7:30am everyone was up except for Jason and Kaisa and so we sent the kids out to the Bungalow in the back yard to wake them up. And then we waited some more......... Finally the kids couldn't wait any longer and started opening their presents. Just as they did Jason and Kaisa joined us.


At about 11am my Mum's sister Jannie came over with my Nan van Hoorn for a quick visit.
Next we headed to Launceston with a quick stop in Deloraine to wish my Nan and Pop Triffitt Merry Christmas. It's probably been 20 years since I last saw grandparents on both sides on Christmas Day - what a treat.
Then we arrived at my sister Tammy's house for lunch. It was the first time in 8 years that my immediate family had been together. Between my parents, siblings, spouses and children there are now over 30 people.



One of the highlights of our trips was when my Dad asked Owen to help him hand out the presents. I was so impressed that Owen knew everyone's name. This trip to Tassie was about family and making sure that my kids know their cousins. It was so awesome that after just 3 weeks Owen already knew everyone's name!