Wookies and cookies

We are headed to visit our son and his girlfriend in Germany, and asked if he wanted us to bring anything over.

"Chewie" he said.

As this is colloquial for chewing gum, I thought he meant his favourite brand of that.. but no, he meant  his 21st birthday present which was in fact a Chewbacca costume... A wookie. He wants to have it with him, and who can blame him?

He then happened to see photos we posted on Facebook in which we posed with a store mannequin. He asked if it was ours - no. 
He wanted one is all.
To put the wookie suit on.
And have it on display.
All the time.
Of course.

That jolly mannequin has been the bane of our lives over the last month. I borrowed her so I could dress her up with some vintage clothes I have to sell. Easy, right?
Wrong.
We had to keep taking her arms off to fit clothes on her, twist her body around, and even though she's not real, you need to get rather intimate with her curves and bumps to change her. All rather awkward really.

But the two kids at home - technically both adults - have taken to this life sized Barbie doll with an alarming enthusiasm.
She has been in the shower.. (The reward of hearing my daughter's scream when she opened the bathroom door was apparently worth the effort)
In my son's bed.
In the pantry. (Small pantry, she was pointing out what she wanted for tea)
In the loo.
Naked.
Dressed.
Half dressed.
Dressed in a wookie head.
Placed immediately outside my son's bedroom door.
Placed behind a curtain in my daughter's room so she was in silhouette.
...
I could go on.


So when my overseas son questioned the ownership of the mannequin I was pleased to be able to say it wasn't ours, so he couldn't have it.
I can just imagine airport security scanning our suitcases.
In one, we have what looks like the skin and fur of a wild animal.

In the next, would be apparent body parts.
Somehow I don't think customs would see just how funny this situation could really be.

I see our passports being flagged and us undergoing scrutiny.

I see that this could in fact be a whole new adventure in and of itself. 

One I'm prepared to skip so we can arrive safely in the land of streusel and schnitzel and lederhosen. 

Oh. 
Hang on.
Lederhosen.
Might need that mannequin back....

China revisited

You may know, if:
a. You know me in real life or
b. You have read more than one post here,

I am in love with China's orphans and visited there last year. I am planning to head back later this year (2013) and I have had people ask how they can help, what they can do, what they can give me to take over.

Interestingly, when I posed this question to the director of the organisation  I'll be travelling with, he said "money". Most of the things we can buy here for me to take over are made in China. One Aussie dollar goes so much further in China than you can imagine. However, I'm not asking you for money. I'm not asking you for anything. I'm just putting down my ideas for the people who have asked me for specifics. Easier than a bulk email, to be honest.

Part of this trip over will be me doing some kid's activities. Now I know those of you who know me will (not) be surprised, as that's been a big part of my role in libraries; the many components of early literacy my passion - and singing, movement, drama, play and crafts are so big a part of those foundations of learning. It'll be awesome to do them "just for fun".

If you're a parent or teacher of special needs kids, you may have some ideas for crafts or games i can involve them in - the children have vision issues, down's syndrome, cerebral palsy - you name it, so I'd love to be as inclusive as I can. Please message me any goldmine ideas.

If you really really want to help, I'm just after small light craft materials. You can message me for specifics. Not anything huge or heavy - I may need a fundraiser to pay excess baggage otherwise! I know I can buy this sort of stuff in China too, but truth is, I won't have time to, and the people already there are busy without another job.

So anyways, in other news, another group of people - unrelated to the team I travelled with - have just visited China and on facebook they posted  a photo of the precious Diana, who stole my heart and was my wee kindred spirit. So lovely to see her smiling face again, and made me even more excited about heading over.

My husband is planning on coming with me, but his work are digging their heels in with denying his leave request, so some prayers would be appreciated. Our God does mighty things, and His will will be done. We need grace or contained joy to accept it whichever way it goes. :)