Here we go again, welcoming a new year. The foregoing one has been wonderful. But we lost one beloved person. Anna’s aunt O’o passed away in April. It was a huge grief. She had been very close to Alfie and Alwyn since their birth. She literally took care of the boys every weekday after school, before we picked them up in the evenings. May she rest in the utmost peace. Though obviously we will always miss her nastar – that’s Indonesian pineapple cookies, O’o made the best.
We have moved to a new house. The boys love the spacious areas – meaning, there is more space to mess around with their toys. But from time to time they still go “we miss the apartment”. Maybe because it’s closer to their school. Traffic is bigger challenge now, yes. As Alfie once complained, “I hate staying in the car for hours if it’s not like, moving”. Sorry boys, we just wish Jakarta’s traffic will get better someday.
One week after their close birthdays in August, we took the kids to Australia. Call it a belated birthday present. We flew to Sydney and drove to Canberra where Aco gave a presentation and back to Sydney again, visiting Tante Arty. Alfie and Alwyn enjoyed the trip (except the car seat in Alwyn’s case, apparently). Taronga Zoo was very enjoyable to the boys. So were the harbor and ferries.
So now let’s welcome the new year. It seems the competition in the house will get stiffer next year – Anna is pregnant. The doctor expects the newborn will come in May. Alfie understands that he’s going to have another fella. As for Alwyn, he’s more reserved (maybe he’s been enjoying his status as the youngest – so he goes, “But all these legos and Transformers, I can keep ‘em, right?”).
Alfie has a resolution for next year: to form a rock band. He even has a name already: Stop by the Line (we have no idea what that means). He said he’s going to play the guitar and sing (no, he can’t play a guitar – yet). Alwyn, on the other hand, doesn’t care.
Happy new year, friends! 4As.
