Nothing is better than 2 babies

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday Annika & Arik - 7 years old

Happy Birthday Derrik!

Home

It sure felt nice to be back home and sleep in my own bed. However, yesterday I was really wishing we were back in Australia while I watching Tanner at baseball practice. It was 41 degrees F not C and raining..... so cold.

Surfers Paradise

Tuesday morning we left beautiful Bonny Hills and drove north to the Gold Coast. The drive was so beautiful and the kids did great in the car. In fact, Tanner even commented that "the drive was so short'. That is always a good thing to hear after a 7 hour drive. We decided to end our trip at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, even though we weren't sure we were ready for the skyscrapers and tourists after the peace and quiet of Bonny Hills. So far, the weather has not cooperated and it has been cloudy..... still, the pool is wonderful and the beach is beautiful. Tanner got so good on his skim board during this trip that he decided he was ready to try surfing. He is such a natural athlete. After just a few ties, he was up. Pretty good for a 9 year old. Way to go Tanner!

Bonny Hills

Saturday morning we left Canberra and began our drive north. Almost into Sydney, the scenery turns green again and from then on we had the most beautiful 7 hour drive to Bonny Hills (just outside of Port Macquarie. We had the great privilege of staying with friends at their beach house in Bonny Hills. I think we could have stayed forever. The company was great, the house was beautiful and the beach nearly deserted - just our style.

Sunday, we drove to the top of a mountain/hill to see the view out to the ocean. Absolutely spectacular!

Then out to the Koala Hospital to see them up close and personal. The kids loved this! They are even cuter in person.

We also drove up and down the beach for miles seeing only the occasional fisherman. Along the drive, we stopped to see a few Kangaroos, wallabys and sea stars.

Isn't this picture hilarious - the kangaroo was totally scratching his belly.

Ray & Joshua

Fun in Canberra

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORMOR!!! We love you.

Our final days in Canberra were sunny and so enjoyable. We went back to the aviary, visited the National Museum of Australia and played with a few friends. I think the kids actually began to settle into life in Australia. Annika even began speaking with a little bit of an Australian accent.

Birds of Australia

There are so many birds in Australia. On Monday, Colby and Tanner were golfing so I took Annika and Arik to the Aviary in Canberra. They LOVED it! We were given a bowl of sliced apples as we entered and were able to feed the birds. Funny story.... while at the aviary, we ran into a family that we had met at church on Sunday. We got talking and learned that they had recently moved to Canberra from Maryland.... they had been in Derrik & Jen's ward in Maryland and knew them well. It is such a small, small world!

The Northern Beaches

Curl Curl Beach

The day after sailing on the harbour, we went on a lovely hike near the Tarango Zoo. Next we headed to Curl Curl Beach on the North Coast. There are many beaches in the harbour, but the kids requested an ocean beach with waves. Many of the ocean beaches have swimming areas with nets to keep out the sharks. We risked swimming right in the ocean and it was wonderful. We were told that there hadn't been a shark attack in 20 years, yet there have been three in the last month. Our friend, Rob, believes it is because they have cleaned up the harbour and the fish are returning, therefore the sharks are returning.















Kookaburra
Water Dragon Lizard

Sailing the Sydney Harbour

Friday we had the wonderful opportunity to go sailing on the Sydney Harbour. Colby's friend, Rob, sails in his spare time and was kind enough to take us for the afternoon. We had the best time. It was a perfect day, so relaxing, and so beautiful. The harbour is amazing. When the sun is shining, everything sparkles and glitters, especially the Opera House.