Last days in Oz

What a whirlwind last couple weeks we had in Australia.  We tried to get outside and bask in the warm sunshiny weather as much as we could before heading back to the frozen north.  Lots of walks around Kirribilli, trips to the park, eating outside and ferry rides.  Already missing the loud screeching calls of the cockatoos (or pterodactyls as we affectionately called them), and the colorful lorikeets.

The last weekend was spent with our friends Dale and Libbie and their 3 beautiful boys.  We went to a local beach called Balmoral and walked around.  The weather was too cold and rainy to play in the water, so we just scoped out the area.  There was a nice playground the kids played on, and a nice walking path along the ocean.  That afternoon we went to Luna Park and had a blast!  We've walked past that amusement park hundreds of times, and finally were able to partake in the fun.

Isla's first carousel ride

The Ferris Wheel

Space shuttle

Micah and Isla on the dragon ride

No hands!

Mmmmm, bubble gum ice cream!  She actually shared some with us.

Daddy is a crazy driver

After a fun day riding all the rides, we came back to our place for a down-home midwestern meal: Tator Tot Hotdish!  Such a fun last Saturday!


The last week we were busy packing and cleaning.

Isla 'helping'

Ian decided to be sick - high temperature and very lethargic.  Poor guy.  On the plus side, he slept a lot so I could get more done!

When he wasn't sleeping, he was doing this.

My last sunset over the bridge

I will relish those sunsets.  It's amazing when embarking on a journey like this, that no matter how hard, or horrible, or homesick - only the good moments remain as memories.  Australia was a test of my strength, as a mother and wife.  It taught me many things about myself, mostly that I am capable of many things that I thought would be impossible.  I persevered and prevailed.

Getting settled back in at home has made me realize how easy life is here.  A house in the 'burbs, a station wagon, a Super Target just down the road (angels singing).  Friends, family, neighbors.  Oh, and things are CHEAP here.  I don't have to cringe when I buy a banana.  To put things in perspective, I bought 4 bananas the last week in Sydney and spend almost $11!  I know!  But I had to do it, Ian was sick and it was the only thing he would eat.  OUCH!

But I digress.  Home is good.  I like it here.  I think we'll stay a while.  :)

Our first trip to Super Target.  All eating FREE cookies from the bakery

We're happy to be home.

Love you all and thanks for reading!

Better Late Than Never

Yes, I've been slacking!  Here is a recap of Katie, Colin and Lucas' visit to Oz!

Tuesday - Sydney Harbour was to be visited by the very famous Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Ocean Liners.  Apparently it was the maiden voyage of the QE3 around the world.  Katie and I woke up at 5:30 that morning to watch the spectacle from my window.  Too bad they didn't show up until 7.  I got mom and dad on skype and they watched both ships berth into the harbor.  It was a fun thing to share with them!

Queen Elizabeth - Biggest ship I've seen 'park' in circular Quay

Queen Mary - HUUUGGEE

After watching the ships come in, we decided to spend the day walking through the botanic gardens.  Colin really wanted to see the giant bats in the trees so we were on a mission!

First the must have pic with the dijeridoo player

Then off to the Opera House.

Katie, Colin, Lucas and Isla went inside

Ian, Drew and I hung out on the stairs

Then off to the gardens dodging rain on the way.

SPIDER

Snuggles

BATS!  Success!

Really cool flower that looked like it had grass growing inside of it

Pretty

We went swimming in the Olympic pool on Wednesday.  It was a little chilly and rainy, but that didn't stop us!

The lap pool

Isla getting in the kiddie pool.  Non-heated salt water!

Lucas gives it a try!

So fun!

Mommy and Isla

That night was date night!  We got babysitters for all the kids and went to the Opera House bar for drinks before dinner at the Belgian Brew Cafe for half off mussel pots.

Opera Bar

Sisters

The guys eating their mussel pots

Thursday: Aquarium at Darling Harbour.  Third time for us!  Sorry for all the repeat pics!

Walking to the Aquarium from the ferry

Looking at the fishies with Auntie Katie

Sea Horse!

The boys love to just run around

Playing in the fountains

Friday: Paddy's market to pick up kitchey souvenirs.   Colin came with us!

Cute Tuggle Fam

Then back home for a snack for Luke:

Yummo!

Drew was very interested

Colin and Drew bonding over guac and beer

Saturday and last day in Sydney!  BEACH DAY!!!!!

Gorgeous day!  Drew playing with his bucket

Isla and daddy heading towards the water

So much fun!  Isla didn't want to get out

Momma and her boys

A nap on the beach

My Ian

Loving the sand

What isn't shown is the amount of sand consumed by all 3 of my children.  They eat a snack, they also eat a handful of sand.  They take a drink of their water - they drink sand.  Sand is EVERYWHERE - all nooks and crannys.  Bath time after a beach day is fun times at the Gifford house!  Also, Devon and Colin rented boogie boards and had a blast out in the waves.  I was able to try it out with Devon until he got hit by a blue bottle jelly fish.  It got his hand and stomach.  He immediately told me to start swimming towards the shore.  At first I'm thinking 'SHARKS'. I swam so fast out of there.  Poor guy was in a lot of pain.  He had to take the tentacle out and then wash it off with water.  He immediately went back for more boogie boarding with Colin to take his mind off of it.  What a trooper!

That night was supposed to be Kangaroo steaks for dinner.  Unfortunately they were a bit old and were inedible (I'm sure Katie and Colin were super disappointed.)  Instead, we had potatoes, salad and pizza.  And for dessert - Devon's favorite Aussie Ice Cream bar 'Golden Gaytime'.  It's this carmel cookie coated ice cream treat.  Very delicious, but a funny name!

Katie enjoying her Golden Gaytime

They left us the following morning bright and early.  Such a fun time with the Tuggles.  I so appreciate that they made the loooong trek out here for a visit.  I just hope it was worth all the jet lag and sleepless nights!  That will be me in 5 more days!  WOO-HOOOO!!

Love ya and see all of you soon!

TUGGLES - Installment 1

For some reason, I have NO pictures of the first 2 days the Tuggles were here.  None from the first day at the beach - they were such troopers!  And then again on our Sunday excursion to the Blue Mountains and Wildlife Park.  I think all the pics were taken on Katie and Colin's camera.  I guess everyone has seen pictures (many installments) of these places (over and over again), so I am assuming nobody will be mad about it.

I'll just recap:
Saturday - Tuggle's arrive.  YAY!  There was some hanging out at our apartment, snuggling with baby Lucas, and playing with Auntie Katie while the guys went to pick up the keys to the apartment just down the street.  Then a little nap time, and then BEACH!  Devon went surfing while we hung out in the sun.  Welcome to Oz!

Sunday - Poor Tuggle's had to endure a Gifford family road trip.  Again, day two - TROOPERS.  Drove 2 hours to eat at the pizza place we liked so much with Devon's parents.  It was only an hour out of the way.  :)  Lucas wasn't super thrilled to be in the car.  I don't blame him, he was stuck in an airplane for 20+ hours the day before.  Surprisingly, my kids did very well.  I think they wanted to let Luke take all the glory that day.  Such nice children they are!  After pizza, we stopped to see the Three Sisters.  This time it was not covered in fog.  But alas, I didn't get any pictures.  Good thing the internet has a heavy supply.  At least I can check it off my list - I have witnesses too in case you don't believe me.  After the Three sisters, another 40 minutes to Featherdale.  Destination: feed kangaroos.  That's sort of all we really wanted to do that day, but we managed to make it a marathon day in the minivan.  With only an hour left before the park closed we busted through, petting, feeding, viewing, all of the awesome animals.  Love Featherdale the 3rd time just as much as the first.  Overall a good day.  Not sure if the Tuggle's will join us on anymore road trips anytime soon.  :)

Monday - Set off to Wildlife world for MORE ANIMALS!

Katie and Drew

Snuggling on the ferry

Little did we know, while Katie and I were out having fun, Colin was on a mission to find free wifi.  Poor Colin - Australia just doesn't have free wifi, or free anything for that matter.  He ended up walking all over Kirribilli with no luck.  So he took a cab to the closest Starbucks to pay for internet to find out that McDonalds had free wifi.  Went to Mc D's and found that it was super slow and wouldn't let him download anything anyway.  So much for that.  A few days later, he had me take this picture.

For the rest of the week, he just used our wireless and he was happy.  Ah Colin, internet addiction is rough!