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!

Can it get any better than this?

Family. is. awesome.

I have had the most amazing 2+ weeks filled with my most favorite people in the world.  I don't care if I've been to the same places over and over again.  It's like the first time when I have people to share it with!  Feeding kangaroos - still the same thrill as the first time.  Looking at the world's most deadliest snakes and spiders, still fabulous after the 3rd time.  Walking across the harbour bridge, LOVE IT - especially when I'm walking it with my sister.  Oh Sydney Australia, you're even better when you can be shared. 

Katie and Colin arrived last Saturday morning - in just enough time for us to get used to the idea that Devon's parents left. 

Welcome to Sydney!

Isla had been waiting to 'take care' of Luke for a loooong time!

Auntie Katie is the best!

Katie and Colin and Luke came straight to our apartment from the airport Saturday morning.  They were tired, but ready and willing to spend a fun first day with us!  We ended up going to the beach for a couple hours that afternoon before they crashed for the night.  They were such troopers!

We just spent our last evening together tonight.  Such a fun week we had!  I will get to that another time though.  They have worn me out so I must retire for now.  I will update soon with our adventures - some things to look forward to... Portuguese men of war, and Golden Gay Time.  Interested?

Stay tuned!

Gifford Last Days - Sydney Tower and Zoo

Thursday: The day was looking great for a trip to the Sydney tower.  The sky was clear, the elevators were working and Laura Lou was camera happy!  She took a series of pictures I like to call 'a day in the life of'.  This is what I look like traveling with the giant pram on a daily basis.

Setting up the stroller

Ready to go!

Down the hill out of the apartment

Cross the street

Watching out for trip hazards

My favorite coffee place

Drew and Isla with their 'sunnys'

Into the train station

Through the gate - just wide enough for the stroller!

Into the elevator that didn't work just a day before.  We BARELY fit

Using my massive muscles to lift the front of the stroller into the train

And we're in!

Checking the GPS on my phone to figure out which way to go

We made it in one piece! 

View of Sydney from the tower

LL and Isla

Fun day at the tower!

Friday - last day of the Gifford visit and ZOO DAY!! We had a rough start that morning, kids cranky and uncooperative.  I almost called it off, but so glad I didn't.  The zoo is so much fun!

petting the giant stuffed animals.  Sorry Isla, don't think those will fit in the overhead bin

petting a snake

A skink

giddy up!

Drew petting a Tiger pelt that was confiscated at customs for our enjoyment

Yeah, I posed for this

Hangin' with the fish

Not many pics were taken that day!  I think we were too busy chasing the boys around to remember to take the camera out.  Ian and Drew are no longer happy hangin' in their stroller - I totally don't blame them.  They need to run around and explore their world.  I am happy to do that for them, but man it's a lot of work.  Twin boys are active and generally run in opposite directions.  Chasing after birds, stacking rocks, climbing on EVERYTHING.  Love their curiosity and zest for life!  I can't help but smile and find it completely amusing.  I love my boys.

The Giffords left the following morning.  They were probably at the airport the same time Katie and Colin got there!  Busy and fun week was had, now on to another awesome week with the Tuggles!

Animals, lots and lots of animals

We kept the weekend going by jumping in the van again early Sunday morning and heading to Hillsong Church west of the city.  Wow, what an amazing, huge, megachurch.  It was quite the experience going there.  Took a while just to find parking, then had to walk quite a ways to find the entrance.  We were greeted, given coffee and cookies, and were shown where to drop off the kids.  Then on to the huge auditorium for the service.  The music was AMAZING.. like a regular rock concert.  We managed to be there the day they were first releasing their new Hillsong United album just to the church.  It was to be put on itunes that Tuesday and is now one of the top selling Christian music cds.  The service was inspiring and gave me goosebumps.  Great way to begin a Sunday morning!

After church, it was destination: FEED KANGAROOS!  Featherdale trip #2 for us, but love it every time!

Wallabys

Kookaburras

Crazy Emus

Tasmanian Devil during feed time

The Dingo ate my baby!

Wombat

Funfilled Sunday.  We were exhausted, headed home and all passed out!

Monday: We were supposed to go to the Sydney Tower.  'Supposed to' being the operative word.  Laura Lou came over around 9am to help get the kids ready to meet Wayne downtown at the Tower.  Reached the train station in Milsons Point, and lo and behold the elevator doesn't work.  We won't be taking the train anywhere today.  What's with elevators and this country?  It's hard to depend on elevators when it's your only way up or down.  Stairs are definitely out with my giant stroller.  So, we regrouped and decided to take the ferry to the Aquarium.

Ian and Isla watching the fish

Dugong

Little Drew always clutching his blanky

Up Close and personal

Ian liked this scary thing

And then Tuesday off to Wildlife World for more animal encounters!

Bugs

Big Bug

Turtles

This thing was running back and forth and the kids were chasing it

And then home to prepare Kangaroo steaks for dinner.  Seems a little wrong to be viewing, petting and feeding kangaroos and then eating them on the same day.  It's the circle of life I guess.  Apologize in advance if you're a vegetarian!

They were surprisingly very tasty.  Tender and a nice flavor - sort of a lamb aftertaste.  I expected a lot more gamey like venison.

That's it for now folks.  The last installment of the Gifford visit will come soon!