Oh, The Places We'll Go

 
 
 

Today was Addison's first Offical Day of Kindergarten!! Addison, a little nervous, but super excitied at the sametime. Mom, not so sure she is ready for the pressure of Kindergarten. Don't get me wrong...we've already been doing our ABC's and 123's. Addie is even working on reading skills, but now there are tests we have to pass!! And I admit the over-achiever in me feels that if we aren't ahead, we are behind. I thought school was stressful for the kids...not the Mom's!! I'll take a chill pill and we will be fine. I can't wait to hear how her first day went!!!
P.S. I only made it two steps out of her classroom before I cried.

Sam Walking.

This video was taken right after we came home from vacation...been meaning to post it for awhile..he is getting more stable and daring now...shouldn't be too long before he is sprinting around the house. Now if I could just get him to wear shoes!!

Sausage Rolls and Meat Pies...our exotic breakfast on the Ferry out to Manly Beach. Manly is a beautiful beach town...with great surfing and gorgeous sand. Even though it is Winter in Australia, there were plenty of people out catching a few waves...too bad it was too cold for me to take a dip. Finally, a few pics of The Rocks (Old Town Sydney) and my Mighty Crocodile Hunter!!

DiggeryDoo

Exploring The Rocks (Old Town Sydney) one evening, We stumbled upon a gallery of Aboriginal Art and DiggeryDoo's. I started up a conversation with the stores clerk...I could listen to that Australian accent all day..who instructed me on the finner points of playing and making the DiggeryDoo. We chatted about lipature, breathing techniques, and how to spy the perfectly termite hollowed tree to finish off into this mystical rhythmic instrument. We are now pro's at spotting an "instrument grade" DiggeryDoo...if you any tips or pointers let us know.

Nigthlife!!

Sydney at night!!

Blue Mountains Express

Leura- Blue Mountains

We got off the Train at Leura...a quaint Park City esk town, with a lovely main street and awe inspiring views of the vast Blue Mountains. The photo's don't do justice to just how deep that ravine is and how sheer those cliffs are...looking over the rail gives you butterflies. Locals compare the Blue Mountains to the Grand Canyon...only with a Rain Forest in the bottom.

Hike to Bottom of Gordon Falls

We took a relativly short hike down to the bottom of Gordon Falls....but don't be fooled it was a work-out of epic stair master porportions. A bizillion steep steps straight down the mountain side. After such a calorie burn, I felt totally justified in my ham and cheese crossiant and eclair for lunch. Yum!!!

LaLaLaAAAAAAA!!!! Of Course, we had to check out the Iconic Sydney Opera House. That Roof is Tiled, People!!!! I'm not sure I would want the job of scaling up there to replace them. I have to admit Sydney puts the Super Cool in Opera....the walkway behind us houses and the open air Opera Bar. Beautiful views of the Bay and Harbour Bridge, mixed with great live (when we went by...a fabulous Jazz Singer) Pre-show entertainment. Just down the front steps of the Opera House are the Royal Botanical Gardens....Gorgeous...check out that amazing tree. (Unfortunatly, my photography doesn't do it justice.) Isn't it just begging for it's own Swiss Family Robinson Tree House and a few rope swings?

Then it was out to Watson Bay for a little Fish N' Chips...and a little hike out to an old lighthouse that saved many Matey's from a watery grave.

Down Under

Sydney has an amazing transportation system that includes Ferries...we spent our first day creating our own Harbour Cruise via public transportation. The view of the city from the water is majestic and exspansive. The Harbour is massive and so is the city. The Aussie's didn't waste any land here...building right to the water's edge. If you are a big deal in Sydney you have a swanky house in one of the many Bay's and a sailboat teathered literally out your back door. Justin had much man love for the Ferries...so we took at least one everyday.

Justin's Vacation

All Justin wanted to do for vacation was ride Business Class in a Triple 7 or 747. We literally planned our vacay location around the highest possiblity of this occuring. Don't worry I teased him mearcilessly about how he was too high brow to sit in Economy...but I have to admit Business Class is a great vacation!! Here is a peek behind the curtain: "Welcome Aboard, Orange Juice, Champagne..I can make you a Mamosa? I'll be back to get your order for dinner once you have had a chance to look at the menu." Dinner was a 4 course meal, Fancy snacks are left in the galley to be munched at your leasure, mid-flight snack of finger sandwichs, and breakfast. Plenty of leg room here folks....that chair had a whole panel of buttons to manuveure it into a thousand different positions, it even had a back massager. And when it was time to catch some ZZZZ'S it lays completly flat. Real pillows and blankets...and a little comfort kit with Eye shade, ear plugs, socks, toobrush and paste, klenex, moisturizer, chapstick, and breathmints. I didn't have to climb over anyone to go to the bathroom, which was quite large, but still kinda stinky. I chose my own movies and TV shows...and caught up on a few romantic movies I knew Justin would never watch. When we arrived in Sydney I asked him how his vacation was and he was all smiles.

Swimming Lessons

A few pics of our little fishy's enjoying their swimming lessons.