Australia Zoo

Giant croc outside the crocoseum

We went to Australia Zoo today it awesome! I have been there before but a very, very, very, long time ago when I was 7.  Australia Zoo was created by a man known as the "crocodile hunter".  His name is Steve Irwin. He was an animal rescuer that went all over the world with his family to save  hurt, orphaned or endangered animals, he also wanted to educate people on wildlife preservation. Steve Irwin had a TV show on Animal Planet called "The Crocodile Hunter" - I grew up watching all his shows!

Steve Irwin died tragically when going into the ocean with a sting ray -but before he died he started Australia Zoo where they teach people how to be safe around animals without hurting them. Just likes Steves dream. He pushed it to the limit to save animals.
The drive to Australia Zoo was long but I didn't mind because I sewed the whole way ( yes people - a needle and thread - sewed).
When we got our passes into the zoo we all got V.I.P bracelets! the first thing when we walked into the gates we saw was a Komodo Dragon,  this reptile is huge!

Komodo Dragon - the boys really thought it so cool they were seeing a real dragon

Funny playful otters "please sir, can I have some more"?

The zoo keepers were in the middle of feeding 2 otters so we got to see them play around in the water.

As we walked around the zoo we were able to catch a photo with a cockatoo and a kookaburra, aligator, koala and blue tongue lizard. Every where we walked there were zoo keepers with animals and they let us walk up and pet and touch them

Holding an Alligator

After that we saw the wild warriors show which was held in the  "crocoseum".

At the Crocoseum they do a presentation of animals called "Wildlife Warriors" - the birds flock overhead and fly past us, one pooped on Ellies hat! the zoomed around the crocoseum and put on a big show for us - it was really great, but the main part of the show was when they brought out the crocodile, Steve Irwin started this show back a long time ago when the zoo was really small. They bring out a crocodile and demonstrate how the crocodile feeds in their natural environment, they feed them chicken in front of you while they told you facts about where you don't swim, how to escape crocodiles and also how to ever avoid being attacked by one, avoiding the situation is the best way of preventing.

Did you know that crocodiles are really slow on land? especially the big ones.  The crocodile we saw was slow because they are cold blooded animals, and it was the middle of winter, so he was a very sluggish croc.
Lunch and then more wildlife, we fed the kangaroos, they were kind of already full when we got there but they still let us pet them.
The kangaroos are kept in a really large enclosure called "Roo Haven" and you can just walk around and the kangaroos are just lounging or hopping freely around you.  It was peaceful, and quiet - when my little brother aiden wasn't trying to chase them and make them hop, he thought that was funny the naughty boy. The kangaroos eat a special food that looked alot like what we feed our pet bunny, so I am guessing it was dried grass.

Catie-Roo and a Roo... and aiden NOT chasing this kangaroo

We also petted koalas, which are soft like the inside of ugg boots

TIP: when looking for koalas look for their fuzzy little butts wedged between tree branches. look for the butt, not the face.

We  kept walking and went to the gift shop. We all got stuffed tigers my tiger is called "Terri" and it is a white tiger. Catie called her tiger "Ginger" (I'd like to think she named it after me hahahaha).
In the Africa section of the zoo we saw Sheeba the cheetah  (she loved Aiden - and followed him around).
At the end of our day because we were VIP we got to go to a place no one in my family had ever seen before - the animal hospital.
The hospital is outside and at the back of the zoo, It's like a mini hospital where they have vets and nurses to  take care of all the hurt or orphaned animals. It made me feel a little sad because all of the animals were hurt, some were babies. Alot of them are caused by cars or vehicles hitting them, many of the mothers die and then the babies become orphaned. Maybe one day I can work there too, I really love animals.

Off on another adventure.

Tathra has been a really nice peaceful place to be, and while we love it most of my moms family is in a city on the East Coast of Australia called Brisbane.  We could drive there from Tathra but it would take 2 days - so today we are flying off to Brisbane
It sounded really cool when mom told us that we were meeting cousins, but when I realised we had to get on another plane.... not cool - oh the trauma. The planes themselves are not bad I guess, but travelling with the Lach-Ness monster is really horrible.

We woke really early to get ready - got in the car and drove to Camberra, it took 3 1/2 hours, there are some really cool little towns along the way. We drive through the "Snowy Mountains" they were not actually snowy but thats their name. They are where they filmed a movie "The Man From Snowy River". Apparently my mom used to have a crush on the guy Jim in the movie when she was my age. hahaha. I need to see this movie.
From Camberra we flew to Brisbane. Luckily it was a short flight only 1 hour and 50 minutes. All the other times I flew  I was sitting with my mom and borthers but this time I sat on the seat across the isle from them. It was OK because I didn't really have to take care of my brothers, can you say  heavenly????? but I had to sit next to two total strangers, one of them slept with his mouth open most of the time, and I will admit I kind of nodded off as well.

We got off the plane and saw my aunty Peta waiting for us. Aunty Peta gave us big hugs and kisses and cried a little. It has been 5 years since we have seen her and I have grown up alot.
Since we all didn't fit in her car mom, Lachy and I got in a cab to drive to her house. I have only been in a cab 2 times in my life. He was really fast!.

So far Brisbane is alot warmer and bigger than Tathra. The city goes on forever. There are alot of trains, busses, and shops everywhere, it's pretty amazing.

Big,Big city

                                                 Big, Big city!
Today we ventured into down town Brisbane city. To get there we had to take a train from Aunty Peta's house. It was a lot of fun because it was fast and exciting. sometimes we went through tunnels in the dark - I really like the train.

Waiting at the Train station. We have a double stroller for the boys, it is really cool!

At the top of Queen Street in Brisbane

When we got to the city we went to Queens street mall. We saw lots of shops, designer shops for dresses and jewelry were there. Queen street is a pedestrian street, which means no cars drive on it, and you can walk all over it, it is long and full of shops, cafes and restaurants.
We looked at a couple of dresses, we might have to go back and try some on!

 After the mall we got some lunch. We walked across a bridge over the Brisbane River to Southbank. There are some really old and beautiful buildings in the city, and alot of people were walking every were, it was very bustling!

 Aiden was happy at southbankbecause there were ibis' and pigeons to chase, he is a sucker for chasing birds, thankfully Lachy fell asleep somewhere over the brisbane river!
. For lunch Mum had a Greek Dona Kebab, cate had a corn dog, and I shared my corn dog with aiden just like mum and caitie shared their food with Lachy. Southbank is huge, we didn't even see all of it, it's big parklands, trees and grass, with playgrounds and a man made beach and swim area that all overlooks the Brisbane River, teh swimming place was being cleaned up and wasn't open but should be in a week or so, I can't wait to go swimming there! Southbank is also right next to the Queensland Museum, Art gallery, And Performin arts centre where they do ballets, operas and Symphony Orchestra Concerts! we are going back to look at those as well.
We caught the train from Southbank back to Petes house, we are definitely going to have to go back - There is so much to see and do.

Birthday surprises

Today was a special day, at least it was a special day for Catie. It's Catie's birthday today!  And right after breakfast can you guess what she did?  Can you guess what she did!...... She opened presents.

 She got a brush, a key chain, a baby rabbit figurine, chocolate, and...... a camera!  I was pretty jealous of the camera, because this camera was super cool. it's big, I'm guesssing it was expensive, it's yellow, it has a bunch of different settings, it prints the pictures after you take them, it is a polaroid camera and cate only lets certain people touch it. And I'm pretty sure my name is not on that list. After cate opened presents we went to the beach.
 That part was fun, in fact we spent the whole morning on that beautiful beach, we swam and played in the sand. I buried Aiden in a pit and Emmy and I turned Cate into a Mermaid.
We were hungry after the beach so nana got us some fish and chips. Chips in Australia are actually "fries" so we had battered and fried fresh fish and fries. It was good - and a classic Australian food for the beach.
 We went home after that because the boys were tired and it was getting overcast.

We played the after noon and then for dinner Cate asked for Chicken Chilli with Cafe rio dressing and fried tortilla strips.
The neighbors came over and we had Cates birthday cake. It was a lamington cake with strawberry lindt chocolate balls and sliced strawberries on top. It was delicious!  Lamingtons are also an australian classic food. Overall Catie had a VERY australian birthday!

Fun Fun FUN

                                                   Fun, Fun, Fun!
Today we went lots of places but first we went to the park at the beach. 

Sunrise over the Tathra Coast. 

At the park Aiden, Cate, and I played hide and go seek,  we hid around the park hopping from place to place when the finder wasn't looking in our direction. I'm trying not brag here but I think I hid the best because I was always found very last!
Any way after the park we went to the beach. We weren't alowed to go in the water because we  didn't have swim suits and it was cold from the rain, plus mum didn't want the boys going in, AND the waves were really to big. At least that is in my opinion.

Beach time

Finally some sunshine 

After that we went back to my nana's house, thats where we put the boys to sleep, mum sat down on the couch while we got our shoes back on and headed out the door.We got back in the car and headed to Merimbula where my nana took us shopping.For a while. Now I am back at the house typing this and waiting for dinner, my mom made chicken chilli soup with fresh fried tortilla strips and cafe rio dressing - one of my favourites!
My sister is playing the piano... or at least trying to ,my aunt Emma is ironing her shirts, Aiden and Lachy are having a bath, my nana is...I don't know what my nana is doing, everyone is busy and happy. This is DAY 3 in Australia.     

Treats in Bega

Treats in Bega
Today we drove to Bega, which is only about fifteen minutes away from Tathra, so it was a short drive. 
When we got there it was raining, so my nana let my sister and I borrow two umbrellas from the back of the car. We walked up the side walk stopping and looking in shops, one of my favorite stops was the bakery, they had so many yummy looking things in the windows, and my nana bought us each a treat to munch on for afternoon tea.

Aiden eating an Aussie lamington

My mum and my brothers shared a lamington, my mum also shared a chocolate eclair with my sister, I had a tart like thing that was filled with chocolate pudding. It was so sweet I couldn't eat it all and had to save half for later.
We then went to the "Reject Shop"(for those of you who were wondering yes - thats what it's actually called, very funny name)we went in there to get some more crafty things so that if it was still raining  when we got back to my nana's house we had things to do. 
After the Reject Shop, we went to a place called the "Red Cafe",

A funny weird couch on the wall of the Red Cafe

 where we snuggled and had some creamy frothy hot chocolate and orange and dark chocolate cake - it was SO delicious.  

Happiness at the Red Cafe

As always the boys needed a nap so we started heading home - on the way, we stopped by the Bega cheese factory, Bega is famous in Australia for it's cheese.  

It has beautiful rolling green hills and lots and lots of cows.

Cow road block in Bega - the cows walk across the road when it's time to get milked.

We got some funny pictures and tried lots of yummy cheeses.

Copying the mannequin

Cate the Cow Whisperer

Aiden was a natural

Seriously - count the legs on this

While my brothers had a nap I  decorated the fairy tree. The fairy tree is an umbrella shaped tree with an opening in the front, I love this tree, fairies live in it. So when I visit my Nana I like to decorate it and make it beautiful for them, today Cate and I put pretty pink flowers from the garden all over the opening.I think it turned out pretty and it was fun.

Fairy Tree Decorating Time

Packing Packing Packing- and Final Destination

Packing, packing,packing.

Three suitcases and two instruments. A cello and a guitar-two pieces of art that travelled across land and ocean. We took two cars and three planes to get to our destination in Australia. We took a drive from Enoch to Las Vegas, then we flew from Vegas to Los Angelos, then we took another plane from Los Angelos to Sydney, from Sydney we flew to Camberra, and from Camberra we took a drive to Tathra, where my grandma lives, we travelled for a total of 34 hours straight. 

Flying was great, but my littles brother Lachlan was a bit of a terror (and thats putting it nicely).

I helped my mom look after my rascally brothers

The two little rascals as we fly from Las Vegas

waiting at midnight for our flight that was delayed in LA

Flying from LA to Australia at 1am. Aiden is asleep

After finally reaching our destination I've spent the last two days with luxurious food, and a lot of rain! 
It was really warm when we we got off the plane but now it's a little colder then I expected but that's probably because of the rain, or because it's winter here! 

Leonard, Emma,(my aunt and uncle who are both  in their teenage years)and I have been playing board games like super farmer because of the rain and cold.But mostly the rain. 
Yesterday, when the rain had stopped for a few hours we went to the beach,but only Emma joined us because Leonard had a tennis match.
At the beach, we had lots of fun.

Jump for Joy we made it to Australia

Aiden discovered what sand feels like when it gets down your pants, and Lachy had fun smashing sand castles, soaking himself,rolling in the sand, and running into the water while Emma ran after him trying to stop him.The boys are little terrors aren't they!

So Happy to be here

Lachy wanted to just run in and roll around 

Aiden could chase birds all day

I love this picture of Catie

Aiden with Sir Russell

My nana has two dogs - Russell, and Zuey. Russell is a cross breed of a Jack Russell terrier, and a chihuahua, he will take hugs and kisses from anyone.
 Zuey is just a year old chihuahua puppy who is very playful and impossible to catch. No matter how tricky you are, Zuey will out smart you, and even if you out smart him, he will out run you.

Zuey

He has so much energy. Both dogs enjoy you throwing a tennis ball and chasing around the one who catches it - and snuggling under a blanket.

Well it has been raining all day and I have been doing crafts and playing games, I made a leave tiara and took pictures of Cate and Aiden. I like editing them on my moms iPhone. 
I am excited to go to the beach again hopefully tomorrow. 

A picture of my little brother I edited - isnt he cute

Catie- queen of the fall leaves and oceana - she is really mad I put this on here hahahaha

running in the rain, see it's not really cold