DECMEBER 10, 2006 - DECEMBER 16, 2006

December 16, 2006

THE GREAT COOKIE BAKE-OFF! There were 28 kids ranging in ages of new born to 16 years of age. The parents were ready to party and eat their kids cookies. Rude, I know. There were wheel barrel rides and a puppet show. It was pure and in the true meanig of the holidays. During the evening the adults were invited to a dinner with one of the Raulli'd friends. Here they met athletes and to be athletes. While this was happening, the girls had a girls night with Dani and her friend, Emma.

December 15, 2006

Prep for the Great Cookie Bake-off! We didn't do a lot today. Lori, Syd, and Toria bought groceries, did laundry, baked, and made dinner. Dave helped with the lawn and fixed the gate.

December 14, 2006

The smoke wasn't as bad as we thought it would be today. Lori and Dave returned the Britz back to the dealer this morning and picked up our Rent-a-Bomb. It's a funny little car, but it was cheat to rent. Sydney and Victoria helped Marina with her Christmas Decorations. For the night the family went to the mall. Now, can you picture a mall so big that it goes over a freeway and on? Well I never knew one could possibly be that big! Well, Lori went shopping and the rest of us went to see Eragon ( yeah we know, we're huge party poopers). AND IT RAINED!!! AND I MEAN RAINED! BUCKETS!!!

December 13, 2006

We did our last trip in our faithful Britz in only a few hours. We arrived in Melbourne earlier than expected and the funny thing was that no one was home at the Raulli's so we went to get a bite to eat. We snuck back to the house and made a surprise entrance (it was quite funny, becasue we crept into the backyard and Marina thought it was a robber, but meggie may, thier dog, knew who it was). The evening was spent unloading the Britz and Dave helped Joe on some projects (you could tell he missed his tools at home). Nana (ours) called with news on the house. We won't go back to the house we left due to a flood. The fridge leaked upstairs so some walls will be gone along with our flooring.

December 12, 2006

Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in New South Wales. We spent the day wandering the streets visiting museums and stores. Lori went to look for Christmas presents and other wierd and wonderful things for an hour. We started reorganizing our suitcases and emptying the Britz. In the evening we took K.P, Scott, and K.P's sister, Isabelle out for pizza and took a tour of the X-mas lights. Man, is it wierd to be driving around and seeing pretty lights but no snow. No offence to anyone but personally, it just not Christmas without snow and the cold. It's an early to bed and up ready for our drive to Melbourne tomorrow.

December 11, 2006

We made our way to Wagga Wagga today. We caught up with our friend K.P. and her family. On our smokey drive ( because of the forest fires) we stopped and had a tour of the capital Canberra. This interesting city is entirely man made and the only real use for it is to hold the embassies, where the Prime Minister od Australia lives and for the tourists. No one lives in the city besides a few people really, mostly they all live in the suburbs. We stayed the night at the Wagga Wagga caravan park on the river. Kelly and her boyfriend, Scott, came to meet us and took us to her parents place. The night started out with tea and ended in a B-BQ dinner. We got back to the campground after 10pm.

December 10, 2006

We drove to Kiama today. We noticed that when ever we drive to somewhere new the whole family is cranky. Anyways, Kiama is beautiful. We went to the beach. Lunch was late and was hamburgers and pina coladas. In the evening we went to the blowhole (they are holes in the rock that burst out water when the winds are blowing a certain direction). The blowhole can have water going up to 60m high and the Little Blowhole is more constant but not as high. We miss our friends and family so when this trip is over it will be time to go home.

DECEMBER 2, 2006- DECEMBER 9, 2006

December 9, 2006

There was once a little girl named Sydney. She was a determined girl and once she chose something she did everything to do ot get it. One day she decided to climb the Sydnye Harbour bridge. Sadly, no one in her family really wanted to do it, but that didn't make her faulter. Of course we aare talking of our Sydney. So, today Lori took her to Sydney in the morning so she could climb the bridge. She went by herself, but Lori had to stay on grounds. She was beaming from ear to ear when she got back!
MEAN WHILE....
Dave adn Victoria packed our campsite and did laundry. While they waited for the others to get back they went to the beach. They got see the last of the life saving competion. Victoria didn't see a pretty sight there. You know when the rowers have to slide on the benches? Well how they do it isn't very pleseant so we won't go there.
Lori and Sydeny got back farly late because a woman had to be taken off the ferry by ambulance. We don't know what happened. It was too late to drive to the next town so we stayed the night at the campground in a cabin. We then went out for supper and a movie, the Guardian.

December 8, 2006

It was too cloudy for the beach today so we went into Sydney for a our of the Opera House. It had so much history along with everything in the city. It was so awesome and breathtaking I've rano out of words to say (this is Toria's opinion on this). We met Melanie for supper at 5:00pm. Had a nice time with her and then said good-bye at the steps to the Opera House. We then went to Handel's Christmas Massiah. It was amazing. They had it in the concert hall. With all of the accostics, the mass choir (I'm talking all 524 of them, yes we counted), the 4 soloists, and a small but very talented orchastra. It rained on the way home and we were tired. Funny, we seem to have the rain and cold weather following us.

Decemeber 7, 2006

Lori and Dave went to the mall for haircuts and of course the girls stayed at the campervan. We then went to the beach and had an early supper so Dave could go sailing with Bellinda's dad tonight. Sydney, Toria, and Lori went to the mall and to a movie. They then missed the right bus home. OOPS!

December 6, 2006

Lori and Victoria went to get groceries, Sydney worked on her Socials project, and Dave emailed friends. By the time Tor and Lori got back and we ate it was time to get ready for tonight. We met Matt for a dinner cruise at 6:00 at the Sydney wharf. We got on the Captain Cook cruises. Lori being the person she is accidently shwacked a girl behind her with her jacket. She asked if she was okay and asked of she was alone. So the girl jioned our table. Eds up, her name was Melanie and she was from Germany. We had a great time and didn't get back to the camper until midnight.

December 5, 2006

You wouldn't believe it. We got up early (well really it was closer to 8 am then anything, and that's early for us holidayers)! We headed into the city today on the bus. After finding where we were going we walked across Darling Harbour to the fish market. It wasn't as big as we expected but it still did smell of fish. We saw a Chinese man filleting a HUGE fish. He filleted like Papa does. If you ever watch you'll see what we mean. It was amazing. Next we walked all the way back across the Darling Harbour to the Sydney Aquarium on the other side of the Harbour (I suggest that you get a whole lot of maps to see where we have gone). We realized how lucky we were to go snorckelling and scuba diving on the reef and see these creatures up close instead of through a pane of glass. After our exciting incounter with sharks and sting rays we walked to find somethign to eat. We found a subway and while we ate we people watched. It's always interesting the way people act and dress. Once finished our subs we walked to The Marine/ war museum. We saw a destroyer come into the bay early, which parked at the museum warf. Sadly, we couldn't see the destoyer but we got to see a war submarine. It's not as big as a nuclear sub but considering how much has to be in one place it's a pretty decent size. We walked around the harbour and caught a ferry to Sydney Habour (we didn't walk around too much because we were going there tomorrow) then another ferry and bus back to the campground.

December 4, 2006

Cowboy Matty came by this morning just after Lori got out of bed and into the bathroom. We needed a day of dowtime so we di the usual, laundry, the blog, and phone calls. We also booked tours for the next week and organised what we are doing. We also met a group from a University in Sydney that are doing a religious study and we talked with them for a while. Great day and everything.

December 3, 2006

We drove to Manly Beach, which is about a half an hour north of Sydney. It's one of the top sufing beaches. We stayed at the Narrabeen Big 4 campground. We have an ensuite and we set up camp in time so we we on time to meet Bellinda's parents (Bellinda is a friend we met in Fernie, and her parents invited us to a b-b-que). It's funny how sometimes things work out so good and other times so bad. We were literally a block or so from there house. We had dinner with Lionie (Bellinda's sister), Michelle, , and Toby (all friends from Fernie). It was great and the dinner was awesome!

December 2, 2006

We drove part way to Sydney today and spent a rainy and thundering night at Port Stephen's. The Big 4 there had issues so we left and ended up in a nice condo for the night. Lori called our friends and we watched so movies on the telly (TV). It was nice.

NOVEMBER 24, 2006- DECeMBER 1, 2006

December 1, 2006

After such a good day yesterday we stayed today at Coffs Harbour. Dave and Lori went for a long walk on the beach and talked about life. Victoria, Dave, and Lori played tennis (the girls against Dave). Sysney, Dave and Lori palyed golf after that while Victoria had a nice long nap. Golfing was fun with the hazards of Australia in the way. It's not like in Canada where the animals know to stay off or they'll get hit, it's the kangaroos just lie there and watch you make a fool of yourself. There were, if you hadn't guessed already, kangaroos on the 6th hole and duck and white stuff left behind by them on the 2nd hole. Later that night the kangaroos came to visit our campsite along with a huge peacock.

November 30, 2006

Today we drove to Coff's Harbour (just norht actually). We found a really awesome Big4 campground and it was right by the beach. We rented boogie boards and eventually went to the beach after we set up. The resturauant was inexpensive for the main course but we spoiled ourselves with dessert. The staff were really nice to us and let us watch Pirates of the Carribean on the big screen with surround sound. We had the theatre to ourselves and enjoyed it.

Novmeber 29, 2006

Surf's Up! We got up and went to the front all ready for our lesson. They picked us up and took us to Flaty Beach. The waves were good but it's a lot harder than it looks to get up on a surf board. By the end of our 4 hour lesson Sydeny got up 6 times, Tor 5, Dave 3 or 4, and Lori was having way too much watching her family that she only got up 1.5 times. We spent the rest of the day in the pool because of the heat and then went into Bangalow to meet Tracey and Sean for supper. When we were visiting wiht our lovely friends a thunderstorms came in. It started to rain and thunder and lightning. We got back to the campsite and since it was raining and everything we made the bunk bed up and all slept inside (with some convinceing of others, we won't point any fingers).

November 28, 2006

We drove a few hours today to the Byron Bay area. We booked ourselves into a surfing lesson for tomorrow and contacted our friend Tracy and her husband Sean. We went grocery shopping and believe us we have never seen so many screaming kids in a store. Lori walked up to 2 of them and told them to be quiet. You have to here from her because it sounds better. But anyways, there was a kid thowing a hissy-fit and sitting on the ground outside in the parking lot. The kids mom was letting him cry because he threw them often. Lori talked to the mom and asked if she could join him. So, she plops herself infront of him and starts screaming and kicking her feet. The kid made a face and turned around. Meanwhile, there is a man in a truck not far away watching and laughing his head off. Yeah, not so fun for the kid, whos' getting made fun of, but hilarious for us. That evening we had Tracy and Sean come for dinner and a visit. Sean's family is coming to Fernie next year and Tracy and Sean are hoping to come too. It was nice.

November 27, 2006

Today we are on the move again. We didn't go far but still we left the Bradburns after cleaning up after ourselves. We drove only about 40 km to the Gold Coast campground and stayed there. We spent the day at Sea World watchign the seals perform and the dolphins do tricks and the polar bears trying to get a floating thing under a log. It was interesting but Lori and Dave were complaining that it was hot so the kids disappeared to go on the rollercoaster and they went to the water park. We had supper at the Bistro and met our friends we met in Darwin there for a drink.

November 26, 2006

We had a wonderful breakfast with the Bradburns. We took in a movie this afternoon to get out of the house and get a bit of fresh air. It was Santa Clause 3 and they called us Canadians short!!! We were the only ones in the theater that were Canadian, so when the show said that you could hear "We're not short!" from somewhere in the theater. After that experience we wetn back to the Bradburns for a b-b-que. It was full of talk, food, and drinks. When it became dark, we were taken to see a Christmas display at a friends place.

November 25, 2006

We did laundry (boring I know) this morning. We then headed into Brisbane with Jim for another amazing tour of his great city. The market was there, without us knowing so we looked around. We got some x-mas presents and ate snowcones (a great invention besides ice cream of course). We walked around then took a river ferry to look at different parts of Brisbane. On this trip we made a desicion that no one is cookign dinner, so 3 hours later we go to the Bradburns favorite Chinese resturant. And of course had a really enjoying night.

November 24, 2006

Lori, Dave, Jim, and Moreen went to the marina this morning to lookat boats. They had tea and left the girls at home. The girls worked on the blog, got ready for the day and watched movies. Later that afternoon we went to the Cirque du Soleil show at 4:00pm. It's funny howthey are there since it's Canadian owned. We were deiving tdo the Bradburns like 2 days ago and we see this circus tent with a Canadian flag on top. It was amazing, the show and the fact that we could get tickets to the show. Normally in Canada, the shows are soldout 9 months before it comes. It was so cool that we were asked if we wanted to go behind the sences. And the crew there were so nice, it might just be cause we're Canadian too or they are always that nice to anyone. After the show, a friend of ours met us and we went out for supper. We laughed and caught up on our travels. You gotta love it!