Lions and Tigers and...Kangaroos oh my!!

With the fam all together in Oz, we took a jaunt on over to Taronga Zoo.  I would highly recommend Taronga Zoo to anyone, specially tourists. 

* It's huge!

* You have stunning views overlooking the harbour everywhere you look.

* Koalas!  Kangaroos!  Platypus! Tasmanian Devil!

Need I say more?

Our first stop was the bird show.  

Check out the view...

Okay, okay.  I know my family is certainly a beauty to behold but alright...here it is.

*sigh*

Of course, we had to pet a kangaroo.  We sneakily tempted this lil' guy with some Ritz crackers straight from the USA.  Yup, we're culturing these kangas.  We got up close and personal.

and then heaps of people crowded us because thanks to our Ritz miracle, we provided a perfect tourist trap for everyone else who walked by.

You're welcome!

Real live kangaroos weren't the end of it.  We got to ride elephants...

...holla at the Emu...

 (it's supposed to be "eee-meeeeoooo" for all you 'mis-pronouncing americans')

...and actually BE the wildlife.

Not too shabby eh?

(this bloke's not too shabby himself eh? Yes girls, he's single!)

Go to Taronga Zoo.

You'll love it.

-December 22, 2010-

xoxo

Whale Beach

Nick arrives at 10am?...why not just head to the beach right after?

OK!

My family's first trip to the beach in Australia was Whale Beach.  I just love that it's not ooober crowded and its really picturesque.  My family was with me-they loved it.

We brought the boogey boards along with a picnic lunch and made a day of it.  Luckily the waves were good for boarding.

Chantel got really good on the board.  

Check out that face of concentration!

Justin & Braden were loving riding the waves too.

Apparently Braden really loved it...

drool and all!

Ahhhhh SUMMER!

Yup-perfect day for the beach.  Maybe Nick was a little 'dazed' (I don't even think anyone told him we were going to the beach, he just saw us all in swimsuits and followed along)

Whale Beach, oh how we love you!

-December 21, 2010-

Olympic Aquatic Center

Australia dished us out some rain in December.  Never fear!- It didn't stop us from having F.U.N.! 

The Olympic Aquatic Center was perfect.  Indoor swimming and so much more!

They had a lazy river, water slide and blow up obstacle course.  We LOVED it.  The boys raced around the lazy river and Jocelyn, Chantel and I even made it around backwards!  Oh my, that was definitely a work out (specially having to drag/push Jocelyn the whole way)

I know people: there are a lot of photos and videos in this post, but guys-it was great so I have to share.

{the boys}

Ok...so Jocelyn made me laugh so hard.  She got up on the wall and did a flat out back flop.  I caught it on tape see...

Hurt your back Jocey?...I bet it did!

Why she did this?  I do not know!  Hahaha...it's certainly a common occurence for us to not know why Jocelyn does what she does...oh but we LOVE her so!

Here's the obstacle course.

I've never seen anything like it before. They continually squirt it all with a hose to keep it nice and slippery.

It was so much fun!

{Jocelyn}

{Justin}

{Braden}

{me!}

I fell off many-a-time...and this one was on camera, riiiiight at the beginning in front of everyone waiting in line.  Lovely.

You see right at the end when chantel flies off the left side?  It's cuz big Andrew JUMPED on at the beginning and popped her right off!  I laugh Why?  I do not even know!  I laugh every time I see Chantel fly off!  

{Andrew, Phil's brother}

Mom didn't make it through her first time, and then she headed over to the other pool for a swim.  When she came back, it was do-or-die.  She had to make it through the obstacle course.  She had her own little Perucca/Bennallack cheering squad.  It's maybe even be good enough to watch full screen...maybe!

VICTORY!

I like to think that perhaps fellow American friend, Michael Phelps, stood on this podium.  Yup, Perucca girls are def up to par with Michael.  Thank You!

We love swimming! 

Even inside. 

With an obstacle course.

and a slide.

and lazy river.

We'll take it.

Over and out.

-December 20, 2010-

xoxo

Something Old...Something New

Aqua Golf?

Haha- I'd never even heard of such a thing until Phil decided to grace my family with this experience. 

Golf clubs & golf balls.  Understood.

Add water, targets and money prizes. What?

Yes-that is Aqua Golf.

We had a jolly ole time.  

Dad was the first one to take a whack at it.

I have zero photos of Justin (not sure how I failed on that one) but by golly-he could certainly send those sorry golf balls soaring.  He hit some right over the whole lake!

The Mrs. wasn't too shabby either.

and little Jocey could've just charmed the balls right to the targets.  Just give them that cute friendly wave Jocey!

Braden rocked it as well.  He got preeeetty close to those darn $100 targets.

Look at that beautiful form.

There goes Chantel,

and Philip Ross himself.

 I ain't no golfer and I don't even pretend to be.  Promise.  

Me actually trying to aim at something?...hahaha, good luck!  

No worries though-I'll just smile and act like I didn't just completely MISS that ball!

This just makes me happy...

...all we're missing is Nicholas who was just marching around on a field with some drums slung on his back.

He'll arrive in a couple days from this photo. :)

Then much to my donut loving Phil's delight, we finished off the night with free Krispy Kremes.  You read right, free.  Three dozen of em.  Not too shabby hey?

-December 17, 2010-

Sweet Tooth

I couldn't help it.  

When the fam came to visit, I had to show them one of my favorite Australian gems.

CHOCOLATE

Yes- Aussie chocolate beats American chocolate 100 to 1.

Hands down.

Needless to say, a trip to the Chocolate Lounge was definitely on our agenda.

Chantel, (our little chocaholic) was so excited for this adventure. 

The rest of the fam took some convincing but once they tasted the goodness, they were in on board.

{oooo! so many choices!}

and the winner is, the frog and the spoon!

 please note that this here is 
waffles with: 
~melted chocolate 
(picture the best chocolate you've ever had...but better!)
~strawberries
~and ice cream
ALL IN ONE.

...otherwise known as...

heaven.

bon appetit!

-December 16, 2010-

xoxo

Sydney Temple

We had a couple opportunities to visit the temple while the fam was here.  We did baptisms, attended Carols by Candlelight and even snapped this pic after picking me up from work.

Carols by Candlelight was amazing.  I'm so glad the weather cleared up so we could go.  Patrice Arkens (who stars as Elphaba in Australia's broadway Wicked) is a member of the church and came to sing.  

It was beautiful...listen...

  

We know how to kick-it.  We brought pizza along for dinner, spread out on the blanket and had a grand ole time!

  Mom even busted out her groovy 'christmas light glasses' to take a gander at the temple lights.  

There were heaps of people there.

...I love to see the temple...

~December 18, 2010~

Pool Time

There is no better place on a hot aussie day than out in the pool.  

My family found that out pretty blimin' quick!  I tried to call them from work the first day they were here and could never get anyone.  I came home and found out they'd been out in the backyard ALL DAY!  

Fancy that!  

Fact: When we weren't out and about, we were always in the pool.  

We're so grateful for it especially on those hot summer days!

Anyone who has been swimming at our place knows aaaaall about the infamous 'Submarines & Battleships'.  {it's phils mostest favorite water game}

He asks me to play it every time we go swimming. love you phil ;)  It's a great game, don't get me wrong, but with simply two people?: no thank you.  Needless to say, Phil was so excited to have more people around to play with.

Here we are, being battleships & submarines...

This is some game Braden and the girls made up.

1: Braden swims under the floatie

2: Braden-stand up...Girls-HOLD ON

We swam outside.  

Played cards outside.  

Chatted outside.  

And ate outside.

Outside was a much better alternative to our small granny flat that first week.  

Plus, we got to soak up the sun.

{me and my twin}

Good times fam, good times.

~December 2010~