Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas...

oh boy: exactly 34 days late!

but even as (late) as it is, you know you all still want to see the photos.  And well, even if you don't, you can just click the X on your browser and no-one will know.  Me included.

But if you love me, here's just some snippets of our fine day.  

Yes, it was FINE.  

A fine 95 degrees. 

Santa found us in Oz...much to Jocelyn's worry and then delight.

We were spoiled. 

Australia trip for the Peruccas, family for me and pressies for all!  

Perfect.

 

No Christmas day is complete without the good ole relaxation.  Don't fret, we did our fair share!

The Bennallacks graced us with their traditional Christmas morning brekkie, ham and cheese croissants.

Yum!

DIG IN!

  After some R&R, it was time for the Bennallacks to arrive...well the rest of them.

That equals 22.  For Christmas lunch/dinner/lunner...meh, you get the picture.

 It was just too blazin' hot outside so we moved the tables on in.

Best decision ever.

The tables were complete with christmas crackers and all.  

It's an english tradition --> 

aussie tradition --> 

and now a Perucca/Bennallack tradition. 

The crackers had little toys and a Christmas crown for all.

We ate like 'kings'. 

(haha, yes I'm laughing at my own lame joke)

Merry (late) Christmas from me to you.

-December 25, 2010-

xoxo

Together Time

Can we just go back and re-live December?  In slow motion please?  

Oh I miss it so much!

We were so blessed to be able to crash at the Krok's place while they were away for the holidays. (thank you Kroks!)  It saved us the whole hotel shi-bang and gave us a place where we could all be together all the time.  

And when you live 14000 miles away, 

(that's about 23000km for my aussie pals) 

time together is as precious as it gets.

We celebrated Nick's 24th birthday with some cake and ice cream...aaand a trip to Australia! Hahaha-but really, he had 2 birthdays this year: his Australian one and then his American one the next day.

LUCKY!

We loved having the Krok's tennis court at our disposal.  Specially for those almost cool summer nights.  We all got pretty good.  Even miss jocey!

Braden became the favorite judge.  He provided commentary and all.  Don't want to have a bad serve with that one around to call it!

We had to keep up the tradition of making gingerbread houses, even if we were in a different country. 

 (maybe Jocelyn loves it a bit too much)

 Here's the girls/mom's finished product.

 and mine & Phil's.

Oh so much fun! 

-December 23, 2010-

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