Back in the air

February 28, 2013 - Thursday
Early morning - got up at 3:25 AM - alarm didn't sound.  Josh had us in the car at 4:00 and off to the Sydney airport actually right on time.  Traffic was not a problem!!  Our plane left on time for Auckland, NZ.  They are 2 hours ahead so even though the flight took 2 hours and 45 minutes we got there at noon and then spent a few hours hanging out at the Auckland airport.  We then flew about 5 1/2 hours and arrived at Papeete,Tahiti around 10:00 at night their time.  We were greeted at the airport with beautiful leis.

They smelled so sweet.

This was our view from our room - we heard the waves crashing all night.

Last full day in AU - Zoo

February 27, 2013 - Wednesday   Today was our last full day in Australia.  Raquel thought the best way yo spend it was to take the kids out of school.  YEAH!!  That made it an extra special day.  We got ready for our day, packed some sandwiches and headed for Taronga Zoo. - the zoo with the best view.  We really weren't suppose to cross the Harbour Bridge, but poorly marked roads caused that to happen.  As a result more pictures of the bridge.

Coming on to the bridge

Catch the detailrs

We arrived at the zoo and got a picture of the grand entrance.  Since it was not a holiday or school vacation, there was not very many people which made it really nice.

Of course we had to get a picture of the view - Opera House and bridge in background.

Check out the blue tongue - he felt very hard and not nice at all.

The giraffes have a great view - don't know if they appreciate it.  The Opera House is right above his head.

Check out the chimps - the kids loved all the statues.

Elephants are usually not that exciting as they usually stand their and sway their trunks.  Not today - we got a great unexpected show.  It was a warm day and they have a large and evidently pretty deep pool to play in.  The large one on the left is a calf, but this one was not hers.  Her calf was already in the water.  We actually watched her push him into the water with her body.  This little guy on the left wanted to get in too.

After a good swim mom and calf got out.  They were cooled off and the next stop was the dirt pile to throw some dirt on their backs.  Mom helped the little guy get the job done.

A view from one of their stage areas.

Raquel and the kids.

An orb spider - this was not in the display case - he was free along with lots of his relatives.

Some animals we saw in the barnyard - kind of cute aren't they?

A kookabara - laughing, because he is also free and not in a cage.

Note the joey in the pouch - first time we had seen this - he is pretty big, but they both seem quite content with the situation.

After a great fish dinner that Josh put on the barbie - the Malin's put on a little show for us. The back row played the instruments and the one on the floor in the front was the snake - they were awesome.  They went to bed.   After talking to Raquel, we found our beds after mid-night with a wake-up call of 3:15 am.

Time with Raquel, swimming, ballet, dinner

February 26, 2013 - Tuesday   The day started by Raquel running the kids to school.  When she got home Marty was ready to go shopping with her.  Dale was looking forward to a few hours of down time to himself and just had a little ironing to do.  Raquel and Marty headed to the mall where they found some bargins and had some great one on one time together.  We rushed home, picked up Dale and the swimming gear and then off to school and after school activities.

Picked up Lance in front of his classroom.  Another great day of Kindy.

Picked up Grace - she had violin lessons today.

Enjoying the best Australian grandchildren in the world.  We are really going to miss them.

Off to swimming lessons - Lance is working hard in the pool.

Grace is doing laps again - pretty sure the girl has gills.

Back home for a quick change and then to ballet lesssons with her good friend.  Aren't they cute?

Great Italian restaurant not too far from Raquel and Josh's home.  Josh wasn't back from Melbourne yet so he missed out.  This was Dale's hamburger and chips with tomato sauce.

The group - the girl sitting by Dale is Sarah.  She babysits with the kids, goes to their church and is from Nashville, Tn.  She is leaving Australia in July after finishing at Hillsong and will move to South Africa where she will do women's ministry and her boyfriend (future husband) who is from So. Africa and is also doing ministry there.  After a wonderful dinner we headed home and need to get ready for our last full day in Australia.

Can't have to many pictures of the Opera House - so here is one more - only this one should taste pretty good. 

Zone Day (swim carnival)

February 25, 2013 - Monday   Today was Zone Day.  Several weeks ago Grace had her swim carnival with her school.  She did so well that she went on to Zone.  The first carnival is like an all school swim meet.  Zone is taking those who excelled at their local schools and having them compete with other schools - kind of like going to a conference event.  Josh took the day off and Lance skipped school and we all went to Zone to watch our swimmer.   Because Grace did so well at her school, she was signed up to swim in 7 races. She also elected to swim in the 200 IM.  The girl was swimming all day and we were so blessed to be there and get to watch her.  

She is in the second lane - mint green cap - ready to dive in.

Ready to do her back stroke.

She was in 2 relay races and this is one of her relay teams.  One of those relay races she was the backstroke swimmer; the other was free style for each 50 M leg.  She swam her little heart out and did so very well.  Her times were the same or better in all her races, except butterfly.  The competition was tough, but she held her own and we are all so proud of her.  Today was a hot day and the pool was indoors - like a sauna. It was good to get outside.

So after all that swimming Grace still wanted to go home and get in the pool.  We got the local pool boy working to remove all the leaves.  He acted like he  knew what he was doing.

Lance and Grace got our their ship and went sailing.  The rest of us jumped in to just cool off.  Not that we are complaining.  We are not missing the Iowa weather.

Josh had to go to Melbourne so it was just the 5 of us for dinner.  We had another wonderful meal, we played "Don't Make Me Laugh" and then called it a day.

Church, Fish Market and Luna Park

February 24, 2013 - Sunday.   Grace and Marty had made Grace a little nightgown/dress and Marty made Grace's American girl doll a matching dress.  This was all done before going to Melbourne.  We had not seen the two together yet.  Sunday morning Grace came to our room and showed us the 2 of them -had to take a picture.

After church we headed for the Sydney Fish Market.  This fish market is second only in size to Tokyo's giant Tsukiji fish market.  They have it all!!

Having our fish for lunch - fish and chips, calamari, prawns, fried fish, scallops, etc.  Very  good - we loved it. 

Then a walk through the market - the prices are Kg. There are 2.2 kg/pound.  

These are called bugs - some kind of a lesser lobster.

Large octopus

John Dorey - we have eaten a lot of this - vey good.

Hanging out in the market.

Rainbow trout - for Paul

Scorpin fish

Octopus in various sizes

Note the price on this cheese - $159.90/kg

Outside of market

On our way to Luna Park - note background (another view we hadn't photoed yet)!!

Entrance to Luna Park - you get in free, but have to pay for each ride.

Raquel and kids ready to ride the ferris wheel.

Dale getting another shot of his favorite harbour.

Up in the air - they are in the ISU Cyclone basket!!

OLD carousel - 1900 from England.

There they go - up and down

Enjoying the clowns

Grace rode this alone - Lance was too young and the adults would have to had buy an expensive ticket.  Turned out to be her favorite ride - like the Himalaya ride in USA.

Roller coast - that is Raquel and Lance in no. 8.  Lance is listening to his mother scream in his ear - bring back any memories Scott?

Bumper cars

We were watching the kids in Coney Island. We didn't know what everyone was laughing at when they walked by.

Coming down from the slides.

One final ferris wheel ride.

Great Day

On the train ride home - we were all getting a little punchy!