Thanksgiving week.

     So I really slacked on photos this week. We had hoped to spend Thanksgiving with the cute Baker family in Idaho but the snowstorms predicted changed our plans. We still had a fun and festive Thanksgiving with Greg's family but I failed to take any real photos but I got some great selfies with Greg and Beau! She's such a doll!

Those bug-eyes are the best!

     It's hard to believe it's already been a week since we returned from Australia, did we even go!? I finally feel like I'm back to normal, sleep-wise, and I'm back to my daily schedule. The snowstorms have forced Greg to work during his holiday but that's always a blessing in disguise. Let the Christmas chaos and cash depletion begin!

The Australian finale!

     Our last several days in Australia were just as great as the first week. We hit a couple different Harley stores and bought ourselves some cool t-shirts. Next time we need to plan to rent a bike and go for a ride along the coast line or something.

      I couldn't believe they still have pay phones. I saw several and I assume they work.

Did we travel into the future or the past?!

    The rain forest was beautiful and we saw lots of pademelons, which are basically tiny kangaroos and adorable. I can't wait until all animals are like pets and I can have a cuddle with all these cute animals without fear of being kicked or bitten.

Poor quality photo but you get the picture.

   We finished with the rain forest just as a rainstorm came in, which helped clear up the sky some. There are the most amazing views all over!

     After the rainforest we went to the neighboring town, Maleny and had a snack and checked out a couple different shops. The girls were really whinging for ice cream but had to settle for crackers instead. We stopped and got an ice cream treat on the way home though.

    There was nothing more fun then going to my photos on my phone and finding 'selfie gems' from the girls. Halle is a pro!

How do you say no to that face!?

     Greg isn't much for games but he can't say no to these girls and spent a good portion of his Sunday afternoon playing Australia's version of monopoly.

     Below is a collage of Jovi's skilled selfies. She's 10 going on 18!

     We visited the city one more time and the haze was mostly gone, thanks to the rain and hail that fell over the weekend, so the city views were much clearer than the week before. We also treated ourselves to a ride on the City Cat, which was fun but a longer boat ride then we anticipated and the poor girls were left waiting at the school for us for about 40 minutes, which was a bit traumatic for them and I think Jackie too.

   I sat next to a nice woman from Melbourne who was a passenger on the cruise ship. A cruise sounds fun!

     Halle was over the boat ride after about 10 minutes but she's always ready to smile for a photo.

    And it doesn't hurt when she can put on a 'little' lipgloss to pass the time. I've never met a 3 year old who's so skilled at applying lipgloss. Look out for teenage Halle!

    Meanwhile, back in Utah, there was some cuteness going on with Charlie and Beau. Seriously, how cute is she in that beanie?!

Big smiles!

     On our last day the Aussies were so kind to celebrate my birthday a little early. There were cards, decorations and yummy foods, which is more then I ever get from my own kids. It was a great day! We visited the Sunshine Coast one more time, had yummy pizza for lunch, and an even better dinner, home cooked steak, potatoes and veggies and the finale was pavlova for dessert. There's no comparing this treat with fruit from Australia compared to fruit from Utah. It was AMAZING!

Such a perfect day for a stroll along the beach.

A little more wave action compared to our first visit to this beach.

We took a little stroll through some shops and Halle was more then happy to be the model for my photos.

    After the beach Jackie and I went for an impromptu pedicure, which was better then expected. I'm generally not a fan of pedicures but this one wasn't too rough or uncomfortable.

Fancy toes!

    I couldn't resist buying Halle her own mirror and lipgloss. I think she was happy. Her tube of lipgloss was nearly gone by the end of the night and she generously applied some to my lips more then once before the night was through. She's so stinking adorable!

Our last night dinner, so good!

Seriously, all this fruit was SO GOOD!

    So sad to leave, we had the best time and can't wait for our next visit! (Now who's going to convince Tanner and Kayli to watch our kids again?!)

    Coming home went relatively smoothly. TSA gave me a hard time about all my jellybeans as I left LAX, which was so lame since they'd seen the exact same bags and contents just the day before and said NOTHING but whatever, at least they didn't try to confiscate them otherwise this update may have come to you from the prison computer, ha ha! I definitely think some changes should be made to flight travel. Why in the world do I have to figure out if my seat is assigned or if I need to pick it?! How hard is it to choose a flight and then immediately be given the option of what seats I can choose from. I can pick my theater seat for a movie without confusion and those tickets only cost about $10. Totally lame! And why must we walk by all the 'special' people in first class as we board the plane!? Seriously, do they enjoy watching all of us walk by them as they sit in their comfy seats as we bang against their elbows with our bags. If I was flying first class I'd want on the plane last and off first, but that's just me. Stinking rich people!! Anyway, minus that last leg of our journey being a bit frustrating the overall trip was truly amazing and a trip of a life time but hopefully not the only trip of my life time! Thanks Ben, Jackie, Jovi, Shae, Kirra and Halle! You're my favorite Aussie's! We had so much fun and we love you all heaps and heaps!!

Photo OVERLOAD! Best holiday EVER!

    I can't put into words how much fun we're having in Australia but hopefully these photos, all these many, many, many photos convey a fraction of the fun we're having 'down under'. We're living our best life at the moment!

Outback Extravaganza was a neat experience.

    And while we're 'down under' the kids are back in Utah getting along just fine without us.

Never miss a Saturday at Fiiz!

A fun visit with Ben's family. Greg makes buddies wherever he goes. Henry and Harvey gave him the biggest hugs when we left.

Seriously, how lucky to grow up in such a beautiful place.

This was one spot we stopped to hunt for kangaroos.

Found a 'roo or two at the university in the evening when it was cooler.

Made a trip into the city and got to walk around the Brisbane temple grounds. It's so crazy how it's right in the heart of all these high rise buildings.

So pretty!

Halle is the funnest little exploring buddy.

Hazy but still cool.

     Greg's 47th birthday will go down in history as his best birthday ever! The girls spoiled him rotten and what could be better then a trip to the Steve Irwin zoo in Australia!? It was amazing!!

Lots of love from the girls.

   Let the zoo photo madness begin!

Snakes and birds just hanging out with their handlers.

Koala bears are the absolute best! This is where my love and dream of visiting Australia stems. I've loved these cute things since I was a little girl.

Greg got some love from Khan the tiger.

The legacy Steve Irwin left is beyond comprehension. What an amazing guy!

Some seriously crazy reptiles.

You can't go to Steve Irwin's zoo and not check out the reptiles.

Lizards were even out roaming free throughout the zoo.

Lots of crocodile 'statues'.

We could have fed and petted kangaroos for days.

Weird 'big' birds.

The tiger show was pretty awesome.

Love the Lemurs.

Rhinos, tortoises and wombats, oh my.

And you can't miss the crocodile show!

Amazing beasts!

More kangaroo love!

Such a great spot for all 10 of the giraffes and that zebra is 'manly'!

Cutest Meerkats!

"The dingo ate your baby!" Tasmanian Devil and Binturong

Alligators and crocs.

And another visit with the Koala's! I love them so much!

And what birthday is complete without cake topped with a colourful kangaroo. 

    Greg will do anything for the girls and shoulder rides are happening a lot, at least for the two youngest.

Dropping the older girls off at school.

We headed to another beach and pier. This beach isn't one of the more popular but it was still fun to explore.

Redcliffe, Bells Beach.

Kind of cruddy water but lots of tiny fish swimming under the pier.

Woody Point/Pier

Another pier. Sandgate.

So many Blue Blubber jellyfish!

Stinky but a fun beach.

One of the better burgers from the Snackleberry.

   We had such a fun time today hiking and spending hours at the beach. This hike was amazing and the girls did such a great job. Shae was a billy goat and beat us all to the top. I've never hiked where the majority of the path is stairs made out of rocks.

All the fires in this part of Australia are making things hazy but you can still appreciate the spectacular views.

So awesome!

Best hiking group!

    Halle came to the top riding on Greg's shoulders and shouted, "I made it! And I did it without crying!" It was the cutest thing ever. She also told me the other night, "I love jewelry". You can't really appreciate how funny and cute it was without seeing her face when she said it but I had to post it so I can remember. She's so stinkin' cute!

Selfies!

More selfies. 

The Sunshine coast was awesome! We had such a fun time. It's not very often I get to a beach where I can wear my swimsuit and actually play in the water.

Beach mermaids.

This was the view from the fish & chip shop where we had lunch by the beach.

    And meanwhile, back in Utah, the kids are plugging along with school and having fun with their big sister, niece and dogs.

    We still have several more days of adventuring to go. I can't believe our time is nearing its end. We're so lucky to be here and are having so much fun! Our next visit will be in another season. We'll have to come back for all the seasons. Dreams do come true!