UQ

Yesterday we took a stroll over the Green Bridge to the University of Queensland campus at St Lucia.  This is just minutes down the road from us.  The campus is gorgeous, with gardens and trails winding through the campus buildings.  Makes me want to go back to school!  One of the most beautiful campuses I have seen.  Today is NYE and we will just have a laid back evening with friends.  Not going to party til midnight; we will be lucky to make it past nine!  Look out 2013, here we come!

The Pool

Today we went to the pool, like every other afternoon.  Let's just say our pool membership is well worth it.  Throughout the course of the afternoon, we committed several blunders.  Can you match the activity to the family member?
1.  Poop in pants
2.  Knock a tooth out (by swimming into the wall...with goggles on)
3.  Throw the baby into the 50 meter lap pool
4.  Lose 30 cents (we dive for loose change)
Boy am I pooped! (But it wasn't me who went in my pants)

Our days have been spent finding new places nearby to hike and spend time.  We did a 5km hike with the kids up Mount Coot Tha.  Maddie was a trooper, Noah whined most of the way, unless he hitched a ride, and Fiona enjoyed the ride entitled to a one year old.  The kookaburras were calling, a sound somewhat akin to a monkey and very loud, which were fun to hear.  Being the mean mom that I am, I coaxed Noah into using his own two legs to carry himself up the mountain by telling him the kookaburras were after him.  The look on his face was priceless as he ran uphill, nervously checking over his shoulder, screaming.  So of course I had to tell him kookaburras especially like screaming boys.
The next day we did a follow up visit to Mt Coot Tha, this time driving to the more commercial lookout point to enjoy the views of the city, mountains, rain forests, and Pacific ocean.  It was quite grand.  We coasted back down the mountain to the botanical gardens at the base.  There we had a leisurely stroll through a variety of vegetation and garden styles.  I enjoyed the Japanese gardens.  We stopped midway for a pic nic.  Then....we melted.  We were so hot and sweaty!  Maddie is very competitive and put us on teams to see who could do everything first--blue team boys, green team girls.  Dan argued that he and Noah wanted to choose their own team color---red and blotchy.

Maddie's School Disco

Mom getting nostalgic...

As I reflect on the day, I think of the wonderful new experiences this move has brought.  But I also think of all of our wonderful family and friends and miss the traditional holiday commaraderie.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve Rainforest Trek

Tamborine Mountain
December 24, 2012

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Christmas 2012

my lunch buddy

Christmas Eve was a wonderful day filled with new adventures this year. We were invited up to the rainforests of Tamborine Mountain for some hiking and a BBQ.  The kids were so hyper and jazzed that we were in the car by 8:30am and on our way.  We left the city and stoplights in the rearview mirror and travelled through, dry forrested are.  But in less than an hour we were zig zagging up the mountain and the foliage changed to tropical plants and became very dense.  The humidity was much higher, but the temperature dropped.  We arrived at the family home of Kyle, Daniel's colleage.  Fiona slept in the car and the rest of us piled out.  Kyle's dad hopped off the mower and greeted us.  We toured the interesting octagonal shaped house.  I loved the foyer which had a stone path, but otherwise was a garden with herbs and tropical plants.  We enjoyed cracking some macadamia nuts fresh off the tree and a cup of coffee on the veranda overlooking the rainforest and valley.  The kids played with the cat while we relaxed for a chat.  Then we heard there was a poisonous red belly snake in the house the previous day, so I asked Dan to please get Fiona from the car.  We then headed down the road to begin our trek.  Noah took off down the trail like a shot and  Maddie skipped after.  It was beautiful to be marching down the trail surrounded by lush flora; like no Christmas Eve we had ever celebrated.  We ended up at a lookout point with a view of a waterfall on one side and off in the distance a hazy view of the Brisbane skyline.  The hike back up was a little more difficult because Dan had Noah on his shoulders.  Kyle was nice enough to accommodate Maddie on his shoulders.  The kids were all riding in style!
We enjoyed a BBQ right in the park.  There are large gas grills for patrons to use, so it was burgers and brats for lunch!  We said our goodbyes and ventured back into the city, our busy little bees slept the whole way.  Soooooo....they arrived home well rested.  I guess we'll go to the pool! Everyone got in a good swim.  We came home for a poo poo platter dinner then some family racing around the house.  Maddie was the fastest.  Noah was a bit slower because he was pushing a doll stroller as he ran, loaded with an assortment of balls.  Fiona was clomping around in Maddie's shoes so she laughed as we all dashed around the house.  We ended with a play at the park and a stroll down to the river to throw stones.  
We put the kids to bed and headed out to the porch to enjoy a glass of wine...but wait.  Maddie was too excited for Santa to come and couldn't sleep.  She talked our ear off for another 10 minutes before she finally settled back into bed...visions of sugarplum fairies dancing in her head.

What a day! Dan laid sod all day with the neighbors and the kids and I put up the Christmas tree and decorated.  Then we followed up with dinner and drinks next door with excellent company.  The kids were brilliant.  We really felt at home today.  It was hot! So, as you can imagine, it felt odd doing these activities in December.  But I have to say, what a great neighborhood to have landed in. 

Our Maddie

Our Fiona

Our Noah

Experiencing some Wildlife

Fiona and the Kangaroos

Our First trip to Downtown Brisbane, August 2012

Random

 Love these photos with Grandpa Herbie!