Great Ocean Road Day 1

This is supposed to be one of the top drives in the world that you are supposed to do before you die. Well, I guess we can go happy now since we have driven the great ocean road. We went from Torquay to Warrnambool along the surf coast and up through Port Campbell National Park. The weather cooperated a little, but most of the days it rained. It was not bad, and while the photos were affected by the cloudy conditions, our memories weren't. It was truly one of the most stunningly beautiful places we have ever seen. This is actually on the way back, looking sort of to the east. This is one of the beaches at Torquay (pronounced tor-key), I think it was called South Beach, but I don't really remember. It was our first official stop along the Great Ocean Road.

The wind really picked up while we were there, Mel had to hold her hair out of her face so we could get a photo.

Spence looks like a happy camper, he was forcing this smile because we threatened him if he didn't let us get a photo of him, and it lasted for about a half second, good thing we were quick on the trigger or we would have missed it. Not too bad though...

We stopped here at Aireys Inlet to take a tour of the Split Point Light House. Bad timing, we didn't get to go inside, but we got to look all around and hike by the cliffs. Here is the gang walking from the parking area up to the Light House.

This place was beautiful, and as we approached we wondered why everyone was constantly waving hi to everyone, as we got up closer we realized they weren't waving to us they were waving off the zillions of flies, there were more flies here than in a manure farm on a hot summers day. It was insane! Here is a snapshot of Willys shoulder with a budding colony. Yeah, we bathed ourselves in bug repellent, it only helped a little.

Here it is, the Split Point Light House

Me and the kids at the base, and yes the wind was still blowing. Thank goodness for the wind, it helped to trim down the flys.

I don't remember what this was called, it was down along the cliffs below the light house. Too bad the colors came across so bland in the photo, they were amazing. The water was perfectly clear, and the bright rock really stood out in the deep green and blue water, laced with white caps as the waves crashed on its base. It was really neat, but it only got better as we made our way up the coast as you will see in the following posts.

More lookouts hiking down around Split Point.

Looking up from down by the cliff look outs.

Maeby was not too happy about the wind, she could not keep her hair out of her face unless she was looking toward the wind.

Not too far down the road, they had this memorial gateway. It was really neat.

We stopped to play and have some lunch in a place called Lorne. It was a really neat down right on the sea shore, full of beautiful beaches. The boys really liked the big steel airplane probably made by king Neptune and accidentally thrown too far towards the land...oops The playground at the park was way cool, I think Willy was aching to build something similar, it was inspiring to a guy who has kids, tools, time and ambition. Unfortunately Willy is short on the time and tools right now.

We got in to Port Campbell early evening and checked into our hotel. Our original plans were to spend any down time here at the beach. This is the bay at Port Campbell, right outside our hotel room. If we would have had some warm weather we would have spend a lot more time swimming and playing here.

This was a bit freaky, a short walk out into the bay there was this loading dock, but the lower level was grated so it was see through, and below was about 15 or 20 feet of perfectly clear water. You could see everything right down to the bottom, so cool. However there were no side rails or anything to keep people from falling in, I was ready to strangle Willy for taking the kids down there...Ahhhhhrgh. They all made it up alive, so I let him live.

Stay tuned for more of our adventure, Day 2!

Bush Band at Maca's (AKA McDonalds)

Liam is learning how to play the guitar in bush band for his school. He gets to play every Monday at the school assembly and Melanie sings. The Bush Band got to play at McDonald's for McHappy Day...Melanie did not come, she was at a Guides activity. It was hard to get a good picture of him playing because his was stuck in the back. Doesn't he look so happy to be playing?

Fun at the Lake

There was a UFO sighting in Yarrawonga at the lake, here is an actual picture! Actually we finally got our water proof camera case when Wills friends came over from home. Wish we would have had it earlier when we spent time at the beach. Here we are during the heat wave in early November playing at the lake.

Spencer is learning how to swim, but there is no way he is swimming without a life jacket in this murky water, 2 feet under and anyone is invisible. Will actually has fun with that, he disappears and you never know where he is going to pop up, or you will hear one of the kids scream.

Spence and Dad splashing around

Spencer is getting pretty brave, he will even jump in to dad off of the docks. Looks like hes holding the picture frame open like one of those cartoons who doesn't want the show to end.

Dainty little Maeby wont swim in the murky water, she prefers the splash park, where the water is clear and she can touch the ground.

Melanie was not in the mood for a swim, a good horse book in the shade with the cool breeze off the lake is the way she likes it.

Drying off for a break and some "afternoon tea" at the lake AKA, Dinner.

No this is not from some freshwater jellyfish, its from the more fearsome creature known as a 'Daddy". This is a result of aerobatics performed by Liam as the "Daddy" threw him sky high off of the docks into the lake. This is a severe case of belly flop, or in this case, a kidney flop. Great idea Dad, lets do is some more, weeeee! Its amazing that any boy survives to carry on his antics as a father.

Fun in the sun, soaking up the rays and giggling away the afternoon.

There is Spencer, flying off the docks to Dad. This is no small feat, it took ages just to get him to go with Dad into the deeper water. Once he tried it, he realized it wasn't so bad.

Here is the "Daddy" personally teaching the kids how to hurt themselves.

Liam is an excellent student.

Happy Birthday Maeby

This year Maeby's birthday fell on Melbourne Cup day so we decided to go to a nearby country race in a town called Corowa. Its about 1/2 east up the Murray river. The day before the race it was sunny and blazing hot, then overnight the temperature dropped and the wind started blowing and it rained. So the cool weather was quite unexpected, at least during the race it stayed dry. Will asked some guys to help him drag this metal bench over, they brought it all the way down from the bar area and set it right at the fence. We had very close seats.

Down at the mounting yards, watching the horses prepare to race. Here you could get up real close and see the horses and their handlers. The kids liked this a lot. The races were actually fun to watch, the horses ran by so fast and it was amazing to watch them. But even more amazing is what people were actually willing to wear out in public...holy $#!+. Check out some of these outfits.

Really Dude?! Really? Willy pretended to take a photo of Spencer so he could capture this gem.

Looks like she just wore her slip, where did the dress go?

Check out the orange tie, black fedora and board shorts, this is style.

Nothing like watching high class ladies stumble in a drunken stupor through the lumpy grass in high heels and skirts. Looks like she is taking some style cues from both Pocahontas and The Rockettes.

Later in the evening we celebrated Maebys 3rd birthday at home with a pink frosted Dora the Explorer Princess cake.

The boys were not content with wearing party hats on their heads.

She got all three on her first try, yeah Maeby! Forget the silverware, lets just go for it.

Opening presents

Yeah a new princess bowl!

Baby Alpaca at Penny's House

The Woodfords alpaca had a baby, so we went out after church to their farm to see it. It was just a few hours old.

The mama just kept following us around really closely making this strange "meeeeeeeeeh" sound over and over. Kind of strange, they had like 3 lips and their eyes were kooky too. Really a weird animal.

Mel loves animals, especially babies

It seemed pretty calm with all the kids around it petting it, but the mama was pretty concerned.

It was a lovely day, but the sun was blazing down on us so we all had out hats on. We keep a set of wide brimmed hats in the car all the time just in case we go somewhere because the sun is so intense.

Halloween 2009

We were invited to the Hicklings for what they called a "traditional American" Halloween party. We weren't too sure what that was supposed to mean, but we had some ideas. It was the best Halloween party that the kids have ever been to. They live in a town called Chiltern up near the goldfields of Beechworth Victoria, a very pretty area. Maebywent as a princess.
Liam, well, he just went as this creepy looking thing. Reminds me of that little Hogwarts guy from Labyrinth with David Bowie.

Spencer was the glow in the dark skeleton.

Here is a photo of all the kids who showed up. Some were from our branch but most were neighborhood friends that the Hicklings invited.

Remember "bobbing for apples", from back in the days before spreading of germs was discovered? Aussies add a twist, they spray in whipped cream so you get it all over your face. Liam was the first one to try, he competed against one of the Hicklings girls. Liam was the last one of our kids to do this event, Willy freaked out when he saw one of the kids come up dripping with a river of thick green snot. He pulled the plug on that, considering the swine flu epidemic in Victoria, I agreed with him.

Spencer and Maeby looking scary as ever.

One of the games was a mummy wrapping competition, which ever was first team to finish a whole role of toilet paper, I mean mummy gauze, was the winner.

Spence was a good sport. Liam would have freaked from having his hands tied down, come to think of it, so would I. Plus it was like 95 deg F outside.

Cleaning up like good boys, check out Spencer's pirate face. Arrrgh Matey, here be your paper for swabbin them decks. Get to work, arrrrgh.

They made all the food look scary, this was a frightening lasagna.

Mel and Liam in the eyeball on a spoon race.

Liam kindly volunteered one of his for the game.

They had a fun game called pass the parcel. When the music stopped, who ever was holding the package got to pull off one layer, often each layer held a prize, but the best one was wrapped up in the last bit of paper.

Mel was too "mature" to dress up for the party.

Pretty Princess-Whitch Maeby

Yup, this was a cake, sort of. Yummy!

Brain Jello anyone?

Happy Halloween!

Fauna Park - Oct 23,2009

We went to Kyabram, a town about an hour away. They have a large Fauna park there where many of the animals roam uncaged. It was pretty cool. Here we are near some kangaroos. This old one let the kids get right up close and pet him.

This was so cute, it kept looking right at Maeby where he was just ignoring the other kids.

Here is a crazy emu. This psycho thing actually jumped over about a 4 foot fence right in front of us flapping madly and leaping. It almost landed on Liam but Willy grabbed him and pulled him back. What a strange animal.

This roo is just kicking back, leaning up on one elbow watching us pass and stare. And yes its a boy...you can tell by the size of its tail, at least that's what Will said.

Liam snuck up in his camo shorts and laid back on one elbow like another kangaroo and the others never even noticed him. Thank goodness for camouflage.

Giving Spencer a high five.

Notice the little joey sticking its head out of the pouch.

Soooo cute.

Daddy and Maeby checking out the bearded dragons as they soak up the sun.

Next we went into the cockatoo enclosure. They were pretty tame, unless you were wearing sandals...like me and Mel. Every time we stood still, they were trying to bite our toes. It was really funny, but a bit scary. Those things bite HARD.

Mel was brave, and she even smiled and as the cockatoo was digging into her flesh with its talons.

This emu was pecking at our Indiana Jones action figure, who we call Scott. One of Willy's friends from back home. We were all laughing pretty hard and hoping it did not run off with Scott.

Spencer was lifting up Maeby to see the bearded dragons. He is such a good big brother, unless he was trying to feed her to them...hmmm, I just assumed he was helping her.

They had several big red roos from up north, those ones we were supposed to stay away from. This was a mob of eastern gray and the northern reds.

This was in the snake and amphibian exhibit.