Father and Son Campout - Wangaretta Ward

Loaded up with good sugar-packed camping snacks and off we go.

Will's first Aussie brekky cooked on a camp fire..."snags" AKA sausage, bacon, egg fried in bacon grease and some onion with "tomato sauce" AKA ketchup. The bread was toasted over the fire too and it was dang good.

We slept in the car, here is a picture of our sweet Nissan Patrol.

Spencer was showing me his delicious brekky snags.

Brother Woodford, a true Aussie, showing me how to cook up a good brekky on the fire.

Liam with his fire poking stick

This is Luigi Bonacci, he's a funny character, but not in a comical sort of way. He is super nice and has been a great friend to us. He also loaned us a butt load of really nice furniture for free while we are here.

Again, Spencer with his delicious Aussie camping food.

Spencer and I (Will) were hiking up the mountain a ways behind the other boys, this was a nice grassy spot, really pretty in the early morning sun. The camera washed out some of the color but it was really pretty. As we were hiking up we ran into a little kangaroo, it was hopping along down the mountain and stopped about 10 feet just in front of us and stared at us, we returned the stare. Then as I went for my camera, he all of the sudden got really shy and took off into the bush before I could get a clear shot. Oh well, Spencer and I were overjoyed to meet a wild roo in the bush.

Here's Liam just taking in the scenery. This is the spot where the branch priesthood had a time capsule hidden under some rocks. Inside was a list of names and dates of priesthood holders and young men who had born their testimonies on this spot. We all sat reverently and shared the same and added our names to the list. Then we had a closing prayer, sealed up the capsule and buried it again for next year. They have been doing this for like 25 years, it was amazing, and something we will always remember.

King of the mountain.

Liam and the young men in our ward taking up their positions on the highest rock on the mountain.

Spencer making his way through the downed timber. That orange hat was a strategic maneuver, I can see that kid from miles away so he will never be lost. Spence just thinks the hat is cool.

How to spend $1000 on Mothers Day and have nothing to show for it!

First, wake the kids up at 6:00a.m. and drag them to the car. Next drive to the gas station and fill the car up with gas. Drive for 3+ hrs to pick up your visa's, telling the kids about all the fun things they are going to do for the day. Stand in line at the Immigration office with 4 kids and try to keep them from bugging everyone around. When your done, hop into the car to take the kids to do all of the fun activities you promised. When the car doesn't start realize that the gas receipt says unleaded plus, and the car you are driving a diesel. Oops, diesel fuel in Australia is not a green handle like many in the US. Green handle means unleaded plus, black is diesel. Wait for 3 hrs for a tow truck to come while you watch 4 kids on the side of the road trying not to let them run into traffic. Then walk about a mile with 4 kids carrying all the car seats and everything else in the car to the car rental office. Rent a car and drive another 3+ hours home with the kids crying about not doing anything fun like we promised. Four days later drive another 3+hrs to pick up the car after repairs and pay a fat chunk of change to the mechanics . Then drive another 3+hrs home, just grateful that its all behind you now. What a fabulous mothers day gift! I won't mention any names, but I was not the one who filled up the car with GAS that morning.

Our playground for the day, a patch of grass behind a govt building with a couple trees, just across the street from the dead car.

Maeby doesn't seem to realize the peril we are in. Why is she so happy! I'm fix'n to kill someone (see below)

Peek-a-boo

You will pay for what you've done! I will have my Mothers Day yet!

At least the kids had fun building a log cabin out of sticks.

What is up with that face? Spencer looks like a cartoon animal.

Our little pack mule. But hell, he deserved it! Use the BLACK handle next time!

Lake Mulwala Walk

This is the lake that is by our house. It has a walking trail along the whole southern shore. The kids love to go for a walk and look at all the birds, ducks, and pelicans. Every day when the older three kids are in school I take Maeby for a walk by the lake to a little park that she likes to swing at for hours.

Aussie Easter 2009

The kids got a little soccer set for Easter and we had a family soccer game. Everyone one had a great time. Boys against Girls. Girls wanted to be on Mum's team because I'm nice and the boys wanted to be on Dad's team because he wins...cheater.

Girls Team!

Nerds Team!

Maeby got a bunny bowl set with little chocolate eggs. We really need some bowls anyways.

Liam couldn't fit his mouth around his soccer ball so he smashed it.

Melanie had no problem.

If you haven't got a horse, then the key to Melanie's heart is a giant chocolate egg.

grrrrrrrr

 Spencer loved his giant footy.

Happy Easter!

Maeby having brekkie with her new bunny dishes.

Welcome to the Wangaratta Australia Branch

They took some dividers from the cultural hall and made a little out house, this is what was inside. That print out is an old folk song about a guy who got bit on the rear end by a redback. It was a funny song.

A funny decoration unique to Australia

Sister Wilson prepared a huge box of Aussie goodies and books, she even wrapped the box in "The Wiggles" wrapping paper, it was so awesome. She prepared a binder with pamphlets and information fliers about all the local communities and attractions, enough to keep us busy the whole time we are here.

They put on quite a show for us, they sang a bunch of Aussie folk songs in a stage decorated with live gum tree branches. We had such a fun time, we were all singing along.

Maeby made new friends with the missionaries.

We had a contest, Australia against USA, who could blow a balloon up the fastest using no hands, then we had to tie it (with hands) and then run over and burst it by sitting on it. Will made the Americans proud.

Happy Easter, Aussie Style

This little roo needs a pouch for all his booty.