Monday, January 25, 2010

Trip to visit our friends in Melbourne

We went to Melbourne over the Australia Day weekend and hung out with our friends the Schwabe's. We spent a day down in the city going to the Melbourne Museum and had a picnic at some botanical gardens and it was a really nice day. We also went to a big swimming party put on by the church and had a sausage sizzle and soaked up the sun. Spencer taking a break from the back of the car...on the back of the car, on our way down to Melbourne. We made a pit stop about 1/2 way there as usual.


Here are the boys looking at the interactive exhibits at the dinosaur fossil area.


We went through the oceanic area, they each had a turn listening for the sea in a shell.






He might have made a good snack, had that lion met him a bit earlier in life.

This little projected creature would crawl around and dodge the kids steps, they chased it all over the place and had a blast.



The kids got to dig for fossils like real archeologist's.





Melanie had fun painting pictures in the sand.


Maeby made a little friend.


And a big one.


Spencer went for a ride on the sea turtle





Great new time out spot...just kidding.


Liam decided to surf the turtle.


Walking on can stilts in the outdoor play area.


Learning how to hula-hoop.


The highlight of the trip for Mel was getting to see the real Pharlap. We had watched the movie together just weeks before. It really was a magnificent horse.


Yeah, that's our pal Ben scaring the $#!+ out of Liam...come to think of it, I'm kind of scared just looking at the picture again. I am sure he would be overjoyed that we posted this flattering photo of him on our blog.


A real life Australian National Seal...cooool. Its quite an appetizing display, we have tasted both of the Aussie national animals and their actually quite good.


Going for a ride that went no where, just a video, but the kids loved it nonetheless.


Accept Mel, apparently.


Swimming on Australia Day

















I feel the need, the need for speed!
That's right, suck it in Old Man.


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

More fun with the Rancie's

We had such a great time the first time that we came back for more. We forgot to take our camera on the boat with us when we took the knee boards out...too bad because it was fun. Liam couldn't wait to get out so we let him have the first go at it. Here's some of the pictures from the second time out with the tube.


They both had the biggest grins.


Maeby really wanted to ride with her big brother Liam...it ended with Dad riding in the middle.





Rob couldn't wait for the chance to throw Will and Liam off the tube. "NOT TODAY"