How to make 11 days go insanely fast: Part I

After Christmas we still had about two and a half weeks left in Australia, so we felt like we had plenty more time to enjoy our vacation and family there.  And don't get me wrong, we certainly did enjoy it, but it seemed to go so fast that before we knew it we were on the plane coming home.  As I looked back at why it seemed to go by so fast, it became clear to me that we had jam-packed almost every one of those last few days with something fun to do.  So here's a run down of what we spent our last few weeks doing (which is also why I didn't get many blogs done in that time!).

1) Dec 30:
We took a drive into the hinterland to Montville.  Unfortunately, so did most of the rest of the Sunshine Coast, as it was pretty busy.  Yet, we managed to find parking and had coffee and some hot chips at a cafe "on the edge".  It was literally on the edge of a beautiful overlook toward the coast (and so named appropriately).  It was a hazy day, though, so we couldn't see all the way to the ocean, but it was still gorgeous.  After coffee, we walked around town, got Evan some ice cream and saw the water wheel, and then headed back home.

At the "On the edge" cafe (left) and the water wheel (right)

John found an appropriate seat to stop and rest

2) Dec 31: Australia Zoo
After the long day at Aussie Zoo, we stayed in and had a pretty lame New Year's Eve.  Evan didn't have a nap so we got him to bed early, along with Emma, and we weren't too far behind.  We did set an alarm to wake up for midnight though.  Haha.

3) Jan 1:

We spent New Year's Day at Alex Heads park.  It was a lovely shaded park near a lake.  We had fish and chips for lunch while we enjoyed the nice day outside.



4) Jan 2:

Because Evan loved the shuttle "train" so much at Australia Zoo, Louise looked up places in the area that had trains to ride.  As a result we took a trip to the Ginger Factory in Yandina to ride the train.  We also got ice cream (mango ginger) and coffee and scones (ginger scones too!) and then we ended up riding the "Overboard" boat ride too.  It was such a hot and humid day, and the Overboard ride was indoors in air conditioning, so that was part of the decision.  It reminded me of the "It's a small world" ride at Disneyland, and Evan loved it.  It took you on a trip following a gingerbread man on this travels around the world.

All aboard the train (Emma rode in her stroller)

Evan gave the gingerbread man a hug

In "England" on the boat ride (left) and Emma trying to keep cool with Aunty Sarah.

5) Jan 3:
We used our tickets that we had received for Christmas to go to Underwater World this morning.  We started out at the touch pool by the entrance where Evan felt a starfish and then we hit up the morning showings of the otter presentation and then the seal show.  It was a hot and humid day again, and I sweltered when I nursed Emma during the seal show.  We found a room with air conditioning afterward and tried to cool down, and then went through the jellyfish exhibit and down to the tunnel that takes you underwater to see sharks, rays, and more.  Evan seemed to really enjoy the aquarium, especially the room with water "waves" projected onto the floor (which moved when you moved on top of them).  He and Eva (and a handful of other kids) danced in that room for quite awhile!  And he liked seeing the fish in the tunnel too. Emma also enjoyed it, when she was awake at least, since she enjoyed looking at the big fish as they swam past.

Evan at the touch pool (left) and in the underwater tunnel (right)

Sweltering at the seal show

Emma captivated by the fish (left) and the view she had (right).  The big dark ones were what caught her eye the most I think.

Evan meeting a curious seal up close (but through the glass)

Dancing in the "water" and working up a sweat!

Inside the shark's mouth, oh my!

(to be continued)