Jamie, Janice, Tiz, Glenn, Howard and Louise's legs. The parents have as much fun as the kids!
Khye hugging our van goodbye.
This year has completely flown by and there is so much we haven't gotten a chance to do. Mary Hannagan said it best when she said, "But we're not done yet"! Those are the Jackson 6's feelings exactly: we love this place and we're not done yet.....
We left Boongarra on Thursday and drove to Sydney. You should have seen the look on the concierges' faces when they opened the back of the van! It took two men with carts and all my boys and I to haul most of the stuff up to our rooms.
Friday - On Friday, we sold our van back to the dealership where we bought it. What a great van and lucky situation that turned out to be!
We left Boongarra on Thursday and drove to Sydney. You should have seen the look on the concierges' faces when they opened the back of the van! It took two men with carts and all my boys and I to haul most of the stuff up to our rooms.
Friday - On Friday, we sold our van back to the dealership where we bought it. What a great van and lucky situation that turned out to be!
Early Friday afternoon, the Bennett and Fabris families joined us at the hotel. We packed the 16 of us into 3 rooms and there were kids and mattresses everywhere! The 10 kids all pair up so well and that's how they slept all weekend: Khye was in heaven sleeping upstairs with Nicole, Reece, Kyle, Tiz and Glenn. (And thanks Reece....now he thinks he needs an Ipad mini!)
Because we have spent very little time in Sydney this year, our goal was to see a few of the sights. We started with a walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Friday afternoon. There were beautiful sights and I'm sure I wouldn't be brave enough to actually do the climb like some people were doing. It was super windy!
Because we have spent very little time in Sydney this year, our goal was to see a few of the sights. We started with a walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Friday afternoon. There were beautiful sights and I'm sure I wouldn't be brave enough to actually do the climb like some people were doing. It was super windy!
Lucas and Cody at Bondi Beach.
Dean and Kent at Bondi Beach.
Saturday - All year, our boys have enjoyed watching the show Bondi Rescue. It's all about the lifeguards at Bondi Beach. Although very busy and touristy, it was their goal to make it to Bondi before the end of the year.
There were large rips and small blue bottles (jelly fish) on Saturday but our boys didn't care. Some of their Aussie friends thought they were crazy/brave the way they charged into the water with their boards.
The pictures really tell it all. We played in the water, buried each other in the sand and played beach cricket. The boys and their Dads also enjoyed the views.....
There were large rips and small blue bottles (jelly fish) on Saturday but our boys didn't care. Some of their Aussie friends thought they were crazy/brave the way they charged into the water with their boards.
The pictures really tell it all. We played in the water, buried each other in the sand and played beach cricket. The boys and their Dads also enjoyed the views.....
We were very tired (and sun burned - LOUISE!) but cleaned up and went out for one last meal of Thai food. Thanks to Jamie and Louise, it's become a new Jackson family favorite. The Bennetts and Fabris' surprised Howard and I with gifts after supper. The girls gave me a beautiful opal that I will make into a ring and they gave Howard an Akubra hat. What great gifts to remind us of them and our year in Oz.
The Canadian Judo team at the 20/20 Cricket Bash.
Sunday night cricket.
Sunday - We were all tired and emotional today and didn't really know what to do with ourselves. We finally decided just to head to a park where we promptly ditched the men and boys so the Moms and Nicole could go shopping....actually, that was a really good plan! The boys played cricket for a while and then they tired out too. We all met back at the hotel for lunch and a rest. Maybe it was only me who needed the rest...I was really feeling overwhelmed today. :(
On Christmas Day, we had said goodbye to the Irvin family but they surprised us by also showing up in Sydney today! The Canadian Judo team was back
On Christmas Day, we had said goodbye to the Irvin family but they surprised us by also showing up in Sydney today! The Canadian Judo team was back
together again and we took our four families to the 20/20 Big Bash cricket game. The Sydney Sixers played against the Sydney Thunder. The 20/20 games are like an NHL game or a baseball game complete with flashy uniforms, fireworks and music. The kids were right into the action and most cheered for the Thunder. After the game, the boys spent (what felt like) forever getting little bats signed by the players from both teams. And, just as we were leaving, Louise found Sean Abbott! He is a young player that had come to Griffith earlier this year to work with the 'D Grade' players and then he spent time at GEPS promoting cricket. He remembered our kids and the Canadian accents. The Moms offered to hold him across our arms for our picture but he kindly declined....and then quickly ran away!
The 20/20 bash was an excellent way to spend our last evening in Australia. It was such an Aussie thing to do and we loved spending it with our friends. After another teary goodbye with the Irvins, we loaded the vehicles and headed back to the hotel for a short and restless sleep.
Why do weekends always go so quickly........?
The 20/20 bash was an excellent way to spend our last evening in Australia. It was such an Aussie thing to do and we loved spending it with our friends. After another teary goodbye with the Irvins, we loaded the vehicles and headed back to the hotel for a short and restless sleep.
Why do weekends always go so quickly........?
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