Varian's Trip (April 2011)

I wasn't going to post about this considering this blog is for my memoirs and I didn't go on this trip, but as I've reported so much on my family, I decided to have a feature post for a trip Varian did with his sister Leah. They went to Carnarvon Gorge a few months before she and her husband Panu were moving to the states.



They left Brisbane about 2 or 3 in the morning if I recall and drove through the night. But right as they got ready to start their day of hiking Varian's shoes came apart. Lucky for them and for the trip's success, another hiker offered these plastic zip cords to help him tie up his shoes which then held together for the rest of the weekend.

 

The trip was mostly hiking around to see waterfalls, hieroglyphics and aboriginal paintings. Along the way they even saw a bit of the wildlife and lived to tell about it. In fact this most-likely-poisonous snake jumped (and yes they both adamantly claim it jumped) up in front of Leah. 



They had to cut their trip short as huge rainstorms came in and flooded the whole area. They woke up in the middle of the night and left right then to be safe, which was lucky, because otherwise they would have been cut off and trapped up there. But what a beautiful looking place. I'm hoping to have Varian take us up there soon (after snake season perhaps).

Wrapping up Easter (2011)

So let me just post some of the last shots of our Sydney Trip. A combination of rain, not having our own car, and not having much time kept us from sight seeing, but we had a lovely time celebrating Easter, playing games, and hanging out with our family. I got a million shots of Varian throwing Jaren up in the air and the two of them laughing and having so much fun together. Moments like these are what makes life and family so sweet!

We had some impromptu photo shoots while there. Felicity took some prego-pictures for me (that term always makes me think of spaghetti). I think these shots of Jazzy and my big blue balloon belly are so tender. This is about 3 weeks before Reid was born.

 
   

A pizza party one night with lots of mouths to feed - and baby Jaren and baby Lilly playing in their PJ's.

 

We had a great time and were so grateful for Chad and Felicity letting us come and stay with them. Then we were off to begin the long drive back home, and speaking of impromptu photo shoots, these gems are from one of our bathroom breaks on the 11+ hour trip home. We're all dressed a bit raggedy (which is a shame for Jaren's mismatched outfit in that first photo at the top of this post, and my lack of make-up in the below shots) but like Lani said, if you travel with a professional photographer then you should be prepared. (Click HERE to link to her website and blog.) Thanks a million again Lani for these awesome shots!

Okay this fish-face one makes me smile so hard every time I see it! And in case you didn't get enough of throwing pictures...

And now the pictures that make my heart swell with love and happiness and gratitude every time I see them. How I love my dear little boy and his never-ending font of joy and energy and smiles. "Delightful" is the word that truly describes my precious Jaren. I'm including them all because I have considered making a wall montage of these, and just because every one is so dang cute, I can't leave any out. It's also lucky that this stop was nearer the beginning of the trip or we all (especially Jaren) may have been wearing different face expressions. :) For a 15 month old I thought he (and the rest of us) managed the trip quite well.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

 

In preparations for Easter we painted eggs. Yes painted, not dyed. I've yet to see a white egg in Australia and brown eggs wouldn't really dye very well. So what Felicity does with her kids is to use styrofoam eggs and toll paint to carry out this tradition.

 

Easter Sunday (also my Birthday :) :) :) ) we had a picnic and then sent the kiddies inside so the Easter Bunny could come.

I have such a soft spot in my heart for this mischievous little boy. Dr. Evil meets Easter eggs. :) Also here's sweet Jazzy showing us some of her candy.

I love this picture of Felicity taking a picture of Jaren, and then some of the shots she got of him that day. I've trained him well to sit and smile at the camera as you can see. Bless her heart for taking so many photos for us! :)

I thought I'd include this picture to capture the cute little birthmark on Jaren. I think it looks like he got kissed by an angel before being sent down to me. :) And a cute little series of shots of Jaren discovering a baby chicken in an Easter egg, trying to eat it, throwing it down and settling on the egg itself. :)

 

We ended the night with a "Passover Feast" to remember the Savior and true meaning of Easter. And then we had a birthday celebration for Felicity, Chad and me - our birthdays are all within a week of each other. What a great day to celebrate the Resurrection and our birthdays. Happy Easter!