Afternoon at the animal park!

This is one big bird!

This is a croc jumping out of the water to get its snack.

More Pics

These pictures are so much fun that we thought that we would post them twice! Sorry blogger is doing some strange things and I can't figure out how to fix it!

G'day to all.

Look Mom, it even drops gum balls....

DOWN UNDER in Melbourne!!

Just trying to fit in with the locals.

Just a little reminder of what warm places look like for all

of you still stuck in winter!

Hungry Jack's has great crowns and play area's--

even if they do have egg on their hamburgers!

It is a good thing that we packed light!

I'm not sure where I should even start. For some of you I didn't even get a chance to talk to before we took off on another adventure. We are spending the next few weeks in Melbourne, Austrailia. Andy is working and the kids and I came along for the ride!! It has been a pretty fun ride so far.

The flight was about 24 hours from the time we left KC to the time we landed. That included a stop in Dallas and LA. It all went fairly well. Sam and Cary did great and Zac survived too! We had a pull down bassinet for Zac which was great, until Andy woke up and He was standing up in it getting ready to jump out. So we held him the rest of the time!!

The Time Difference! The first day we got into Melbourne at 9 in the morning. All went well until afternoon naps. Sam and I got up and had supper, but Cary and Zac could not be roused. I tried about every thing I could think of, but the eyes stayed shut. So about 3 in the Morning Cary and Zac were ready to go. Tuesday was a long day!! We are pretty well back on schedule by now.

They have a great public transit system here in Melbourne and surrounding area. As long as you get on the right one you end up where you wanted too! The kids and I have been dividing our time between staying with our Austrailian Aunties in the suburbs and staying with Andy in the city. We haven't gotten Zac to say G'day Mate yet, but he's working at it. Sam has had a lot of interesting chats on the Tram rides. He even learned a little Chinease this afternoon!! Cary and I are just trying to keep all these guys lined out!!

Internet acess is a little more scarce than I expected, but Andy does have it at the office and tries to keep up with the email.

Hope all is well there, we miss you and look forward to seeing you again in a few weeks!

It is a good thing that fall is soo much fun--or it would be a lot of work!

The hauling of the leaves

It has been a while since we managed to get things updated around here, but we are still here with the same old excuses!!

CARY

You are still our little princess. The days our full of playing princesses and babies. All girls are

princesses and boys are either princes or knights--even though they act like dragons sometimes!

You try your best to keep your brothers out of trouble, but it is a hard job. You love to go storing (shopping) and you don't like stinky stunks (skunks). When brother is at school you

are a big helper and help keep Zac "calmed down and smiling". You are learning so

much so fast and we all love you bunches.

SAMUAL

You have so many firsts the last little while. You are growing up so fast.

The time is flying by. You are enjoying your first year of school, your first field trip

(to the pumpkin patch) which included a first ride on the school bus, losing your

first tooth (2nd one last night), and riding your bike without training wheels. It has been

a busy time. No one can make his sister happier or madder all with in 10 seconds! You're

little brother thinks you are the greatest boy around, and your Dad and Mom think so too!

First day of school with teacher Miss Knight

Same great smile, just with a little more space!

Zachariah
It is hard to imagine that we ever existed without you. You have the biggest smiles and
the loudest screeches. Life is so busy for you now--crawling or walking around things

to get into everything. You even took your first steps without holding on last week.

You love to smile and patty cake is becoming one of

your favorite games. You know how to get our attention and keep us all laughing.

STill more pictures!

This vacation stuff wears a guy out!


Preparing of the coconut

A sunset at the beach