Back to school

So our three week holiday is over. Sad story.  We had a staff day on Tuesday and our first day back today...everyone was dragging.  On the plus side had a wonderful holiday and my parents came to Kingscliff to meet my Australian family.  They both loved each other, which was nice since I was attacked by the children.  I showed them around the area and took them to Byron Bay and to Currumbin so that they could hold and feed the koala and kangaroos.  I was really sad for them to leave.  It was also Little 5 at home so I was doubly depressed.

We are learning how to surf this weekend and next weekend we will be traveling to Melbourne for a week...fun stories to come I am sure....

3 Week Holiday

(The fam in Sydney-first night here!)

Mary-Kate and I are free from school for three weeks for our Spring Holiday! We hung out for the weekend and went to the horse races on Saturday. Sunday my host family had a party for my 22nd birthday on Monday. We celebrated with an excellent meal and beautiful cake. So sweet of them to throw me a party. Mary Kate and I flew to Sydney on Monday morning and stayed at the 'Funkhouse' hostel. Lets just say it should have been called the Fungashouse=sick. We met some cool guys from England and Mary Kate and I also got sucked into a pool tournament. Needless to say we lost, but one of our friends won!

(The Blue Mountains-'The Three Sisters")
My parents flew in to Sydney on Tuesday and we met up with them. We walked the Sydney Harbor Bridge, saw the Opera House, played at Luna Park, rode the fairy around Darling Harbor, went to the fish market and ate a seafood platter all in one day. Thursday we drove up to the Blue Mountains where the famous 'Three Sisters' rock formation is. It basically looks like the Grand Canyon except there was a railway car that we took that was the steepest in the world to get to the bottom. It was STRAIGHT down...awful. To be honest, Rog driving on the left side of the car and street for 2 hours was more terrifying.

(pad and I at dinner)

Friday my parents and I flew to Cairns and are now staying in Port Douglas. Mary Kate will meet up with us in a few days at Hamilton Island. We have basically just been relaxing and hanging out here. Yesterday we scuba dived at the Great Barrier Reef. Incredible. One of the coolest things I have ever done.

(private island? Yes please)

Side Story: Rog and I are descending into the ocean and every meter you have to equalize your ears and nose. We are in a group of four and there is a lady who I could tell from the get go would be the weakest link and cause problems because she was struggling with the 'rules' on land. We finally all get to the bottom of the ocean and I look over to see my dad giving the 'distress' sign. He is apparently hyperventilatling and cant breathe properly. Of course the weakest link turns out to be my father. Needless to say the scuba instructor, Stephanie, held his hand for the entire 30 minute scuba. I feel so encouraged to know my padre is a true hercules who will always protect me in a moment of need....

Wildlife and wild times

(Kanga and roo)

This weekend Mary Kate and I went to several nearby beaches and to Currumbin Wildlife Center.  The beaches included Rainbow Bay, Point Danger, and Snapper Rocks.  They were all right in a row and Snapper Rocks was really cool to watch because it was all surfers surfing right next to sharp rocks.

We stayed the weekend at one of the teacher's homes who let us borrow it while she was away.  We thoroughly enjoyed the quiet time and enjoyed going out and watching Harry Potter.  We took a bus to Coolangatta to go out but we were rejected by the bouncer because Mary Kate had a 'rubber thong' on and glass could hurt her foot....needless to say we went back to Harry.

Sunday we went to the Wildlife center and got to hold a koala (which smelled like a wet rag) and play with kangaroos.  It was really fun to see all of the animals that are native to Australia and to learn about them.  Angela and the kids joined us at the center and fed the kangaroos with us.  

(Regan feeding a kangaroo) (Me and the stinky koala)

(Mary Kate kissing a snake haha) (Me and my new pal, Kanga)

It has been raining for so long here and we are ready for some sunshine! We only have three more days till our three week holiday!....