Tuesday, August 21, 2012

VACATION(S)!!!

Getting back to reality after 5 weeks of vacation. Well....,.it's been rough. I'm sure everyone feels really bad for me. Kevin tells me that I am turning into a true Australian with that long of a vacation, I have yet to hear of someone taking just a week vacation here- the least I usually hear is 2 weeks! I like that about this culture :). At the end of June Kevin and I took off for a cruise to the South Pacific- we went with some Melaleuca Marketing Executives that won a contest. It was great- lots of fun to meet some of the business builders here. The weather wasn't fabulous but the food was.....enough said. We went to New Caledonia & Vanuatu. I came home from the cruise a few days early to pack and get ready for the next trip- on to Idaho! I had never thought there would come a time where our family was sooo excited for a vacation to Idaho- little did I know our future held living half way across the world.
 Me + 3 kids + 4 airports + 3 planes + 17 hours in the air = an exhausting SUCCESS!

We were so lucky- it honestly couldn't have gone any better. To say the least our trip to Idaho was great. More than ever it has made me so grateful for the wonderful family and friends that we have- that continually show up for us no matter where we are! I didn't fit everything in but it was comforting to know that we still have our house and that will be a reality again- probably before we know it. So Carpe Diem - right?  Just for the record- no matter how old I get I think I will always enjoy hanging out at my moms house- taking care of me....even doing the laundry! Last but not least- then we were on our way to Hawaii! It was Kevin and my first time being there- it was honestly amazing and so good to see Kevin's parents. It had been 9 months and who knows how long until we see them again. They showed us a great time- all of the tourist spots and some of the local secrets. Coming home at night to hang out in their little beach house overlooking the ocean made it feel like a 5 star holiday! 
 Kevin buying a drink from the local school....the kids were trying to save up to earn a trip to Australia. 
The coolest Banyon tree I have ever seen- this village in Vanuatu considers this tree it's protector- if a storm comes they gather inside the roots. 
The first plane ride- 14hours from Melbourne to LA (tail winds cut off 2 hours from this direction).
Watching the fireworks with my adorable nieces and super cool nephew.....


This picture holds pure joy for Brooklyn- her 3 cousins that make her happier than anything........

                                     50 ft water slide provided by the Andersons.....


         Saying goodbye to cousins.....Carson is the one on the grass refusing to participate.

I was in Idaho 3 weeks out of an entire year and was lucky enough to be here when these two precious babies were born- Kate, my well.....my eternal bff had her 2nd set of twins- Caroline and Colter.
Kiwi Loco with Jakie and Ty.....good times!