Questacon

 We didn't have shopping to do or other errands to run, so we took the kids out to Qestacon today.  It is a lot like the Discovery Cube that we love in California, but this place is a lot bigger. 

 You can type a question on a nearby computer and talk to this robot.  

 Everything about this science museum is hands on.  The kids loved this thing so much.  You put a scarf in the tubes and air will suck it up and blow it out somewhere overhead.  

This machine drew pictures by moving the table back and forth.

 They have a terrific little kid area with lots to do.

 I was the only one brave enough to do this free fall slide.  You have to put on a blue jump suit, climb up to the top, hang from a bar and then drop onto the slide. The boys thought it looked too scary.  I didn't know if I could hang from that bar.  Turns out I could.  

It's a great place, and I'm sure we'll be back!

If You are Brave Enough to Say Goodbye...

 life will reward you with a new hello.

Hello, Australia.  It's nice to meet you.

We see these white birds, cockatoos, everywhere.

 We were getting up at 5:30 in the morning for a few days when we first got here since we were messed up with our time zones.  The birds are on our lawn very early, and the girls ran to get their cameras to take pictures.

Hogwarts

The day after we arrived, we went to meet the principal and teachers at the boys' new school.  We call it Hogwarts.  Just add a cape, a wand and some magic and that's pretty much where the boys go.  They are divided into Houses and they can earn house points.  The boys are in a house with the color red and their mascot is the lion--just like Gryffindor. 



They have to wear a hat or they can't go outside and play.  They had a great first day of school!



10,000 Miles Across the Sea

Our journey of 10,000 miles started at Dulles Airport.  We have a lot of baggage!!!  We had 13 checked pieces of luggage, 11 carry-ons, 2 carseats and 2 strollers.  It is no small feat to move this family this far.

We flew to San Francisco where Hope had her own seat for the first time ever.

When we got to San Francisco it was close to midnight for us.  We hung out in the lounge for a little while.

Getting ready to board.

The last time these feet will touch American soil for two years.

I guess we're really doing this.

I was so worried how we would do this long flight.  When we walked on the plane, Faith said, "This is amaaaazing!"  It was the largest plane we had ever been on; it had an upstairs!

As you can see, we had a great TV screen where we could watch lots of movies and TV shows.  I think the boys watched the Avengers twice.

Our seats reclined to totally flat.  It was like  sitting in a hospital bed or Lazy Boy.  Awesome!

Breakfast is served.

I was so worried, but honestly the kids didn't want to get off that plane.  It was the best flight experience of my life.  We were spoiled.

What fun we had in Sydney trying to get all that luggage wheeled across the airport for our transfer flight.  We had three carts full of luggage.  Doug pushed one, I pushed one, and the boys took turns pushing Hope in the stroller and running into people with the other cart because they couldn't see over the top.

We made it!!!