New Year's Eve

Last year we sat at home watching the fireworks on TV of Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve.  The next day I booked a hotel room so we could be there in person this year.  We chose Mrs. Macquarie's Point for our viewing point.  So did 20,000 other people.  When we got in line to check into Mrs. Macquarie's Point, it was the longest line we had ever waited in.  It was hot.  Really hot.  I'm telling you this New Year's Eve stuff in Sydney is not for the faint of heart.  Or people with kids.  I wish I could insert into this blog the sound and smells so you could hear our kids asking over and over, "Why can't we just watch this on TV?"  or smell the Europeans smoking all around you.  Sounds fun, right?

After four hours, yes four, we finally made it to the part where we could go into Mrs. Macquarie's Point and find a spot to wait for another ten hours.

And  this is our spot on New Year's Eve.

Yes, it was hot.  Yes, our kids whined a lot today.  But there were moments when they were having fun as long as we kept the cold drinks coming. Would I do it all over again? Yes.  My motto is "Go Big or Go Home" and you don't get any bigger or better than Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve.

Saying Goodbye

 Tonight we had a going away party for our friends the Shortt-Smiths who are on their way back to New Zealand.  We are really going to miss them. Johanna, Devon, Anne, me, Sharnael, Keturah, Wendy and Ashley

 Back row:  Johanna and Spencer, Michael and James, Anne and Peter, Sharnael, Keturah, Ashley, Jerry

Front row:  Devon and Tim, Doug, me and Faith, Wendy and Daniel

 Tim works with the young men in our ward:  Zack, Blake, Tim and Devon, Spencer, Caleb and Tyler

 Tim worked on the Hobbit movies and my boys love the things from the set he gave them-- a pine cone and a dagger from the dragon's treasure room. 

 We lit lots of sparklers tonight since the Shortt-Smiths can't take them with them.

Questacon

 Today we took Grandpa to Questacon.

 Spencer did the free fall slide for the first time and loved it.  He convinced Grandpa to try it too.

Boxing Day and Bugs

 I think America should celebrate Boxing Day.  To celebrate Boxing Day this year we all went to the movies.  The boys all went to see The Hobbit.  Since their movie is so much longer, I got to go on a little date with the girls waiting for our movie to start.

 They loved it.

In case you wondered about all the rumors about poisonous spiders in Australia, we have proof that the red back spider is alive and well in our house.