BlueDaisy

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Australia: Cairns

Happy Hump Day everybody! I'm back with more Australia today … woot woot :) In my Australia recap launch Monday I forgot to forewarn everyone of the MASSIVE photo overload and the fact that these posts will be extraordinarily long. Sorry bout that friends … but I like pictures and have a lot to share, there just ain't no two ways about it. And, that brings us to Cairns.

Originally, I posted here about the layout of the trip and familiarized you with maps, etc. Only to get to Australia and realize I was wrong about the order of the cities we were visiting … whoopsie! Our first adventure was North Queensland, Australia. We stayed in Cairns and rented a car, so we were able to travel easily to and fro to the surrounding beaches/islands, etc.

Friday, December 19

We arrived around 4 pm. on December 19th, checked into our hotel and headed straight to dinner so we wouldn't crash! Immediately after dinner we headed back to the hotel, showered up and snoozed off the rest of the eve, in hopes of waking up refreshed!

Saturday, December 20

The next morning we had an early wake up call to head to Port Douglas for a full day of a chartered catamaran snorkeling/diving the Great Barrier Reef. (We actually have SO many more pictures than just this one below, and they are SOO GOOD … but my mother is currently hoarding the images on her camera after I have asked her countless times to get them to me … so I'll show you this one until she decides to share with everyone else … I wrote this because I know you're reading mom ...). It was GORGEOUS. We saw whales (from the boat!), caught some rays (from the sun!), and I made my baby bro hold my hand the entire time I was in the ocean (because I'm a scardey cat!). We finished off the evening with some Chinese food for dinner at the hotel (where my child actually ordered a Coke from the waitress … God love him) and called it a night early. It was a great start to the trip!

Sunday, December 21

Day Two in Cairns was another early morning (jet lag…). We snagged some breakfast from a Restaurant in the hotel, Taramind, where Bennett decided to make it his mission to see how many cocoa pebbles he could spill. And mom and I finished off an entire pot of french press coffee. After that, we piled into the rental van (which could fit a small army) and headed to Innisfail, South Queensland.

First stop: Paronella Park! (again, we have way better and more cool pics - that include everyone and are really fun … but Penny hasn't shared yet :( … last time I'll mention it, but you get the idea) It was ridiculously HOT and even more gorgeous.

Side comment: Shane and I are big sushi lovers, so you can imagine our excitement when we saw this:

Ya'll that is GINGER! Before blooming (above) and after (below).

Am I the only one who didn't know it was that gorgeous!?

Okay, back to the picturesque park. This is the swinging bridge that stretches over an enormous waterfall. We had to walk down the historic 47 steps to get into the gardens and then back up them to walk across the swinging bridge.

Mrs. Penny :) (I'm certain she was screaming .. she's afraid of heights) But mad props to her .. she went SKY DIVING in New Zealand! Sheesh!

Hubs and Moi!

Paronella Park was seriously gorgeous. Beautiful trees, pretty waterfalls, historic buildings, magical gardens … you name it … it was here. I'm unsure why this park hasn't been the setting for a movie, because it was a beautiful set!

After Paronella we piled back into the car and headed to Millaa Millaa, Australia's Tropical Dairyland. We had some burgers for lunch in the tiniest little town, and let mister B take a break from the car to play on the playground in the middle of the city (or street rather). After that it was waterfall time!

First falls: Millaa Milla Falls

Second falls: Zillions Falls

Third falls: Ellinjaa Falls (and the 68 steps up and down that it took to get there)

Insert adorable entire family photo and sibling pic here (oh wait … Penny didn't send me the photos)

After we were water-falled out, we were headed back to Cairns. On the drive home dad made an impromptu turn to see something called the "Cathedral Fig Tree" … Yawwwwn. We were all half laughing and making fun of him … "really dad?! … a tree? … can we just head back?"

Holy insert foot in mouth moment. We climbed out of the car and were walking along this little trail when all of a sudden Max says, "OH MY AWESOME!" We all look up … hum, woah. WOW! Amazzzzinnnngggg.

I've never felt smaller while standing in nature than that moment in the Danbulla Forest under the beautiful Cathedral Fig Tree.

Honestly, pictures don't even come CLOSE to giving it justice.

Max, Shane and I climbed up in that bad boy (ahem, picture on mom's camera) only to learn after we got down that the tree is home to 10 FOOT PYTHONS! BAHHHH!!!

Our drive home took place down the Gillies Range - the windiest road in all of Australia. Thank goodness that is done and over with! Although, it did make for some hysterical laughter and gorgeous views.

After we got home that evening, we meandered through the city and the openaire markets and finished off the day with some good ole' Italian food.

Oh, and some Kangaroo Jerky. GROSS!

On the walk home, we made funny faces ...

Tried to feel Christmassy in the heat.

Held the world's teensy tiniest Ugg boot ...

And took a picture with a Kangaroo. Goodnight!

Monday, December 22

The next morning we woke up to another beautiful day and had the most delicious breakfast at (what ended up being Shane's favorite restaurant) Perrottas, on the corner of Shield St. and Abbott St.

After breakfast, we took baby Bennett to play around in the lagoon pool on the Esplanade

After the swimming-scapades we went to meet Marco, the Koala bear :)

And little man took a little tiger snooze.

Jet lag was starting to set in and we spent the rest of the day hangin' at the pool and relaxing. And playing with our fatheads. Hehe.

The night was winding down, and we were all hanging by the pool as the sun was going down .. when ya'll I swear 02934092384209348029348 bats flew over our heads for what seemed like an hour. Craziest thing, EVER.

Later, we headed to dinner at Barnacle Bills.

And Max ordered Kangaroo, GASP!

So. Weird.

But, he ate it.

And we washed it down with cute Koala chocolates, so it made it all okay.

Tuesday, December 23

Our last morning in Cairns we headed straight to Perrotta's again, per Shane's request.

And ordered the chocolate filled deliciousness because, Australia.

And before heading to the airport to board our 12:30pm flight to Melbourne, we posed for a pic with our Koala friend, Pavlova.

Cheers to Cairns, a great kick-off to the trip, and quite possibly the longest post I've ever written … until I recap Melbourne and Sydney, HA!

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

I Heart You

Ahhh Valentine's Day ... your hearts, your red and pink romantic decor, your endless amounts of love, your oversized teddy bears, your dozen long stemmed roses, you and all your smoochies and I love yous - for those of you in love with someone to share it with, you're such a happy day.

Truth be told, I've never been over the moon about Valentine's Day. I'm one of those "it's so overrated, such a Hallmark holiday, blah blah blah" people. But, I am also a girl ... and therefore expect SOME kind of special attention, even if I say differently (insert winky face emoji). Aside from our fourth (I think) Valentine's Day when Shane booked some super swanky preset dinner menu reservation, at some over priced restaurant downtown (which I enjoyed of course .. just thought it was worth mentioning .. ha), we've kept our Vday's pretty simple. A homemade heart shaped pizza has been our favorite one to date ... maybe we'll reenact that at some point and let our little man make his own too. But I dunno, to me it's just more fun to make an ordinary day special .. and that's what we've always done.

This year however, I'm looking at Valentine's day in a whole new light ... as a parent! It's making it really fun. I'm imagining my kid(s) a little older and putting together super cute Valentine packages for them to take to school. And giving them a special little Valentine gift from daddy and me. And maybe even splitting up and letting Daddy take his little princess to dinner (if we ever have a girl) and I'll get to take the boy on a dinner date. It makes me smile picturing it all.

Anyways, before I get ahead of myself, I'm also focusing on fun ways to make it special this year. And by special I simply mean making some fun treats for us to munch on next week. I made these little nuggets a couple of years ago and they were so fun! I'm so excited to start building traditions with our wee one. I'm going to let him help me in the kitchen this year, and plan to every year after that (until he has his own little lady to take out one day, sniff, tear, sigh). But while I've got him all to myself that's just what we'll do. And giggle and make a might mess because, Valentine's Day and toddlers and love. Here are some of my favorite contenders for this year's Valentine treat.

How on earth will I ever decide? So many adorable sweet treats! Maybe I'll just have to make them all ... I'm sure Bennett wouldn't mind having dessert for every meal next week. Ha!

Here are the links if you're interested in check them out yourself. Which one would ya'll pick?

Happy love month to all. Smoochies.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Australia: Travel

Man, am I the only one who cried during what felt like EVERY commercial break that existed last night?! I mean I get it, tug at the heart strings and make and impact … I am a marketing major after all, but good grief! Can I get a little humor or something, puhlease?! At least my girl Katy Perry stepped in with some trippiness to take my mind off the tear jerkers! Although, if I'm being honest, I was a little disappointed in her opening song attire. I feel like she could have stepped up her game and gone for a little less Katniss Everdeen in her opening skit and a little more love singing without a track … regardless … she's still hoot.

Anywhoodles, I'm here today to check in and FINALLY begin to share the long awaited Australia recap posts! I don't know about you, but I have been so excited to share this trip with ya'll and it's about dang time I got back into some kind of routine so I can recap this puppy! Geesh! Who blogs about Christmas in February?! Apparently me :)

Alas,

So to start it off, let's talk about the travel shall we? I plan to do a separate post for all the gimmicks and tricks that helped along the way, for anyone that is traveling long distance with a toddler in the near future. In hopes SOMETHING may help them.

We headed to the Louisville, KY airport on Wednesday, December 17 around 12:00 in the afternoon. Our plan was to take a van cab because we had SO. MUCH. STUFF. Buuut that ended up falling through, so we called our buddy, Jason, and thank goodness he came through in a pinch (Gracias Señor). We loaded up his SUV and rushed off to the airport. After we finally unloaded all of our belongings and made it through security we grabbed a quick bite before we settled in for the long haul.

We took a (what seemed quick) two and a half hour flight to Dallas, TX where we had a 4 hour layover before boarding our LONG flight to Sydney, Australia. Bennett worked the airports like a pro.

We discovered the American Express lounge and took advantage of a few "free" cocktails and goodies while we waited.

Bennett loved the kids room and all the free apples :)

Soon after we heard the call to board our plane. We boarded an airbus and learned we were taking the longest direct flight in the world, on the largest plane (double decker) that flys. Woot!

Boarding the plane, so excited to start our adventure!

We meticulously placed all of our things (this took embarrassingly too long), got all settled in, ate some questionable airplane food and hung as best we could on an airplane.

A few hours later we changed boy into his PJs so he would be nice and comfy and turned on some Mickey Mouse with his iPad holder (GOD BLESS THIS INVENTION).

He was so into his show and being so good. Shane and I looked at each other and shared mutual looks of "HA, maybe we were worried for nothing?!"

But in true toddler fashion, Bennett quickly reminded us not to speak too soon. The airplane quickly became his jungle gym.

But luckily, after he pounced and played he quickly tuckered out and nodded off.

Again, hubs and I shared "Huh, this ain't gonna be so bad glances."

We busted out his port-a-crib (similar here) and nestled him in.

Then, we added a little canopy to block out the light, high fived one another and turned on a movie of our own to "enjoy" the flight.

Ahem, WRONG. Hit that 3:00am toss and turn routine our son usually carries out (he often wakes up, repositions and falls back to sleep) but, mix it with a tiny airplane seat and a dark strange place and we had a full fledged EPIC meltdown on our hands. I'm talking an hour straight of inconsolable crying. Add receiving dirty looks from the other passengers whom's snooze sessions were being interrupted and you've got two sweaty parents that are fumbling all over the place. It felt like we were back in the newborn phase trying anything and everything to get him settled.

At this point we agreed we just needed to deal it with and opted to take turns and try to each get a few hours of shut eye. Little man was making it very clear he had zero intention of getting back in his seat, much less head back to sleep. So, hubs took first shift and proceeded to let him walk up and down the stairs at the back of the plane for the next three hours.

It was a lot of up and down, back and forth from this point forward for the next 12ish hours and we lived to talk about it. Thank goodness my child is entertained by an iPad and wore headphones .. that's the only thing I can talk positively about.