Coinectomy...

A while ago, Mark and I purchased a "PIGGY BANK". This was the kind of piggy bank that DOESN'T have a hole in the bottom to sneak the money out!

We both put our change in there. Well the change that doesn't get spent anyway. We decided that we would use the money for a vacation! Well the time has come as has the vacation!!!! WHOO HOOO!!

Since the piggy bank doesn't have a hole, we had to perform a coinectomy in order to extract the coins!

You saw the BEFORE pig at the top of the page...here is the after pig... I know it is sad for the pig, but he was the PROUD holder of $168!!! How great is that!!



We will have some nice spending money for our trip!!!

Sigh...

In a very short time, Mark and I will be heading to the Mayan Riveria!! I CAN"T WAIT!!!! With the horribly cold weather we have been having, the snow and the everything, I can't wait to get my toes in some warm sand and have a drink with an umbrella in it.

Well yesterday, I decided that I should try on my bathing suits and see what fit, what didn't, what I would pack and what I wouldn't...While doing this, I was apparently torturing myself as I was eating a package of these:



WHY would I eat chocolate while trying on bathing suits, well I don't really have an answer to that one. I am not even a big chocolate lover. I am the person who can have a BITE of a bar and put it down and put away. HOWEVER, when it comes to Cadbury Fingers, I HAVE NO WILLPOWER - NONE - NADA.

They were REALLY good...AND I went out shopping today and bought a NEW bathing suit!!

Home...

We are home safe and sound! Although I am happy to be home - I could have stayed away a little longer.

You know when you are away and the thing you look most forward to is getting in your own bed - well that wasn't the case this time. The KING size bed in the hotel was incredibly comfortable.

I was getting VERY used to the sunshine and the warmth.


I was enjoying NOT wearing a coat.

I was enjoying the time spent with GREAT friends.


I was enjoying our GORGEOUS hotel room with the wonderful view.


I was enjoying our playing in the waves in the Atlantic Ocean. I LOVE this action shot - with the wave CRASHING on my back and K1's big smile and blowing hair!


I was enjoying the LACK of snow!

However - home is where we are and it is time to get back into the routine and dream about our next get away...Do I hear Mexico calling???

A First...

Today was an exciting day!! Why you ask???

Today was the day that K1 entered a T*arget for the VERY FIRST TIME!!!

Now you can all pick yourselves up off the floor...I too was shocked!!

Being the good friend that I am - I felt the NEED to rectify the situation - and we did!!

We went TWICE today!!

Part One

Step One - SUCCESS!!

We have successfully arrived in Buffalo with K1 & K2. The hotel leaves a bit to be desired.

They have run out of pillow cases - can you believe that - they have run out!!

However we are here for less then 12 hours and we will survive!

The alarm is set for 4:50am...sigh

BUT it will all be worth it when we arrive in FLORIDA tomorrow!!!!

15 Months down...AND VACATION!

Today is one of mixed emotions.

We have completed 15 months since we were LID - we are really not any closer to Pumpkin - perhaps another 24 months from now...IF I'm being optimistic.

We miss Dolores and Shawn who are also celebrating their 15 months today but they are so far away - but they will be home soon - I HOPE!

However - we have decided to NOT put our lives on hold and enjoy everything that the world has to offer - which is WHY - TODAY IS VACATION DAY!!!!

This afternoon we are out of here!

I can't wait!!!

TWO MORE SLEEPS!!

Two more sleeps until K1 & K2 and Mark and I go on VACATION!!

We are UBER excited to be getting away and having the opportunity to soak up some rays in sunny Florida!

We have certainly had enough of winter here in Canada and are ready to get some sand between our toes!

The plan is to bring the laptop - just don't know if we are going to have to time to blog while we are there!!

Did I mention that I was excited!!

Thanks to Tracey for house sitting while we are away!!

More Australia Pictures

Here are some more pictures that we took in Australia. I FINALLY got them all downloaded on the new computer after the crash! Thank goodness they were still on the camera!

The first four are of the area surrounding Hobart in Tasmania.







These next two are of SOUTHBANK in the city of Brisbane in Queensland. There is a man made beach right in the city - very cool.




After Brisbane we headed to Newcastle to stay with some friends. Take took us to the Hunter Valley - a wine region. We went to these beautiful gardens - wow - this synopsis of our trip is shrinking and shrinking!! LOL







Then we were off to Sydney so that we could head to Manly Beach (that is where we saw J*nn Ard*n).

I am sure that you all recognize this famous landmark!!





These last pictures are of Manly Beach - one of my VERY favourite places in Australia. I can't even explain how wonderful it is. Sigh...I miss it.







So that about sums up our trip very briefly. We had a fantastic time and we were very lucky to get to experience that again! I am thinking it is going to be a LONG time before we get back there again!

Thanks for reading and enjoying the pictures! Now to plan for the next trip...

Touring Tasmania

O.k. back to the trip and the requested pictures!

We had a few days in our camper touring around Tasmania. It really is a beautiful state. We had an 'animal' day that we went to a wildlife park and saw some animals up close and personal!

But on to the pictures as that is what you all want to see!









The view from our campsite...sigh - it was pretty!

Tazzy and First Full day in the Camper

Here is a slide show of our first day in the camper and touring around Tasmania.

Back to the trip

After leaving Melbourne, we were heading for Tasmania - another state. Tasmania is an island and we had just received our campervan so we booked passage on the ship THE SPIRIT OF TASMANIA for us and our campervan.

It was a great experience. It was like being on a mini cruise ship for the night and we both totally enjoyed it. Well mostly enjoyed it...the water was ROUGH while trying to sleep. I was not sure if my dinner was going to stay in my stomach.

Us and our campervan - home away from home for 5 nights

In line to get on the ship
Our cabin for the night
Melbourne from the sea

We made it over to Tasmania in the morning and had a great time driving around.

I have more pictures, but blogger is not letting me down load them...

Beach Day!

First off I would like to apologize for not getting more pictures posted. It is really difficult to find an internet place that will let you download. We have taken LOADS of photos, but apparently only we can look at them...

Yesterday we were sitting on the beach (sigh) enjoying the FANTASTIC weather when we were looking at the lady sitting beside us. Mark was whispering "I think that is ***". I said "Really?" I don't know that that is her.

Mark decided to go up to her and say "Are you J*ann Ard*en?" and she replied SOMETIMES, YES! He spoke to her for a few minutes and told her that he went to see her when she was in Hamilton last time.

About an hour later, she went into her bag and pulled out a Hamilton P*olice T-shirt and said - Look what I am wearing. We all had a good laugh.

That said, I don't know if the Non-Canadians would know who she is.

It was cool! She is down her doing some work and decided to take the afternoon off to sit on the beach!

Our day in Melbourne

I know I am getting behind on my pictures here. It is not always easy to find a place that you can download your photos.

Here are some pictures from our day in Melbourne. We spent a good part of the day at the Queen Victoria Markets. I LOVE markets!!

November 28 & 29

On Wednesday November 28th, Mark and I, along with Carol, headed to the Geelong waterfront. This is the area that Carol lives. We took a nice walk along the boardwalk and had lunch at a waterfront cafe. I could really get used to this lifestyle!!



On November 29th, Carol took us for a drive along the Great Ocean Road. What BEAUTIFUL views we saw. It was incredible. It was also VERY windy and bendy and curvy and up and downy and...you get the picture. However, it was all worth it with these STUNNING photos...



Next up - our day in Melbourne!