We had an enjoyable and busy Christmas vacation this year, highlighted by a visit from Dave’s brother and his family. Some of our activities are captured in these photos.
The Embassy hosted a Christmas gathering with a brief thank you from the ambassador and a visit from Santa.
What embodies the spirit of Christmas better than zombie face paint?A beautiful butterfly, perhaps.Santa wasn’t scared off by Chris’s ghoulish appearance.
Carrie attended a birthday party at the zoo where she got to feed and interact with some of the animals.
Carrie and the emu.She got to feed the giraffe a carrot.And fed the lion a bit of raw meat.Ewww!Carol made a gingerbread train and won a “major award”!Carrie participated in the Christmas Cup at her gymnastics club.At the end she got a balloon, popsicle and certificate.Chris and Carrie after they divvied up the presents on Christmas morning.Carrie hugs her American Girl doll.Chris is excited about he new Lego Harry Potter Castle.After the presents are unwrapped and assembled, Chris settles in with a new book.And Carrie tries on her new clothes.
We spent a few days in Sydney with Dave’s brother and his family.
On the way to a Harry Potter exhibition, the cousins tempted fate by hopping across the water feature. Carrie took an unplanned dip a few seconds later.This sea lion greeted us at Taronga Zoo.The lazy red kangaroo.Chris and Zack by an uncharacteristically pleasant Tasmanian devil.All the cousins in front of the seldom seen platypus.Zack finds a hand print just his size.We met three young koalas named River, Ash and Rubi.These giraffes have a great view of the Sydney skyline across the harbor.After the zoo we made a quick visit to the Opera House.The cousins are dwarfed by the sail of the larger hall.We walked across the Harbour Bridge for the first time. This afforded a different perspective of the harbor.Nearly halfway across the Harbour Bridge we had a really nice view of the Opera House and Circular Quay.Across the bridge was Luna Park, a boardwalk-style amusement park.The cousins started on this wild pirate ship.The carousel was a favorite ride.The girls enjoyed waving to their subjects.The Ferris wheel was another favorite ride.A view from atop the ferris wheel.Chris and Carrie talked Dave into this torture chamber. It looks like Carrie enjoyed the ride.Chris and Carol get tossed about.Another view of the Opera House on the ferry ride back to the hotel.Steve and Susie in front of the Blue Mountains.The three sisters, five cousins and two strangers.
We returned to Sydney two days later and watched the New Year’s fireworks from the US Consulate.
The view from the Consulate showing the Harbour Bridge.Oohh! Ahh!We visited Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and met this emu trying to grab wild pears off the tree.The cousins approach some wild kangaroos.The Australian bush doesn’t look too different from the hill of California…except for all the kangaroos!This little possum was trying to rest in a rock shelter used by aboriginals over 20,000 years ago.The cousins deep in the eucalypt forest.A small rock wallaby nearby.And an eastern grey kangaroo with her joey.Back in Canberra we visited the Australian War Memorial.The view across ANZAC Parade to the old (bright white) and new (giant flag pole) Parliament.The opposite view from old Parliament looking toward the War Memorial.The cousins made gingerbread houses and wore the paper hats from their Christmas crackers.Finally, Steve entertains the cousins with his prowess on the didgeridoo.
