January 4, 2013 - Eh Canada !

We're home from an incredible trip, thank you all so much for the emails, calls, texts and blog following ... It made home a little closer than half a world away !!

From sandals in the sand to sandals in the snow ... Canadians are Versatile!!

Happy New Year.

January 4, 2013 - G'Day Australia

Today, my Mom and Dad, Evan and Katey and Brady and I begin our flights back to Winnipeg. Melbourne to Sydney = 1.5 hours, Sydney to Vancouver = 14 hours and Vancouver to Winnipeg = 2.5 hours !!!

All our flights were great, long but great and even though we were rushed to catch flights, security and customs went relatively well. Everyone was exhausted but easy going.

Before we left the Melbourne Hotel for the airport, Mom had to part with the Gumnuts that Nikki picked for .... We did not want to have to spring her from Customs Jail.

Oh we also have a couple of picks of Honolulu As we flew over at night.

Here are the pics from ocean surf to snowy drifts !!

January 1 - 4, 2013 - Melbourne

We got rooms at the Swanston hotel in Melbourne, which is in the middle of the tourist area and Little China ... So there was lots of walking, exploring, eating and shopping to be done.

My gosh though, I think all 4.5 million Melbourne residents were on our streets at the same time as us .... Elbows out!

We also loved going to the Aquarium and seeing the Penguins and Seahorse Pier ...the huge stingray was pretty cool too.

Then on the hottest day which hit 38 degrees .... We took the family car to the zoo! Incredible but too hot to spend more than a couple of hours.

New Year's Eve

What happens in Australia .... Stays in Australia !!!

Actually we spent New Year's Eve at Kyle and Nikki's having a BBQ with family and friends, then we watched many fireworks, live and on tv. We had to be up early the next day to catch our train to Melbourne.

We also got a picture of Kyle "the Winnipeg Jets Fan" and "the Hawthorn Hawks Fan" .... And Nikki wrapped up in the Hawks blanket.

I am also putting on pics from the Warrnambool Train Station .... We only cried a little, and everyone even came on the train with us until departure, I think they wanted to come with us.

As we were on the train we said bye to our Merri Beach House and then we saw this hill with trees planted very straight .... So that was the last pics of Warrnambool, onto to Melbourne, then homeward bound