The one where we go to Margaret River

So pretty much since we got Perth, we had been told we had to go to Margaret River.  We knew that it was best to go over a weekend since it's about a 2 and a half hour drive and wine country. (you can figure out why it is a weekend trip).  ;)

Our friends, Rob & Joanne, had wanted to go back to Margret River and we thought it would be fun to go with friends...so on Mother's day we headed out for an (extended) weekend of fun!
Our first stop on the trip was at Duckstein Brewery to celebrate Joanne on Mother's Day! (and thank you Joanne, I stole some of your pictures for this post)

 

Jaret had like a meat skillet...just a lot of meat.

 

After a yummy lunch and a few wineries...we went to our cabin for the night.  Rob & Joanne and the kids had told us that the last time they were at that cabin there was a possum that came to visit them at night, Evan named him 'Felix'...and sure enough, he came to visit!

 

The next day we drove to Cape Leeuwin which is the southern most tip of Western Australia.  It's also where the Southern and Indian oceans meet.  There was a beautiful lighthouse there as well.

 

 

 

Over the next day and a half, we tasted wine, ate, relaxed, laughed, tasted/drank beer, drank wine and ate some more :)

 

 

Jaret's parenting skills :)

 

While driving from place to place (especially at dusk) we saw kangaroos all over the place!  Really neat to see them in the wild.

 

We had a wonderful couple of days in Margaret River!  We actually left Margaret River and had time to get home, re-pack, and head to the airport to head home to Texas! 

We loved getting to spend some quality time with the Letona's because we knew when we came back from Texas we had just a couple of weeks and then the Letona's were moving back to Texas.  



 

 







The one where we celebrate Easter 2013

It was time for another holiday 'Down Under'...Easter!

Easter in Australia means a 4 day weekend for workers, so that meant that we got home from Bali on Thursday after a week and then Jaret got 4 more days off work...he was pretty happy how that worked out.

Sadly on Good Friday we had to say 'see ya' to some of our Perth family.  Garriann, Al, and their 3 beautiful children were heading back home to Nebraska.  So we all got together at our apartment where all the kids could play at the playground and the adults could hang out.  We still miss our friends very much, but we know we will see them again!

 

For our Easter feast we decided we would smoke a brisket and of course have all the trimmings. (We are very good at creating feasts over here!)  So the night before Easter, the men got the brisket all prepared to start smoking in the morning.

 

Easter morning, Jaret and I went to church.  We have found a wonderful church to call 'home' until we move back to Houston.  It was just a little odd that there wasn't all the  Easter pageantry and celebration that I am used to.  And I know that it shouldn't matter but what happened on Easter is a big deal to Christians so I think it's quite acceptable to expect a big hoop-la on that day!  Anyways, it was still a lovely service and then we headed over to Rob & Joanne's to help prepare the feast!   But first, we had to take and Easter picture :)

 

My buddy Evan and me having some Easter fun.



 

Some pictures of the men folk standing around the grill...

 

 

 

While we waited for the meat to cook...the kids got to die eggs!

 

All eggs in Australia are brown, so dying is not as easy as in America...but I think the kids did a good job!

 

The meat was finally ready to eat and we chowed down...the boys did a great job!

 

After cleaning up from lunch and coming up with an excuse to get the kids upstairs so the Easter bunny could come visit...we hid the eggs and then let the kids go nuts!



 

We had a fantastic Easter with our Perth family!  We even went back the next day for leftovers :)



 

 



The one with Jaret's favorite picture in Bali

While in Bali we noticed something fantastic about fast food places...and Jaret was amazed by it.  We only managed to get a picture of one of the signs.  Now the question...would this work in America???

 

The one where we say goodbye to Bali

**so sorry for the delay in posting!**

While we were in Bali, I celebrated my 29th birthday!  So we went to Kuta on the other side of the island that we were told was "where all the Australians go".  Sure enough, that city was packed, and you know there is a lot of Australians there when there is an Australian flag on the beach! 
We went to a restaurant our friends suggested called Ku De Ta.  It was very yummy!

 

Easter was coming up that weekend and the restaurant had some gigantic bunnies outside....gigantic and very creepy.

The next group of pictures are of around our hotel.  If looking for a hotel in Bali, highly recommend Conrad Bali in Nusa Dua...fantastic place!

 

 This is the bathing suit I will wear once I get back to my fighting weight. :)

Now back to more of around the hotel....

 

 

After 6 very wonderful and relaxing days...it was time to head back to Perth.  But, our flight didn't leave until midnight, so we booked a couple of messages and since we had treatments we were able to use the spa facilities...which meant we had a pool and then could take a shower even though we had already checked out of the hotel. 

This is me in the spa's pool.

 

 

I was watching a wedding that was taking place at the chapel right across the way.

 

 

Our last picture together in Bali...

 

After we got out of the pool, we cleaned up and then had one last dinner in Bali....and this was our view for the meal...just gorgeous.

 

We absolutely loved Bali!  Besides our day trip, we literally relaxed the entire time and lived life without a schedule...it was fantastic!

 

 

And one last sentimental picture (just so I remember)...

Every night at the main restaurant they had a show....the night we went there were some Balinese dancers.  For some reason I started to get a little teary eyed.  When Jaret asked what was wrong, I said 'I miss my Grandma.'  I would have never thought those dancers would be a trigger.  You see, my Grandma loved to travel and Bali was one of her favorite places she visited.  She had always had some figurines that looked like those dancers.  It was at that moment that I realized all this traveling Jaret and I were doing (and will do since we want to see the world)....she would have LOVED to hear about.  But I know that she is with us every step of the way.