Hitting a Few Milestones as 2014 Rolls In!

 Well after Grandma and Grandpa left we had to do something QUICK to cure the doldrums!  Luckily a bunch of families in our ward, mostly maories (New Zealanders or Kiwis as they call themselves), have a tradition of going to Bribie Island on New Year's Day.

We felt so fortunate to get invited!  It was just what we needed to ring in the New Year!!!  The kids slid their boogie boards down the beach dunes.  It was so fun to watch all the kids up there having so much fun.  Our ward has some really fun families. I guess it's Aussie's version of snow sledding in January!


Bribie is a beautiful island not far off the mainland.  You can take a big bridge to get out there.  The beaches there are awesome.  And it has heaps of fun little fish and chips shops and surf rentals etc.  It's a great little place to spend the day.  We pretty much stayed on the beach, had races, played frisbe, and spent the day boogie boarding and just talking with friends.

This group of friends are very well-prepared for beach days.  And whenever we hang with the kiwis there IS NEVER A SHORTAGE OF FOOD!  There is always more than enough and you eat til you're sick!  They are amazing cooks and grillers.  Parker is always in heaven when we eat with the kiwis, because they insist on fattening people up.  They believe in making "big strong boys".  It's funny to watch the moms fill Parker's plate and then ask him continuously if he's ready for more.  They are always mindful of empty plates!  Parker thinks it's the greatest thing ever.  He's a bit of a bottomless pit, so these functions always suit him :)  Oh...the complexities of raising boys!!!  Lex told me once he never really felt that "so full I'm going to throw up feeling" until after his misison.  He said growing up he really always just felt like he could eat at any given moment!  Wow-- really?  That frightens me! I'm picturing large groups of teenage boys hanging at my house after a game or something...better be hittin Costco to prepare for nights like that!

 Here is Oaks, getting buried by one of our faves, Brother Leo!  He has taught us all so much about fellowshipping and friendshiping.  He has made sure we always felt welcome and taken such a sweet interest in our family.  Love this guy so much!

Nearly buried...

...And Mission Accomplished!  Good work Oaks and Brother Leo!
Our New Year's was awesome.  

We had a couple students who got great grades and awards at the closing ceremonies of year 2 and year 4.  We celebrated at...where else?  Chompers baby!

Well, we cannot believe we reached our half way mark.  That's a bit of milestone, I suppose. We were hankerin to celebrate at Chompers, our fave fish and chips, but since we had just eaten there for grade celebration, we had to hold ourselves off!  (We find ourselves up there far more often than we should!)  We ended up talking Lex and Park into grilling shish- ka-bobs.  And may I just say...it was worth it!

 The food was awesome, but the celebration is bittersweet.  Our time is going by too fast!  Half way means we are on the downhill side of our year long adventure.  And to be honest, I'm not ready to go back!  Brissie has been so good to us, and so good for us!


Next milestone was Oaks ditchin the training wheels!  She left them on for a couple weeks, but then realized they were holding her back.  And off she went!  Always keeping up with the kiddos!  Never to be left behind!  Proud of you, Oaks!  Not bad for a 4 year old!

Basketball season ended for Oaks, Birdy and Park.  It was an awesome season.  Birdy earned a name for herself as the defender/stealer of the team.  And Oaklee's team called her "The Pocket Rocket"-- because she could fit into your pocket but she was like a stick of dynamite on the court (hilarious)


A loose ball was a moving target for her.  She'd dive on anything...or anyone for that matter.  When you're half the size of everyone else...the refs are generous to you!  They call that kind of playing "cute" at that stage instead of "dirty".  I think she'll ride that wave as far as it'll take her!

Oaklee's team, the Carina Cobras.

Park wrapped up his AFL season.  So much fun.  He had a blast.  And met some really fun friends.  He's brave.  It was something he'd never tried, never seen played, never even heard of for that matter-- and he jumped right in as the youngest guy and did a great job.  Now he loves AFL and wishes he could start a league in Utah. But umm, can we use pads and helmets at least??? sigh....

Go Yeronga!

 Great kid!  Love his stinkin guts!

Birdy's team was also the Cobras.  She had a blast and can't wait to play again.  I can't believe how much she improved in the season.  Mostly just confidence...she decided she wanted the ball and it wasn't worth being quiet about it.  :)  Go Birdy!

Syd has lost a couple teeth...Aussie teeth...since being here.  She is really becoming a toothless Tilly.  But it's cool to lose teeth in Brissie, because the tooth fairy leaves you a gold coin.  In Aus, it's $2.  Pretty cool!!!