Sunday, July 4, 2010

AUssIE AdVEnTUre PaRT 2

Hey!!!! I’m in Aussie! Again! haha… I am such a lucky girl!!! My bestie Tayce, is getting married and they flew me over to do the photos! Crazy! I can’t believe how generous these people are! I love them as my own family and I’m so grateful to feel at home here. I arrived June 28, 2010. Tayce picked me up at the airport and it’s been so awesome catching up with her! We’ve had tons of fun!

Wednesday June 30, 2010…Mom’s Bday…we drove down to Albury where Lisa, Tayce’s older sister lives! Then we drove some more and ended up at this HUGE house for all of us to stay at! We had over 20 people to go up to the snow and ski, snowboard, and fall!!! I was the one falling most of the time! We had tons of fun! And I will definately not be doing any snow sports for a long time! haha… We had a great week up there, and drove home on Sunday. After we went to church in the tiny Albury Branch, which was lovely with their sweet testimonies, most of which were converts! We also had Waffles and Ice Cream! A Snow Family tradition for the 4th of July! Which I missed, but I’m glad I got to share some of my life with the Krok’s! It was yum!

Before we left Albury, we went for a little drive by the Army Base, because…there are TONS!!! I mean TONS!!!! of KANGAROOS!!!!! It was awesome!!! They were all making fun of me, not the kangas but the people in the car, because I was so excited! Loved it!!! So here’s some photos of the adventure! ENJOY!!!!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

CoFfS

On Friday Tayce picked Lauren and I up at the airport and we headed for Coffs. This is about 6 hours north of Sydney, and where Tayce and her fam bam spend Christmas. It was beautiful! So relaxing… We played some tennis, with our biggest fan, the lizard, watching our game. After that we went swimming, and got some awesome tans! Then we headed to the beach! where I learned how to surf!!!! Yep that’s right. I did pretty good, I got up on my knees…then I was going out to try again when this wave crashed the board back into me…it hit my thigh and my lower ribs…knocked the wind right out of me…I got a mad bruise!!! I tried a few more times…but didn’t work, so we just played in the ocean! Seriously…one day I will live by the ocean! It was tons of fun to just chill and relax…

nEW ZEaLAnd AOteaRoa

I got the chance of a life time to go back to my beautiful New Zealand. As soon as I landed, it felt like home. I love this country and people so much. It’s one place I feel truly loved. We started in Auckland and stayed with Sister Tairua, a sister from my mission, in Otara, apparently it’s the worst part of Auckland, and we soon found out why. Not only did we witness a domestic dispute outside the chapel on Sunday, later that night we found a half naked woman, totally drunk and passed out on the side of the road. Yep. The world is so scary. I’m not naive, I just choose not to dwell on the bad, so I when I see it first hand, it’s hard to take in. It was really great to catch up with my mission buddies! I couldn’t believe I was actually there! We stayed up way too late, we ate, we laughed, we shared memories, it was the best night ever! Monday came, and we caught the “Naked Bus” to Napier, my last area. We stayed with the Bishop’s fam bam the first night, and caught up with them! They couldn’t believe I actually came back! and neither could I…it was incredible. Tuesday we went around Napier and went up Te Mata Peak…a beautiful look out to the ocean and view of Hawke’s Bay. Then I got to go around and visit some of the members…lucky there were some things going on at the chapel, so I got to see a lot of people there. I just showed up to people’s houses unannounced, and they remembered me! It was the best feeling in the world. I was so happy. I couldn’t imagine anything better. Wednesday we left for Taupo to go Bungee Jumping!!!! YEAH!!!! We got all excited and ready to go… took a photo in front of the sign, rocked up to the gate…and there it was… “CLOSED” under construction…sucky. We were so mad! I was all ready to do it too! I was not going to chicken out or anything! I had my money and I didn’t eat a big breakfast so I wouldn’t lose my cookies! Dang…so now it my goal to find the most awesome Bungee in the world and go there and prove to myself that I can do it! After that disappointment we went to Taupo Lake which a volcano, and got to put our feet in some nice hot pots…it was beautiful!!! I love anything that makes my feet feel good! After that we made our way to Rotorua…Maori central. We went to a show and had Hangi, traditional Maori meal…it was amazing! Everything I loved to eat was there! It made the trip even more perfect! And our bus driver was awesome! Hilarious! The next day we went to the temple…it was again…incredible…I’m going to do another post about it though…so yeah. One of my mission buddies picked us up at the temple and back to Auckland where we had another night of catch up and the next day we flew back to Sydney, to picked up and off to Coffsaba…yeah! I love that I was able to go to New Zealand…that place and the people will forever be in my heart.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

AuStRAliA zOO

Hey guys! I know these are late! But I’ve been out and about with no real access to the internet! These are from the Famous Australia Zoo which Steve Irwin “Crocodile Hunter” started. It was AMAZING! I love animals…I didn’t realize how much I did, until I went to TWO zoos in ONE week! haha. We saw so many crocs, and alligators, had a croc show, got to hold a Koala, SO CUTE! He was a chunk too! I had an “American Burger” for lunch which I’m sorry to say, Sucked. There were all of these little lizards running around everywhere, and Anne (Tayce’s mum) freaked out every time we saw one! It was hilarious! We had tons of fun! Then that night we left for Cairns! Photos of the Great Barrier Reef to come! Yeah!

Friday, November 6, 2009

A DaY At tHe bEaCH

I got a little ahead of myself with the last post! Tayce and I went to the beach before we left for Brisbane! Bondi Beach which is quite popular because it USED TO be a nude beach! Dang I missed out! haha… And I saw my first dreadlock dude…I’m pretty sure he didn’t know I was taking a photo of him! And the photo of the weird balloony thing with the sticks is a dried up jellyfish…when they wash up and are out in the sun they balloon up…I touched it. gross. But I wanted to see if it would sting me. It didn’t.

bRIsbANe, HeRveY bAy, & bUNdAbeRg

Ok this past week we started our adventure in Brisbane! Well the airport really…but we came back later… We, Mama Krok, Marley and myself, drove up to Hervey Bay (pronounced HARvey dumb I know) where Marley’s bf lives! Then we drove up to Bundaberg, home of the Bundaberg Beer, or for us Mormon’s, Bundaberg Peachees. yum. We had the most fabulous room! It overlooked the ocean and was a breathtaking sight! We enjoyed some sun, pool, and good times! And I saw a GECKO! That’s right! It was so cool! At night they climb all over the windows to catch the bugs that are attracted to the light! It was so cool! Love it! We also walked down this massive pier! I absolutely LOVE the OCEAN!!!! One day I will live by the ocean…

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

ChOCoLAte

For FHE we went to this chocolate cafe thingy…it was the best idea anyone has ever had in the history of the world! We NEED one of these in America! We may have one…and it’s my goal to find it! This guy named Max is the creator of all the delicious yumminess that happens in this cafe…everything is covered in chocolate…white, milk and dark. yum. The reason I have a photo of this bald headed man, is because it reminded me of my Daddio! Who I love and miss his bald little head…love your Dad.