Koala Park Slum...

....all right, it wasn't quite that bad but it did look rather run down for a "sanctuary"and many animals that we had been looking forward to seeing again, were conspicuously absent!


We are returning to the Koala Park Sanctuary in West Pennant Hills which is convenient and the animals are accessible, except for the Dingo which I am completely grateful for.


Despite the raggedness of the place, Caitie and Patrick had a wonderful time consorting with the kangaroos, caressing the koala's and cackling with the cockatoo's!

Ah the life of a mama kangaroo with a giant Joey in her tummy!

Mum, can I get a Kangaroo?????

I hope Redd likes Kangaroo's...

The kangaroo's were just so cute we could have spent the entire day here but there were other Australian rarities to visit, including this freak of nature, the Wallaroo. A cross between a Wallaby and a Kangaroo, this poor creature is burdened with a cumbersome tail that it carries around, pausing constantly to preen it.

"Want to be a Walla...what?"

This guy is as completely crazy as he looks. He spotted me from a distance then lunged his 7 foot frame into a  comical run/hop toward me with a startled look on his face, pecked at the bag of Kangaroo feed right out of my hands, decided he didn't like Kangaroo food and dropped it instantly.

Edward The Emu..

The most annoying creatures on earth, the Myna bird.

Dood...what's up???

The Little Blue on the ground is really old and the other three are forming guard against another little Blue that they have decided they don't like.

Dastardly Dingo...Glad he is behind bars, this guy is viscous when playing, I can't imagine a fight.

Joey all snuggled...too cute!

Caitie Swims At SOPAC

Caitie stopped in her tracks as we entered the Olympic Aquatic Park (SOPAC). "OMG...I'm swimming here?" It's pretty overwhelming at first. Especially as it was her first swim meet in Sydney.


We were a little early so we walked around the deck, met the Meet Director, chatted with her coach, located the marshalling area and talked about the former Olympians who had walked these very same halls . Minutes later eagerness got the better of her and she asked, "OK...Can I swim now?"

"OMG...I'm swimming here?"

Caitlin had a few weeks off her training due to her Whooping Cough bout so she wasn't expecting to do brilliantly BUT she killed it!


Caitie ripped 9 seconds off her 100 IM time placing 9th overall; 4 seconds off her 50m Free and 6 seconds off her 50 Breast. That's a lot of seconds in the swim world....whatever they are doing at training is really working! Thank you Lane Cove Swim Club.

Brandon's First Swim Meet

This past weekend, Brandon swam at his first competition since moving to Sydney two months ago. He swam with his new team, Lane Cove Swim Club at Aquaburn which is in the grounds of the impressive Loreto School in Normanhust. 


With the big move from the USA and the pressure of starting a new school and having to make new friends, my expectations were not great. Brandon proved me wrong and made three personal best times. He took a huge 3.4 seconds of his 100 Free; 6 seconds from his made up 50 Back time and 0.5 seconds off his 50 Free time. They might make a sprinter of him yet!


Good job Brandon!

Another Perfect Winters Day in Sydney

Can you believe this weather! I think we had a total of two fairly miserable weeks and that's it. Gorgeous blue skies and warm afternoons each day have ensued. As I mentioned, my kids just want to spend every day at the beach so here we are at Freshwater Beach in Sydney, which lies between Dee Why and Manly.


I can't believe the kids went into the ocean. In fact, they rode their boogie boards and surfed and played for almost two hours.


What a glorious place!

Seem everyone else wear a wetsuit!

Of course a trip to the beach isn't complete without a large serving of hot chips!