Island Hopping!

Sydney is having it's annual International Food Festival this month. The city is hosting tons of events TONS! One was breakfast on the bridge, they close the Harbor bridge and roll out green grassy carpet and you get to picnic there, how cool! We did not get to go to that, maybe next year, but we did go Island Hopping. I am not sure what the link between the event and food was, because no food was served, oh except for hot dogs and prepacked ice cream for purchase. Nonetheless, it was a great afternoon! We took a small ferry to three seperate islands all with activities and themes, colonial life, marine and aboriginal. We picnicked and had a great day! A few calamities: our Bob Stroller would not fit on the ferry, Mike discovered this as he was trying to get through the door, the boys and I were already making our way to some outdoor seats so we had no idea. He had to fold the stroller which sent all of the bottom basket contents flying...two mini soccer balls, a towel, tissues, diapers, Thomas the Trains you get the idea, shit everywhere. Other passengers helped him collect the contents and he folded up the stroller and eventually made it in. We sat unaware in the back practicing our wave. Folding the stroller meant he had to move the soft sided cooler perched on top, as he slung it around his shoulder the strap broke so he had to carry the heavy cooler dangling like a pendulem.  Again, we were too busy practicing our wave to help. WAVE WAVE WAVE!
One of the many highlights was getting to watch the Keel Boat Spinnaker Event in the Harbor. Yeah, I had to look it up. There were about 50 little sailboats that are more like little catamarans, manned by three people each that would sail back and forth based on when a loud horn would sound. They go very fast and get extremely close to each other and all sailers wear wetsuits cuz there is a good chance you are swimming if you are not so good, like the guys on the red sail boat, they went over twice while we were watching. It is quite a sight to see them right themselves, they hang on the one high side and heave ho heave ho flip it and and two of three scramble on to start working the sails to make sure it does not tip again and then the last guy can get on after they make sure they are balanced. I wish I had some kind of skill like that.  It would be so cool to go racing around the harbor in my wetsuit!
We were all very relaxed on the ride back, except Colin, he talked the whole ride back, he talked so much that a 4 y.o behind us who was trying to nap shushed him twice! Colin paid no mind and kept narrating the trip, BOAT WAVE OCEAN BRIDGE OPRA HOUSE BOAT WAVE BRIDGE OPRA HOUSE GO GO GO GO, you get the idea.

BRIDGE!!!!!

I think my brother just dropped Thomas over the edge! 

Miracle Shot! Both Boys looking in the same place at the same time!

Marine life straight from the Harbor, literally divers were pulling them up and then putting them back!

Funny mushroom rock, you would not believe how long it took to take a pic without another person posing in it!

Go little boats GO!

big day out!

I love this pic! Please know I am not making fun, I love the Jesus and the Gospel!  It sums up Ozzie attitude, they do not try and make it pretty or say "fun and  fellowship" or "change your life" "meet new friends" etc... they just tell it like it is. This is exactly what will happen when you show up on Sunday. Period. 

It was probably the prettiest day weather wise since we have been here so we walked around the Harbor, through the Botanic Garden, went to pizza dinner in the rocks, it was terrible (our original choice would have been way too fancy for a family outing) then in an effort to capture every minute of the weekend, we sat in the Oktoberfest BierGarten. This is where a girl fell in love with Car, she tried to kiss him three different times. She was wild and rough, she gave him a WWF throwdown at one point, she put rocks and sticks in his hair, he loved all of it. Colin hid behind Mommy.  He told Mike her name was Dawn, he has no idea, I am sure which makes it funny he chose Dawn, Dawn meet Jim, Jim this is Dawn. When we ask if he has a girlfriend he points to his hair.