Wanderlust, Part IV: Australia

After two years of living in Texas, we hit the trail back north to Oklahoma.  Toward the end of our time in Waco, Jonathan had decided on a career change from finance to optometry.  I had taken a job at our alma mater as a residence hall director, which conveniently paid his way through prerequisites.  Aside from his rigorous science courses and the round-the-clock demands of my live-in job, it was a sweet, simple time for us.  

We had just lost Mama Dot and Papa Todd that previous Spring, and as the holidays approached we all longed to be with our extended family.  Still, the thought of experiencing the holidays without those cherished loved ones was hard to bear.  My mother-in-law's older brother and his family live in Australia, and a visit Down Under became the perfect solution: we were surrounded by dear family members, and yet doing something completely fresh and new for Christmas.  Thanks to the generosity of my wonderful in-laws, Jonathan and I got to trade our Bison Hill winter for a Down Under summer!  

In LAX, ready for a LONG flight to Melbourne!

It's hard for me to sum up this trip in words.  While I had met everyone in the Ozzie branch of the family but cousin Lee, I hadn't had the opportunity to really spend quality time with any of them.  Though we did quite a bit of sightseeing, we also spent lots of time just hanging out and relaxing.  This gave me a chance to get to know this branch of our family in a deeper way, and to realize that I really, really like these people.  I mean, seriously, how many girls can travel internationally with their in-laws for almost two weeks--to visit another branch of in-laws at that--and come out liking all of them even more than she did before?  Not many, I tell you.  Not many.  I am a blessed girl.  

So in a nutshell, on this trip we did a lot of this...

Lee and I whipping up a bunch of mussels for dinner.

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Nightly bocci ball tournaments for the fellas

I have yet to meet the family membership requirement of playing tennis...

If you thought you were smart, try doing crossword puzzles with Larson and you'll be humbled forever.  

But we also had some fun around Melbourne!

Visiting a market near Lee's place...

 Touring Larson's alma mater, The University of Melbourne

Eating gelato, although Drew and Lee seem to be busy as secret agents, gang members, or seeing impaired...

Seeing the sights... 

 Boats at Mornington

Golfing for the fellas

Brothers.

Hiking to Point Napean 

 Sailing the Harbor

Visiting the botanical gardens (like my hubby's preppy look? :)  

And looking for kookaburras in the old gum tree.  

Our time in Australia was restful, rejuvenating, and unifying for our family.  If only Australia weren't a 16 hour (expensive) flight away, I'd go every Christmas!  Looking forward to another reunion with our favorite Aussies one day...we've got to get Riggins down under too!