Our adventure started with Lyle able to catch an earlier flight out of Newcastle so we were able to get up to Noosa at a very reasonable time. By the way, things have really heated up for him around here. Lyle was on the road all three weeks prior to the holiday and was READY for some time off! Back to Noosa--
3 days of beach and relax with NO COOKING for me was just perfect! We were able to stay at the same place as last month when we did the aerobics competition with the girls, just a short walk to the beach. Even got the same apartment! Ian got so into using the body boards for the girls we stopped in at Target and got him his own. He LOVES taking the waves into shore and running back out for the next one. We enjoyed a lunch at the local surf lifesaving club that overlooks the beach (we had to go back to get cleaned up and changed though! no swim attire allowed!) and a sunset walk along the boardwalk and into the forested areas and back into the shopping district. The kids were tired!
We built our Gingerbread House while in Noosa. I think I just prefer gingerbread cake!
A general beach shot here. The surfers worked the area off the point on the left of the photo and the swimmers were kept to the left out of the photo. We got to watch the surf club do a mock offshore swimmer rescue with a helicopter and a tethered rescuer dropped in to get them!
This was built just off the boardwalk. Candles in the alcoves made it very pretty at dusk as we were walking by. Popular to sing for money on the street, build castles, etc. Also saw plenty of kids sleeping on the beach. Relaxed to say the least!
We had to get back in time for Santa to visit the house and to get ready for our lunch guests on Christmas day. Santa and parents did not disappoint either! Ian has a good supply of Star Wars and race cars now. He got a batteries not required race track he cranks and it shoots his cars on their track! Love! He and Dad built the Tie Fighter together and he flies it around shooting bad guys. Annika scored on the craft kits and can hardly wait to make her soaps and bath salts. Alex got a lot of iTunes music and sock monkey makings. We all got awesome t-shirts from my family with assorted animals on them-Lyle a bald eagle, me an owl (thanks for the Hooters Dad!), Alex a guinea pig, Annika a meerkat, and Ian a great white shark. They look great! We had a lovely family over for lunch that we enjoyed eating a visiting with last year at their home. I made a roast turkey breast, steak, lots of cold salads, and assorted desserts, including an American Pumpkin Pie. I was thrilled to have the taste of home here!
As we were recovering from Christmas we got a call from Lyle's workmate, Chris, inviting us down to Byron Bay for an overnight stay at his father in laws place. Yep! We'll be there! The house is right on the beach just behind the dunes and we had a great time. Played ping pong, Uno, played on the beach (but not as much as Noosa. The rips are notorious on this stretch so knee deep was all we allowed) and took a nice drive into the hinterlands to look over a waterfall and enjoy the scenery. I am still amazed at how green everything is!
This is a goana-a native lizard. It was about 3 feet from nose to tip of tail! It was just off the observation deck down about 3 feet on the rocks on the edge of the cliff.
The view looking over the edge. Vertigo for sure! This was over 100 m up from the gorge bottom.
We didn't do much for Lyle's 43rd birthday, but relaxed and enjoyed a play at the park. We made frosted brownies (yum!) which we all enjoyed. We also have gone to the movies a few times-the whole family went to see the Hobbit in 3-D and were riveted. Can hardly wait for the other 2 movies to come out! Lyle and I went to see Skyfall on New Year's Eve. Loved it!
Lyle is back to work on Wednesday (tomorrow) and heading back to Newcastle. Looks like he will be traveling a LOT for the first quarter of the year, so we will be looking forward to getting him home every week!
Have a happy and safe New Year Everyone! Much love!
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