Blackheath Grand Canyon

Last week we went on one of the most beautiful hikes (or bush walks) I have ever been on! It was so stunning, even Forest kept saying, "this is so amazing!" We hiked in total 7+ kilometers (or about 4 1/2 miles) with kids on our backs!

We of course took a million pictures and I have not done a good job at editing this post down to just a few photos so get ready for photo over-load. Also just to note, these photos do not do the canyon any sort of justice.

So to begin the hike we climbed down stairsmore stairs
more stairs and more stairs. The stairs were really steep at some points and pretty scary.
p.s. Bridger is totally strong - I mean look he is holding up that giant rock!
We finally made it down to the canyon floor.Once at the bottom, the hike got really exciting. It was so gorgeous!
We passed tons of weeping rocks. (I am feeling that water by the way) Bridger of course climbed the side of the walls whenever possible, poor Westly.

We squeezed under some rock overhangs

another overhang

and yet another overhang (there were a lot of them) We hiked through a tunnel...and came out on the other side to a beautiful waterfalllooking back on the waterfallme by some waterWe passed this cliff. You can't tell from the picture but that hole goes down like 30 or 40 (maybe more) feet.

Note the metal chains, people can repel down into the water and do a water hike - pretty awesome!Forest hiking. Most of the hike was pretty muddy. Good thing Forest insisted upon wearing his rain boots! He is a pretty awesome kid, he hiked half of the bush walk and would have done the whole thing if we would have let him.

Another weeping rock. Westly is so cute with his little arm out. He kept saying, "WOW!"another overhang

yet another overhang

ha! you thought by now I would be done showing overhangs..

a little snack. Woowee nice legs Bridger!

The side of a cliff. I wish this picture was better, it was so beautiful!

After going up and down some stairs we were back at the bottom of the canyon and hiked through water for a bit. It was so gorgeous! Seriously! so gorgeous!

there is some water drizzling down right by Bridger and Forest

Ins't that beautiful? Isn't Bridger so cute?

this picture is to show height on things. Pictures can be so deceiving on how tall something is. Do you spy Bridger and Forest?

can you spot the tiny me and Westly?

look how cute we are!

Bridger is one handsome man.

Getting sick of pictures yet? at this point we were almost done with our hike, although we had the hardest part left... the climb out!

I don't have any pictures of the climb out (I feared that if we stopped to take a picture we would never start back up again) But I do have this picture from the top of the beautiful Blue Mountains, unfortunately my camera is bad and doesn't capture the color well enough. But they are so breath taking!

p.s. Sorry my spacing is always messed up. Blogger always changes it on me once I post the blog.

Christmas 2011 Style

After a day at the beach we all came home to a quick Christmas Eve dinner and then a puppet Nativity.

Forest was loving the puppets Westly was actually pretty unhappy through most of the nativity but cheered up for this picture, this was more of a 'i am crazy tired' laugh..Since we didn't have enough hands Forest was on Nativity Duty and made sure everyone was in their correct places (aren't those overalls adorable/ hilarious?)

The kids in their Christmas Pajamas (westly was ready for bed)
Santa came!

Westly was so happy about his scooter. He didn't really care about any other gift and just rode his scooter around and around the house all morning.

Forest and his stocking! Forest is the sweetest kid when opening presents. After emptying his stocking he exclaimed, "We need to have Santa over for dinner and tell him thanks for all the presents! He is so nice!"

Westly with his stocking and reading a new book

haha! I love this photo of Forest. This present was wrapped really well and so really hard to open - look at the worry on his face.

Westly opening up his big water table - awesome! I just realized we don't have a picture of Forest with his big Lego kit - which has been the favorite toy for both kids.

After presents, breakfast and skyping with family we headed to church (and only a couple minutes late Lisa)

Forest at church with his friend

Westly joined in the fun

After church we headed out for a scooter ride

Forest is pretty impressive on his scooter, although it took awhile to get used to tilting it to turn rather than turning the handle bars.

Merry Christmas!

Zoo Trip

As I mentioned in the previous blog, we went to the Sydney Zoo for Forest's birthday. It is the most amazing zoo, enjoy the pictures!

When you get off the ferry at the zoo you are actually at the bottom of the zoo or the exit. So thanks to Lisa and Chris we got to ride on the sky ferry to the top of the zoo. aww so much better than walking! the birthday boy jumping out of the sky ferryForest had to bring his backpack like Bumpa At the koala encounter

This is why the zoo is so expensive - look at that amazing view!

Some of the cutest giraffes at the zooThe peacock kind of stole the show. He was pretty awesome!

Forest was very adamant that the peacock was a girl and would not be convinced otherwise.

Forest monkeying around with the chimps

Westly showing off his muscles to the chimps

the kangaroo walk about.

For some reason my usually very photogenic child would not smile for me at all all day!

Forest on a Tasmanian devil

My favorite activity of the day was the seal and sea lion show. It was awesome!

After the seal and sea lion show we headed to the bird show.

this is Westly waiting for the show to begin.the bird show was in the most beautiful location. Look at that view!!

The bird show was amazing!Westly watching the bird showMe and the kids after the bird showThe Zoo Crew

What a great day! We had so much fun!

The birthday boy even got to pick out a special toy at the gift shop