Week 2 in Brisbane Australia

Week 2 starts out with Church and then Sunday Dinner. Kiersten made delicious pulled pork burritos. This is Heath and his twin nephews, Micah and Abram. They spent Sunday with us while their mom had to work.

On Monday we went to Mount Coot Tha. It has a beautiful botanical garden that we visited. Heath found this funny tree. Everything it TROPICAL!
We went with Heaths nieces and nephews.
Heaths brother, Chad, and his wife, Irene. Their son is Kellen.
Group pictures at the Gardens
Mount Kut Tha also has one of the best arial views of Brisbane City!
Kim and Ethan had a professional photo shoot while we were there.
This is at a local city park. The gardens were unbelievable!
Here's the preppy couple.....
One day we took the bus to the city to go shopping at the open air market. Here's Kim and Kier at the bus stop waiting.
I got to experience "State of Origin", one of the biggest rugby events in Australia. It is New South Wales vs Queensland. Queensland won a record 5 years in a row!!

We spent Kims last day in Brisbane at Warner Brothers Movie World. A scaled down version of Universal Studios.
Riding the train........
At the kiddie rides........
I was pressured into riding the Batman ride. The smile on my face is fake.......
The next evening we went to Southbank and rode the Famous Brisbane Ferris Wheel. It is a major landmark and attraction there. View of the City from the top.
Inside the Ferris Wheel Cage.

My last night in Brisbane we went to an professional Australian Football League game. The Brisbane Lions is Heaths favorite team and he dreams of playing for them one day. This same day I also went to one of Heaths AFL games but didn't take a picture! At the end of the game, they let all the fans onto the field to kick the football around.
After one more long flight home I am greeted by this at the Phoenix Airport :)
Thanks Kiersten, Heath, Kim and Ethan for a wonderful 2 weeks!!

Trip to Brisbane Week 1

I spent two weeks in Brisbane with Kiersten and Heath. They were so great to stay with! This is in their living room at the computer table

Courtney (stripes) was getting ready to leave for America and get married to David, Heaths friend. She lives in the same house and is Kiersten's best friend. Amy (pregnant) is living there also with her husband, James, and is moving out also! Julie (pink) is James sister and was visiting. Courtney and David will live in Brisbane while he finishes school.

This first night, they had a BBQ for me. On the menu was sausages, hamburgers and Kangaroo steaks! James is the chef.
Yes, I had the Kangaroo and it was delicious! Tastes like a lean sirloin steak.
Here we are in the family/dining room eating with James and Amy and Cody (Heaths brother).
The next day we drove to the Gold coast and went to Surfers Paradise, a famous vacation spot.
This is THE place to have your picture taken at the Gold Coast. The rich and famous vacation here.
A funny setting for a picture.....
Here we are at Burleigh. The Beach is as beautiful as any in Hawaii.
There is a rain forest right next to the beach and a beautiful path to walk.
That night we picked up Kim and Ethan from the Airport. Doesn't Kim look great!
Atticus is the sweetest baby ever!
The next day was spent relaxing at the house and playing with the kids in the back yard.
Ethan took this picture of mom, daughters and grandsons in Kierstens back yard.
A funny picture of Atty
Later that day we went to Southbank, a beautiful shopping area on the Brisbane River.
Every evening was musical beds. This is David Allen, Courtney's fiance. He was moving in as Courtney moved out, but I took Courtney's bed so he slept on the floor. The previous night I slept in Kiersten and Heaths room on the floor because Courtney hadn't left yet!
When Kim and Ethan arrived, Cody was gracious enough to let them have his room so he slept in the family room on the floor.
The next day we went to a park at Southbank to let the kids run around.
Auntie Kiersten with her nephews.
Thurston was trying to hug and kiss all the little kids.
Kim says Thurston is attracted to Aisian women and runs up to them!
My favorite new activity is Guitar hero!!
And I was also introduced to Wii Sing!
This is at a park by Kiersten's house.

That night Kim, Kiersten and I went through a session at the Brisbane temple. Its about 5 years old and one of the smaller temples. It is right on the river and a beautiful landmark in Brisbane.
On Saturday, the Brisbane Stake had a rugby day so we went to watch Heath play.
On Sunday, we went to church. Kiersten and Heath were babysitting their 5 year old twin nephews, Abram and Micah. I got attached to them.
We went over to Heath's sisters home, Hope and Ben Hurt. Ben is an American from Kentucky and was so nice. We had a big X-box singing competition.
Next post I'll summarize the second week with the Harts in Brisbane Australia.