Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!

Cousin Ben's Deployment

On Monday September 20 I was very honored to attend the deployment of the 116th Idaho National Guard to Iraq for the coming year. Overall it was a very inspirational and patriotic day.It made me even more thankful for those who are serving in the armed forces and I wish them all the best for serving our country.

ps. I also learned that men look good in uniforms!

Ben's Interview on the news.

Of course they got his last name wrong. Oops!

Went & Gone Country!

Before my cousin Ben left for his deployment we went shooting on BLM land.

This was my first time ever even holding a gun.

I was definitely nervous...shakey but I did it!

I first shot a .22 Magnum handgun three times.

Then I got to shoot a 20 Gage shot gun a few times.

The shot gun was my favorite and I felt most comfortable with it as you can see below. :-)

1st Week of September

Returned to my alma mater to drop Todd off for his first semester of school at BYUI.

Spent a few days in Star Valley, WY.

Packed a little U-Haul onto the back of the Crow Crusher.

Moved in to my new place in Twin Falls, ID.

No Worries Mate!!

The motto of Australia is "No Worries Mate!"

You say thank you and they say no worries!

Day 1: ate Kangaroo (on left) and Crocodile (on right).

Kangaroo tastes like steak and Croc a mix between fish and chicken.

Day 2: Cairns Wildlife Dome

Imagine wild birds flying everywhere.

Lizards, crocodiles, fish, koalas.

We also each took a picture holding a koala bear.

Cairns public swimming lagoon.

Day 3: Snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef.

Jumped off the backside of a boat in the middle of the ocean in shark infested waters.

A big deal for me.

Day 4: Daintree River Cruise.

Saw a wild female crocodile. Very exciting.

Mossman Gorge

One of my favorite places.

So pretty!

Went swimming in the Gorge...freezing cold but so worth it!

Hartley's Crocodile attack show.

Saw a family we knew from home here. So funny.

Almost lost my leg to a giant croc!

And maybe I did or didn't have nightmares about Crocodiles that night!!

Day 5: We arrived in Sydney.

The first thing we saw when got out of the train station. Amazing!!

and then this. Amazing!

Day 6: Went to Taronga Zoo.

Its known as the Zoo with a view!!

Smiling Rhino Iguana

I want this golf cart!

Pygmy Hippo baby! What a cutie!

The view from the zoo!

Little rock kangaroo.

Day 7: Tour of the Sydney Opera house.

We were lucky enough to hear an Orchestra practice...they sounded great!

Morning walk around the harbour.

Holding the opera house! :-)

Day 8: Featherdale Wildlife Park

Little wallabies. One has a little joey!

Adorable Kangaroo!!

Petting a koala!

So soft...actually felt like a stuff animal.

Dingo puppy! I want one!

I heart Wombats!!!!

Kangaroo Kisses!

Actually I did get attacked by another kangaroo.

It charged out of its safety rest area and went up on its tail and started kicking me.

haha I was taking a picture of Todd and then I felt this kicking.

Then I yelled off and it stopped and went to find someone else. haha

I didn't even scream...amazing!

On the way to the Blue Mountains.

Govetts Leap, Blue Mountains.

Boar's Head.

Three Sisters.

On the ride at Scenic World.

Extremely steep incline.

Day 9: Paddy's Market in Chinatown.

Trying softshell crab in Sydney's Fish Market.

Sydney Aquarium.

Trying out the shark cage for my next trip when I hope to cage dive with Great Whites.

Saw a Dugong.

And a Sea Turtle.

Day 10: Bondi Beach

The water was cold but so worth it.

I was hoping this was going to make an appearance. But alas no show! haha

Beautiful clear water. Nice soft sand.

World famous Bondi Beach.

Day 11: Say goodbye to fabulous Australia!