Sydney - May 2011

Hello world...  So we've been back in Singapore for just under a week now, and so its time to share with you all what a great time we had... This is a bit of a monster post...and will be followed by a set of videos...  Hope you enjoy (we sure did), and can't wait to get back for our next holiday (and Aussie Christmas)...

Thanks Granddad... the iPad on the plane is a great idea... and the kiddy headphones work great!

Day 1 - We head straight to the beach...even though it was 14 degrees, there's nothing better than a day in the sun!

And so good to have Granddad back again...

Lots and lots of cuddles in order...

A proud Granddad... And I think Keira is trying to start a fight with me in this one!

Claire loves her granddad...

Keira's 'funny face'

And Claire just posing (South Cronulla Beach)

Grandma and Granddad wouldn't let the girls out of their reach!!

A typical morning... girls watching a movie... eating... all while wrapped up in a warm blanket (note, no mummy or daddy, blissfully enjoying a sleep-in while grandma & granddad enjoy the girls...)

Our first visit to friends... Lochie, Sarah and Auntie My (Mummy and Dadddy say thanks for the yummy food)...

Happy family... Note that Jasper is watching the girls carefully, they are sitting on HIS granddad...

Funny faces on the way to Sun Churros (a must visit in Sydney!)

Grandma's girls...

Claire's always quick to spot a playground on the way to anywhere...

And Keira's always ready to pose...

The girls chilling after eating way too much chocolate at San Churros...

Another bright blue sky, so another beach... this time Brighton le Sands...

The girls may need to work on appropriate choices for the beach...but then again, may save daddy worrying in future!!!

Shadows...

Hip hop girl...

The beach wasn't that popular... Its nice to have so much space to ourselves...

Especially on such a beautiful day...

All the lovely ladies..

Same ladies + sweet buns...

Keira's about to get down...

Strange things sleeping in the kitchen...

Auntie Karen enjoyed seeing the girls... Keira spent some time explaining the marvels of the iPad to her...

Before trying to teach her to cook...

Keira kept trying...but it was all very complicated :)

So back to the iPad...

We spent a bit of time over at Lochie and Sarah's place...and surprised their parents with the amount of mess we were able to produce!!!!

Lochie introduced Claire to the world of Nintendo (and tried to get her into the back seat of his mummy's car...hmm)

I can't explain the goggles..

Another beautiful day... this time a picnic at Lake Gillawarna...

Auntie Karen was the favour of the day...

Our sweet Claire...

Claire running for lunch...

Glowing Keira...

Daddy and his mummy...

A rarity... last time this happened was quite a long time ago...

Once again, its so nice to have the whole world to ourselves... Claire has been asking since getting back to Singapore "Why are there so many people everywhere..."

Popcorn... the great silencer...

Ponies....

Our little monkey...

But what a cutie...

Family outing to the city... Claire had a couple of requests when we told her we're going to Sydney... first was to cuddle a Koala & Kangaroo... the second to see the Harbour Bridge and Opera House... (sorry, not sure why blogger decided to muck up the order)...

Auntie Karen bowing at Claire's feet...

On top of the world...

Learning to swing...

Keira taking to the streets of Sydney and loving it...

Sydney Harbour Bridge - tick...

Claire... wait for the rest of us!!!

Sydney Opera House... with our two beauties...

And finally a family shot...

And another...

Daddy's girls...

The boys and girls...

Since the Opera House was closed, Claire settled for a feel of those famous shells...

Time for a kiss...

And what I think may be a tea-cup...

Thanks to Ben, we got the scoop on a free Wiggles concert (well, part of the Wiggles crew at least)... He's Claire preparing for the show...

Finally, a shot of mummy and daddy... (Daddy's growing another chin it seems!)

Claire became a beautiful butterfly during lunch in the Rocks...

While Keira worked on her poses...

We held a birthday party for Amy (who turned 1 while we were in Sydney)...

Played dress up... (with Chloe and Lochie)

You can't see the ice cream...but this was during our mandatory annual visit to Bar Italia...

And back to Amy's birthday (blogger is very strange)...

Loving sisters...

Showing off the colour difference in Keira's hair...

The girls visit granddad's store...

And finally... a trip to Featherdale to address the balance of Claire's wish-list items..

Almost time to head home...but what would a trip to Sydney be without a Pavlova...  Not sure why all the girls pulled faces though...

Dinner at Newtown with Angelica and Kingsley (not shown)...

Keira with a Wallaby...

She wanted to talk to it, and kept trying to sit down face to face...but he wasn't interested...

Claire finally got to the Koala...who was very patient with all the cuddling he received...

Even granddad had a turn...

Keira loved seeing all the animals...

And even resembles a Koala... wouldn't you say so?

We asked Claire to make a pig face...

And Keira was wearing matching clothes...

After seeing the penguins, Keira had the walk down to an artform...

La Perouse - for late night fish n chips followed by...

Some scenic shots...

Can't say the beach was too popular at this time of night...

Rather deserted actually...but Claire still managed to do some digging in the sand...

Before enjoying some icecream in the freezing air...

And running around in the dark....

And this is the result...

Another day...this time a trip on the train into the city...

We only waited 10 minutes for the train (which seemed like a very long time for daddy)...

And Keira...

Keira still loved the cuddles with Granddad...

Wow... another mummy and daddy photo...

And a ride on the Sydney Ferries... Circular Quay to Darling Harbour...

Enjoying the view on the train...

Claire was amazed by how big Australia was... and she's only seen a tiny part of it...

Rugging up against the cold wind with some snacks...

Everyone's captivated with Keira's story...

An obligatory shot of the bridge and opera house...

Claire's Hi-5 Sydney...

And a cheeky grin...

Almost there...

Don't let go granddad... The water looks cold...

Keira took grandma for a stroll down through Darling Harbour...

A dinner at Chloe and Amy's house... Here's Keira and Sarah taking turns to sleep...

And on our last night... the girls used the wheel barrow to gather sticks and wood...

To toast some marshmallows...

What would an Aussie winter holiday be without a fire and marshmallows...

Auntie Karen helped the girls toast them just right...

And Tyler showed them how to get more than 1 on a stick...

Claire's a little nervous around fire, so opted to toast from a distance...

Daddy gave Keira a cuddle, but was secretly trying to get her marshmallow...

As was Grandma it seems...

Auntie Karen, Uncle Brian and Tyler... or is that a monkey?

And lastly... a cuddle with grandma...

Well, there you have it...snippets of what was a great holiday in Sydney with our family and friends... Only 6 months till we are back for Christmas...but until then, let's just hope daddy keeps up the old tradition of taking us lots of fun places, photographing it...and sharing it with the world...

love c&k...