A preview of what's to come

Aussie slang word of the day is...

Servo: Gas station

Tonight at 9:50 pm our plane takes off and our Christmas adventure in Cairns begins. I thought I would give you a little preview of what's to come in the next week. Yesterday we got a message from our travel agent in Cairns letting us know that our 4 day live aboard scuba diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef had been canceled. Apparently not enough people had signed up for the excursion so they had to cancel. However, due to the inconvenience they offered to upgrade us to the 5 day Great Barrier Reef trip as well as upgrade us to a suite, that leaves on Christmas Eve (originally we were leaving the 28th). Our travel agent had to move our schedule around a bit so that we were still able to do the white water rafting, sky diving and rain forest tour when we get off the boat. But luckily it worked out and is now is better than originally planned! The 5 day trip consists of 14 dives, typically 4 dives a day, with some night dives... which i'm freaking out about. Dark water is not my cup of tea. Who knows what's lurking below??? but i'm sure it will be really neat once I get over it. We get to go out to Osprey Reef in the coral sea, and "The Cod Hole" in the northern Great Barrier Reef. Typical wildlife encounters include pelagic fish, manta rays, giant Australian cuttlefish, loggerhead, green turtles, moray eels (yuk), red flame file shell, lionfish, various nudibranchs (what they crap is that?!?) and giant potato cod. I have no idea what most of these things are, but i'm excited to find out!

Giant Cod fish

On Sunday (Dec. 26th) (Heather and Michelle get ready for this....) we will get to watch a shark feeding frenzy. Yikes! Brandon is super stoked about this, as for me to be honest i'm slightly petrified at the thought. Luckily we are watching from a far and won't be in on the action ... but still we are out in the open unprotected and there is no cage involved. Brandon keeps reassuring me that people do this all the time and no one has died yet, so I guess let's just hope that these vicious creatures are content with the meal provided and don't come looking for more?!? Also I'll make sure to not make any sudden seal like movements to attract attention. haha

To check out our diving schedule and see more pictures click on the link: Taka Dive

Once we get off the boat we will be doing a relaxing rain forest tour to the Daintree rain forest. I am really looking forward to this and have heard it is absolutely amazing! The rain forest tour also includes croc spotting and watching a live crocodile attack show. Anyone who knows me well, knows that i'm terrified of crocodiles (a strange fear having lived in utah my entire life up until now)... something about watching a rescue show when I was little, about a boy being attacked by an alligator or crocodile, left me scared for life. So I will be facing my fears head on and get to see wild crocodiles up close and personal. Crikey!

The next day we are off to go white water rafting. Awesome.

Then our final day we will go out with a bang by skydiving from 14,000 feet! aye carumba! Don't worry I am flying tandem with someone experienced, so if by chance I pass out the parachute will still open. ;)

Can't wait for our amazing adventure. However we will be missing our amazing families like crazy! Love you guys so much.

Merry Christmas everyone! Lots of pictures to come when we get back. :) xx

Bootcamp

Aussie Slang word of the day is...

Have a yarn: To have a chat with someone

In novemeber, with summer just around the corner and having spent the entire winter in a classroom and/or sitting at the computer for Uni, Anouck and I decided it was time to get in shape. Initally we had planned to join a boot camp, or join a gym to do group work out sessions (spinning, aeorobics, boxing etc), but after looking at the hefty prices we decided instead of forking out all that cash, why not do it ourselves. Thus marked the beginning of Anouck and Lisa's bootcamp.Bootcamp takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4:20 at Kings Park and consists of running up Jacobs ladder (explained below), sprinting up hill street, and doing various strength building exercises (weight lifting, lundges, crunches, squats etc.).

For those of you who don't know what Jacobs ladder is, it is 242 steep concrete steps that take you from the bottom of the CBD up to the top of kings park. It is a popular site for ambitious work-out gurus, and also (so i'm told) the #1 pick up place in Perth. So whether you are seeking a hot date or need to break a sweat this is the hot place to be. Just thought I would post some pics of Jacobs ladder so you can share the pain with me.

Goooo bootcamp!

Jacobs ladder

Jacobs ladder

Celebrations

Happy Birthday (yesterday) Jade. Hope it was a good one! Love you. xx

Where are you Christmas?

Aussie Slang word of the day is:

Chrissy: Christmas

The count down begins. It is officially 10 days until Christmas. Christmas is my all time favorite time of year. I enjoy getting into the holiday spirit by going out in the mad holiday rush to buy gifts, buying holiday almonds at the shops (Michelle you know what I'm talking about), putting up Christmas decorations, decorating a Christmas tree, making Christmas goodies, spending time with family, going to temple square to see the lights, drinking hot chocolate by the fire, going sledding, skiing and ice skating, listening to Christmas carols and snuggling up in a blanket to watch my favorite Christmas movies Elf, The Santa Clause, Christmas Vacation, and the Christmas Story. However, this year has been different. The song 'Where are you Christmas' by Faith Hill keeps playing in my head.

Where are you Christmas
Why can't I find you
Why have you gone away
Where is the laughter
You used to bring me
Why can't I hear music play

My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too

I don't want to sound like the Grinch who stole Christmas, but I can't for the life of me get into the Christmas spirit. This could be due to the lack of snow and the fact that it is 100 degree weather here and all I want to do is go for a nice cold swim at the beach to cool down.

It's quite strange walking down the aisle at the grocery store and hearing Christmas carols in this type of heat. It takes me by surprise every time and I think to myself "Nah, It can't really be Christmas." Brandon and I didn't bring over any of our Christmas decorations when we moved because we were planning on coming home for Christmas each year. Unfortunately, greedy airlines see 'the season of giving' as a chance to take advantage of people and charge ridiculous amounts of money to fly. Sigh. So here we are in Australia without a Christmas tree, Christmas decorations, not a chance of snow and the thought of drinking hot chocolate (or shall I say Milo) in this stifling weather is purely unappetizing. How to get into the holiday spirit? In response to Faith Hills question "Does that mean Christmas changes too?" The meaning of Christmas never changes no matter where you live and it's important to not get blinded by Santa clause and Christmas traditions, although they are wonderful, what we should be celebrating is Christs life.

However, Since we will be calling Australia our home for the next three years or so, and it's pretty unlikely the season is going to miraculously change to winter, I guess it's time to take on an Aussie approach to celebrating Christmas and make some new traditions.

Time to light up the barbie and hit the beach for a swim.

Adventure World

Aussie Slang word of the Day is...

Mozzie: Mosquito

This past weekend I worked my first job in Perth. Anouck invited me to help out at the annual Rio Tinto Christmas party held at Adventure world. Adventure world is an amusement park here in Perth. The job was a four hour gig, that consisted of wearing these ridiculous sandwich boards, handing out presents to children and best of all, going on all the rides for free!

Santa's little helpers About to go on the 'Free Fall' ride
Race cars

Thanks Adventure world for all the memories! See you next year. :)

One smart hubby!

Aussie Slang Word of the Day is...
(depending on your level of maturity you may find these slang words humorous)

Rubber: pencil eraser

Thongs: flip-flops

Last week the mother board on our desk top computer up and died on us without warning. The computer was two years young and the worst part is we had just barely finished paying off the debt on it (we bought it when we were poor college students). Needless to say Brandon and I were not impressed by the whole situation. Brandon took apart the computer to see if he could fix it somehow, but unfortunately our poor little computer was beyond a quick repair and required the big bucks.... which in that case we might as well have bought a new computer. Brandon did some research and decided that he would rather build a computer on his own, instead of buy one because A. it would save us money and B. it would be upgradable if we ever wanted to change anything. I personally do not speak 'computer language,' so not really understanding a word he was saying about RAM and all the other computer related lingo mentioned, I nodded agreeably knowing full heartidly that Brandon was capable of pulling this off. So, without fail Brandon built us a brand new computer from scratch, in 3 hours might I add and it works better than ever. All I gotta say is I have one smart hubby! I'm pretty sure he could fix anything and I don't know what I would do without him. Not only is he a whiz at fixing things, but another thing I admire about Brandon is his motivation and ambition towards life. He always has a new hobby or a project he is working on. Last month's hobby was sailing, this months hobbies include road biking and scuba diving. Who knows what will come next. I did not marry a couch potato by any stretch of the imagination.... In fact I married someone who is polar opposite. Brandon does so many things at once sometimes I feel as though I have whip lash trying to keep up with him. With Brandon, life is an adventure and I'm lucky that he takes me along for the ride. Since we weren't able to make it home for Christmas because of ridiculous airfare prices, Brandon has planned the ultimate Christmas vacation to ease our sorrows of being away from family over the holidays. Our 10 day vacation consists of sky diving from 14,000 feet, river rafting, a rainforest tour, and a four day Great Barrier Reef scuba diving trip! Definitely a Christmas we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Brandon knows how to play hard, but also knows how to crack down when it's time to work. Somehow Brandon manages to work 50 hours a week, which is a LOT and still come home energetic and excited to hang out with his needy wife. :) I am grateful for my smart, outgoing, adventurous, spontaneous, hard working, ambitious husband. :) What a stud!

Brandon with his new road bike and biking gear!
Brandon getting scuba certified :)

Scuba trip to Rottnest Island

Love you babe! xx

All Hallows Eve

"Aussie Slang Word of the Day" is:

Chewie: Chewing gum

On Saturday the 30th of October Dianella stake threw their very first trunk or treat, held by yours truly, Anouck Vandyke and the missionary committee.

Australia doesn't typically celebrate Halloween. Poor kids. Who doesn't love dressing up as your favorite superhero and getting hopped up on candy?!? We decided this had to change and what better way then to throw a trunk or treat at the chapel parking lot. This way kids could trick or treat in a safe environment. At first people were a little confused by the whole 'trunk or treat' idea... Which I guess would be more correctly called a 'boot or treat' (they call the trunk the boot). It took some explaining, but once everyone understood the concept we had a really positive response! Over 200 people showed up for the event all decked out for halloween. In addition to trick or treating there was a sausage sizzle, face painting, games and a professional clown who made balloon animals. It was a wonderful evening! Thanks to all those involved. :)

My boot decorated as a 'beach theme.' Slightly embarrassing... but the kids seemed to love it. I think homer won them over.

The trunk or treat will be posted in the local paper next week that highlights community events. We hope to spread the word and get people out for our christmas event on December 10th. Here is a little snip-it from the newspaper article

"Sausages were sizzling and there were costumes galore as more than 200 people attended the Halloween “Trunk or Treat” hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Yokine on Saturday afternoon. The festivities were held a day early in order to keep Sunday, being the Sabbath, as a holy day.
Members of the Church and the Community decorated the boots of their cars in a variety of themes and gathered in the church parking lot to provide a safe environment for the trick or treaters. Adults and children alike arrived in costume with favourites such as Batman, Snow White and Star Wars characters all spotted amongst the crowd who were put through their paces doing the limbo at a Hawaiian themed car to receive their treat! A roving magician kept the crowds entertained and face painters decorated dozens of princes and princesses.
The Church is also hosting an outdoor Island Themed Christmas Party in Yokine on the evening of Friday December 10 complete with island dancers, a nativity walk, party food and activities for the children. For more information, contact 08 9375 0000."

Ward missionaries (Left and center are from Utah and the one on the right is from Las Vegas)

Sausage Sizzle. yum!

Dionne our Stake primary president

Super heros!

Witches

Face painting

And the best costume of all! Go Utes! :)

Perth Royal Show

Aussie Slang Word of the Day

Fairy Floss: Cotton Candy Last week my friend Anouck took me to the Perth Royal show, and what an adventure that was! Take the Utah fair + some Aussie flare= the Perth Royal Show.

What do you do at the Perth Royal Show......

1. Watch the wood chopping event of course....

Watching burly men compete to see who can chop wood the fastest, is surprisingly quite an exhilarating experience! I highly recommend it.

3. Get free food!

4. Go on rides! (maybe reverse 3 & 4 if you have a weak stomach)5. Get your face painted (Nemo Theme)

6. Hold cute fluffy bunnies. I really want one.

7. Watch sheep herding dogs in action... also want one of these (the dog that is, not the sheep)

It was a great day! :) Thanks Anouck!

Australias most vicious creature

G'Day family and friends
Aussie Slang Word of the Day is....

Boot and Bonnet: The Boot is the trunk and the bonnet is the hood of the car

I felt the need to share my near death experience with you. Have you ever seen the movie 'The Birds' directed by Alfred Hitchcock? It always seemed a bit corny, and well... extremely unrealistic. Killer birds? come on. Now looking back, Alfred Hitchcock may have been on to something with that movie. I have a feeling he visited Australia and came into contact with this particular bird........ The Australian Magpie

Upon moving to Australia I have been warned numerous times about the vicious magpies. In fact, there is an Australian Footy team named the Magpies. Which I, like many of you, found a bit humorous. Couldn't they come up with a more intimidating, dangerous creature instead of a harmless bird. We have magpies in Utah, and they always appeared to be quite pleasent creatures, so I didn't pay much attention to the warnings. Apparently in spring time since it's breeding season, for about 4-6 weeks the magpie mums can get a bit protective of their nests. I however didn't think much into it... I officially learned my lesson.

Friday I decided that it's time to get into shape. Spring is here and soon it will be summer, so it's time to get swimsuit ready. Feeling rather motivated, I decided to go for a run at the park near our house that has a really nice running trail. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day. I was thoroughly enjoying myself and feeling quite optimistic about this new work out regimen I had planned. After my run, I decided to go the extra mile and do some crunches and lunges on a grassy area in the middle of the running trail. Once that was done, why not add in some sprints up and down the field. Just as I was about to start running, out of no where something flashed past my face in a blurr. I couldn't make out what it was. It did it again... finally I look up and there is this magpie dive bombing my head. It continued to swoop at me multiple times. At this point I was in shear panic mode. A high pitch scream came out of my mouth and I proceeded to run down the field frantically flailing my arms above my head.. hoping to deter the ferocious magpie. However this did not work.. The magpie continued to swoop at me, coming inches away from my head, for what felt like ages. Finally the Magpie flew to a tree in the distance and stared at me looking rather pleased with itself. I have never been more terrified in my life. Trying to gather my composure, I cautiously walked back to my house, glancing at every tree I passed. At one point I came to a part in the road where I had to cross. I could see a Magpie flying back and forth across the road from the tree to the telephone pole. Would I dare cross into magpie territory after my near death experience... well I didn't have much of a choice. So I built up the courage, covered my head and made a mad dash for it. I continued to run until I got home.
Now that I have told you my horrifying Magpie encounter... let me share some information on Australian magpies. "Australian magpies are notorious for a habit that can cause injury and distress to humans - swooping. This nasty little habit, done to protect the bird's territory when it feels its nest is threatened during nesting season, can result in skin injuries, eye injuries and sometimes chunks of flesh being removed through contact with claws or beak." For more info click here

Tell me that wouldn't frighten the beejeebies out of you?

In case any of you have a magpie encounter.. here are some helpful tips on how to make it out alive.
1. Keep calm. This is the most important thing - do not yell, flap your arms about and run off screaming. This is a panicked reaction and is the worst thing that you can do. Unfortunately, it is something children often do, so train them early to keep calm.
2. Walk quickly but do not run. Be careful, keep your eyes out for magpies and if you are really concerned, place your folded arms above your head to protect your head and eye area.
3. Try to keep your eye on the magpie. Magpies usually swoop from behind and it is known that magpies are much less likely to swoop if they are being watched directly. This means the magpie must be able to see your eyes looking towards him. As you walk away, try to maintain this eye contact. You can also try walking backwards but only if the path is clear or you may injure yourself by tripping over something.If you are on your bicycle or horse, dismount.
4. Bicycles irritate magpies the most and this includes the local postie delivering the mail. The major cause of accidents following a magpie swoop is from a bicycle. Your helmet will protect you and you will not be distracted while riding by a bird swooping in your face. Walk the bike quickly out of the vicinity of the magpie.

The website-How to Keep Safe from Australian Mag Pies also suggested wearing protective gear while out walking, such as sunglasses, or safety glasses (they go for the eyes), a helmet or an empty ice cream container if you get a bit desperate. The website also suggested coloring eyes on the back of your helmet/ ice cream container, or tying bright twisty ties on top. Apparently this will frighten the Magpie.
My friend even suggested one of these....

'A Clapping Hat'

I may have to look into purchasing one of these items... or an ice cream container. ;)