Aussie Rules Football!

Dustypie--he is just so handsome!

We headed back down to Bell's Beach with a guy Dustin works with--Rich! He was most enjoyable to be around; we stopped to pick up some souvenirs for his kids, took a few pictures, checked out some local beaches and then he treated us to pizza/pasta!

One thing that I really liked about Australia was the big, open fields, which reminded me of Oklahoma; well, except for the fact that they had an ocean directly beside them!

Here are a few pictures of Melbourne--such an artsy town. Melbourne is very well maintained.

The Crown Plaza, where we stayed, has a bunch of over-priced shops, a theater and many fast-food type restaurants. While Dustin was working, I would window shop and eat. I was shocked by how expensive food/drinks were! One day, I got a doughnut and a hot chocolate from McDonalds that ran me some $7.00! What!?! The hot chocolate was like a shot-glass, too! I guzzle liquids while I eat, so I was sorely disappointed to find out that there is no such thing as a "refill" on drinks in Australia. Furthermore, when I ordered a LARGE drink, it was actually the size of a kids' meal drink in the U.S. This was a problem. Another day, I picked up a Powerade (20 oz) and it cost me $5.50. I am not exaggerating. Maybe Americans are pigs....and by 'Americans,' I mean me.

Why, yes, I did go all "touristy" and take a picture of the parrots on the light pole. They pooped all over our car that was parked beneath them!

This is a random picture of a burp cloth that I made while Colleen was in town.

Aussie-rules football is, well, awesome! The sport is extremely fast paced, rough and high energy! Unlike hockey, if a fight breaks out, the game just continues AROUND the fight. The officials don't break it up, there are no time-outs or penalties, you just get beat up and then continue playing! It's crazy! It was so much fun to watch! I was impressed with Australian fans--everyone was courteous and didn't take offense when their opponents' team was being cheered for. It ended up being a "tied" game.

We got to eat out, attend a rugby game, stay up late...it was almost like we were dating again....minus the child growing in my belly!

Port Sea, Australia

Port Sea was such a beautiful place. The homes were all nicely kept and the scenery was gorgeous!

There were a bunch of high-school-aged groms snorkeling underneath this pier. They were talking at a normal volume, but we could hear EVERYTHING they were saying! Kids are stupid and have dumb conversations.

Traveling while 5 months pregnant (Australia) actually proved easier/more enjoyable than traveling while 2 months pregnant (Hawaii) for me, but I'm sure I was equally as annoying to Dustin for both trips; one with all-day sickness and the other with being slow/tired. Sorry, babe.

Yea! Dustin got to catch a few waves! He is such a good surfer; he knows exactly when the wave will break and where to enter it. Plus, he is sturdy while riding it. I quite enjoy watching him surf!

So, as I was laying on the beach, watching D surf, I was bombarded by horseflies! Ugh, I HATE horseflies. They are these enormous fly-like bugs that bite you and leave an itchy, big red spot. Growing up, they used to come around our pool every once in a while. We would find solace from them by quickly going under water and remaining there for as long as our breath would allow. However, I was unable to descend under water while in Australia, so I spent most of my time swatting, batting, shooing and running from the stupid things!

Yoink!

Double-chin shot of Joseph (Sales Manager), me and Dustypoo; I figure since I ALWAYS have a double-chin, I'll force others to have one so I don't look as bad. We had just eaten a delicious steak dinner and were heading back to the Crown Hotel to sleep off our indulgences. MMMM, steak is so good.

Bells Beach, Australia (March 2011)

I don't know why I ALWAYS have to put my hand on my back when taking a pregnant picture. Perhaps, it's because I already feel so huge that not having my arm squished to the side of my body seems to make me feel smaller. Who knows. Anyhow, Dustin's work required him to be in Australia for a week and since I'd never been, I tagged along--sans Kavella! Should I use an exclamation point there? Sans Kavella--poor thing couldn't make it. We considered this our "baby moon," which is just another term that expectant parents use to pawn off their other kid(s) and take a vacation. Thankfully, I have top-notch in-laws and a best friend (Chante) to take care of K-baby while we were gone!! The next few pictures are actually Port Sea area, but how would you ever know that, unless you've been to Australia?

Let me explain a few things in this picture. No, I am not driving and taking pictures of myself. Yes, I am wearing a pair of Mens' Ray Ban sunglasses that I found in our rental car, which was quite lucky for me since I forgot my own sunglasses. Yes, my lips are outlined with black, gothic-style lipliner. No, I was not going through some sort of high-school-identity-crisis....I typically carry my lipliner in my wallet, along with other necessities. I have become quite the expert at applying it without a mirror. However, for our trip, I added eyeliner to the wallet mix and forgot that I did so--needless to say, I reached into my wallet, grabbed the first thing that felt like lipliner and began to apply, without looking into a mirror. Then, I felt something in my tooth, which necessitated a look in the mirror. Here's what I saw.

After 16 hours of flying, we drove straight to the water. We're getting closer to Bells Beach....

Now, we're getting further. This is Melbourne. It's a really neat city in the fact that they have lots of artistic structures, such as the one in the next photo.

Bells Beach! Looking toward Winky Pop. Whatever that means. I just know that surfers like to be here, according to Dustypoo.

Happy Valentimes Day, Dadddy! I love you.

Okay, I don't know where these pictures come from. I mean, I'm the only one uploading pictures, so I don't understand how they get so out of order. Kavella likes to read her scriptures! She flips through, looking for Jesus and other pictures that she recognizes! She is so snuggly, bubble cute.

Dusty, my little gem. Now, this IS Bells Beach. We made it.