Vaca madness part II

Sorry about post numero 2 being so far after post numero 1.... apparently Sam's computer doesn't have enough memory for pictures so they have to be stored on an external hard drive which the computer has troubling accessing sometimes...yada yada yada... basically what it comes down to is I wasn't able to put pictures up an and apparently we need to buy a new computer....

So here is another whole gob of photos for your viewing pleasure....

In case you neglected to see the last post (tsk tsk) here's a little catch up...

Sam and I went to Thailand for 11 days and had a blast...when we arrived back in Australia we immediately met up with Sam's family (who had flown out from NSW) for a journey around Kakadu National Park. Our travel companions included Sam's mum (Debbie), Sam's dad (Mark), sister (Naomi), 2 nephews (Dominick and Liam), and niece (Hayley). Sam's family rented camper vans, and we had trusty Donk (our car) so off we went...to explore the great Kakadu!

And let the pictures begin......

Wait! Wait! I got ahead of myself... FIRST we had to do some sightseeing in Darwin, swim at the Darwin waterfront, and Naomi had to buy a sombrero

(because who doesn't need a sombrero?)....

okay....now on to Kakadu...

Sam volunteered to sleep with all 4 kids in a tent while the rest of us curled up in the camper vans. I was worried about Grace but apparently she slept fine....

Day 2 travelling...had to stop at the Kakadu signs and do the touristy thing....

Clapping for joy? Or trying to keep those pesky flies away???

Because there's a little Mexican in all of us longing to take a siesta in a sombrero... where ever we go...

Okay...sombreros...not my thing...

And for good measure since she's my daughter and the cutest baby ever (I think)...

here's some shots of that gorgeous little face....

Mr Dominick

Liam 'gaga' Chandler

"I don't wanna wear the sombrero mom!!!!"

First stop in Kakadu was Ubirr where we saw some amazing Aboriginal rock art and had an amazing view of the sun going down. At the end of the hike there was a gorgeous valley which we named the 'Land Before Time' valley.... because well...that's what it looks like

Endangered rock wallaby

This painting is of someone with Miyamiya. According to Aboriginal story, this illness is defined by swollen bones and can be contracted by disturbing stones of a sacred site downstream near the East Alligator River. This explains why Aboriginal people are so protective of their sacred sites.

They believe that if these sites are disturbed they are dangerous to everyone. Interesting huh?

More cool paintings

Palms that grow in spirals! Coolio

Like I said..."Land Before Time" valley...just missing a couple dinos and it would be complete...

Cheeky Hayley

She may grow up to be a dentist....

AHHH! Those eyes, that mouth...I'm in love...

Liam REALLY liked hanging out with cousin Grace so he's in a lot of our 'family' pictures...

makes us look like we have a son....oh well...just go with it....

Another siesta Naomi?

Wild Brumbies!!! My first sighting!

After trekking around Kakadu for a couple days the family brought their vans back to good ol Beswick and we relaxed locally. Although we have lived near Katherine for coming on 2 years, we had never been to Katherine Hot Springs. They weren't really 'hot' but a perfect (free) place to take a dip! And since Sam's family was with us, we finally sucked it up and went. It was worth it! What a great place! We had a ton of fun!

Naomi and her 'mini me' Hayley

Like I said... we had a temporary son during vaca!

Nanna showing off her mad motorbike skills just outside of Beswick...

Okay...that's it! That's the end of our whirlwind adventures over the school holidays (and just a fraction of the pictures). We had a great time and did a whole lot of things we never would have otherwise done! Can't wait to our next adventure!