Life is a Journey

It was well past sunrise when I woke up this morning but Amy was kind enough to get my camera and take some photos. Later she was even kinder and Christy and her went out to gather breakfast. In case you’re thinking the girls are wandering all about town on their own – the shopping center is right under our apartment complex – and one the reasons we love it here. Today they bought back Iced Chocolates from Gloria Jeans and a cheese & garlic bagette (our new favourite) from Bakers Delight. As you can see it was a very decadent morning and I got to enjoy these in bed :-).

Around 9.30am we headed to the car and were off to Movie World. I wanted to go to Wet ‘n’ Wild but the girls really wanted to go back to Dreamworld. Unfortunately it was MUCH busier than last Saturday (Queensland school holidays start tomorrow).

Don’t you just love my twins? Amy’s idea as Christy was dressed first. All I can say is wonders will never cease :-).

We we entered they headed straight off to the Scooby ride and I set up camp for the day. I took my kindle to read but actually just spent hours people watching and checking facebook occasionally :-).

They did a few more rides, including Wild Wild West and Amy went on Lethal Weapon, before they went off to play some games. I NEVER usually give them money for acrade games but they must have caught me a weak moment. $20 later and they were the proud owners of these neck ties and Amy had a pink zebra :-).

Amy and I shared vegetarian nachos for lunch.

They were delicious and we loved that you could eat the bowl as well :-).

The girls rode Scooby again and Christy even went a third time – even though there was a 45min wait time. While waiting Amy had this slushy with ice cream on top – it had a fancy name but I can’t remember it.

Around 3pm my backside had had enough sitting and we went through the shops (as we still had some money left on gift cards). We got some lollies and the girls got a couple of tops each. Christy was happy that we got to the see the parade. Personally I think it’s the worst parade in the world and the biggest waste of 15mins. But at least there was no wait time involved. The first time Kevin & I went to see the parade we waited around 30mins – we were NOT impressed (esp. being used to Disney parades).

Then it was time to head home. I sat outside with a magazine and a cup of tea, enjoying the late afternoon play of light on the buildings.

While the girls had a teddy party on the bed :-). Now this is what this holiday was all about – the girls bonding and reconnecting as sisters (and friends) – in addition to me not having to feel guilty for not taking them to Alaska :-).

At 5.30pm we headed down to the beach. Sadly our first (and probably only time) this holiday.

Our reason for being here – to explore the Night Markets. We love these and always buy a few things, and spend way too much money. On this trip we bought some bandanas for the dogs, a lovely vase for me, and the girls got new headbands, sludge (which they always get) and did some sand art. Oh, and we bought some yummy looking cupcakes to have later.

We stopped in at Noodle Box on the way home to pick up some dinner….

which we enjoyed back in our room.

After dinner the girls played with their sludge while we watched a Disney Movie. Don’t know what it was called but it was quite cute.

Then it was time to dive into the yummy looking cupcakes.

They looked too good to eat but I was fearless and cut them into thirds so we could all try some of each. And I have to say they tasted as good as they looked.

Tomorrow : Rain is forecast so we’ll most likely go shopping and see the Justin Bieber Movie (Amy is dying to see it). And Amy has been complaining of a sore ear so we might to the visit the Medical Center.

I stayed a bit late for me last night (nearly 11pm) which meant I slept in till after 6.30am and therefore missed today sunrise :-(. I did however, take photos of the chickens.

Scary as they are….

I was in a lot of pain this morning with both swollen hands & feet and sore ribs (I think I slept funny last night), but the girls really wanted to go to Dreamworld today. So being the good Mum that I was I decided to take them. I was feeling very sorry for myself and guilty that I wouldn’t be able to do the rides with them.

We arrived just after 10am and when lining up to buy tickets we were given a half price coupon by a very kind lady – this meant we saved over $70!!! Much as I like doing things like this, it was very nice to be on the receiving end for a change :-). Once inside we went to get one of the Q4U thing-a-ma-jigs. Love these. It costs $10 plus $7.50 per person but saved us/the girls hours of waiting in lines. Definitely worth every penny. Plus you get 15% of merchandise – which saved us another $30 odd dollars and almost paid for itself – it easily could – so I don’t know why more people don’t get them.

The most exciting for Christy – she was finally tall enough to do ALL the rides here.

First up …

Amy is on the far left, Christy beside her.

Then the river rapids. I was feeling a lot better so did this too. And for the first time ever, I didn’t get soaked – Amy did though :-).

Then it was the Claw. I rode this once years ago – never again. But both the girls loved it.

Then we all went on Christy’s first ever upside down roller coaster – the Cyclone. Fun, fun, fun.

Next up – Wipeout.

and Christy’s old favourite (she once rode this 5 times in a row).

We had some lunch we’d bought from home while waiting for their Q4U time for laser tag.

Then it was into Nickelodeon Central for Spongebob Flypants…

where I made a new friend…

and the Runaway Raptar – where the girls got to be in the front row.

There was then some playing in the Wild Thornberrys ball play area.

before snow cones where bought and enjoyed (by the kids anyway).

and as you can see they both got new hats.

We then visited the tigers….

of course, this one reminded us all of Bailey.

The girls then went on the Tower of Terror – and love up. Next up AMY wanted to go on The Wiggles Big Red Car (and Kevin was worried she might be getting too old to want to come to Disneyworld).

Christy had wanted to get slimed. Next best thing – seeing someone else get slimed :-).

We had to stop for a photo with Spongebob and Patrick.

Then it was time for me to sit and put my feet up for a bit while they went off to do Wipeout, the claw and tower of terror again.

And I got to enjoy a chocolate muffin… but it was HUGE so I only ate half.

While waiting I was so tired – I very nearly went to sleep. But I felt a bit more restored when they returner – luckily as I had to drive home. We walked through the shops and returned the Q4U and headed home. We had bit of traffic on the way back so didn’t get to our room until after 6pm. Amy was kind enough to prepare dinner. But unfortunately both the vegetarian sausages and curly fries weren’t the greatest. Still we were fed.

I played on the computer while the girls watched some shows. Amy headed to bed just before 7.30am and Christy and I watched Got to Dance UK.

Tomorrow : A morning by the pool, then Tamborine Mountain to go searching for Thurdereggs.

Started the morning with the laptop while still in bed. Wish I had a view like this ALL the time. I did however get up to take a photo of yet another stunning sunrise.

A short time Amy joined me – with her laptop.

Then she was replaced by Christy – who didn’t bring her but instead watched one of my favourite youtubers with me – the girls love this Irish couple as much as I do.

And you’ll be happy to know the chickens have started to emerge from their eggs. I have to say none of us expected them to be quite so ugly :-).

Shortly before 10am we headed to Sea World.

It wasn’t too busy when we arrived so the wait times for rides was minimal. First up…

then it was on to Jet Rescue – the girls are in the second row.

We then all went on the Viking Flume Ride – always a favourite, especially as you only get a little wet. Then it was on to the new part of the park Castaway Bay.

After a go on the pirate ships – which they loved (they’d been on this in Legoland, USA and loved it there). Christy also had a go at the tree top/adventure thing.

while Amy enjoyed a frozen coke – with special straw.

They then went to the HUGE climbing thing. They are so brave. No way would I ever do something like this.

And here’s Amy right at the top.

Then it was back on the pirate boats to get wet soaked some more.

By now it was 1.30pm and we were getting hungry. But first I had to buy Amy some new (dry) clothes as she forgot to bring another set (I had some for Christy). Mission accomplished, they got changed and we went in search of lunch. Unfortunately all the nice, healthy looking wraps and salads had been sold, so we were left with pizza – which we then had to wait for them to cook.

It was nice but not what either of us had been wanting for lunch.

Next was a visit to Ray Reef, then on to Shark Bay.

My feet were starting to ache (swelling and heal spur) so I went and sat down while the girls explored and viewed the fish & sharks.

Not a bad spot to stop for a while. And I had these beautiful palm trees beside me.

The girls were going to do Jet Rescue again but the line was too long. Instead Christy did some rides in the kids area (something I thought she had outgrown) and Amy & I played on our phones. I also filled in a survey. We then walked back to the main entrance to get ready for the Pirate Show.

Of course it’s not a show without an ice-cream :-).

The show was good. Very different from the previous shows which have been about watersking.

This was was jetskies, acrobats and high diving. Not sure I enjoyed it quite as much but it was probably time for a change. Who know how many times we’ve seen the water ski show!

And, of course, no trip to a theme park is complete without buying a stuffed toy (in this case polar bear) on a lead. Christy actually wanted to buy a Scooby one the other day but I said maybe later. Today was later :-).

It’s a short drive back to the apartment and I was feeling exhausted, even though I really hadn’t been on my feet much today (in fact I had a saw backside from sitting on hard seats) so I put my feet up for a bit while the girls went down to the indoor pool for a swim. Ah, life gets so much easier when the girls can do things unsupervised. But to balance out the good we have to deal with mood swings :-).

I was feeling better when they returned and got some dinner made. I bought our George Forman grill with us so I used that to cook some vegetable burgers. Amy had hers on turkish bread. I had mine with a side of pasta (made for Christy) and some Morocan salad.

Tonight we watched Britains Next Top Model – though both girls were asleep before the end. I then went to bed and typed up this post.

Tomorrow : A second attempt at Wet ‘n’ Wild.