shave...

Brooks LOVES shaving with Daddy...

Fraser Island...

We went to Fraser Island for Patrick's birthday; it's the largest sand island in the world and one of the world's top spots for whale watching.  It's in Queensland and about a five-hour drive north followed by an hour ferry ride over.  We didn't arrive until late afternoon so we just took it easy our first night.  However, the birthday morning we woke up early and boarded a 7:30am whale watching boat. 

We patiently waited for the whales...

and we not-so-patiently waited for the whales...

but then they came.

They were so close and so playful...

even the mothers with their calves.

 

It was a really neat experience, especially for Brooks...

who watched and watched...

until he just couldn't take it anymore.

 We went swimming back at the resort...

and Brooks did really well with his new floaties.

 The next morning we went to Lake McKenzie.

We were there early but it was still very pretty.

And once again, Brooks loved it.

We rented this Land Cruiser because only 4WD vehicles are allowed on the island...

because there are no roads.  Unless you count this.

 Patrick loved every second of it.

We drove to the famous Fraser Island shipwreck...

and Brooks kept saying...

"This is the coolest shipwreck I've ever seen!!!"

Ha...

 I'm pretty sure it's the only shipwreck any of us have seen.

 

Next up, hiking to Indian Heads.

We were almost to the top and he thought we had to be quiet...

and we were because the view was amazing.

 We hung out...

 snapped a few photos...

and headed to the final two spots on our drive...

 the Pinnacles...

and Eli Creek.  It was freezing.

The birthday trip was a great one and we 

enjoyed another Terrell family vacation.

entourage...

If he starts sleeping on the floor again it will only be because his posse has completely taken over his bed and there's no room for him...

whales...

It's whale migration time here and it's such an amazing sight to behold.  Almost daily I'll be working in the kitchen and I'll see them out there splashing around.  I'll yell, "WHALES!!!" and then immediately hear little footsteps running down the hallway to come see them.  Yesterday they were so close that we could see the mist coming out of their blow holes.  It's incredible, so incredible that I find myself shaking my head not really believing this is my everyday life. 

Anyway, here is Brooks looking for whales...

...and here he is taking pictures of them.  With his Elmo camera.

Byron Bay...

Random pictures of Brooks and me when we went to Byron Bay...

Indonesia...

After sorting through 500+ pictures, here is an abridged account of our recent holiday:

We landed in Bali and stayed in our first of several villas.

We saw the sun set over the Bingin Peninsula...

got massages...

and saw traditional Balinese dancing.

Patrick surfed;

I watched.

We went to temples...

rice terraces...

and these pictures don't do any of these places justice.

We went to the Monkey Forest...

had nice dinners...

and saw more traditional Balinese dancing.

We took a speed boat over to the Gili Islands...

where I relaxed...

Patrick relaxed...

 

and we both got fish pedicures.

We saw more sunsets and then headed over to the island of Lombok.

We only spent the afternoon in Lombok, but saw this...

and then our vacation was over.