the U.S of A...

We went to Dallas back in October for a quick visit.  The first part of our trip wasn't captured because a certain husband took the memory card out of my camera and left it in Australia...oh well.  We got it fixed...

 We went to Kayla's soccer game...

and saw a beautiful Texas sunset.

Aunt Heather and Lily flew in town...

 and gave Brooks this awesome superhero cape.

Gigi and Papa Hugh also flew in so we took them to the pumpkin patch...

where there were slides...

 and hay rides...

 and mazes...

 

and cuddles from Gigi...

and cuddles from Daddy.

We took a family photo...

and Brooks played around.

Aunt Tiffany, Jude and Julia joined us...

and they explored the pumpkin house.

 We had so much fun seeing everybody...

 including my friend Jill...

and Grandma and Grandpa.

 The next day we went to another Fall Festival.  There was plinko...

and nail painting...

 and all kinds of games.  Then Daddy wanted Rudy's...

so we ate barbeque...

and played Big Buck Hunter.

Then Patrick and I flew to Laguna Beach, California...

and stayed in this cute hotel...

 that was right on the water.

 Before we knew it our trip was over and we headed back to the other side of the world.

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.