Australia 2012/2013

Well, we had a very exciting trip to Australia.  We tried to leave on Dec. 21st, but due to bad weather in Chicago we had a delayed plane and missed our connection in Dallas by 10 minutes.  Only to find out that we couldn't get another flight to Brisbane for 2 more days.  But heck, we were on vacation... so we made the best of our time in the Dallas/Houston area and checked out the Houston Zoo for a day which is one of the top zoo's in the country.  It was definitely not crowded and it turned out to be a great day.  This zoo also happens to be the location of one of Lily's Barney "Zoo" videos so she was pretty excited.  We finally left on the 23rd but the biggest surprise was that they upgraded us to business class so we got full lay down seats on our 16 hour plane ride (which turned into 25 hours) and we got to use the Qantas club amenities.  Free beverages, food, everything.  Very nice.  I hope Lily doesn't get used to this.  On the way home she asked at the airport "can we go to the club".  Oh dear.

Lily was a fantastic traveller.  She slept most of the way.  Thank you full lay down seats.  And watched a little TV (lots of options on her pull up airport TV).  We had to stop unplanned in Auckland, New Zealand for a five hour layover.  It was supposed to be only to get more fuel because the head winds were so terrible, but one of the engines broke and ended up getting a repair while we were there.  For a while I was beginning to think we might have an extra vacation in New Zealand.  But finally on Dec. 24th in the late afternoon we made it to Brisbane.  From there we caught our shuttle, got to the house we were staying in and rushed as quickly as possible to get some groceries before everything closed for the holiday.  Luckily we made it just before the shops closed.

The Houston Zoo has an incredible crocodile display that you can sit and watch crocs while you are eating your food.  Lily seems a little afraid of them now however.

Lily's favorite animal at any zoo = flamingo's!

By this time, we were running out of pants (notice the pajama bottoms under the skirt) and we were desperately looking forward to our trip to Australia (so much that she took to posing with "fake" kangaroos)

Great hippo exhibit at the Houston zoo

Finally on our way to Brisbane flying in business class