Brisbane October 2012 Week 2

Week 2 was a busy one!  We started off by going to Heaths cousins baby blessing, Lyla Rose.  Her parents are Brad and LaShea Smith.  She's just a few days younger than Jax.

Heath worked on Monday so Monday night we went to his parents house for a fish fry.  Heath's Dad, Tom, is quite the fisherman.  We had calamari, white fish, and a whole assortment. 

Tuesday we got up and got ready to go to the Gold Coast for our Beach Vacation.  As soon as we arrived we went to "The Spit".  This is where the river meets the ocean.  Heaths Sister and Brother in law were there to do a professional photo shoot for Kiersten but we got in on the action too. 

 Heath arranged for surfing lessons for us.  Here we are with our instructor.  It was a terribly windy and day and not good conditions for surfing but we gave it the old college try!

 Of course Heath was the only one to stand up!

 But David had a grand time rolling around on the beach.......

 and in the sand........

 Our accomodations............Windrift

 

From our balcony

 

 We went to the local Mall......

 and found the "Hart" store

 Baskin Robbins was Kiersten's consolation prize because she and Jax had to wait in the blowing sand while we had our surfing lessons.

 Hotubbing with the family.

 

 There were jellyfish everywhere on the beach.......

 

and lovers on the beach......

 

 Babysitting Jax......

 

 Looking for lifeguards.....

 

About a mile down the beach we found this great little cove for picture taking. 

 

 And of course there was Gold Coast golfing...

 

 We met up with Matt and Jade Krok for some "Putt-Putt Golf".  I tried to entertain their daughter Pacey.

    Jade carted their new baby around on her chest.  His name is Leo Buddy.  So Sweet.

 Heath carted Jax around in a sling around his waist.  Jax loved it!

Another cute pic of Jaxie.....

 

Heath took us to his school one day to meet some of his co-workers and try out the cool climbing gym they have at the school.  Its quite a nice facility!  Juan is in charge of the facility and equipment and is a fabulous rock climber!  He looks like spiderman climbing up the wall!

 Jax waiting for rock climbing to be over.

 Kiersten and David went in what was called the "cave".  You climb up inside of it and it is pitch black. 

Friday night we met up with Courtney and David and went through a session in the Brisbane Temple.  It was so beautiful!

Having a great time in  Australia!



Halloween 2012 Aussie Style

As usual, the Hart family knows how to put on a party.

 Courtney and David Allen, aka zombies.  Courtney and David's marriage is another product of friends introducing friends.  Courtney is Kiersten's good friend from America and David is Heath's good friend from Australia. 

 

 

 Hope Hurt and her girls Ava and Audrey.  Hope made a perfect Sandy from Grease.

Cody and Jackie

 

 
Refreshments included all kinds of fun, creepy desserts and snacks.

 

David and Heath made a great haunted house.  This is the mask I wore as the creepy piano player.

 We played golf (of course)

This is Matt and Jade Krok, Ethan's brother.  Jade just had a baby a few days after Kiersten.  Baby Leo and big sister Pacey,



 

 Kiersten and Heath Zombie Family with Jax Spiderman

 Biker Tattoo Couple

Hannah won best child costume (Sally from Nightmare before Christmas)

 

 Eden and Travis as the Vampire Diaries

Jade and Aaron Wakely as Fred and
Daphne

 Heaths Dad, Tom, as a Gangsta

Newlyweds Josh and Renee Phillips as  Cruella Deville and Seeney Todd

Me as the Creepy piano player at the spook alley.

Irene and Kellen as Pirates

 Heaths cousin Brad won best male costume, with his wife LaShea and kids Payton and newborn Lyla.

 Paige Wakely as Victoria from Twilight

 Heaths cousin as scary zipper face!

Heaths Mom, Barb, as the angel of death.

 

Heaths Aunt Linese and Uncle Lindsay

Cool Halloween Cake and centerpiece

 

  It rained that night which kept us inside for awhile but we had such a huge turnout that we eventually went outside under cover anyways.  Thanks for such a great night!

Trip to Australia Oct. 2012 - Week 1

We have been planning a trip to Australia for 9 months - ever since we knew Kiersten was pregnant.  By the time we get there, the baby will be 3 weeks old and it will have been 2 years since we have seen Kiersten and Heath.

 

Here we are waiting for our shuttle at home - can't wait to get going!

 

 

We arrive at Fiji airport for our first let of the trip.  A 2 night, 3 day layover to help us get our schedule switched around!

We visited the largest Hindu Temple in the Southern Hemisphere.  Doesn't David look great!

 

It was a 30 minute cab drive to the ocean from our hotel.  Goreous clear blue water and white sand beaches surrounded by greenery.

But we were anxious to get to our final destination - Brisbane and meeting Jax!  Such a beautiful baby!

 

 The happy grandparents of lucky #13 grandchild!

 

Our first night there, the Harts hosted a welcome BBQ for us.  Every single member of the Hart family was there!

We did alot of this.......

 

 

We carved pumpkins........David did Thor.....

 

We did alot of this too..................

 

We went to the mall....doesn't Kiersten look great!

 

David and Heath went golfing on the Kangaroo course....

 

and we went to a fun festival call the Jackaranda Festival (named for the trees with purple blossoms)

 Some of Heaths family went with us too.  This is Ben and Hope Hurt. 

 

Tonight is the Halloween party.  They've been decorating all day for it so we're excited to see the results.  More pics to come.

Its been a relaxing week with only one bad night for Jax.  He is really a pretty good sleeper.  Kiersten is a natural mother. Heath has been working this week so we haven't seen too much of him. We're having a great time!

 

Kiersten 32 weeks pregnant

Not Just Another Birthday

My birthday has come and gone.  As usual, my family and friends made me feel very loved and special.  David is known for his ability to come up with fun, quirky ways to let me know he loves me, but this year takes the cake! He took 2 of my favorite live concerts, Keith Urban and Country Thunder, and wrapped them up in one fun, sweet video tribute to me.  Thanks to my son in law, Ethan, for doing this.  Enjoy!

Faith, Fortitude, Fullfillment

I had an instant connection with this conference talk by Elder David S. Baxter: Faith, Fortitude, Fulfillment: A Message to Single Parents.  I was raised by a single mother.  My father died when I was 14 years old, 5 of 8 children still at home.  (Nick not pictured as he was on his mission.)  My mother was refined in the refiners fire during this time after my father died.  She never remarried but talked of wanting someone to talk things over with, never feeling more alone than in a room full of people.  She never spoke of the financial burden she bore, but I knew it was great.  Always a stay at home mom, she now had to work to support her family.  In addition she cared for her own mother in our home.  She waited up for me, counseled me and I found her on her knees in prayer.  She was an example to me then, a greater example to me now.

"Although you may at times have asked, 'Why me?' it is through the hardships of life that we grow towards godhood as our character is shaped in the crucible of affliction; as the events of life take place while God respects the agency of man. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell commented, we cannot do all the sums or make it all add up because "we do not have all the numbers."


"Meanwhile, you are striving to raise your children in righteousness and truth, knowing that while you cannot change the past, you can shape the future.  Along the way you will obtain compensatory blessing, even if they are not immediately apparent."


"With God's help, you need not fear for the future.  Your children will grow up and call you blessed, and every single one of their many achievements will stand as a tribute to you."

I hope I am a tribute to you, Mom.  That is my wish this Mother's Day.