Family Vacation 2014-Sydney

We started planning this trip about 14 Months ago and invited all of our family. Only a few were able to come. But we are so glad that our immediate family were all able to attend.

So the Month of February started off a bit rocky here in South Carolina. A very cold winter storm passed thru while I was in Utah at my Grandmothers Funeral and I had to reroute myself to California. Darren was working in NC and had to drive home in it, Nick was at home getting ready to fly to California to meet up with his fiance Mikaila. 

Darren made it home in time to take the delayed Nick to California who I saw for a day then was able to get home in time to unpack all the winter clothes and pack for Summer in the Land Down Under 3 days, the weather was looking nasty for our intended leave date so we moved our tickets up a few days early and after retrieving Rusy from the pound after he decided to wonder off during all of this and dropping both naughty dogs off at the kennel and we were off.

We spent a few days in Irvine shopping, visiting, church & beach. Then on Monday the 10th we picked up Grandpa Grandpa & Grandma Grandma in Santa Clarita and Mikaila in San Bernardino and back to Irvine to wait for Ben to arrive home from Google (work) so we could figure out how we were going to get 19+ pieces of luggage and 9 passangers to the airport in a mini van and Honda Element. Sorry no pictures of that, we will leave it to your imagination.

Sydney Australia

After a 14+hr flight on Quantas we arrived safe and sound in Sydney at around 10am on the 12th.

We had to try and stay awake all day so that we could avoid jet leg.
Here's how Bennett does it!

(Photography by Ben)

We walked down the street for some lunch and then walked over to the Sydney Opera House. Everyone was getting pretty tired but we managed to stay awake long enough to eat some Pizza at an outdoor cafe and then off to bed just after dark.

Our room 

Lunch here

                                                

A little bit of shopping after breakfast at our hotel. A new hat for Darren and a Roo for Bennett.

So glad my family likes to have their pictures taken every once in a while;)

This was interesting an outside cement staircase with a staircase waterfall next to it. I think I will stay on the dry side.

This summer Was all about Weddings!

May was in Utah for Tiana and Cort

June was in California for Taylor and Mckenna

July was in Missouri for Megan and Andrew

August was in Arizona for Garrett and Victoria

Had fun visiting the Garners while in AZ.

The beautiful Salt Lake City Temple

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope that you have a special day with your loved one's. We get to have our favorite little guy with us tonight! Nick was accepted to BYU-I. He starts spring 2013.

Christmas Vacation 2012

We decided we needed a Family vacation while both Ben & Nick had time off from their busy school and work scheduals. Jacquie being the great sport she is asked/told Dr. Dungan she would be unavailable during that time. He was so very nice to allow her the time off. We had to quickly get passports ordered and renewed for Ben & Bennett and that is to long of a story to tell here.

We left Summerville on Friday afternoon and drove down to Orlando where we met up with Derek, Diana and Garrett for a day of fun at Disney's Animal Kingdom & Epcot!

Then on to Tampa where we boarded the Jewel of the Seas for a wonderful 5 day cruise of the Western Caribbean.

Tampa Bay

Ben, jacquie & Bennett at Lowry Park Zoo

Lowry Park Zoo Tampa, Florida

As we sailed past Mac Dill AFB Florida

Day at Sea

Bennett loved going down the waterslide with his mommy and playing putt putt with everyone.

All dressed up for Dinner (Mac & Cheese)

Bennett's favorite activity of the whole cruise.
Second best was riding the elegators up and down.

Stingray City from the sky

Soaking up some sun!

Enjoying Cozumel Mexico

Thanksgiving fun in South Carolina

 

We enjoyed having Garrett and his lovely girlfriend Tori come and spend Thanksgiving weekend with us! Everyone enjoyed playing football and eating Turkey smoked in Darren's Brickoven. We visited some of the sights around Charleston and took lots of Family pictures at Folly Beach. Bennett entertained us with some Breakdancing;)

 

  

Fall is officially here!

Wow September seems to have snuck by and here we are in October already.
We enjoyed a lovely cruise to the beautiful Northeast here are a few pictures.