Zach and the Aussies (Part One): Zach in Australia

Zach and Claire with hats and books at  the Bon Voyage Party.  Ready for the Aussie trip.

This past summer grandson, Zach, had the wonderful experience of traveling with Claire and Jeanette (Claire's mom who is from Australia) to Australia.  About half the time was spent visiting family and the other half as tourists.  Jeanette is a seasoned world traveler and did a wonderful job planning their itinerary. 

On the way they spent a few days in California before departing for Australia.

Zach and Claire in California on way to Australia.

Their first stop was Sydney where they rented an apartment looking out over Sydney Harbor.

Arriving in Sydney.

Zach and Claire with Sydney Harbor in background.

They visited the zoo in Sydney.

Claire and koala.

Claire and kangaroo.

From Sydney they visited relatives in Canberra.

Zach and Claire's little cousin playing the piano.

Then off to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef for several days.

Zach, Claire and Claire's mom, Jeanette on Great Barrier Reef.

Their hats came in handy.

Enjoying the beach at Great Barrier Reef.

Visited more relatives in Melbourne.

A night out with relatives in Melbourne.

Claire with little cousin Lachlan.  Zach and Uncle Bob look a little "too happy".

Uncle Bob's MG.

Zach drives Uncle Bob's MG. Uncle Bob had to instruct Zach on use of straight shift.

Uncle Bob and Zach with Australian football.  They went to an Australian football game.

Chrismas in July dinner.

Fourth of July at Aunt Di and Uncle Bob's.

Zach and Claire went to the Edge in the Eureka Tower in Melbourne.  Eureka is the second highest building in Australia.  'The Edge' - a glass cube which projects 3 meters out from the building - with you in it - is suspended almost 300 meters above the ground on the 88th floor.

Zach and Claire in the Edge 300 meters above the city in Melbourne.

Zach and Claire flew home from Melbourne when Zach had to attend Orientation for Freshman at NC State University where he is now a Freshman.

Flying home out of Melbourne. 

Several of Claire's family are currently visiting here in Raleigh, so stay tuned for Zach and the Aussies (Part Two):  The Aussies in Raleigh

Photos by Jeanette Salisbury.

Kangaroo Wobble Place Cards

Cup place card with kangaroo for Aussie theme party.

My good friend Helen is an avid scrapbooker and a very creative one too.  When I was thinking of place cards for a graduation/bon voyage dinner that I'm giving for my grandson Zach and his girl friend Claire, I immediately thought of Helen.  After graduation, Zach and Claire are traveling to Australia for a few weeks with Claire's mom. I'm using an Aussie theme for the dinner party, and I wanted to have stickers representing Australia on the plastic cups that will serve as place markers on the dinner tables.

Helen came up with a cute idea of a kangaroo affixed to the cup with the name card placed in the kangaroo's pouch.  She has all the bells and whistles to make these in the craft room at her house.

Helen's well-equipped craft room.

After finding a template of a kangaroo, she used her Cricut machine to draw and cut out the kangaroos according to input from the software on her computer.  The software allows one to adjust the size and location on the paper for each cut.

The paper ready to go into the Cricut.

Templates set up on computer.

Paper goes into Cricut for drawing and cutting.

Kangaroos drawn and die cut on Cricut.

Kangaroos ready to be peeled off.

Small hearts were cut to fit into the pouch of the kangaroo, and names of the guests were written on the hearts.

Kangaroos ready to attach to cups.

The kangaroos were attached to the cups with wobbles (a scrapbook "tool" that allows the attached item to wobble back and forth).

Wobble.

Wobble attaches kangaroo to cup.

Helen with finished cup.

Cup with kangaroo to use as place card at dinner party.

Thanks Helen.  These are so cute!!!!  Now to get all the other things ready for the party.  Stay tuned.