It's been awhile...

It seemed like after my family's visit life went from 0 to 100! The kids were finishing up school and about to go on school holiday. They do 9 week terms and then have 2 weeks off. Finishing up March and then the beginning of April have been great! Here are some photos to describe what I have been doing:

Singing Wheels on the Bus with Ford! We do a lot of FaceTiming around here.

I like trying new hairstyles out on Zoe!

Easter themed music class

Brooke, Tori, and me! Girl's night out!

Tori, me, Brooke, Sarah, and Ines! Nanny night out!

My North Carolina bestie!

Nannies need some fun too!

The bar we went to was having a jungle themed party. Of course I wanted to participate!

Tori's host mom works for the radio station and gave us free tickets to the Melbourne Comedy Festival. We saw two different comedians and it was really interesting because a lot of the jokes in the sketch I didn't understand. For example, Australian politics and current events... it was interesting to learn about Aussie culture

Ford likes to hold the phone while FaceTiming

Morgan, me, and Tori!

Ansley and me!

Bek and me!

Beautiful Melbourne nights

Morgan and me, night on the town!

Ruthie monogrammed Zoe and Maddison matching t-shirts! They look so cute in them.

Last week we announced that my sister Cori is expecting. Back in January, Cori FaceTimed me and Embry was wearing a shirt that says "Big Sister" (picture above). I was one of the first people she told. I guess that is the benefit of being 17 hours ahead! I am usually the loud mouth of my family... but I kept the secret until Cori told them at a family get together a couple days later. 

I found a delicious restaurant that serves $2 tacos and yummy margaritas! I like finding good deals!

Zoe loves kiss face selfies!

Easter cookie delivery - yum!

Just another girls night out! Tori and me!

Girls night!

Melbourne nights!

X-Base is a fun bar with fun drinks!

Mitch, Michael, and Will :)

Easter weekend!

More from Ladies night at X-Base!

Ladies night at X-Base!

Chilly night out in Melbourne

Chilly night out in Melbourne

Chilly night out in Melbourne

One of us loves our sorority and one doesn't haha!

I love these girlies!

Best friends!

My delicious cesar salad!

FaceTime with my mom and her favorite daughter KD...

I am recommitting myself to this blog and keeping my adventures, thoughts, and experiences written down! I am still loving life and everything about Australia. I miss my family every day. In just 3 short weeks, my sister Ruthie will be giving birth to my baby niece Lucy! I know that will be hard not to be there,  but thank goodness for FaceTime!

xx Tomi

Fanning Down Under Part 2

PART 2: 

Wednesday morning we woke up and headed to the airport to head to Sydney for the remainder of our trip! I was excited because I had never been to Sydney and also I had heard Melbourne is better to live and Sydney is better to visit. 

We had a quick 50 minute flight to Sydney. It was so weird at the airport. I didn't even have to show my ID or anything. Just got on the plane! Way different than U.S. airports!

We were staying in the Marriott Circular Quay right in the Sydney Harbour. My dad was told this was THE area to be... and he was right. We had the most beautiful view of the Sydney Opera House out of our window! Our hotel was very nice. Because my dad is a platinum member, we had access to the Executive Lounge that served Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, as well as unlimited alcohol... which I took full advantage of each night haha.

When we arrived at our hotel in Sydney we walked around a little bit and then got ready for dinner. We went to the Syndey Tower which has a rotating restaurant! It was really beautiful views and good food!

Cheer to Sydney!

Fanning Family Selfie!

Had to take a pic of my love Ansel Elgort modeling in Australia!

On Thursday morning we woke up and walked a gorgeous stroll to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb Tour. Although this tour was fairly expensive, I believe it was worth it. From start to finish it was about 3 hours long. You suit up, get a set of head phones, and climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge! It wasn't as intense as it sounds, but you get some insanely great views. It was such a perfect sunny day! 

After the bridge climb was over, we took a fairy ride to Manly Beach... one of the most famous beaches in Sydney. The fairy ride was one of my favorite parts. I love being on the water and you got great views of the city. I think James enjoyed it too! We just walked around Manly Beach and put our toes in the water. We took the fairy back to Sydney and spent the evening walking around the harbor!

One of the days we went to Bondi Beach, another famous beach in Sydney. We scheduled surfing lessons for James and me! I was nervous because I tried Stand Up Paddleboarding a couple weeks before and I was terrible at it. I am not very good at persevering through tough times and so I was nervous about how hard surfing was going to be. To everyone's surprise... I was GOOD! It was so tiring though. I swallowed gallons of salt water and I think there was sand in my hair for days! The ocean beat me up, but I had so much fun! No pics... but it did happen!

On our last day we went to the Sydney Zoo. My dad wasn't too keen on this idea because he felt like a zoo is a zoo is a zoo... anywhere you go. But the weather wasn't that nice and so we didn't know what else to do. It turned out to be SO amazing. The animals were great but the view of the city from the zoo was spectacular! I think we all had a lot more fun than we expected. 

We went to a delicious dinner out that night. We all split a couple entrees and my favorite part was the crab legs! After a couple drinks, I started thinking about having to say goodbye to my parents the next day and I got teary eyed. My brother pulled me in close and hugged me and told me everything would be okay. This was a surreal moment having my baby brother, whom I used to comfort and take care, take care of me and comfort me! 

We cabbed to the airport and they dropped me off at my terminal first. I must say... I was happy to only have a 50 minute flight vs. a 15 hour flight. I cried saying goodbye and gave them some strong hugs goodbye. I was sad to see them go, but I was happy to get back to Melbourne. I loved Sydney but I am happy I live in Melbourne.

This situation I am in is just so unique. Being THIS far away from my family... I haven't gone this long without my family since.... FOREVER! It truly is a challenge and I think my parents saw how happy I was here and were proud of me. 

All in all it was an incredible vacation! I don't think we could have spent any more days in either city. So if they would have extended their vacation we would have had to check out another city! They arrived home sleep deprived and hungry for Tex-Mex food... but already were missing me! I am so lucky that my host family was flexible enough to give me that time with my family! And I am so lucky that my family came to visit me....

If only my sisters' weren't pregnant with toddlers they would have made the trip down under as well haha!