Joel keeps reminding us that Coffs Harbour is just a pit stop. And a welcome pit stop it is! We've spent the day relaxing and regrouping. We didn't have laundry facilities in our room in Sydney, so today I've done 6 loads of wash!
This morning, after breakfast, Joel announced that he'd take the kids to Dolphin Marine Magic- a place that G, C, and R REALLY wanted to go, and a place that I REALLY did not want to go. He is sooooooo my favorite husband. I cleaned up from breakfast, did more laundry, then got ready to take a walk to find a latte. Maddy was up by then and said she'd walk with me too.
Love spending time with my girl. We walked all over the resort, found 4 swimming pools, the golf course, 2 lagoons, several bridges, the actual beach (complete with amazing shells, tide pools, and a stunning view), and eventually a latte, a smoothie, and free wifi. The latte/smoothie/wifi were at a super nice restaurant on the property here and we did not, at all, fit in with our scrubby walking clothes on (especially me, Maddy always looks great) but the Aussies were all so nice to us anyway and very accommodating to my request for a dairy free fruit smoothie for Maddy, even though it wasn't on the menu. We enjoyed our drinks out on the deck and the server was so nice when I inquired about the existence of crocs in this part of Australia. (Apparently a very stupid question. No crocs here. I can stop scanning bushes and grass and water whenever we're out.) The sun was out and it was just such a nice morning! We headed back to our condo and relaxed (more laundry!) while we waited for our crew to return.
When they did, they were so happy!! I'm fine that I, personally, did not get a dolphin kiss, a seal kiss, etc, (SO GROSS) but I kind of wish I would have seen the kids having fun! They all went on and on. I guess there is something to Dolphin Marine Magic after all.
After I made them wash their hands raw (they fed fish to a seal you guys), we all headed out to find lunch. I'd found a place that's gf/df friendly plus had great reviews. (Eat at Cafe Aqua if you ever find yourself in Coffs Harbour!) Pretty yummy and everyone was happy! (No easy feat!)
While we were waiting for lunch to be served Rebeka informed us all that she had s game for us to play. She attempted to explain the convoluted, possibly made up as she went rules to us, but we were slow to catch on. She kept shaking her head saying, "Oh my gosh, you just don't get it." Then she'd wave her hands around and try again. Eventually she started keeping score each round, and the first person to 5 'won'. Maddy and G tied for the first to 5, but in an apparent post game bonus round I went from 1 point to 11 because, "Mom was the only one to compliment me," so it was all very exciting. That girl. ❤️
After lunch we headed back to swim. Rebeka has been begging to swim since day one. The pool in New Zealand wasn't heated, we were too busy in Phillip Island, no easy access pool in Sydney . . . She'd been waiting a while and it is summer vacation, after all! Maddy and I enjoyed the hot tub while everyone else played in the pool and then we all rotated around. Everyone was happy and there was a sense of camaraderie that we don't get too frequently in this stage of parenting. I loved it.
Eventually just the boys and R were still enjoying the pool. I sat on our deck to supervise them while I caught up on blogging. Joel brought me a cold drink. Life is so good!
I'd found, of all things, an Ethiopian restaurant with glowing reviews in turn, so we'd planned to go there for dinner. (YUM). Maddy decided she'd stay in and we should just bring her food. So we all set out, only to find a closed Ethiopian restaurant. So bummed! I didn't have a back up plan and we couldn't find wifi so we drove around for a while and finally ended up at a little pizza joint.
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