Touchdown in Australia

We arrived yesterday at 11:30 AM and were greeted by Linda and Greg O'Connell (our hosts) at the airport.  It was a good trip over.  Probably because we had spent weeks preparing the kids, and ourselves, that the flight was going to be total hell it turned out to be not too bad.  We boarded at 7pm on Tuesday.

3 hours to LA, and then 3 hours relaxing in the Admiral's Club before boarding the Boeing 747 to Brisbane. The Admiral's/Qantas Club would prove to be a huge recovery point during the journey.  In LA we enjoyed the quiet atmosphere, free snacks and drinks.  We gave the kids a surprise in the LA - iPad Minis.  This was as much a gift for Mama and Papa as it was for them.  They were very excited and didn't take long putting them to use.

Bestowing the greatest travel gifts ever.

Addie grabbed this photo of us waiting in the AC.  Our plane was just outside the window.

There is no other way to describe the flight other than an assault on your body's time clock.  Dinner was served 90 minutes into the flight - which was 3am Austin time (6 pm AUS time).  Then it was 13 hours of uncomfortable cat naps, iPads, and in flight movies.  Breakfast was served 2 hours before we landed in Brisbane at 6am.

When de-boarding we asked if the kids could go up to the 2nd floor of the jet to see first class and look around.  The staff was more than accommodating.  The kids checked out the seats, and were invited into the cockpit with the crew.  They each took turns wearing the Captain's hat and sitting in the cockpit, and were given Qantas first class flight kits.  Very cool!

1st Officer Addison

The experience cockpit crew.

Hanging with the crew of Qantas Flight 16 in the cockpit.

Addie and Alex checking out 1st class

We refreshed in in the Qantas club in Brisbane for a couple of hours.  As good as the LA Admiral's Club was this one was better.  Free espresso drinks, hot breakfast, and lots of space.  The 2.5 hr flight to Melbourne was a piece of cake and we hit the ground at 11:30 on Thursday.  Linda and Greg picked us up in 2 cars and 20 minutes later we were at their fantastic home.

With Linda in front of their home.