Our Last Day & A Special Family Dinner, Monkey Mia

Friday the 14th of December... I was up early and off on a walk. The day before I had come across some walking tracks so I was on a mission to walk them and get in some exercise. 

This was our final day in Monkey Mia and with the sun shining and the waters blue, we were all determined to make the most of it.

I arrived back at the caravan in time to pick up Nina (who was the only one awake) and head over to watch the dolphins come in.

They took a little longer to come in than the last time and only two came in, Nicky (the oldest dolphin in the pod) aged 37 and her calf Missile, aged 4 weeks.

Missile was never far from its Mums side the whole time and carried on as all kids do, frolicking and playing. Too cute!

Nicky & Missile say good morning

Missile is never too far from her Mum's side

 

With the boys all still fast asleep, Nina and I then decided to treat ourselves to a nice breakfast in the resort....

Nina and I have brekky in the resort

Before we headed back to the van with a coffee for Richard, who'd stumbled in sometime before the crack of dawn, just!

The kids went off for a while and came back with eyes wide and Harry told of how Jack had saved his life by stopping him from walking on a rock fish.

By midday we had the dinghy in the water and the kids and their friends were having the time of their lives on a biscuit and kneeboarding. 

Richard the skipper 

Jack has a kneeboard

Then gives Nina some tips

Nina has a kneeboard

So does Harry

This was in between pulling up the boat to watch dugongs frolicking offshore.... This is such an amazing place.

A dugong lurks beneath

All aboard the biscuit

Fun times

We had a late lunch and then chilled for a while before our big dinner ahead... Our last family dinner on the trip. We had booked the resort restaurant for the special occasion.

All dressed up in our Sunday best we headed across to the resort where the kids played a game of boule.  The stakes were high because the winner got to choose the seating at dinner. 

The kids playing boule

Richard and I sat and watched the kids and had a private cheers over a bottle of champagne to our beautiful year and the memories created. I could tell then, that this was going to be an emotional night...

Richard and I

We headed to dinner and after Jack, the boule winner chose the seating arrangements, everyone ordered their meals.
Harry was disappointed we hadn't taken him to a good restaurant for our last special  dinner because "only good restaurants have pizza on the menu."

A special family dinner to celebrate a special year

It was then time to present some awards and gifts to the kids as a thank you from Richard and I for such a wonderful year.

They were all presented with an Australian certificate to congratulate them for doing a lap of Australia...

 ...and then each was presented with a Principal's Award by their retiring Principal for the year.

Jack was given his award for "being the best big brother possible and a great helper at all times."

Jack receives his award

Harry's award was for "maturing into a responsible and beautiful young man."

Harry's turn

And Nina's award was for "always being happy and caring about her family. And also for her beautiful cuddles."

And Nina

Their Teacher (a very bad one I must confess)...  then presented the kids with a momento of their trip around Australia.

Harry receives a black pearl necklace

Nina receives a Boab pearl necklace

Jack receives a Marlin necklace

By then, we were all reduced to happy tears. I am sure everyone sitting around us thought us a bit weird, which is probably right,  but we weren't too concerned with anyone else. One lady commiserated with us and offered to take another family snapshot....

All together

And because I wasn't enough of a mess, Richard decided to surprise me with a gift which was very naughty of him and not part of our plan.  Too spoilt.

Yes, ok...now I am a mess! All happy tears, of course.

I received a pearl which Richard brought in Exmouth so I can design my own pearl ring... such a beautiful gift! We returned back to the van happy and grateful but exhausted both physically and emotionally.