The Andersons in Oz: Susan's big "Four-Oh!"

Just as Ian experienced his first "winter" birthday in Australia, I experienced my first "summer" birthday! I turned 40 on January 2nd. I started the day in Brisbane having a pedicure with my dear friend Tracey Barker. After a surprise birthday cake with our lunch, it was time for Ian, William and I to hit the road and begin the two day journey back to Canberra. Our ten days with the Barkers were almost surreal; another incredible memory to cherish.

While the temperature was beautifully warm, it ended up being a very rainy day. We made it as far as a town called Ballina - on the coast, about four hours south of Brisbane - where we managed to find supper and a cozy place to stay.

Ian has cringed many times about that actual day. The restaurant in particular was not exactly what he had envisioned for me on my 40th birthday, but (thankfully, from his perspective) he had actually gone all out with the surprise party-of-a-lifetime, two months earlier. As you can see from these pictures, many of our family and friends celebrated with us! And those who couldn't be there sent letters and emails of congratulations. I was "gob-smacked" as they say here. I can't begin to describe how surprised I was! (If you were there, you would have seen it by the very confused look on my face as I entered the room). There was no way I could have seen this coming, given that it was two months early! The most special part was the opportunity it created for us to see so many friends and family before leaving for Australia. It was awesome.