A passion for wildlife and a love of family is what made the late Steve Irwin so special. And he passed on those values to his kids, Bindi Irwin, 25, and Robert Irwin, 20. These Australia Zoo conservationists are hard at work carrying on the Crocodile Hunter’s mission, which started when they were just babies. Irwin’s wife Terri filmed amazing home videos of her kids when they were little, and the recently-shared clips of young Bindi and Robert are bringing a tidal wave of emotions.
The world watched the kids grow up, thanks to their frequent appearances alongside their parents, but now, the Australia Zoo is sharing a more intimate look at the Irwin family. They recently posted a montage of home videos of Bindi and Robert from mom Terri’s home state of Oregon, and it is the most wholesome thing we’ve ever seen.
Sea Lions
“Through the lens of Terri’s handycam we are transported back in time to visit Oregon,” the video posted to the Australia Zoo YouTube was captioned. “Returning to the same spots has created an abundance of heartfelt memories, made sweeter by now sharing it all with beautiful Grace [Bindi and husband Chandler Powell’s daughter].”
The video begins with Terri holding Bindi in a carrier on her back. “We’re gonna go see the sea lions,” Terri tells the camera, walking toward an art display of several sea lions overlooking the ocean beyond. The video then cuts to a toddler-aged Bindi, all bundled up in pink pants and a purple windbreaker, as she climbs up the display.
“She’s a very good sea lion hugger,” Terri says about her daughter, as the video cuts ahead to an even older Bindi, this time dressed in a white dress, as she hugs the same statue. She’s growing up so fast, and it’s adorable! “I just love sea lions so much!” Bindi says in the video in her cute little kid voice.
Later, Terri films Robert at the Sea Lion Caves, who is pointing up at the big statue from his stroller. Suddenly, Robert’s a toddler — telling his older sister, “I’m going to get on it too” about the sea lion statue. These two are so precious!
In another scene, Terri reveals the family is with their “sea lion buddies.” This time, Bindi is all grown up and brought her then-boyfriend (now husband) Chandler Powell along with her. Robert is still a kid, but he’s brought a nice camera with him to take pictures, hinting at his future talent as a wildlife photographer. How can time pass this quickly?!
Aquarium
The family also spends a lot of time at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. They walked past a creek where Terri tells the story of Bindi falling in headfirst when she was a baby. Then it flashes back to Terri telling Bindi about it when she was a kid, and another time when a toddler Bindi got in the water and fell on her bum. Other footage shows Bindi and Robert looking at otters when they were kids. Then it jumps ahead to Bindi’s daughter Grace seeing otters at the same aquarium years later. Such a beautiful family tradition!
“Say hello!” Powell tells his daughter. She holds a pinecone as she tries to say “otter.” At one point, Grace says, “Wow!” as she watches the otter, and now we are full-on bawling. These moments are too sweet.
Other scenes show a toddler Grace hanging out with seagulls, a young Robert explaining what the different colors of the seagulls look like, and Grace checking out the seagulls in the same spot with her mom. Life comes full circle, and it’s awesome to see.
The comments were full of love. “Past and present 😍, some things luckily never change,” one person wrote. “It is amazing watching Bindi and Robert growing up and now seeing the new generation with little Grace 😍❤️.”
“Absolutely love seeing this, family adventures!🥰” another person wrote. Someone else commented, “Absolutely heartwarming 🤗 and quite the legacy! Well done ❤”
Bindi’s Letter to Her Mom
Earlier this month, Bindi praised her mom and how she held the Irwin family together after Steve’s tragic death in 2006. “Mum — The reason we are all here today, standing up for wildlife conservation and continuing Dad’s legacy, it’s because of you,” Bindi wrote.
“I am in awe of your hard work, love and dedication,” she continued. “Watching you create enormous positive change for the planet through Australia Zoo, Wildlife Warriors, and The Crocodile Hunter Lodge – it is phenomenal.” The Crikey! It’s the Irwins star went on, “As a wife and mother now myself, I can only begin to imagine the heartache and the difficulty you faced after Dad passed away. The fact that you keep his legacy going flawlessly AND have been there for me and Robert every moment — that is astounding.”
Bindi added, “You give 100% of yourself to everything you do. I can’t believe that I get to be your daughter. It is an honour.”
It’s an honor just to live in the same world as the wonderful Irwin family!
Before you go, click here to see Bindi Irwin’s sweetest mommy milestones!
Leave a Comment