About Me

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Hello! I am Bethany, a mom of 4 beautiful children, a owner of a dog, and married to a miner/hunter. (Camo is a popular color in our home). We recently relocated to the UP of Michigan from Juneau,Alaska...a huge adjustment. I have a passion for photography and documenting our journey through life. But, most of the time Im busy with my kids, hiding in the bathroom for peace and quiet, or trying to find my dog because he runs away all the time. Welcome to our world...always full of adventure.
Showing posts with label VACATION. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VACATION. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 17

SPRING TRAINING

Last day in Phoenix. Andy had left to go back to work and the kids and I had a free day. No plans. At the last minute I decided it would be a lot of fun to go to a major league baseball game before we left and Phoenix is one of the 2 locations for Spring Training. All the major league teams go to Phoenix at this time of the year and there are games daily.

We went to the SF Giants VS Japan game. What a neat opportunity it was to take the kids to the game. It was about 82 deg. outside and not a cloud in the sky. !

The ticket counter in the big city of Scottsdale. There were people from all over the world. We sat on the grass behind the field and a home run ball got hit about 5 yards away from us...SO CLOSE!I enjoyed watching Trey at the game. When he was younger, Trey and I would spend almost every Saturday at the Tri-City Dust Devils Stadium in Pasco. He has always had a love for the sport.Mattie found her second love...Slurpies! With the sun so hot, every single child had a slurpie and I felt like an ice cold lemonaide. Mattie had also learned on this trip that kids wrestle. It is bound to happen with a house full of boys. but she carried it with her to the game and would walk up to guys sitting down and hit them/run. They all thought it was the cutest thing.Way back by that sign was where we were sitting...long ways back. We all got up to get a closer look at all the star players. Plus the kids were sweeting and turning pink. It was really warm.Fatigue was setting in halfway through the game. They were beat from the heat, full of vitamin D, and exhausted from all the travel. It was a great way to finish off our vacation.
It just reminded me of how greatful I am for the opportunity to Travel all the way across the country with my family and enjoy the little things life...LET ME REPEAT....LIFE brings. There are alot of things we can do in life. So many opportunities, chances, and changes that it offers if we just look around. I know my life isn't going to be forever, so why not live like it is your last.

Monday, March 16

BACK TO BAGDAD

Something dirt roads, rock piles, and family around that brings out the kid in all of us. Our trip to Bagdad was one of the most enjoyable parts of our trip. This is where Andy had spent all his childhood growing up. Here is our adventure to Bagdad.The first stop was to....you guessed it. Cabelas, the best store in the world for outdoor enthusiasts. Its like a theme park for hunters and fishers alike. They even have a restaurant that served buffalo burgers and venison brats.that evening we went to the coral and fed the horses and got the opportunity to ride them. Andy was the man in charge giving the kids the chance to ride solo. This horses name was Spirit.Soon after, Andy walked us all up this hill to find his childhood fort. As he made our way through all the cactus, there it was. A huge boulder pile with cracks and crevices. It entertained the kids for a while and then they all decided...they didn't want to leave Bagdad.
Tiffany, Jeff, Lexi, Brighton, Haylee, Morgan, Trey, Andy, and I stop to take a shot as my batteries flashed that they were dieing. This is the top of the boulder pile overlooking the town of Bagdad.


In the evenings, we all gathered around for dinner at Papa Troys.


4 wheeling and Guns- I wish I had a 4 wheeler. Someday. We borrowed a couple and took off on the dirt roads. There are so many different ways you could go. I had no idea where we were, but Andy knew exactly were we were...in the middle of no where. That is what he loves.



We stopped and set up a target, taking turns firing the 22 caliber and the others. I really like shooting guns. So much power and to hit the target makes you feel like you should get the stamp of approval from your addicted hunter of a husband.

The best part of the whole trip to Bagdad? Spending time with the Murrays. It seems like yesterday they were here in Juneau with us and they haven't changed...just grown a little. I miss them so much and all the good times we have shared together.

Saturday, March 7

What to do with all the cousins

IT HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITING here in Phoenix. The Murrays arrived Thursday night along with Timmy (Andys brother/clone) and Larry (Andys dad). The head count for children in the house was 11 all under the age of 9. It was pretty wild Thurdsay night...I kinda felt clostrophobic.

SO YOU ASK WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL THE COUSINS on Friday? We all loaded up and went to a childrens museum! 4 vehicles full of children for transportation. The sun is very inviting.It was a blast. Here is a play by play of the day. This was the Arizona Museum of Natural History. First stop is the Dinosaur exhibit. Arizona is a big digging ground for dinosaur remains. It ranges from water dinosaurs to huge mammoths.There has also been remains of astroids found here in Arizona. This is a replica of one that landed.The size of a dinosaur print compared to a childs foot. I am sure glad there are not dinosaurs anymore.This was a replica of what it would look like during the dinosaur ages in Arizona. There was a flash flood every 30minutes that went down the cliffs and made it very appezing to the eye.The next venu was the ancient indians. It was very well put together...just take a look!This venu was quite shocking. It was a whole museum on poop...yes, poop. All different kinds, even petrified droppings. So strange, but yet the children loved it.Halfway through, we all took a time out in the craft room where you could do puzzles, color, and read books. Purfect.The next exhibit was on Mars. It went from all the wind storms on Mars to the color of the sand. It was quite interesting and offered a dig for explorers.Mars is the red planet right next to earth. The interior of Mars is not well known, but evidence indicates that it was once more earthlike than now. However, that was more than 3.5 billion years ago. Who knows, maybe there is some other planet that we will beable to live on.


The last exhibit was gold panning...another thing Arizona has to offer. How exciting, to walk out the door and the sun was shinning. It was a challenge to find the gold, but a lot of the kids/adaults got a bucket full.
Trey put a lot of work into the gold panning. His mental process was trying to figure it out instead of giving up. He actually got quite a bit of gold.

I tried to help Mattie but all she wanted to do was swim and drink the water.
Lexi struck gold!

Thursday, March 5

The night at the Motel

On Tuesday, the 2 older kids and I stayed the night in Seattle at the Double Tree. 2 things happened that night:
1-We swam outdoors. Just keep in mind that it was only 49 degrees outside. The kids still got a chance to check out the pool though. Here is a little video clip.








2.-We ate at Denny's restaurant. Even better, the kids eat free on Tuesdays and Thursdays! Man, they should bring a Denny's to Juneau...I would be a loyal customer.The menu selection was perfect for kids because it had great pictures and everything kids love. It was great.

WILDLIFE

TAMMY HAS A COOL HOUSE IN PHOENIX...AND SHE HAS A TURTLE THAT MATTIE LOVES. SHE LOVES TO FEED IT AND TOUCH IT. THIS TIME SHE WAS BEING NICE AND FEEDING THE TURTLE LETTUCE AND IT BIT HER...CHECK IT OUT.

TORCHERING CHILDREN

SO AFTER I DISCOVERED I HAVE NO FASHION my friend Raven took me shopping. This is really hard for me because I don't shop much and when I do, there isn't this much selection. But after one stop to the Buckle I was set...especially after the bill.


On our way out, I walked by Claires. It is full of cute jewelry and hanna montana purses for little kids. I remembered the ear piercing station that they have also and thought, Morgan doesn't have her ears pierced yet. I immediately asked Morgan if this was something she wanted done and she said yes with a big smile on her face.


So, we go into the store and sign a bunch of paperwork...because it is a huge procedure. I don't think Morgan had any idea what she was getting into...and I wanted it to stay that way. Then here is Raven in the background saying "It's only going to hurt for a second Morgan."


So, Morgan jumps up into the chair with a smile on her face, just listening and had no idea what was about to happen. The lady was so polite, but she could only do one side at a time. So, she started, put the gun up against her ear...and pushed down.

THAT WAS WHEN IT ALL WENT DOWNHILL. Morgan bawled...she wasn't expecting it, the pain that follows. Matter of fact, we couldn't do the other side. WE TRIED, we held her down like you would in a doctors office while giving immunization shots...but it looked like child torcher. So, we left and now, to this day, she only has one earring.

FLYING HIGH

This week indead has been eventful. In all, I had only 3 full days of visiting family and friends in the Tri-Cities and 2 days of travel. On Friday when the plane landed, I got on the road and started driving east bound from Seattle to Pasco. I thought there was a quicker way than going through Yakima but after driving through farm country on a 2 lane road for 2 hours, I quickly discovered...I went the long way. I went through Connell and ended up coming out next to King City at about 11pm.



Saturday I visited with my sister Karrie...ok, I slept alot. The kids had so much fun though playing with all the cousins on the playstation. We brought all our "children selections"movies with us and the kids loved all the new movies and games.Then Sunday, I went to Ravens and met her sweet little boy for the first time and it just so happened to be his first birthday. Everyone there had so much fashion! I walk in wearing my cowboy boots and everyone else was wearing high heels. I am soooo Alaskan.

My Aunt Kathy also had a little family gathering at her house where alot of my extended family had a chance to ask us about Alaska. Its so fasinating to everyone, but yet no one has ventured our way.
On Monday, Morgan had her first chance to see a temple. It was really neat to her and loved how big and pretty it was.


Wednesday, March 4

TREYS JOURNALING

This is Treys view of our trip to Washington. I always find it interesting to see his view, however, his view is very basic. Oh well, maybe it will improve as the week goes on.

ON FRIDAY, I slept at my cousines house. When I got there, it was dark. Then the next morning I ate breakfast. After breakfast was over, I played baseball. Then I played basketball.


ON SATURDAY, I went to my other cousines house. I played legoe star wars all day exept when we wached a movie. Then we all went to bed.


ON SUNDAY, I went to my moms friends house. There baby was haveing his first birthday! Then we went to my uncle Bobs house and played wii.