Monday, 8/5/19....Bill went to his convention, Max and I went to Zoo Montana and Taco Bell, Swam, Went to Olive Garden with Bill at night

Max where we thought Zoo Montana was

Max and I had to walk all the way down to where the hill is in the background to get to our car

Max when we finally got at Zoo Montana

Me at Zoo Montana

Max with an eagle in the background

This is the Osprey Nesting platform on the cut off telephone pole like we saw on our way

Max with a tiger laying down in the background

Max and I took a selfie at the zoo

Red Panda

Max with a wolf behind him in both of these pictures

Kookaburra

I was pretty disappointed when I saw lots of cars around this Shopko, and then went to go in and found out it was closed!

Max liked the waterslide and pool

Dinner at the Olive Garden was amazing.  Zipoli and chocolate dip for dessert afterward

Ate a yummy breakfast downstairs.  Bill went to his convention, and Max and I went to the zoo.  The GPS took us to the wrong place twice. We passed it and then turned around and she said it was there again.  Didn’t see any parking, only a rail trail with a fence along it up way far.  We ended up parking on a side street quite far away and walking to it.  I saw a guy on the trail so asked him where the zoo was.  It was five miles down the road.  We turned the car GPS off and went by my phone. It took us right there. We both loved the zoo.  It was beautifully landscaped with lots of plants planted by master gardeners, many who were there working on the gardens.  Loved the animals we saw.  It was so fun seeing Max so excited, taking lots of pictures and leading the way.  He was really happy when we went to the gift store and they had live displays in there of different snakes, spiders, an armadillo! They also had a  laughing kookaburra , and many more critters.  

We went to Taco Bell, his favorite fast food restaurant, for lunch and then went to Walmart and got a pair of shoes for him. His other shoes broke.  We found the same type and they were on sale so we got a good price.  I was very excited when I saw a Shopko with lots of cars in front of it.  We went to go in, and it had closed just like the ones in Michigan. Bummer!  We came back to our hotel and went through our pictures.  Max and I went swimming at the hotel.  We had some races and he really tired me out!  He reminded me of Kenzie when she would want to race and play games in the pool.  Bill got back at the hotel at 4.  We relaxed, and then went to eat at Olive Garden. It was his first time, and he loved it!  He even tried  a tomato in his salad, but didn’t like it!  He wanted to know if we had one of those restaurants in Saginaw too.  We had a super fun day!

Sunday, 8/4/19...Drove 500 miles, Got caught in a storm, Ate at Cracker Barrel, Swam at our Hotel

Max before eating breakfast

Storm just ahead of us

Pictured Canyon

Entering Montana...Yay

Our nice hotel lobby

                                                    Where they serve the continental breakfast 

Max

Max

Our view from our hotel...I took the road sign because it was funny we were by Midland Rd.

Max playing the game at Cracker Barrel

He got better every time he played it

Papa showing him the best plays

Max and Papa eating

We read our Bibles, ate breakfast and left. 500 miles to go to get to Billings.  We saw a storm off in the distance while driving on 94 near Dickerson N.D.  Soon we were in it !  It rained and began to hail.  The hail stopped, but it rained so hard we had to pull off, like the other cars were because we couldn’t see.  A couple semi trucks passed us and I was wondering how they could see anything.  The rain slowed down, so we started out again.  There was a semi pulled off about 20 feet ahead.  We were pulling off again because of the rain and saw a semi stopped in the left lane ahead of the other semi. Right ahead of that was a jackknifed semi across the whole road.  Good thing we pulled over and didn't try to drive when it was so hard to see.  We wouldn't have seen the semi across the road because no lights were showing.  Thank you Lord!  We had one mark on our gas gauge, and it said we could go 40 miles.  A semi driver let us know we could drive on the grass and get around the jackknifed semi.  Luckily there was a gas station at the next exit.  Gas stations out here are few and far between! We went through Pictured Canyon.  Very pretty! Got to Billings at 3.  Stayed at La Quinta Hotel.  So nice!! Drove around to see where everything is and then ate at the Cracker Barrel next to us.  Max loved the Cracker Barrell and wanted to know if there was one by us back home.  Swam when we got back to our Hotel next door.

Saturday, 8/3/19...Stopped at the Hilltop for a cinnamon roll, saw a bear right afterward, Made it to Jamestown

Max in the morning when we left the Magnuson Hotel in Ishpeming

Our huge cinnamon rolls at the Hilltop.  They were delicious.  We all took to go boxes with leftovers with us

When we drove through here, Max said he wanted to move here.  Then he said he wanted to live in his same house, and have his same yard.  Finally he decided to stay where he is.

Max loved going across this bridge too

Saw this big nest on the far pole.  Texted Kimmy to see if she or Jared knew what kind of nest it was.  Jared said probable Osprey.  When Max and I went to the zoo a couple of days later, they had a nest on a pole (shortened) just like it and said it was built on an Osprey Box.  My son-in-law is so smart!!!

Max and I loved this waterslide in our motel

Sprayer next to the pool

Max in the hot tub

Max and I ate more of our cinnamon rolls

Left our hotel in Ispheming at 7.  Stopped in LAnce for cinnamon rolls.  They are so huge!  We all have lots left for later. While we were driving, we saw a bear by the side of the road.  We slowed down in case it crossed.  At first we thought it was a big dog because it was in a little ditch so we couldn't see it all.  Then it turned around and ran up the hill.  It happened all so fast that I didn’t get a picture.  Max didn’t get to see it boo hoo. Tried calling Kimmy and Jared all morning, but never got them because they didn’t have a signal. When we were 25 miles from Wisconsin, Kimmy called. She was amazed she had a signal there.  We had wanted to meet up with them, but it didn't work out.  It was so nice talking to her and the boys and catching up.  I sure am missing them.  At 13:38 we got into Minnesota. Max loved the bridge and big hills. We drove 10 hours today. I drove the last three.  Stayed in Jamestown, North Dakota.  It was the only place I had seen for miles and miles that had hotels.  Went in to a Holiday Inn Express but their pool and hot tub were out of order so we didn’t stay.  We went to a Quality Inn hotel next door and we so happy. Such a great hotel with a pool with a water slide which Max loved.  Me too!  We swam for 1 and 1/2 hours.  Our room was beautiful and had a hot tub.  It also had a huge walk in shower.  Max had his own area with a couch that made into a bed.  

Friday,8/2/19..Left BayShore at 9, Came home, unpacked camper, packed for Montana trip and left

Stopped at Rest Area by Clare and took this picture...Thought those two in the front would start working like the rest

Max when I took the first picture

Max after I took the picture

Crossing the Mackinaw Bridge.  It was a beautiful day! Max loved going on the bridge

Took a selfie on the bridge of me and Max

Picture Hailey sent me from BayShore

All the restaurants were closed, so we went and got rotisserie chicken cut off the bone and a half loaf of bread and made sandwiches to eat in our hotel

Max eating Rotisserie Chicken.  He didn't want a sandwich

My yummy sandwich

Bill eating his sandwich

Max on his I Pad and Bill on his phone

Cross Peyton made at BayShore

We got up early and got everything ready to leave BayShore.  I saw Melissa and Bruce and ran to give Melissa a big hug goodbye.  She had to get to the 3 yr old class she’s helping teach.  Max came over and the three of us left. Vikki, Peyton and Issac stayed and went to classes and hung out with Melissa and Bruce.  Becky came over to say goodbye and give me a hug.  We got home and Bill and Max cut the grass.  I did laundry, unpacked the refrigerator and freezers, brought clothes in, etc. Max and I watered the flowers and I checked the pool and put a chlorine tablet in the floater.  We stopped for lunch at Taco Bell in Freeland.  Max had two soft shelled tacos and nacho chips and cheese. Happy to see him eating more now.  Max was super excited when we crossed the Mackinaw Bridge and took lots of pictures on his tablet.  We thought we would stay in Munising, but we stopped at every hotel and they were all full.  Stopped at the next town and the same thing happened.  The guy at the last one told me The Magnuson Hotel in Ishpeming had rooms and was probably the only one in the county with vacancies.  I called and she said she would take care of us when we got there.  It was 10 p.m. by this time!  We were second in line.  More were behind us waiting for a room.  We were on the second floor and there were no elevators so we carried our big suitcases up.

Then we went and bought cut up rotisserie chicken and bread for sandwiches and went to our room to eat.Max ate his without bread.  He loved the chicken.  We all did.  We talked to Melissa and I texted Vikki.  Max was so much fun to have along and was so sweet and polite.

Thurs, 8/1/19...BayShore Family Camp...another fun day

Isaac practicing for the talent show.  They don't have drums for him to use so they told him to use buckets

Isaac getting ready to play the buckets in the talent show.  He did great!  I was so proud of him that he would go up there in front of everyone and do this.  He is used to playing his drums.  Buckets was a new experience, but he did it on short notice.

Jack

Isaac

Peyton

Peyton and Isabel.  She was the daughter of the people teaching the Love Language Class.  They were from Midland and her mom is going to start teaching 1st grade at Eli's school.

Great preacher...Matt Hook

Peyton, Isabel and Isaac

Wes and Gayla scooping ice cream

Did Laundry before class. Did Vikki’s after mine was done.  Classes were great again. Went swimming with Vikki, Peyton, Isaac, Max and Jack.  Peyton was playing with her friend, Isabel. We found out it was the daughter of theTeachers of our first class.  She was a really sweet and friendly girl.  Relaxed for a while and Melissa came over for a while. Went to service.  Had a mocha latte from the coffee bar outside and took it in to have with my ice cream.  The teacher from our second morning class sat with us and Isabel sat with Peyton!  Wes and Gayla camevover when they finished scooping ice cream.  We played 3-13 with them and Vikki.  It was my night to win! I had 5 and everyone else had way over 100.