THE ARMIGUYS HIT PERTH

Welcome Downunder to the Armiguys...this has been a long awaited event...thats because we ahve heard about the elusive Clint Armitage, but have never met the guy. So we finally got the meet him, Aunty Kate (the family Author) and their eldest son Zach... in the Flesh!!! They arrived in from LA the day after we got home. So seeing and meeting them felt to us like we were still on holiday. They stayed with Aunty Di and from then on their house was just inundated with family from the time we picked them up from the airport to the time they left....absolute troopers.

So we started their perth experience by going Supagolfing. Bigger golf clubs and tennis size golfballs. This was crazy...Could you imagine the chaos...balls flying here in there and kids just running around randomly....it was fun and hazardous...It was like speed golf happy gilmore style.

Somehow these photos just make it look like an orderly affair. But it wasn't...hahaha

This was the alternative to golfing.

Looking good ladies!!! Catch some sun while its not raining.

From here we went to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory. A nice place to go and gorge yourself with free chocolate and hypo kids. Somehow... At one stage we couldn't find the boys...and where were they, out the back playing cricket on a kids size cricket set. Their fun turned from cricket, to frisbee throwing(that died quickly) to footy, rugby and then to wrestling!!! Sorry no photos left camera in car...but funny to behold.

Now Uncle Clint was just hanging out for fish n chips and where else but Armies for lunch. This was originally owned and operated by Uncle Dave and Ese...but they sold it. Poor old man didn't know what hit him when we all arrived. So this was a photo of the boys striking a pose for me.

Can't remember what happened later...all I could remember was Hayden and Steve's noise, the kids running a muck, and everybody just having a great time.

Home Sweet Home and Happy Birthday!!!

This felt a lil weird, because we moved into our home 3 days before we left to go on holiday, so we still felt a lil out of sorts. But that still didn't stop us from settling in. Mind you, we were still in holiday mode and we arrived back in Australia the 13th July. And guess what!! it was our birthday on the 14th. Mine and Aunty Ritas...yay...we share the same birthday only she's waaaay older than me. So Hayden shouted me to a 1 1/2 hour massage at the local shopping mall as a birthday pressie. Heaven...is all I can say. Best present from the best husband. Not only that....THE ARMITAGES...arrived from America tonight. Now that is another post.But a fun day and many more fun packed days while still in holiday mode.

The Fun Stuff

LETS RODEO!!!

This was my first ever Rodeo and what a place to do it than in America. Nothing like seeing a man being thrown off a bull or horse. But crazy Americans and some Aussies like to do this for a living. IDIOTS!!! For me getting past the gag reflexes was a bit of a challenge but I got used to it. I just don't deal well with the smell of animals and dung...ya know the whole farm thing...So this was just a whole new experience for me and I loved it.

CHECK OUT THE CLOWN...HE WAS FROM AUSTRALIA!!!




There was this part where 4 guys had to get a bull on its back and milk it. That was just hilarious. Have you seen four grown men hanging on to piece of rope and being pulled by a bull...But not just 1 group of 4 men...6 groups at the same time. the funniest thing you ever saw.

Hayden was also able to go out onto the rifle range and do some shooting with Uncle Greg...Boys stuff. This was Haydens first time shooting anything with real bullets and it really surprised him. Some of these guns packed a real punch. He almost knocked himself out with the punch these babies pulled. Uncle Greg was loving this and the guy in the red is his mate who owns the beast.

And lastly, for Haydee's sake we were able to visit the set of High School Musical. Yeah for all of you that didn't know. It was filmed in Salt Lake City. Heres the proof!!!She is so obsessed with HSM, that she watched it on the plane the whole time. We brought the CD HSM 3 as well as Hairspray and listened to them religiously...non stop in our rental car. So if you need to know the lyrics to some of the songs. Just ask her and of course Hayden. They know them all.

Where amazing happens.

Ya know what...we had such a geat holiday and enjoyed every minute, including the stressful ones. Our highlight was our family right up there with the Church history sites. There is nothing like spending time with family and having fun with them. Even those we had met for the very first time. Well face to face anyway. Gotta love facebook huh!! We had an amazing time and thank you Cochran family plus extended, for giving us a great gift that we will never forget. We love you all and appreciate everything you guys did for us. We so enjoyed our conversations with each of you and know we have certainly built eternal relationships...miss you !!!!muah muah

Pioneer Trek @ Martins Cove

Ok so this was an exciting journey for us because we actually did something that not alot of Australian Tourists have done and that was to do a Pioneer trek across the countryside in Wyoming. This was also a great opotunity for us to stay in Uncle Gregs Motorhome...which Hayden was drooling over..hence the photos. Plus it was an opportunity for us to get a lil taste of what it may have been like to pull a handcart through rough terrain. So Trish , Haydens cousin and her daughter Maggie came along for the ride and they were so much fun...Love ya heaps along with Aunty Karen and Uncle Greg. It was a 6 hour drive...felt more like 2 hours...oh yeah thats right, I was asleep for most of the trip there and back. Word to the wise...if you can sleep while travelling, then do it. helps avoid the whole jetlag thing.
Anyway, our first stop was Independence Rock. This landmark was a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon and California emigrant trails. And it was prominent for its mosquitos. I swear I swallowed a whole lot of mozzies that night. If you thought the flies were bad in Australia...these were worse.

So this is the site. It us about 8 minutes to climb to the top.

So this is Hayden and I on top of Independence Rock..Kinda reminded me of Ayers Rock. A rock in the middle of nowhere.

While at the top you see all these inscriptions. This one was the clearest and form what I could determineas being the oldest. Apparently the pioneers used to incsribe their names so that family or friends following would know they were alive. at least.

All that said and done, we saw the remainder of night playing rook or bakers bridge...Can't remember who won but it was fun. At least there were no cheats...aye Uncle Clint.

The next day we started our Pioneer Journey. Each group was given a Handcart and because we had children...opted for one with shade. It was so much fun. We learnt alot about the history of the pioneers, thanks to uncle Greg and we were able to get to know each other a bit more.

On the trail. This was our cart and the girls had a makeshift bed in the back. Soooo inviting. Made you wish you were a kid again.

The family at Martins Cove. You'll see on the Martins Cove map at the top the track that we actually walked. See the lines...yeah walked the whole thing and pulled the art throught the Sweetwater River. Yeah...Haydee thought it was a blast. We felt a lil awe inspired because as the story goes...4 young men aged about 18 walked back and forth carrying approx 400 people across this river during the winter. Imagine doing this in the snow. And this was the very spot they did it.

From here we walked another kilometer to the finish, thank goodness. Its not comfy walking around in wet clothes and sand rubbing between your thighs... But we made it. I think we walked about 8 miles in 28 degree heat. Well it felt like 8 miles give or take.

When we finished, Haydee wanted a turn pulling the childrens handcart around the complex. She lasted about 10 meters and dumped the handcart for the pram. Yes, she's our lil princess. Likes to be pushed around and doesn't like to miss out on a thing. But what an experience. After a hot shower I absolutely crashed for about 5 out of the six hours home. The walk kinda took it outta me and outta the whole family...because we all conked out on the bed...

VERNAL UT, 4TH JULY

Hanging with THE COCHRANS!!!

We were so glad to finally meet up with family. We had saved the last 9 days of our vacation for the Cochran family. Now this is Haydens Aunty were staying with...His Dad and karen are brother n sister...They live in Vernal Utah..known for its fossils and dinosaurs and the stomping ground for all the Cochrans.

We arrived into Vernal on the 3rd of July at about 11pm and Mitch n Krissy were there to greet us. Ok Aunty Karen had a nana nap and slept thru the alarm...arrived late but she arrived and it was so good to see them. Trish as well. So On our 3 hour journey home...we were able to catch up and fill each other in on the haps with the family. But, get this, Aunty Karen is a trooper. We get into Vernal at about 2.30 am right and she's up at 5.30am pounding the pavement with her friend. And then she makes us a pancake breakfast just to start the day. It was sooooo good to have a decent meal. Yummy!!! finally something healthy and salads. We were just craving healthy foods. Mind you we were with the right people for all things healthy.

Fourth of July on the boat.

Mike and his son Jacob...

Now, Hayden originally didn't want to get wet, but with the cousins egging him on...He caved. And loved the experience. Most of the time he was freaking out. And when you have (Adrenalin pumped) Mike sitting between you, you could almost feel Haydens anxiety. But like a man he took it and loved it. Good for you honey. As for me...Just couldn't stop laughing...even when I stacked it. I loved it. Must invest in these one day.

What do you get when you put Cochran boys and a fast jetboat together?

THIS

Isn't it nice that after years of marriage you still feel this way with each other.

From the Lake we headed into the township for the fourth of July fireworks. We kinda looked like the walking dead when we go there but the atomsphere was great, people setting off fireworks left right and centre. haydee was just having a ball.

Steve and Brian awaiting the festivites.

How wacked out did we look huh???Good Times.

Ya know...when your hanging with the Cochrans, its all about family. No matter what background your from or what political views you have, they are always accepting of you and will love you for who you are... We had a great day. And it was a great prelude of things to come.

Boston, MASS

This place was thriving with education and American History, more so than DC. We had a great time here and enjoyed travelling to different locations and shopping at the mall across the road. We stayed at the Royal Sonesta which was cool as. Took haydee swimming in the freezing pool and enjoyed meeting and playing with the other kids.
We paid a visit to Harvard and Tufts University, and also along our trolley ride saw the Cheers TV set and the Old Garden...home of the Boston Celtics. But our time in Boston wasn't without its ordeals...once again we we kept getting lost and google map directions, ambiguous as they are, kept sending us into weirdville.
HINT: Get GPS...maybe more expensive, but it keeps you sane. By this time we were so over fast food and take out. All we wanted was a healthy meal with fruit and veges. Anything that wasn't fried or had some kind of cheesy sauce slothered all over it.

Palmyra - A GROVE OF OUR OWN

Our journey to Palmyra from Washington DC took about 6 1/2 hrs. And it was a much anticipated journey. As we were drawing closer to the area, we began to recognise place names mentioned in the scriptures and it all seemed a little surreal. Places like Fayette and Rochester, we just couldn't help but become excited. We stayed at the Palmyra Inn on Temple Road. Located on the same street as the Chapel, Palmyra Temple, Smith Farm and Sacred Grove. We were also about 5kms from the Hill Cumorah. When we checked in, we finally felt comfortable in our surroundings.It was like staying at the Temple Accommodations, Like home away from home. So comfortable Hayden actually went swimming. And if you know Hayden...he just doesn't do that.

We went to church at the Palmyra Ward and that was pretty interesting. However, with the sacred grove just down the road all we wanted to do was just go there. But patient as we are, we waited till after lunch to further enjoy the spirit of the sites.

We took a tour at the Sacred Grove Visitors Centre where we were able to go inside Hyrum Smiths home and visualise for ourselves the place where Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith. It was a quaint house but quite roomy. Had everything you'd need including a root cellar to keep your food cold. Walking about 150m you get to the Smith Family Farm. This was alot bigger and had a few more rooms. The sisters told stories about the plates and how Joseph hid them in the bricking of the fireplace and also in the cooper shop.

From here we journeyed to the Sacred Grove. At the entrance, we made it a point of explaining to Haydee the importance of where we were and the sacredness of the area.

We were also encouraged to say a prayer when within the grove.

It was nice even to just walk around the grove.

The closest thing to describing the feelings you have there is like being in the Temple. A Reverence, and a hush over the whole forest. We felt like we were walking with deity. I know that sounds weird but that is how it felt.

As a family our testimony of the first vision was strengthen that day and has certainly been a highlight of our trip. We now have a greater testimony of Joesph Smith and the first vision and as we listen to the stories of the time we can now put a place to the name.