Bags Packed Family

11/11/2024

Happy Birthday, Forest 🥳

Can’t believe this kiddo is 6 years old! Counting on two hands now ☝️🤚

Woke up in a hot tipi to celebrate with birthday pancakes, a few gifts, video chats with family, and ended the day with Filipino style whole fish from the famous Grandma Melba ❤️

We love you to the moon and back, Forest!! It’s never a dull moment with you around 😂

20/10/2024

🧊 Alaska Life 🧊

Going for a picnic looks a little different in Alaska!

We packed smoked salmon, moose meat, cheese, crackers, and homemade bread 🥖

We loaded our side-by-side and our friend Alan’s wheeler with extra water, fuel, and safety gear.
We finally got to take our side-by-side out for trail ride! The kids got to try driving it, too.

Then we road 2.5 hours to picnic on the edge of the Knik Glacier.

Along the way, we forged rivers, splashed through cottonwood forests, cruised along the braided riverbed, hunted grouse, and spotted wildlife such as bald eagles and sheep.

It was an amazing afternoon. If you didn’t catch today’s video, be sure to check it out!!

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

19/10/2024

🏕️ Alaska Life 🏕️

Family of 5 sleeping in a hot tipi!!

❤️‍🩹 This was our first time trying out a hot tipi. We loved it, but we had some serious struggles - don’t worry, our marriage is still intact.

❄️ We have a great 6-person tent that we fit in (featured in our road trip video in the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin), but it is getting colder in Alaska and the snow will be on the ground soon (it’s already in Fairbanks!).

🔥 We will be testing out all types of sleeping arrangements over the next few months. It’s pretty easy to find backcountry accommodations for singles or small groups, but putting five people in a tent can be difficult…then add a wood burning stove in there and hope that no one gets burned and gear doesn’t get melted or catch fire.

✨ If you missed this video, be sure to check it out on YouTube. We will try to post a shorter, daily life video every Wednesday, and a longer, outdoor adventure every Saturday. We have overseas travel plans in the works right for 2025, nothing confirmed, yet✨

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18/10/2024

Me waiting for nap time to end…

Some days are longer than others, and it seems like I never get anything accomplished. The urge to “get going” on my to-do list gnaws on me.

This is a good reminder that my job as a parent is to be with my kids. Long after they grow up there still will be dishes to wash, laundry to fold, and errands to run.

Right now, my job is to help them grow, let them know that I am here for them, and sit back while they build their confidence to face challenges on their own.

One day, this boy won’t need me to hold him while he sleeps, but today he does. That is my job. The best job in the world 💙

Rest peacefully little guy, you are safe.

😴 😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴

18/10/2024

🍎 Alaska 🍏

Throwback Thursday: 4 weeks ago, we went apple picking on this gorgeous sunny day!! The seasons are changing fast and we are trying to enjoy each day as it comes with activities, nature, food, and meeting new people.

Apple question: We picked 3 gallons of apples, which sounded awesome at the time. Then, I had to figure out what to do with 3 gallons of apples before they spoiled. We made apple crumble and apple chips. Then, I diced and froze the rest of the apples. I didn’t peel them because the apples were small and I didn’t want to lose any more apple than needed. I’d LOVE any recipe ideas you have for unpeeled, diced frozen apples 🙌🙌🙌

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16/10/2024

🦌 Alaska 🦌

Summer is gone, but there are still so many fun things to do in Alaska!!

🍲 In today’s YouTube video, we make pumpkin soup, bread, and meatloaf with high bush cranberry ketchup.

🦌 We spent a fun afternoon in Palmer, Alaska!! The kids loved feeding the animals, running wild, getting stuck in the maze, and all the creative games that staff out on for them. If you followed us last summer, Forest took his Nana here for the first time and we loved it so much we needed to bring Granite and Cedar with us this time. 🧡

🎃 Later, we also made homemade pumpkin lattes either the leftover roasted pumpkin and the kids carved their pumpkins!

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11/10/2024

❄️ Alaska ❄️

We had our first dusting of snow on October 10, 2024! The kids were so excited to wake up to it. It didn’t snow much and it didn’t stick around long, but it was here long enough to spark the magic and excitement in our kids eyes: the first snow fall!

We sat on the couch and looked eagerly out the window as the small flakes floated down. After a filling breakfast of blueberry pancakes and maple syrup, the kids dressed in layers and snow gear. We headed outside.

The air was crisp, damp and cool. Not cold. Especially, not deep winter Alaska cold. Those days are coming. The kids got to work right away. Kid work, that is: running down the hill, balling small piles of snow to throw at each other, and attempting snow angels. Trying new things, testing their abilities.

I had a fire on my mind. Cold air does that, triggers a response to build warmth. I could almost smell smoke in the air. There’s work to do before winter gets here. Our wood pile needs some organization. I hauled logs from their previous resting spot and stacked them in the woodshed. After a short while, I was warm and almost forget about the snow that had fallen in the morning.

The sun came up and melted the snow away. It was a gentle preview of more to come. We are not ready for winter, the cold and the dark. We will get there, little by little.

Time for a warm drink ☕️

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11/10/2024

Northern Lights - Alaska

The northern lights are out again! I hope you get to see them. Does anyone know if the southern lights are out at the same time as the northern lights? Does the solar flare affect both poles?

I have some research to do!!

I hope you enjoy these photos 🩷💜💙🩵💚

08/10/2024

Alaska, USA

If you are awake, go outside! The northern lights are out and they are dancing!

We will try to capture them with the Go Pro, but if it doesn’t turn out here they are. It’s so magical.

Have you seen the northern lights?

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

17/09/2024

🍂 Autumn in Alaska 🍂

We have been harvesting high bush cranberries! We can’t wait to make some delicious things with these.

If you have a good recipe, please send it our way 🙌

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Alaska Life, High Bush Cranberries, Berry Picking, Foraging, Explore Alaska, Travel Alaska, Alaska Adventure, Alaska Berries

14/09/2024

Our latest adventure is live! We camped under a Walmart tarp during a rainstorm, and the results were... interesting! 😂 Will we enjoy sleeping on the cold ground, or get soaked by the storm? Check it out and see how we survived the night! Watch here: https://youtu.be/VJ0_RGBUWIw

13/09/2024

🫐 Alaska Berry Foraging 🫐

It is autumn in Alaska, and we are out collecting berries every chance we get!!

A week ago, we had blue skies and went out for our first attempt at berry picking on Hatcher Pass. We found these huge tundra blueberries, crow berries, and possibly huckleberries.

The cranberries are super ripe at our house, so we are hoping to get out pick them soon!!

Do you have any good berry recipes or websites we should check out?

✨ We are posting all our videos on YouTube as we explore Alaska for the first time as a family! ✨ Join us for the adventure!

🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐

Alaska, Alaska Life, Foraging, Berry Picking, Alaska Adventures, Explore Alaska, Family Adventures, Hatcher Pass, Alaska Trails, Autumn, Tundra

11/09/2024

🐻 Alaska Adventure 🐻

🐾 Did you see today’s video on YouTube? Canoeing, Bear paw prints, and cooking moose burgers in the wild!

🫎 Our friend hunted a moose a week ago and we learned how to process (butcher) it! He gave use fresh moose jerky sticks and moose burger meat in exchange for “helping” him (though, I’m not sure how much help we were). What an incredible animal, which will provide meat for his family this winter (along with the salmon he caught fishing).

🍄‍🟫 Alaska provides us with so many wild things to live on! Jonathan and the kids are hoping to learn how to fish and hunt over the next few years, while Kelly plans on taking the kids out to forage berries and mushrooms, and to start a garden in the spring to grow as much as they can.

🍁 Fall (autumn) is the time for harvesting and feasting! We hope you enjoy the next few videos as we learn how to gather what we can and cook it in the Alaskan wilderness. We have some fun adventures planned!!

🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐

Alaska | Alaska Adventure | Alaska Cooking | Foraging, Harvesting, Hunting | Canoeing | Canoe Trip | Get Outdoors | Great Outdoors | Bear Prints | Bear Country | Family Adventures

07/09/2024

🇺🇸 Alaska Life 🇺🇸

We had the chance to meet a dog sled team and their adorable puppies

One thing our kids missed out on while traveling and living in different countries is having pets. Many people do get pets while living overseas, but we didn’t know how to manage it. Luckily, their Nana (grandma) has cats and dogs for them. When we can, we try to get them a chance to connect with animals 💙

Things we learned:

🐶 Cedar really wanted to adopt that sweet puppy!

🐶 The puppies took advantage of Granite’s kindness.

🐶 Forest is plotting something with his future dog sled team.

Who needs a few hours with a group of puppies 🙌

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Alaska | Alaska Life | Dogs | Dog Sled Team | Ididtarod | Puppies | Alaska Dogs | Family Adventures | Family Travel | Travel Kids

05/09/2024

🇺🇸 US Road Trip Florida to Alaska 🇺🇸

Alaska - Dalton Highway 5-Day Itinerary (Start in Fairbanks and head to Livengood, it’s 414 miles to Deadhorse)

Day 1: Fairbanks to Coldfoot - Stop at the Trans Alaskan Pipeline pull off outside of Fairbanks, get lunch or a coffee at the Yukon River, climb on Finger Rock, visit the Arctic Circle Wayside, and visit the Interagency Visitor Center. Sleep in Coldfoot and have the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Day 2: Coldfoot to Deadhorse - Visit Wiseman, skip rocks in the Middle Fork Koyukuk River, film the views from Atigun Pass, watch for animals along the Sag River and Franklin bluffs (caribou and musk ox), and sleep at Deadhorse Camp.

Day 3: Arctic Ocean - Swim in the Arctic Ocean, go birding, look for caribou and musk ox, send your family postcards, and get snacks from the General Store.

Day 4: Deadhorse back to Coldfoot

Day 5: Coldfoot back to Fairbanks

05/09/2024

30/08/2024

🇺🇸 Florida to Alaska Road Trip 🇺🇸

🇨🇦 Canada: 4-Day Itinerary

🎳 Day 1: Calgary, Alberta - We entered the Canadian border crossing through on Highway 89 (north of Babb), crossing went smoothly since we had our paperwork ready (they only needed our passports, but we had birth certificates, the car registration and title ready, proof of residence in Alaska, and more) and we were carrying any fi****ms. We didn’t get searched, but many vehicles were pulling everything out. I had pepper spray in the glove box and had to turn that over, as it is not aloud in Canada). We camped outside of Calgary, in a town called Cochrane. Jonathan edited for hours, while the kids and I ate delicious Indian food and went bowling (check it out, small bowling balls and only 5 pins!!). The drive was easy and fairly flat, we would have camped in Banff, but we avoided the Parks due to the severe fires. If the fires weren’t happening, we would have camped in Banff for 2 nights.

🦬 Day 2: Fort Saint John, British Colombia - The drive today was very pretty with views of the Rocky Mountains. Just before stopping here to camp, we took at break from driving in Dawson Creek to celebrate the start of the Alaska Canadian Highway (AlCan). We had dinner and made sure to try poutine and a Caesar (Canada’s Blood Mary drink). We even saw bison roaming on the sides of the road!! If we had headed to Banff, the following few days would have been spent exploring Jasper, as well.

🍩 Day 3: Watson Lake, Yukon - It was really smokey on this drive. We started our day with Tim Hortons donuts, and saw more bison. The road was a little rougher with steep inclines and declines, but the road conditions were good. We spent a good 1.5 hours at the Laird Hot Springs and visited the famous Sign Post Forest!

🥖 Day 4: Whitehorse, Yukon - Another Smokey drive, but it cleared up and we got amazing mountain views! We soaked in the Takhini Hot Springs (right now, no kids are allowed in the springs, they are building a family pool over the next 1-2 years). We found the BEST bakery on our way out of Whitehorse (The Village Bakery - Haines Junction.)

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29/08/2024

🇺🇸 Florida to Alaska Road Trip 🇺🇸

Montana 5-Day Itinerary

🍔 Day 1: Billings - Visit Pictograph Cave State Park, have a gel blaster (or paint ball) competition at Wild Rose Action Center, and eat the burgers and shakes at The Burger Dive (Huckleberry Shakes!)

🍒 Day 2: Missoula - Visit the Farmer’s Market, have lunch at Worden’s Market and Deli (or take it to-go up to Flathead Lake), get cherries at Flathead Lake, Drink from a fresh mountain spring, and camp in West Glacier

☀️ Day 3-5: West Glacier - Day trips or camping trips in Glacier NP, get up early and do the Going-to-the-Sun drive before 6am, just relax and soak up nature!!

If you have more time, visit Yellowstone NP, Bozeman, Big Sky, or Helena!!

✨ See what we did on YouTube!! Granite created a Huckleberry Burger…see what he added to it! ✨

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Montana, Montana trip, Montana vacation, camping in Montana, explore Montana, discover Montana, montana road trip, glacier, Billings, Missoula, family travel, family trip, family vacation, family road trip, Flathead Lake, cherries