I have officially been on the road for 3 months and 2 days now. 15 states and provinces, a almost 2300 mile road trip, all with an almost 2 year old, a 3 year old Labrador dog and my sister who is pregnant - due the same time as me!!! Yes, I am definitely ready to get back to my husband, my bed and home!!
Favorite Things:
That I didn't have to say goodbye to Mom, Dad, Dana, Brooke or Hannah yet!
Walking down to the Farmers Market
Touring the University of Idaho
Seeing Brooke and Mikes' new, amazing home!
Hiking to the waterfall
Brooklyn LOVING on Uncle Mike. (She was crazy about him!)
Bath Time with Hannah
Yogurt Popsicles made by Brookie!
Sleeping
Biking through Moscow - though it was cut short due to crying babies
Spending some good, quality time with my best friend and sister, Brookie!
Next, Portland, OR
Favorite Things:
Visiting my good friend Brennan and his wonderful Family.
Eating a meal fresh from the garden and BBQ chicken that was to die for - and then Strawberry and blueberry shortcake to top it off - yes, it was divine!
Watching Brooklyn run around with their two adorable kids and Baily of course
Then seeing our childhood friend BD, husband Kurt and their 1 month old BABY!
The fact that they had a MaoMao (Cat) Brooklyn was in HEAVEN again.
Ooh! I can't forget! Freshly, homemade wild-berry PIE! The best EVER!
Next, Eugene, OR
Children's Museum
Favorite Things:
SHAUNA!!
Ok, First of all, I have to say that my friend Shauna is a saint! She is taking care of 3 of her sister's kids, while she has two of her own to take care of, and the same week welcomes us (Dog, another 2 year old, and 2 girls) to stay the night at her house! On top of which she went to the children's museum with us, gave us foot massages (which we reciprocated- just so you don't think we are total leaches) and made an incredible Crepe breakfast for us in the morning! ON top of all that she gave us a loaf of HOME-MADE bread with HOME MADE Raspberry Jam! (that fed us for most of our trip Shauna! Thank you!)
I was inspired by how she kept such an orderly house, road biked 3-5 times a week and kept incredibly fit other ways as well on top of everything!
As with all the friends we met, I learned a lot and was, well, inspired!
NEXT, Great Cats World Park
This is a must see when you come through this area! It was one of the coolest animal exhibits I've seen. We were just feet from these beautiful creatures. We have about 100 photos of this place! It was incredible and we were only 4 feet away from them!
The Redwood Forests!
I think we came here as children, but I haven't been since and I was blown away! These trees are unlike any I've ever seen. I tried to capture their sheer size on film, but you'll just have to go...
The Ocean! From Moscow to Trinidad!
We stayed just north of Trinidad, Ca one night and spent the whole morning on this incredible beach!
This was Brooklyn's first time on the beach! Notice the succession of events. Above: when we first got there.
Within 5 minutes (Left) within 6 minutes (Right). She thinks that if there is any water nearby, she has to be naked. Well, I kind of agree, but it's going to get tricky when we have to go to public swimming pools again!
Palo Alto, CA
My MTC Roommate, and later BYU roommate Adrienne lives right near Palo Alto, Ca now and it was SO FUN visiting her there! We walked around Stanford together, ate delicious food and caught up - never enough time. Brooklyn is still best friends with the Dog
These are the homes my Grandpa(Left) and Mom (Right) grew up in!
MONTERAY, CA
Next stop was just a few miles down the road in Monteray where our childhood friend, Darin lives with his family! We only called them less than an hour before we showed up on their doorstep and said we just watned to stop in for half hour to meet his wife and kids and then we'd be on our way again. Well, we did that, having a wonderful visit. He said we were welcome to stay the night, but we assured him we were going to get a place down the road a bit, then get a hotel. Well, after we left, it was just getting dark and as we called around to hotels, we realized, it's tourist season in Monteray and we weren't going to find any accomodations - so we called Darin back and with our tails between our legs, asked if we could take him up on his offer. Him and his wife were incredible and the stay was perfect! We woke up to Pancakes, strawberries and even Whip Cream, and Brooklyn got to play a little more with their adorable kids! Thanks Howell family!
HIGHWAY #1 Baby!
We were so glad we stayed the night in Monteray because we would have not wanted to miss THIS by driving it at night!
A major Highlight was seeing the Elephant Seals!
Oh, and just so you know, Brooklyn talks every day to her Daddy! She is very proficient with the phone, even holding it between her ear and shoulder so she can use her hands to play sometimes!
(From an early part of my posting: I haven't slept more than a couple of hours the past 5 nights because Brooklyn insists in getting in bed with me at about 2 or 3 am every night and not just sleeping next to me, but sleeping DIRECTLY on TOP of my - so as not to touch the bed!! She has to stay this way until she's alseep, at which point I slide her down onto the bed, but if I move my arm out from under her, she wakes up and we have to start all over, so thus, I don't sleep...
I can't wait to let her cry herself to sleep in her OWN crib and not have to worry aobu ther bothering hosts! 2... more... weeks...!!!!)
I can't say it hasn't been an absolute blast though! Brooklyn has been as much of an angel as humanly possible for a 20-23 month old - well, more like a nymph, but I'll take it.
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We did the first part in early July, but the part from Osoyoos to San Jacinto just ended yesterday and lasted 10 days! What made this road trip the best was seeing all our incredible friends, all of whom were incredibly wonderful Hosts! Dinners, breakfasts, even foot rubs! Here are some of my Favorite things:
Stop #1, MOSCOW, ID
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We did the first part in early July, but the part from Osoyoos to San Jacinto just ended yesterday and lasted 10 days! What made this road trip the best was seeing all our incredible friends, all of whom were incredibly wonderful Hosts! Dinners, breakfasts, even foot rubs! Here are some of my Favorite things:
Stop #1, MOSCOW, ID
Favorite Things:
That I didn't have to say goodbye to Mom, Dad, Dana, Brooke or Hannah yet!
Walking down to the Farmers Market
Touring the University of Idaho
Seeing Brooke and Mikes' new, amazing home!
Hiking to the waterfall
Brooklyn LOVING on Uncle Mike. (She was crazy about him!)
Bath Time with Hannah
Yogurt Popsicles made by Brookie!
Sleeping
Biking through Moscow - though it was cut short due to crying babies
Spending some good, quality time with my best friend and sister, Brookie!
Next, Portland, OR
Favorite Things:
Visiting my good friend Brennan and his wonderful Family.
Eating a meal fresh from the garden and BBQ chicken that was to die for - and then Strawberry and blueberry shortcake to top it off - yes, it was divine!
Watching Brooklyn run around with their two adorable kids and Baily of course
Then seeing our childhood friend BD, husband Kurt and their 1 month old BABY!
The fact that they had a MaoMao (Cat) Brooklyn was in HEAVEN again.
Ooh! I can't forget! Freshly, homemade wild-berry PIE! The best EVER!
Next, Eugene, OR
Children's Museum
Favorite Things:
SHAUNA!!
Ok, First of all, I have to say that my friend Shauna is a saint! She is taking care of 3 of her sister's kids, while she has two of her own to take care of, and the same week welcomes us (Dog, another 2 year old, and 2 girls) to stay the night at her house! On top of which she went to the children's museum with us, gave us foot massages (which we reciprocated- just so you don't think we are total leaches) and made an incredible Crepe breakfast for us in the morning! ON top of all that she gave us a loaf of HOME-MADE bread with HOME MADE Raspberry Jam! (that fed us for most of our trip Shauna! Thank you!)
I was inspired by how she kept such an orderly house, road biked 3-5 times a week and kept incredibly fit other ways as well on top of everything!
As with all the friends we met, I learned a lot and was, well, inspired!
NEXT, Great Cats World Park
This is a must see when you come through this area! It was one of the coolest animal exhibits I've seen. We were just feet from these beautiful creatures. We have about 100 photos of this place! It was incredible and we were only 4 feet away from them!
The Redwood Forests!
I think we came here as children, but I haven't been since and I was blown away! These trees are unlike any I've ever seen. I tried to capture their sheer size on film, but you'll just have to go...
The Ocean! From Moscow to Trinidad!
We stayed just north of Trinidad, Ca one night and spent the whole morning on this incredible beach!
This was Brooklyn's first time on the beach! Notice the succession of events. Above: when we first got there.
Within 5 minutes (Left) within 6 minutes (Right). She thinks that if there is any water nearby, she has to be naked. Well, I kind of agree, but it's going to get tricky when we have to go to public swimming pools again!
Palo Alto, CA
My MTC Roommate, and later BYU roommate Adrienne lives right near Palo Alto, Ca now and it was SO FUN visiting her there! We walked around Stanford together, ate delicious food and caught up - never enough time. Brooklyn is still best friends with the Dog
These are the homes my Grandpa(Left) and Mom (Right) grew up in!
MONTERAY, CA
Next stop was just a few miles down the road in Monteray where our childhood friend, Darin lives with his family! We only called them less than an hour before we showed up on their doorstep and said we just watned to stop in for half hour to meet his wife and kids and then we'd be on our way again. Well, we did that, having a wonderful visit. He said we were welcome to stay the night, but we assured him we were going to get a place down the road a bit, then get a hotel. Well, after we left, it was just getting dark and as we called around to hotels, we realized, it's tourist season in Monteray and we weren't going to find any accomodations - so we called Darin back and with our tails between our legs, asked if we could take him up on his offer. Him and his wife were incredible and the stay was perfect! We woke up to Pancakes, strawberries and even Whip Cream, and Brooklyn got to play a little more with their adorable kids! Thanks Howell family!
HIGHWAY #1 Baby!
We were so glad we stayed the night in Monteray because we would have not wanted to miss THIS by driving it at night!
A major Highlight was seeing the Elephant Seals!
Oh, and just so you know, Brooklyn talks every day to her Daddy! She is very proficient with the phone, even holding it between her ear and shoulder so she can use her hands to play sometimes!
(From an early part of my posting: I haven't slept more than a couple of hours the past 5 nights because Brooklyn insists in getting in bed with me at about 2 or 3 am every night and not just sleeping next to me, but sleeping DIRECTLY on TOP of my - so as not to touch the bed!! She has to stay this way until she's alseep, at which point I slide her down onto the bed, but if I move my arm out from under her, she wakes up and we have to start all over, so thus, I don't sleep...
I can't wait to let her cry herself to sleep in her OWN crib and not have to worry aobu ther bothering hosts! 2... more... weeks...!!!!)
Comments
Did I read correctly that I am going to be an aunt again?? When? CONGRATS!!
Couldn't see all of the photos...bummer!
Love Brooke