Next Stop: Idaho Falls, Idaho

With news of a snow storm coming in we hit the road and didn't stop till we got to Idaho. We put in 12 hours on the road yesterday. Traveling while Charlize sleeps is always easier and it was a gorgeous drive. The road between Fort Collins and Laramie is so beautiful. We saw huge slanted rock formations that you could tell used to be flat and had at one point been removed from the surface whether by flood or earth quake. Later than night most of Utah and Idaho we traveled roads with snow covered mountains towering on both sides of the road. Under complete cloud cover the moonlight still shone bright, illuminating the deepest of snow filled crevaces while the rocky surfaces hid in plain sight. We pulled into a truck stop around 11pm. and spent the night. Charlize woke up as we moved her to the trailer. She had already had 5 hours so to her it was morning. Ahhhh. We finally convinced her to go to bed at 1:30. I was so exhausted!

In between Ft Collins and Laramie

Hmmm, I would love to have seen how this happened . . .

Our Little Traveler
Idaho Falls, ID



A little fun at the town museum

Next Stop: Fort Collins, CO

Notice anything wierd about the above pic?

Downtown Fort Collins

Yay! We finally have some fun hair!
Enjoying the 60 degree weather on the biggest play ground I've ever seen!

What a nice break the last two days were. We traveled south only an hour and found 60 weather in Fort Collins. What a beautiful little town. Home of Colorado State University there are lots of familiar venues and yet it has a home town feel, quaint down town and beautiful view of the foothills of the rockies.

Next Stop:Laramie, WY

Well, as with most things, KOA camping has a learning curve too. =) Charlize threw up several times the night before so we got a late start in the morning. Thankfully we were still at my parents so we had laundry available and lots of help. Thanks mom! We got into Laramie around 9pm last night. Since it was after hours they were going to leave our information and the bathroom code. Aparently someone beat us to the punch and took our packet off the door. So we looked all around and finally just picked a spot and parked. There was a sign that all water was off. So we tried the bathrooms and the code listed did not work. Hmmmm. So mike went on a run for a bathroom and to buy water at $2 a gallon. Eeekkk! This morning when we checked in they explained they did leave us info but someone took it. So we got the right bathroom code and are moving to a different spot that has water. Since we weren't able to get to a church this morning we're using today for getting set up and searching more on the inter-net. Laramie is cold today, below freezing. Inch or two of snow. The only way we're allowed to hook up to the water is if we have a hose blanket so the hose won't freeze. That's Mike's project of the day. Hopefully we'll get a good plan to make tommorrow very productive. Our plan is to be here till Tuesday. Oh, and watch the Cardinals kick some major butt tonight!!!!

The "Rig"

What most of southern Wyoming looks like.


Our Kitchen

bathroom


bed room

table and couch is back to the left

Next Stop: Family

Early in the week we were able to spend some great time with my family. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandmas. We always enjoy our time in Kansas and Mike is interested to go back and do some looking around the Wichita area later.

Tuesday night we made it to Lincoln, NE where my parents live. We had some beautiful days and Mike has been busy repairing and remodeling things around my parents house. Today's project is the kitchen floor. Today starts the colder weather (high of 27 I think) and possibly some snow. after this weather pattern goes through we'll probably take off on the major part of our trip. Mike is hoping to avoid driving on icy/snowy roads as much as is possible with the trailer. We'll see how that goes and what it does to our schedule.

I'm finally all better and Charlize cut all 4 molars through this week! I think the worst is past on that front. Yay!!!

We also have a new cell phone if anyone needs it just shoot me an email and I'll get it to you.

Monica's update

Reagan's proceedure went really well. I guess he cried pretty hard but mostly because he didn't want to be restrained. Monica said he had a little blood draining from the corner of the eye but they should know in the next week or so if it's going to stay fixed. Praise God for doctors who work hard to get through school to take care of us!

Next Stop Albequerque

Yes I realize that I can't spell. Who came up with that towns name anyway. =) Well, our first day went fairly well. We made it half way down the driveway and discovered a fender problem which was a blessing. As we (and by "we" I mean Mike and Larry) looked at the issue they found a brake cable that some mice had done custom work on. After a quick fix on the driveway we were on our way. Charlize has been in a lot of pain from her molars so she groaned most of the day but really traveled well considering. We ended up pulling over at a truck stop for night. We pulled into the lot with about 100 big rigs all running for the evening snooze. We found a spot on the end and the gentle humm actually made for a very restful night. When we woke up there was a different truck next to us and none of us knew the difference. The next day we were on the road for 12 hours. Charlize colored, ate crayons, played with toys, sang, slept and barely fussed. She really is doing well but her cold/teething has taken it's tole. Because of our sleeping arangements the night before we were not able to shower in the morning. I was itchy all day thinking this was why. About 9pm we pulled into my aunt and uncles house in Newton, KS. After a much needed shower I realized I have a rash head to toe so we're headed to the dr. today. Maybe a reaction to Omoxicillin or maybe my body just found out that I homeless and jobless! who knows!

Birthday

Ahhh, I'm so bad! I just realized I didn't post anything for her B-day back in October. Well, better late than never.

Her parents went all out with a box of kleenex as her only present! She loved it!

I had so many problems with the home made cake. The chocolate layer I was supposed to put in 2 pans so it looked like a muffin. The strawberry layer . . . well, it was hotter than I thought and you can see the rest. At least charlize was happy. Right at the end of the video she is coming to give me the biggest hug ever. Like she's saying, Thanks mom. I really needed that. I was pretty frustrated.

"Hi"

So Charlize is really into saying "hi" right now. Anytime you walk into the room, the stranger at the store. I think I scared the young man at the grocery store the first time it happened. I got really excited! Other things we say "hi" to are her shaddow, reflexion in the mirror but my favorite was yesterday. We were getting her dressed in a long sleeve onesie. The wrist was tight and when her hand popped though, without missing a beat, "hi" to her own hand. Ahhhhh I love it!!!!

Okay, I need some feedback. We're hitting the road tomorrow. I'm realizing I have no idea what to do with a 1 year old. Brooke got her coloring and it had never crossed my mind. Any other ideas for fun things either in the truck or trailer? I just want some new activites I can do with her? Any favorite songs your kids liked to learn or games to play? Thanks

Today we spent most of the day cleaning dog hair out of the trailer. DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON MY DISTASTE OF THOSE CREATURES!!! ( I know God created them for a reason just like bugs and spiders) ug! Sorry to you Dog lovers out there. I love you I just can't join you. =) Anyway, the trailer is about half packed and hopefully tomorrow morning we will have the rest done and be on the road by noon. The trailer is very nice and spacious. I think it will be a great home for now and we're so thankful for it.

First stop: Prescott

We'll we've said our goodbyes, had a great dinner with our small group from church so we packed our suitcases for the 6th time in one month and took off for Prescott. (2 hours N of Phoenix). Mike's family still owns the house he grew up in so his parents are settled here and we are just stopping in for a bit. Mike and Larry are going to buy a trailer today that Mike and Charlize and I will be living out of while we travel. I'm so thankful for a consistent place for Charlize to sleep and nap. That part has been difficult as she has slept in 7 different places in the past month. I still don't know where exactly we are going just that we'll be pulling a trailer and it'll most likely be cold there. I think we'll try to take off Friday.

I'm feeling a little better. Doc put me on meds for the sinus infection and now that I know it's allergies I'm on meds there too that are helping a lot. I'm still miserable but at least I'm not crying all day from watery eyes. =)

Also, for those of you who know Monica keep her in your prayers. Reagan has surgery on an eye duct today. Not super serious but no mother likes to see their child go through any proceedure especially involving a sensitive part of the body. Pray that she would rest in God through it all.

More to come . . .

Plan 'B'

Well, we've had some more changes. After a family meeting last week we decided the campground in Ohio is not a good decision financially at least at this time. Mike also had his last day of work yesterday. So.... this weekend we are moving his parents up to Prescott, AZ where Mike grew up. The family still owns the house up there. Next week sometime, probably Tues or Wed we will take off and head toward the mid west. Our goal with this time is to visit some states trying to figure out where God is leading us to live. We'll be visiting churches, small towns, looking into work opportunities, etc. We are so thankful for those of you who have been keeping us in your prayers. We are going to greatly miss our friends and community here in AZ but are excited about the plans God has for us. He has blessed us in so many ways in the past few months with all these changes and we are excited to see what He has ahead. Sorry for the lack of communication so far. It's been very hectic and my internet access is limited. Hopefully I'll have a phone up and running soon.