We began our cross country travels a little behind schedule. We were suppose to leave early Thursday morning and drive straight to Las Vegas but we didn't leave until 4:00 pm and we made it to Bakersfield, California. We finished loading the 28 foot truck that (thanks to the few guys from church who helped us) we completely filled from top to bottom front to back with no room to spare. We filled both cars with stuff that it was hard to find room for the kids. What a day but we got it done and we were on the road...
June 26th we left Bakersfield, CA and headed to Las Vegas, NV. That was a 4 hour drive getting us to Vegas early enough to check into our hotel and hit the pool. What a hotel and pool. We stayed off the strip in the Northwest part of Las Vegas in a new hotel called The Aliante Station. We love Vegas. Most people don't but we do. It was the first place we owned a house, I got my first "real job" as a special education teacher and our daughter was born. Vegas has a lot of meaning to us. But we stayed in Vegas for a day and a half, hung out with grandpa and played in the pool. What fun.
Just a cute picture...
June 28th we drove straight to Burley, Idaho. That drive was 600 miles and took about 10-11 hours. We have friends in Idaho that we were visiting. Plus, Joe and I have fond memories of Idaho. Burley was the first place we lived together as a married couple. This was our first house (duplex). We paid $325.00 a month. What a bargain even though we could barley afford it back then. I bet you could rent the same place today and still pay $325.00 a month. That was 12 years ago and Burley has not changed one bit.
June 26th we left Bakersfield, CA and headed to Las Vegas, NV. That was a 4 hour drive getting us to Vegas early enough to check into our hotel and hit the pool. What a hotel and pool. We stayed off the strip in the Northwest part of Las Vegas in a new hotel called The Aliante Station. We love Vegas. Most people don't but we do. It was the first place we owned a house, I got my first "real job" as a special education teacher and our daughter was born. Vegas has a lot of meaning to us. But we stayed in Vegas for a day and a half, hung out with grandpa and played in the pool. What fun. Just a cute picture...You want or need a challenge in life try driving cross country in two cars with 2 kids and a cat. Oh and add a few hermit crabs. They are easy...so easy that we left them in the car for 2 days in the heat.
They survived June 28th we drove straight to Burley, Idaho. That drive was 600 miles and took about 10-11 hours. We have friends in Idaho that we were visiting. Plus, Joe and I have fond memories of Idaho. Burley was the first place we lived together as a married couple. This was our first house (duplex). We paid $325.00 a month. What a bargain even though we could barley afford it back then. I bet you could rent the same place today and still pay $325.00 a month. That was 12 years ago and Burley has not changed one bit.(I know we missed seeing many other friends and we apologize)
This is Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho. The Falls are so beautiful. The kids loved seeing this. There's nothing like it.
It was a full capacity flow over the Falls.
On June 30th, we left Idaho traveling to Rawlins, Wyoming. Along the way we stopped in Evanston, Wyoming where my Great grandparents were born, raised and buried. My grandmother was also born there and my uncle was buried there. It was nice to go and visit their resting place.
On July 1 we traveled to North Platte, Nebraska and stayed the night. This was one of the first places that actually had a place to shop...a wal-mart. So much land everywhere and no civilization. I am such a city girl. I love having convience down the street.
We arrived in Cleveland, Ohio early day July 4. I really liked Cleveland, Ohio. It was very pretty. Actually our hotel was in West lake, Ohio right outside of Cleveland, So, West lake was pretty. We ate dinner at the cheesecake factory and watched fireworks. That was neat. I am sorry to hear that Monterey didn't do fireworks.
My kids missed doing their own fireworks. That was hard.
We did have fun in the pool...
July 5 we took a day off to relax in Cleveland and spend the day celebrating Brady's birthday. I know I said relaxing but believe it or not it was. It was a great day. We went to the Cleveland zoo, looked at all the animals, had a camel ride and touched a snake, swam in the hotel
This is Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho. The Falls are so beautiful. The kids loved seeing this. There's nothing like it. It was a full capacity flow over the Falls. On June 30th, we left Idaho traveling to Rawlins, Wyoming. Along the way we stopped in Evanston, Wyoming where my Great grandparents were born, raised and buried. My grandmother was also born there and my uncle was buried there. It was nice to go and visit their resting place. On July 1 we traveled to North Platte, Nebraska and stayed the night. This was one of the first places that actually had a place to shop...a wal-mart. So much land everywhere and no civilization. I am such a city girl. I love having convience down the street.On July 2 we went to visit more family in Omaha, Nebraska. We visited Aunt Judy and Uncle Jim and a few cousins. It was a nice visit. We had not seen them in 5 years since Alexandria was 3 months old.
We stayed in Omaha for the night...resting up for a few more days of nothing but driving
July 3 we spent the night in South bend, Indiana
We arrived in Cleveland, Ohio early day July 4. I really liked Cleveland, Ohio. It was very pretty. Actually our hotel was in West lake, Ohio right outside of Cleveland, So, West lake was pretty. We ate dinner at the cheesecake factory and watched fireworks. That was neat. I am sorry to hear that Monterey didn't do fireworks.My kids missed doing their own fireworks. That was hard.
We did have fun in the pool...July 5 we took a day off to relax in Cleveland and spend the day celebrating Brady's birthday. I know I said relaxing but believe it or not it was. It was a great day. We went to the Cleveland zoo, looked at all the animals, had a camel ride and touched a snake, swam in the hotel pool, went to dinner at red robin, had my very own big chocolate sundae, played with my birthday presents and went to a bed. A very long but fun day.
WE FINALLY ARRIVED IN DC ON MONDAY JULY 6 AT 10:00 PM .
WHAT A DAY AND WHAT AN 11 DAYS.
Today is Tuesday July 14, we are still in a hotel looking for a place to live. We have looked at both homes and townhouses. Life pretty much sucks right now. I am trying to have faith that something will come available.
We did find 2 places we liked this past weekend actually Sunday morning. However, not knowing before looking at them they were already rented. THAT SUCKED BIG...
Now, you all are probably thinking that we must be picky. If so, YOU ARE RIGHT! But everything we look at has major issues...
But tomorrow is another day and i am praying that something will turn up.
we miss everyone in Monterey.
And a horse shaped cake. I think I did a great job, especially for me because I am not too 
1 year old again...she was such a chunk :)
