The Long Journey (to our new) Home - Part III

After being snowed in an extra day in Salt Lake, we were ready to get back on the road and just get there already! We headed north to go through Boise, Idaho, but some of the roads were still closed. That day, the drive was supposed to be about 6.5 hours, and I think we finally got to our hotel after about 11. Conditions coming out of Salt Lake were atrocious - I was petrified the entire 11 hours. Francois - and his car's summer tires (perfect to Texas but not for snow) - got stuck in the snow more than a couple times... I was so proud of him - I know his car must have been much harder to drive than my SUV with all weather tires (and even I was skidding some in areas). The day looks so nice in the pictures, but the roads were just so bad... and the wind would not let up either. After this long day, we stayed the night in Boise, and then got snowed in again... and let me tell you - staying in a hotel room with nothing to do with a 3 year old and 10 month old does not top my list of fun things to do. So we were overjoyed the next day when the roads opened and we could get going again - even if it meant another 10-12 hour day.

I had to take a couple pictures of the (almost) worst conditions we drove in. Honestly, the worse were in Salt Lake City's urban areas - main highways! - which we were a little shocked by. The ice was so bad there, I didn't dare take my hand from the wheel. Ever. Here, it was slightly better...

The sign was just the beginning... the warning of things to come. We were actually stuck on this hill for a good 45 minutes waiting for a salt/sand truck to come and allow traffic to keep moving again.

Once we got out of the mountains in Oregon, roads got considerably better. There were some really cool tree farms that had trees in all stages of growth - they went on for miles. so cool. And the views of the Columbia River than lined the road most of trip in Oregon - even in gloomy conditions - was gorgeous.

And then finally - at long last... Washington! I was so thrilled to see this sign! And later that night, only 7 days and 43 hours of driving later... we checked into Ft. Lewis. Our new home.

The Long Journey (to our new) Home - Part II

After Colorado, we stopped in Monticello, Utah. The red rock formations driving through Utah's beautiful land were amazing. If we get a chance to come back this way, we definitely want to stop and make a mini-vacation out of it.

This was the shot I got coming into Provo. The mountains were so beautiful and the day was so clear and sunny. It was one of the last sunny days we would see for a while! By the way, if you want a better look at any of these pictures - you should be able to click on it to make it full size. =)

When we got to Provo, Sterling Magelby and his family welcomed us. They are possibly the nicest, most hospitable people I have ever met! Sterling took us downtown to the Temple Square. The lights there were amazing. It was REALLY cold though, and we didn't' stay too long. Giselle was actually crying because it was so cold. =(

When we got back to the house, The Magelby family was having their annual Christmas story. In their family, every Christmas Eve, they get dressed up and act out the Christmas story as Spencer reads it aloud from the Bible. I have pictures of Anais and Sterling and then me and Giselle dressed as Shepherds. Rissa, Sterling's younger sister, was such a sweetheart! She is here playing piano with the curious kids - and dressed as an angel.

As if their incredible generosity of having us stay at their house Christmas Eve and Christmas morning wasn't enough... they let us stay an extra day when we got snowed in and even got us little presents so we wouldn't be left out for Christmas! Truly the best representation of selfless giving I have seen in a long while. This last couple pictures is Stephanie and Spenser (holding Giselle) and their eldest son, Hans, on Christmas morning, and Francois playing a fun card game with Stephanie while Giselle looks on. Our girls were just smitten with their family - and we could tell they were immediately at ease. This was, by far, the best part of our trip.

The Long Journey (to our new) Home - Part I

On December 21st, 2008, we set out in our two cars - loaded down with stuff and the girls - to drive the 2200 miles from Dallas to Ft. Lewis, Washington. We had split the trip into smaller - bite-size pieces, so we wouldn't be overwhelmed - or at least that was the plan... The first day went smoothly. We drove from Dallas to Midland, TX where our friends Erin and Jason live. We were thrilled that her parents were in town visiting for Christmas! We had not seem them in such a long time. We enjoyed visiting with Dave and Debbie and talking about all the plans now being made for Erin and Jason's newly discovered little one on the way. Debbie and Erin even had Anais help make cookies. She was so happy to be a "helper" - and I'm glad the girls were patient with my little girl.

The next day, Dec 22, we headed out of Midland - well rested and ready for a longer drive for this second stretch. It was a good 7 hours in the car - me with the two girls the whole time. I say this, almost complaining, but I was offered a switch many times and never took it. The reason I opted into the crying and backyardigan watching marathon was because I was terrified to drive Francois' car (with its summer tread tires) through what I knew would be ice eventually. On top of that - Francois' car only had one functioning mirror - and it was his driver's side mirror... hmmm... don't have to be a genius to see that i actually ended up with the better end of that deal. =)

The scenery on this trip was some of the best I have seen... just breathtaking sometimes - even the clouds looked like they were dancing.

The land in west Texas was so flat, but by the time we started rolling into New Mexico, the hills started a-rollin'.

We barely passed through Colorado... but I felt obliged to include their welcome sign in our trip journal. =) The very little we saw was beautiful. Rock formations are COOL.

December 2008 - Part II (Christmas)

Although we didn't spend Christmas day in Plano, we did have our Christmas celebrations with each of our families before we took off for the great northwest. =) Giselle was just such a doll - it was so much fun to take these pictures.

We started the Christmas celebrations at the Pinard's house. Giselle seemed surprised. haha. I am actually not really sure why she is making this face - but again - I love it!

Anais was such a sweetie. She wanted to help deliver the presents to everyone with a special Christmas spirit "Merry Christmas!" The video at the end of this blog is her doing just that.

We also got a picture with Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Fletcher and the girls (Faye included of course!)

It was pretty cold while we were home... Giselle liked getting bundled up though.

One night, we had a Paulson-Pinard get-together to just visit before we took off. I got such a cute picture of Gretchen and Andre with our girls and then one of us with little Faye. So much fun for the girls to have cousins.

The next Christmas celebration was at the Paulsons' house. Here are our "family pictures" - informally of course.

Sean and Sarah with Taylor and Collin. Me and Francois with Anais and Giselle.

Anna and Bryan. Jessica and Daniel with Johnny Dane.

Anais got so many great presents - but she at least posed with her Fancy Nancy sticker book. And Giselle liked this blanket I made for her - although to be honest - I think she preferred the wrapping paper to anything that was inside of it!

The girls both got the CUTEST "Cowgirl" outfits from my Grandmother. They had little wagons and hats and boots on them and they said Howdy! Just what every Texas girl needs! The girls were thrilled with their present from Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Chamberlin.

December 2008 - Part I

As soon as Francois graduated from AIT - we hit the road and headed back to Plano for his Hometown Recruiting before starting off to our first post. Little Johnny Dane - my sister Jessica and her husband, Daniel's, baby had just been born a couple days before. We were all so excited to see him!

Anais was SO sweet - she just wanted to hold him the whole time!

The first real day back, we went to Dickens in Downtown Plano. It was FREEZING! So we hung out for a few minutes while they lit the tree and then had a couple yummy things and headed home. Anais loved it though - especially because Anna and Bryan and Mimi and Papa went!

Giselle, however, was just cold and sleepy....

We spent the next couple weeks visiting with friends and family and relaxing as much as possible.

Giselle took lots of naps - while Anais preferred to play tiger with Grandpa.

We were able to spend an evening with our friends Kristin and James DelMul and their beautiful daughter Ranae. Of course, this is the best shot we got!

Anais spent some time over at Mimi and Papa's - playing games with Mimi and reading one of her favorite bedtime stories with Papa. If you don't know this book - it is awesome! - you should read it. It is That Didn't Frighten Me!

And of course, Papa always has some time for silliness! (This time courtesy of Sean!)