Here we go....

Here is an update for any or all of you that might be interested in what happens on a road trip across the country with 4 children...

Day one, the plan was to leave at 5:00a.m. and we made it out of town at 20 minutes to 5:00 p.m., which is why we arrived in Denver at 3:00 a.m. and not sooner.

Day two, we got a late start (obviously!) leaving Denver at about 2:00 p.m. Driving across the plains is pretty PLAIN! Nothing exciting about it at all, except the fact the it was really, I mean really windy. We had to keep a tight hold on the steering wheel. We were blessed greatly in that a wicked tornado ripped through Denver the night after we left and did a lot of damage. We arrived in Kansas City at about 1:00a.m., and this is the night that Jason saved my life by administering the Heimlich to me after I choked on a multi-vitamin.

Day three, today was Brady's B-Day. Pour guy got to open his presents after we sang to him, we celebrated for about 5 minutes and then we were on the road again. We visited church sites in Independence Missouri, Liberty Jail and arrived in Nauvoo that night. We realized that the driving is taking it's toll on us. We also realized that we have a new best friend, his name is Tom Tom. I think that having a GPS system saved Jason and I from having any road disagreements at all! Tom Tom thoroughly helped us enjoy the drives through the back roads on the way to Nauvoo, but it still didn't prevent Jason from hitting a bird. We have decided that so far Missouri is the prettiest state that either of us have ever visited! It is green and gorgous! We arrived in Nauvoo after a near fatal accident (fatal on the deers part) at 10:00 p.m. Well, at least our arrival times are getting a little more realistic.

Day four, we spent the day exploring Nauvoo, and I think that kids really appreciated the fact that they didn't have to get back in the car and drive some more. Seeing the sites at Nauvoo was another lesson to us that children's attention span is that of a nat. We did our best to take them to the exhibits for kids, even at that they just wanted to run and play. That night Jason took Ashley to a play and I stayed at the Motel with the younger kids to watch a movie. At this point even Jason and I needed a little time a part. We loved Nauvoo and the Temple was beautiful (even though we didn't get to go inside, no babysitter on board). For any of you planning on visiting let us know and we will tell you which of the 3 eating establishments in town that you should avoid.

Day five, back on the road we covered 4 states today, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee. We tried to stop in St. Louis to see the Gateway Arch, the weather was really rainy and overcast, so we decided to put it off until the trip home. We stopped for our first lunch at McDonald's (did you ever think that you could avoid McD's for five days with four kids?) to let the kids get the wiggles out, turns out that Brock had to get more that wiggles out... while waiting for Jason to use the restroom sitting on a bench with Brock on my lap all of the sudden I felt something warm running down my arm. Yes, brock had a completley stinky, runny blowout (what should we have expected after that many days in the car?) So now Brock has less luggage, we left all of his clothes in the McDonald's garbage can. It was gross!! Today we met up with the James's (the family that we are exchanging homes with for the summer) they are very nice people. We took pictures of each others family. We are sure that they will take good care of the house for us while we are away. We learned that we aren't the only ones who make grand plans and it doesn't always work out. The James's left late by about 12 hours also. They wanted to leave at 4:00p.m. on Friday, and after loading the kids in the car at 9:00 p.m. they pulled out of their driveway at 4:00a.m. the next morning after last minute cleaning. Tonight we pulled into Nashville at 10:00p.m.

Day six, last day of the road trip to Charlotte. We drove through the Great Smokey Mountains and loved it. What a beautiful part of the country this is. Stopped at a Subway for sandwiches and a gal asked me if my red headed daughter was "main", I said, "I'm sorry, I am not sure what you mean.", so she said "Main, you know, like spoiled or get's everything that she wants, you know, mean.". That was when I realized I wasn't in South Jordan anymore. I totally didn't get what she was saying with her southern accent. Boy did I feel silly. We arrived in our new home for the summer at about 8:00p.m. The kid's love it and all of the "new" toys to play with. We are so thankful for this opportunity to trade places with the James and for the opportunity for Jason to have this internship.