Some Awards

Best Way to Start a Trip

Owen & Drew with cousin Tristan in Greensboro NC, May 15

Paul & Robyn's house... just relaxed and recovered from all that hard work moving (well the cleaning part was hard). Got to meet new baby Griffin and celebrate Tristan's birthday.

Cutest Bums

Kirtland, OH, May 17

Standing in front of Newel K. Whitney's Mill and Ashery. So pretty there.

Best Temple in Ohio

Kirtland OH Temple, May 17

Really, I just like this picture and couldn't think of what award it should get. Ooh Justin gets the best driver award... he drove the ENTIRE time (at least 4,000 miles).

Funnest to Pass on the Road

Shipshewana, Indiana, May 17

Amish country. We decided to stay there spur of the moment cause we were fascinated by it. We timed it all wrong though because it was a Saturday night after everything was closed. They keep the Sabbath more holy than the Mormons - we couldn't taste their food or shop their handcrafted items. It was fun falling asleep to the sound of horse hoofs on the road. I want to go back and be Amish for a week!

Best Traveler

Nauvoo, May 18

Did not make a peep the whole time in the car unless she was hungry.
11 states in her 2 1/2 months of life: North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona.

Best Caged Animal Impression

Carthage Jail, IL, May 20

He had a rough time in the car. "We're almost there" means nothing to him anymore.

Wouldn’t Have Made it Without

Nauvoo, May 19

Troy was so good with the kids and easy to be around. He kept Owen entertained in the back and never complained about anything, not even the caged animal.

Biggest Ripoff Souvenir

Mississippi River in Nauvoo, May 20

Mississippi River in Nauvoo, May 20

Tin whistle: $14.25 at Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store in Nauvoo.
Dollar store quality.
It is the least annoying whistle I've ever heard, though.

Best Covered Wagon

Kanesville Tabernacle in Council Bluffs, Iowa, May 21

Not that covered wagon, this one:

Mississippi River in Nauvoo, May 20

This is where the pioneers left Nauvoo, crossing the river with their covered wagons.
Even with a car, this trip had its rough moments.

Can't imagine doing it in a real covered wagon.
And you can make fun of us for a) taking a picture of our car and b) getting a roof box

Best Ancestor Connection

Nauvoo, May 20

Researching my pioneer ancestors at the Land & Records Building in Nauvoo... locating the land of my 4th great grandpa, Lyman Curtis. His land, where I'm standing, is right on the Trail of Hope where the pioneers left Nauvoo across the Mississippi River. You can see the Nauvoo Temple in the background.

Best Meltdown

Winter Quarters, Nebraska standing in front of the Omaha Temple and cemetary, May 21

This picture makes me laugh because we (and by "we" I mean Owen, Drew, and me) were so done with visitor's centers at this point. We didn't even have it in us to check out the Temple grounds and cemetary. The Mormons can make a mean Visitor's Center but we saw a lot of them and it takes a lot of energy to get 2 boys who have been cooped up in a car and hotel rooms for way too long to be quiet and interested in things they care nothing about. The senior and sister missionaries that were our tour guides were awesome and did their best with us.

Best Surprise Weather

May 22

We drove through all sorts of weather: wind (crazy tumbleweeds going across the road), heavy rain, cold, fog (could only see a couple feet in front of us), and this snow in Wyoming. We'll get the heat here in AZ.

Best Grandparents Serving a Mission in SLC

Standing on the observation deck of the Church Office Building, where Grandpa & MarJean serve in the translation department, May 23

It made me so happy to a) finally get to Salt Lake and b) see familiar faces

Best Distraction

May 23

Finally something Owen & Drew liked! The dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT. We met Justin's sister, Ashley, and her kids there for the afternoon.

Worst Lodging

May 24

This is NOT the Four Seasons hotel I had in mind. Our worst hotel (and most expensive) by FAR. Everything in Kanab, UT was sold out... but one nice woman volunteered the apartment in the back of her Four Seasons Motel that wasn't being rented at the moment. I booked it over the phone cause it would be midnight when we got there and we couldn't go any further. WOW. The place stunk, and not the stink you can get used to. Owen & Drew's room had no door (notice it propped against the back wall). The door to our room had a hole punched in it. There was electrical tape sealing the edges of the shower/bathtub (which we didn't dare use). I had to sing primary songs in my head to fall asleep.