Getting our feet under us

Well it probably seemed to everyone that we had abandoned this blog, but in fact we were just busy getting settled in. Well I guess everyone would like to know what is going on. First I will tell you about Tania. She got her dream job working at Primary Childrens Medical Center, working in the infant medical surgical unit. She really likes it there. She only works with cute little babies. I was going to work until we found out it would cost us more for part time daycare then I would make working while attending school. So instead I am going to school full time studying mechanical engineering. I am enjoying school, and hope to be done with most of my general studies at the end of this semester. Tania works three days a week which works out good so that I can watch the kids when she is at work, and she watches them when I am at school. Mitchell turned five in December. He is still full of energy as always. He is also getting really good at reading. I think he is going through a growth spurt because clothes that he got on his birthday and christmas are already getting small on him. Elizabeth just turned one on the 24th of February. We think she is the cutest little girl in the whole world. I have decided she is going to be a librarian, because she loves to turn the pages in books, and she has extrodinary hearing and sight when it comes to people trying to hide food from her. She still is just crawling around. She is to afraid to walk without holding someones hands.

In December I decided with all the snow that we had received that I should make some snow sculptures. The cowboy in the backyard was about 7 feet tall, and the turtle in the front yard was about 4 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Several of the neighbors commented on how good the turtle was and how unexpected it was. The turtle was freestanding on its own 4 legs, and withstood kids of all ages climbing on it.
Spring time looks like it is starting to arrive. Most of the snow is melted and it is very comfortable to be outside in a tee shirt (and yes, other people think it is warm not just me). Right now we are headed to the park to enjoy the nice weather. Hope all is well with you. Also both of our phone numbers are still the same so if anyone would like to give us a call feel free to do so.

Coming to an end

I write this entry with mixed emotions.

We came out on the truck because we needed to pay off some debt and get some savings built up. We have not been consistently making enough money, so after much deliberation, we have decided to take up residence in Utah. We are going to live with my parents for a little while until we get our feet under us, and then find a place of our own. Josh and I both plan to work, and Josh will also go to school. We have applied for jobs and are waiting to hear back from the companies. I am here in Utah currently, and Josh is finishing up on the truck while he waits to hear about a job. We are both disappointed that this didn't work out as well as we thought it would. Some weeks were great, but others weren't. We have had a lot of fun though, and seen a lot of country, and we are so glad we were able to go on this adventure together.

It has also been very stressful at times trying to find places, and keeping our log book according to regulations, and backing up in places that don't have enough room, etc. That part I am glad we won't have to deal with anymore! But the best part has been being together 24 hours a day. For anyone that knows us well, knows how crazy we are about being together all the time. This time apart has been very difficult for us, but I guess we had better get used to it...

We are excited to begin this new adventure together in Utah, and hopefully it will work out better in the long run.

Louisana

When we were stopped at a truck stop one day I decided it was high time the boys got haircuts. So we got out our supplies, set up our camping chair on the ground next to the truck, and got to work. We were able to plug in our clippers to our inverter in the truck and put the cord out the door, and they both got top notch haircuts in the parking lot. The only problem we ran into was that the camping chair was too low, and so by the end, my back was aching like crazy!

There is a bridge in Louisana on I-10 that is 18 miles long. Yes, I said 18 miles. It goes across several swamps and bayous. The worst part about it is that trucks can only go in the right lane and they have to go slower than the cars. That drives Josh crazy! We have crossed this bridge at least 5 or 6 times.

We went to church in Baton Rouge, LA and as we pulled up to the church, we realized it shared a parking lot with the Temple! That was a fun surprise for us to be able to see the temple there. When we were at church, people just doted on Lizzy, just like they do everywhere we go. Everywhere we go, everyone makes comments about how cute and how small she is. Some of the descriptions used most often are petite, precious, delicate, and many have said that she looks just like a perfect little porcelin doll. They are always very good to include Mitch in the conversation and tell him how handsome he is and ask him questions about himself and his sister.

Coolest Restaurants Ever!

The McDonalds in Des Moines, Iowa is hands down the coolest McDonalds ever. We went there because they had a huge play place for kids, which we thought would be good for Mitch. Unfortunately we got there after that was closed, but much to our delight, when we walked in, the first thing we saw was a grand piano! As we were being amazed at that discovery, we realized that it was playing music! So instead of the regular kind of music that McDonalds normally would be playing, we were treated to the music of a grand piano. It was in the room that adjoins the play place so that the parents can actually relax while watching their kids play. Then, as if that weren’t cool enough, as we were walking to the bathroom before we left, we saw a whole wall full of fish tanks! There were some really cool fish, and crabs in there too. Definitely the coolest McDonalds ever.

On Monday we were driving up I-55 through Missouri, and I started seeing billboards for Lamberts Café, Only Home of the Throwed Rolls. We didn’t think too much of it until Josh was talking to his friend, Sally, who told us that if we were going through there that we really needed to stop and eat there because it is something everyone should do at least once in their lives. So we took her advice and stopped for lunch. Boy was she ever right! Lambert’s ranks right up there with Olive Garden in my book! I was surprised to see a line to get in at two o’clock in the afternoon, but the line moved quickly, and we were soon seated. It was a large dining room, not unlike a cafeteria, and servers were walking around the room calling out things such as, “Black-eyed peas!” or “Fried okra” or “Macaroni and tomatoes”. Then when someone indicated that they would like some, they would scoop some onto their plate. And then there was the guy with the rolls. He would yell out, “Hot rolls!” after which someone would raise their hand, and he would throw the roll to the person! Even from all the way across the room. Then there was the food you actually ordered. It was fabulous, and a huge portion! I got the pot roast, and it was so delicious! The corn and mashed potatoes I had with it were fabulous too. But the hot rolls with the butter and honey were top in my book.

Later that day we were able to go through another town that Josh served in on his mission, Matoon, IL. We got to see Sally, John Wilson and his wife and son, and Sister Cain. I also got to see two more of the apartments he lived in. It was really fun.

Today we dropped our load off in Chicago, and picked up a new one, and now we are headed to Washington, IN.

Nauvoo

The Department of Transportation will only allow truck drivers to drive a certain number of hours in a day and in a week. If you run out of hours for the week, you have to be off duty for 34 hours to restart the clock. This week we ran out of hours on our way to back to Chicago from Los Angeles. We ran out near Iowa City, Iowa, and since this was not too far from Nauvoo, we decided to go there to spend our 34 hours, instead of sitting at a truck stop. We had a ton of fun!

Since it was the end of October, there weren’t many people, or many bugs, or high temperatures. It was fabulous!! After a brief stop at the Visitor’s Center, we went to the Family Living Center where we got to make a rope and learn how barrels were made. Then we made our way walking down Main Street visiting the various shops and buildings along the way. We learned a lot and enjoyed ourselves. We got a small horseshoe and prairie diamond rings at the blacksmith shop, a cookie at the bakery, and I learned that Jonathon Browning of Browning Guns lived in Nauvoo. We walked down to the end of Parley Street where the Pioneers crossed the Mississippi River when the left Nauvoo.

That night we ate at the Hotel Nauvoo and then went to the Historic Nauvoo Cultural Center for a show called “Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo”. The senior couple missionaries performed this hilarious and touching show about what it might have been like in Nauvoo just before the Saints had to leave. We loved it!!

The next day we went on a ride in a wagon that is built the same as the early saints wagons were, pulled by a team of oxen. Then we visited the Red Brick Store before we hurried back to go on a wagon ride tour of Nauvoo. We learned a lot about Nauvoo on the tour as well as a little about the river. After the tour, we went to the Brick maker and learned how they made bricks, which I found fascinating. They gave us a souvenir brick, and also one of the imperfect ones to Mitch. Then we went back to the Family Living Center and learned how they made fabric, wove rugs, made candles, and baked bread. We had time for one last stop at the Heber C. Kimball house before they all closed up for the night.

Next we headed for Carthage. We went to Carthage Jail where Joseph Smith was murdered. They were closed for the night too, so we didn’t get to take a tour, but we were able to walk around the outside of it. After that we went to Macomb, IL which is one of the cities Josh served in on his mission. I even got to see the apartment where he lived. We couldn’t get a hold of anyone he knew in that city though.

It was a very fun couple of days!! Another adventure we couldn’t have gone on if we weren’t trucking! We are really lucky!

October

Well, Josh started to write an entry a week or two ago, and I have been waiting for him to finish it and post it before I write any more, but I think that I better write anyway and just insert his entry later. We are alive still, and still driving.

We are currently on our way from the Hammond, IN to Montebello, CA. Basically from Chicago to LA. I don’t know what it is about disaster areas, but we seem to be sent to them a lot. Right after the Minneapolis bridge collapsed, we had to go through Minneapolis, and now in the midst of raging wildfires in southern CA, we get sent there. I’m sure we’ll be fine though. The good news is that we got to go through SLC on our way and see our family.

Our last two loads took us from the Chicago area to New Jersey and back again. We especially enjoyed the westbound trip. We were able to take our time, and really enjoyed the beautiful trees in Pennsylvania. It made me want to move there even more. We went to church in Brookville, Pennsylvania. They had a nice little ward there and were very welcoming. One family even invited us to their house for dinner after church. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and great company. That made me want to move there even more! Maybe we will…

When we were in Hammond to unload our last load, we drove by a really funny sign. The sign said, ”We believe in Community. We exist because of you. Thank you for your patronage.” What’s so funny about that, you ask? Well, it was on the side of a liquor store. It might as well have said, “Thank you for being such a heavily boozing community.”

We have definitely been enjoying the cooler weather. The northern part of the country is much more pleasant in October than the southern part. We even saw some snow as we drove across Wyoming. It has been nice to be able to leave the truck off at night and have it cool enough to sleep.

Joyce

I just thought I would write a little note about my friend Joyce since I have mentioned trying to visit her in the blog. She passed away the night of the September 28th after a two year battle with lung cancer. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her, but most especially by her husband, 9 month old son, twin sister, and the rest of her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very hard time.

Now here's a picture of Lizzy with a ponytail in her hair to cheer you up.