Road Trip!

Sean and Traci took the plunge and moved across the country to Texas!  Over Martin Luther King Weekend, Russell and Sean took a fun road trip in the Uhaul from St. George to Longview, TX and boy was it a fun trip. 

We had a time table to meet and get to Texas in and we were determined to get there by Sunday afternoon. Our family got to St. George on Thursday night late and we had a fun birthday for my mom. Then it was off to bed to get up early and be on the road by 10 in the morning. I should have known better to get out of town by then. Everyone woke up late and it seemed like everything was in slow motion and we were not going anywhere. Finally after we got the big chair in the back to fit and picked up the trailer we were almost ready to leave. This was Sean's first big move as an adult and a Dad, so he was nervous on a few things. He has never loaded a car on a trailer and has never driven a long truck and trailer. This trip was going to be fun. I told him by the time we get to Texas you will be a pro at it. We got the car on the trailer and locked down. I did a final 360 of the truck and trailer and noticed the back tire was really low. I thought oh great my time wasted to get it fixed. We got it pumped up and finally on the road by 1 pm. WOW I thought we have a long drive tonight. Sean was nervous to drive in town and in Vegas so I drove to Phoenix where we stayed the night around 10pm.  

Here is the two of us before we left and we knew it was going to be a fun and long trip. We stayed at a really nice hotel by the airport in Phoenix about 6 blocks from ghetto-ville. We thought it was a two bed place when we booked it, but when we got in, there was only one. Yippy slumber party in one bed. We both laughed. We were both tired from a long day and we needed to get up at 7 am to be on the road. After some Little Caesar pizza and some basketball highlights we went to bed.The next morning as you can tell from the picture above I told Sean it was his turn. With a little hesitation he stepped up to the front seat and off we went. I gave him some driving pointers about driving a truck this heavy and long and you can tell he absorbed all of it. Now you have to know something about Sean, he is a stickler on driving the exact speed limit or under a little bit.  I put him behind the wheel and he was nervous so he was afraid to go very fast. The wind blew a little bit in some areas and he slowed down even more. I don't blame him for his first time. While he was driving I got to see the sights and one was these three decked out racing Dodge Vipers just outside of Phoenix. There was also Cardinal stadium. Our goal was to drive around 600 or more miles that day and stop in Pecos Texas.   

During our drive through the different states, we had all different kinds of weather. In Arizona it was rain mixed with some wind. In New Mexico there was a wind sand storm we went through with crazy huge size hail and then after a mile it was all gone and cloudy. Texas was amazing, the rain was just coming down as hard as it could. I was driving then and I was really tired, so Sean jumped in the drivers seat again and drove. It was fun to watch him in the storm and going up hill.  He would turn on his hazards like I told him when he was going slower than traffic. He got to the point he was going dangerously slow and I told him he needs to get moving before we are hit from behind. (Wait a minute I said that in my head.) As we went through New Mexico in the dark, there was lightning everywhere and loud thunder. This thunder was like nothing I have ever heard. Because the state was so flat the noise had nothing to bounce off of so the noise was even louder then normal. We finally made it to Pecos, Texas and while we getting gas the loudest thunder sounded and I jumped so high and yelled because the whole sound went clear through my body. We had dinner at Denny's. I forgot it was an hour ahead in Texas so we sat down at 10 pm and ordered and we did not get our food for almost 40 minutes. Holy cow I thought. Fun story. Sean was in the bathroom having a baby for about 30 minutes it seemed like. While I was waiting I started looking up hotels in the area. I found an Econo Lodge for a good deal and showed Sean and he was liking it because it had a breakfast. I went on searching and found a Budget inn for a little less money and better looking. I told Sean and he said no I got this one already. I thought whatever it is his money. Little did I know the reviews were real. It was a shady old hotel, that was worn down. We got to our rooms and I looked around and thought oh boy yeah bed bug heaven. I looked at the bed and saw the yellow pillows and the only cover on the bed was the bed spread. Yeah again. I saw little brown stains on the cover and bottom sheet. I told Sean, what have you done. He said oops. Ya big oops I thought. I got into bed and laid on top of the bed spread not wanting to get in between the covers. Sean did not care he was out cold and covered up. I finally after what seemed like hours got really cold and excepted the fact that I should cover up. I did not move much that night, and because of that did not sleep at all. Morning finally came after a lot of thunder and lightning storms that kept me up all night. Time to try out the breakfast. OH BOY talk about a 5 star breakfast. They had Tampico and milk gallon jugs on ice. Eggs that looked like rubber and biscuit gravy that looked like water. We were hungry so we ate until we were stuffed. We did not want to stop until we got to Longview. Sean even made him a to go PB&J sandwich. While we were eating, Sean made a comment to me. "Why did you tell me this was a good place and we should go there. I said woooooo there buddy I said it had some good reviews and bad ones. I found another hotel for a better price and you did not want to hear it. He laughed because he was so tired the night before he did not remember us having that conversation. Good times. 

Finally in Texas Yeah. I almost missed the taking the picture of Welcome to Texas.
This was late morning when we came into Texas. Our goal was to not stay in another hotel again and make it to Longview by 4 pm. We had about 500 miles to drive and we made great timing. We only stopped for gas and pit stops. As we went through El Paso we were right on the Mexico and Texas border. It was crazy to see the United States side and the Mexico side. The Mexico side had building after building stacked up the mountain and just looked ran down and then on the U.S. side there was nice homes with gas stations and factories. Crazy to see the difference in culture. By this time Sean was getting really good at driving and not so nervous. 

We arrived on Sunday around 4 pm and I told Sean we need to get unpacking. I had been watching the weather and there was a huge storm coming the next day. So off we went unloading the U haul. It was around 8 or 9 by the time we got all be the really heavy stuff out. We were both really exhausted and ready for bed. I thought I was going to get a really good night sleep but I was wrong. We did not bring in the coach yet, so I slept on the floor. Sean offered the bed with him, but I figured once was enough for staying the night in a bed with your brother-in-law. The next morning was getting the rest of the stuff out of the U haul. We got done around 10 and it was perfect time also. The storm came in right as scheduled, and it rained hard all day. Thank goodness we got it unloaded the day before. We only had one person from Sean's new ward come and help. We dropped off the Uhaul and the trailer that hauled the car. As we arrived at the drop off and it was ready to back the car off, Sean said do you mind. I said nope that is your job, This trip has been all about first time for everything. I said you do it. He got in a little nervous and he did it. I laughed inside the whole time he was doing it. What a good time. Once that was all done, we went out and enjoyed a good time on the town. I told Sean before I leave I want to eat at a great BBQ place and eat at WHATABURGER, and that is what we did. WHATABURGER was an amazing place, it had an amazing spicy ketchup for the fries. Sean needed a few things at the store and I was amazed that milk was only 67 cents. Tiff said buy bunch and bring it home. The next place we ate for dinner was a great BBQ place. Sean literally got a half of chicken for about $8, I got some pork and spicy sauce mix. It was so good. It was a good time hanging out with Sean. What a good time in Texas. We got to bed early because we needed to get up at 3:30 am to get me to my flight in Sherveport in Louisiana. Below is my fun flight home to good old Utah. It was a long flight full of sleeping and watching movies. I landed in SLC and waited for the family coming back from St. George to come and get me. It was good to see them again. It was only a few days but I missed them.  

While Russell was traveling, the kids and I had a great time hanging out in St. George escaping the cold and snow.  

Logan had a good time with Grandpa building his catapult truck in Grandpa's work room.  They hammered and nailed and painted and finally they finished their truck.  They spent the rest of the time shooting the foam balls (or bombs) at everyone.

As part of the trip, the kids wanted to bring Logan's tent so that they could sleep in it at night.  They had a good time having sleepovers in the tent with each other and Tyrel and Jack and Taylor.  Logan even let Charlotte sit in his tent too.  He said "Look I'm sharing my tent with Charlotte!"  He was so excited.  

Colby had a good time playing outside with his cousins.  He planned a whole day with them, including marshmallow gun fights and sleepovers.  The marshmallow guns didn't quite work because the marshmallows kept getting wet but they did make really good pretend guns.  They had a great time.  Colby also loved swinging on the rope on the playground outside.  He was pretending he was Tarzan.  

We loved the sunshine.  In fact we hardly wore coats!  I took Charlotte outside to swing on the porch swing and she was so amazed at all of the things to look at.  I don't think she has been outside ever!  She loved the scenery and the bright sunshine!

Emily had a fun trip too because she got to get her ears pierced!!

She got Lacie and Grandma on her side and they agreed that she needed her ears pierced because she was 8!  So off to the mall we went and into Claire's to get her ears pierced.  She was so excited.  She couldn't decide which earrings to pick but then finally chose some nice blue flowers.  Then it was go time and we told her not to be scared.  She was a little shocked on the first ear but the second one was easy.  She loves her new earrings and has taken very good care of them.  I love how the blue earrings match her eyes.  She wanted to surprise Russell when we picked him up and he was really surprised.  

We all had a great long weekend with family.