Thursday June 23rd!! Hey look I did a post on time!!

So as you read before we left Arizona last night and drove all night.  Other than not being able to find a gas station with a bathroom for the girls it was a hugh success.  God was with us because we made it here in 12 hours (including drive time, bathroom breaks and breakfast stop).  I was happy with the night overall.  We arrived at the Carlsbad KOA campsite at noon.  They were very nice to let us check in early so that I could sleep in a bed and not sitting in the van.  While I slept Sarah and the kids went over to the recreation center and played Wii, Scrabble, and took showers.  Sarah woke me up for dinner and we ate in the cafeteria.  We had BBQ (Misc bbq, pork, beef, brisket, sausage).  Sarah and Amy proceeded to play a game of scrabble, I mapped out tomorrows drive, and the kids played Wii.  Then I played ping pong with the kids and then beat them in a game of bowling.  Now everyone is asleep but me, and I'm doing this!!  Sorry no pictures from today just recovering today.  Tomorrow we are going to Carlsbad Caverns (the actual caverns) and then heading to Texas.  400 miles left on this 2700 mile trip.  Thank God for this entire trip and the help he has given us to coexist in these tight (not well ventaleted) driving quarters!!  It has all been through him that we have gotten as far as we have!!  One more day of driving lord, please be with us.  God Bless and Good Night.

It's Wednesday (sorry its been a while)

So in the last few days we have gotten all the way to Phoenix, AZ!!  We have driven 1602 miles so far and have been going, going, going!!  It has been a lot of driving but the kids are holding on great!!  I am so proud of the kids.  There hasn't been much for them to do in the car but they have been Angels!!  I'm very happy with the trip over all.  With just over 1000 miles to go I think we are going to make it.  Pray that we can finish up strong.  Tonight we are driving 616 miles of the 1000.  So Friday should be a little lighter driving.  So Monday was Disneyland.  We had a lot of help getting in by friends and family.  Our wonderful friends Scotty and Dana Ast, Cousins Jimmy and Linda Farrah, and Grandma and Grandpa (Chris and Reg).  We didn't know if we could afford it but because of these guys we got in and had the best day ever!!  I'm going to put on some of the pictures but can't put them all on. We got there at 9am and stayed until after 11:30PM!!  We made a full day of it and the kids had a blast.  We rode splash mountain, space mountain, and tons of other rides.  We saw Princesses, Tigger, Mickey, and the entire parade of characters.  We ended the day at Disneyland store and Lego store so they could spend all the money Grandma and Grandpa gave them for souveniers.  We finally made it home and crashed, Emma made it to the first couch inside Cousin Jimmy's and Linda's house and crashed!!  Beth and Tyler made it all the way to bed but we didn't hear a peep out of them!!  We were all so tired we slept in and started our day a little late for Phoenix.  We got to the Jeffery Residents last night (Tuesday).  They were kind enough to let us crash at there house and Karen had even made us fresh cookies for when we arrived!!  Karen and Dain Jeffery are Dana Ast's Parents.  They live in Glendale, AZ.  That is just north a bid of Phoenix.  We have been here resting last night and today.  I have been asleep for the last few hours so that I can drive tonight.  I'm planning on taking it easy and getting there around 10 or 11am.  Then we will stay there until Friday and head to Texas.  All the days have been going together and with so many great people to visit and things to see it has been quite the week.  I will try to post more tomorrow night after we see the caverns.  Thanks for all the prayers and keep them coming.

Friday 17th and Saturday 18th

Aloha, so it isn't as easy to post out here in the boondocks!!  I am combining the two days just to make sure I can keep up.  So as you read last post, we left Thursday and drove all night down to The Redwood Forest in Northern California.  We arrived Friday about 8AM.  We drove down the most beautiful "old wagon road".  The Redwoods were everywhere towering over us, some were 300 plus feet tall.  I have on picture and the view doesn't do justice.  The view is from the bottom looking directly up it!!  After that the kids, Sarah and Amy went down to the beach park and looked around while I took a nap from driving the night before.  We checked in at 3pm and Started setting up camp.  It was awesome the way we worked together to set up the tent, kitchen and everyone got a quick nap in before dinner.  I made a cheap knock off of our dear friend's "Italian hotdog recipt.  Thanks Rob, I butchered it but everyone was so hungry they didn't even care!!  Then we did dishes, and I made us a fire.  The kids really wanted popcorn and all we had was the jiffy pop in the picture.  So I made a modified handle for it and then proceeded to pop it!!  We couldn't believe it didn't get burnt!!  We hung out and played a game that Grandma had sent with the kids for the trip.  And off to bed we went!!  HORRIBLE DECISION!!  JUNE AND IT WAS BETWEEN 48 AND 52 DEGREES!!!  We didn't plan for an Artic storm to be in  June!!  So the everyone really did try but it was soooooooo cold and all we had was about 6 blankets between us!!  So around 2am I got up and started the van and Sarah and Amy started moving the kids into the van for warm that could only be provided by the AWSOME van heater!!  Laugh all you want, I thought God had teleported us to the Polar cap!!  I don't ever get cold, if you know me, you know I don't!!   I was frozen!!  With the belly and the fat head, I looked just like Frosty the snowman (with facial hair)!!  I was so proud of the kids and ladies for trying to make it work but it was not a happy time.  Although everyone did keep their attitudes right.  The best part of the event was we get in the car and go across the street so we won't wake up the other campers with the van running.  I turned on the radio to sooth us to sleep and guess what station it scrolled to!!  The best christian station I have ever heard.  They had a great mix of praise and worship music.  Some old, some new, and all stuff we knew.  I was sad when it ran out of range.  I saved it on my phone so I can have it on Pandora!!

Ok Saturday.  We got up packed up camp and headed for Sacramento CA.  The views were awesome driving down the Northern Cali Coast.  We saw elk roaming around, beautiful Cliffs, and river views that were like a painting.  Then guess who we ran into!!!  My old friend Paul Bunyon and his blue ox, Babe!!  I slammed the brakes and had to pull over for a photo op, he kindly agreed to one photo and sent us on our way.  We drove all day and got here tonight about 5pm.  We are here in a nice little cabin at the KOA campsite getting ready for bed.  We will be here until tomorrow noon and then head down to Anaheim CA.  I will post pictures from the KOA with tomorrows post.

P.S. Funny Emma story.  So at the Redwood camp, Emma comes to me and tells me a long story about her walk and all I could get from it was: Aunt Amy, hike, and Chip-n-Dales!!  As a concerned father I asked Amy why she took my 3 year old daughter to see Chip-n-Dale dancers!!  She settled me down and we figured out that she was talking about the Chipmunks running all around the camp.  Sorry this one isn't that funny, but the last 2 days have been kind of a blur.  450 miles down, 950 to go!!

Thursday June 16th (this is it!!!)

So the last 2 days we just spent hanging out, catching up and getting ready to head out.  Last night I stayed up all night so that I could sleep today.  That way I can drive all night tonight.  We just had dinner with Mike and Mel and are going to have Ice Cream then head out!!  Tomorrow we should be (God willing) the Red Wood Forrest in northern California.  Please PRAY for us.  We will need all of the prayers we can get.  So if you'd like to call in sick for work tomorrow and just pray for us, I accept all responsibility for any fallout!!  (this does not include but are not limited to: financial losses, harassment, hostility towards you from co-workers, or anything else I don't want to deal with!!)  But feel free to do so!!  But really thanks for all the prayers and keep em coming!!  Thanks and God Bless

Tuesday 14th

So we got up and loaded up the van like the "Beverly Hillbilly's" and headed out for Eatonville/Ashford (the town Sarah grew up in).   We went up and showed the kids where Sarah and I lived when we were first married, Tyler proceeded to tell me that he didn't care where we lived!!!  Beth was so bored she fell asleep.  So we headed up to Eatonville.  We stopped at the only grocery store in town, called "Plaza".  We had pizza pockets, sausage, and egg rolls.  They were all good, I guess we are easy to please when it comes to food.  We went up and watched Roslyn's play at her school (cousin).  Then went and played at a new park that had been built by Sarah's Uncle.  It was a beautiful day so we never got rained on.  After a good play date and a nice hike, we headed up to Mount Rainier.  We went up and met with the ranger and got the kids "National Park" Passports stamped.  Then headed home for dinner and to rest!!  God Bless, post more soon.

Monday 13th (grandma day)

So Monday Sarah and the herd went into town to visit Grandma Danis.  The kids and Sarah went to Applebee's for lunch with Amy.  Then went to the mall for some clothes shopping.  I on the other had sat around and finally did some laundry.  I started a load of laundry and then sat around eating and watching TV.  Not a very productive day but still a good day!!