We left our little unexpected room to head out to the open road once again.
So we headed once more to California after leaving our van with a mechanic in Grant Junction on Monday morning. We had to transfer everything from our van, to the rental van.
We emptied everything, knowing when we eventually loaded it on the boat to head Maui it would have to be emptied and we also wanted to be able to pack the items in boxes to load onto the container that would also be headed to Maui.
The water that had been left in the van was frozen solid!
Starbucks...we are ready for anything! Alright 16 hours here we come!
Hello Utah once again.
Cool rock formations. We saw these in a magazine in the
hotel where we were staying. We are no longer
"tripping" as we cannot leisurely stop and explore,
we now have a mission to complete: get home ready
to load a container by 10:00 in the morning.
I wrote in my journal these words below about our trip:
Parts of me are loving this life of get up when you get up (I haven't seen 8:30 am in weeks). and sightseeing, never knowing what we are going to see and always surprised by what we find. How there is beauty and interesting things everywhere and how everyone we meet has a story. I love being together as a family and Andrew having all this time.And...there are parts of me ready to set up a home, have better homeschooling sessions, have day to day life. I know it will come, but maybe if we had a date that would help.
We all had trip weary moments. I think I felt the most for Bobo, his desire to be free and on his own.
I have missed my home, I think especially as the holidays approach, I have day dreamed of our Carmel little house.
Quiet times are difficult to get on a consistent basis because of our "on the road" schedule. Food and weight harder to control on the road as well.
Still cold....Andrew said he was so tired of snow,
but thankfully we had no weather driving issues!
Arizona
Finally no snow
Seeing the lights of Vegas!
This is my best picture of "The Vegas Strip" from the car.
Yes, these are my children with a big box from Cost Plus,
in the middle of the our road trip. I had been after a
vintage grey chandelier for months. I usually study an
item on line for awhile. I was then ready to make the
plunge. I was going to order it and send it to CA in time
for us to send it on the container but I did not have an
address to send it to. So then I got the idea to pick it
up on our way back to CA. I found a store after research,
then the car broke down and plans were derailed as we
would not be able to pick it up at that particular store.
So I found one in Vegas. The store was a bit off the highway,
so the saleswoman said she would have it sent to a closer
store in Vegas. I just had to tell her my saga and how just
her bringing that chandelier in the midst of all that had gone
on with us was such a bright spot of something working out.
When I picked up the item, there was a smiling face on
the receipt...:) I love that my husband and children just roll with it!
We also picked up "Holiday Inn" for the kiddos to watch as
we rolled towards CA.
They were out! We arrived at our dear friends, The Langford's
at about 2:00 am.
So once again, unloading. Joy had set out boxes for us
to pack all our trip belongings...anything that would not
be on the plane with us had to be packed and ready
for the container the next morning. We also needed to
unload some of the items in our suitcases. We finally finished
around 4:00 in the morning. We collapsed into bed,
knowing we had to return the rental car by 8:00 the next morning.
We walked into their little guest cottage and were met
with a sweet robe and a place set for us. It felt so
good, warmth!
She even had a little tree set up for us.
Welcome signs drawn by her kids.
The next morning, play time began. Joy graciously watched
our two as we got busy with the process of moving.
Fun clothes to borrow!
I dropped Drew off at the storage unit, he had hired some
men to help him load onto the truck.
40 foot container of our belongings!
While Drew was loading, I was running around trying to find
bar stools for our home in Maui. I ended up with a dining room
table. Again, great husband moment! I have been wanting a larger
table for awhile and I knew when we moved back, our space could
hold a large table. This also has a story, but fast version:
kind store manager, good deal, table on top of my car to the storage place,
and last thing to load onto the truck!!
Now empty
Now off to Oakland, to be shipped!
Next day we headed to Carmel library story time.
We were surprised that Santa was on the schedule!
Love this face watching as Santa came in.
Deveraux was not going to sit, but he grabbed her and so
she sat...it was funny.
We took a turn also!
Only in Carmel by the Sea...Santa on a little sled and giving out
amazing chocolate to each child!
found one of his favorite books he used to check out...army tanks
We will miss this library a bunch!!
hung out a little bit with the Langford's
We had such a lovely afternoon in Carmel as a family.
It could not have been better...
I will miss you Anthropology
Bobo will miss you Janie and Jack
We picked up sausages and hot dogs at Nelson's Market, this was
the stop Andrew and I made so many years ago together on one
of our trips.
Had to stop for treats at the Carmel bakery!
The library, Andrew was picking up some audio books
for his long journey the next day to go pick up our van.
His favorite and the same kind he choose when
we first found the bakery after Tia (Andrew's mom) and I escaped from
unpacking in those first move in days....
Our favorite door in Carmel!
Our walk down to the beach!
We had the most beautiful reminiscent day at Carmel beach!
Another favorite spot, right by 8th Avenue.
I tried to pretend we still lived there....that we would just go to
our little house after our time at the beach. It didn't work. I knew
we had left. I couldn't fool myself.
This is now known as the Papa rock....this is where Andrew and I
grieved over dad's search being called off, oh we grieved ...will never forget it!
Where the kiddos learned to ride bikes.
Have I mentioned I will miss Carmel?
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