Geocaching

After a week where Jon left at 5am and didn't get home until 7pm I was pleasantly surprised to find out that is was a 4 day weekend so he didn't have to work today!! This morning Molly and I got up and made some monkey bread and Jon got up while it was baking and took Molly and went on a 3 mile run. After a lazy morning of watching a movie and hanging out we went to On The Border for the best lunch and then took off to South Carolina for some geocaching. We were 9 for 10 today in finding caches - the one failure was my fault but I value my life more than a find. While walking through the cemetery I saw a snake skin then went to the bushes were the cache was hidden and I heard a sound under the leaf covered ground I then high tailed it back to the car and told Jon he was more than welcome to try but I wouldn't come and get him if he got bit - so it was a no find:( The person here puts there caches in tree houses which are pretty fun to find - one today was shaped like and outhouse and had a little person glued to the toilet.

Molly and I waited each day playing outside when Jon would call and tell us he was on is way.
Molly preparing for a day of geocaching - explaining it to her doll.
Ah what a view - this cache is in honor of Moose and Ashley Myers! Jon was retelling the stories they shared about their dating while in college.
Molly contimplating going to St. Andrew's over Baylor but realized the smoothie stories we were telling her about can happen at any college as many a man seems to woo his woman with a smoothie. It worked for both Moose and Jon so I will be keeping an eye out on any guy that offers Molly a smoothie!!!
Turkey Shoot in South Carolina!!

One thing about North Carolina - there is never a shortage of fire ants or cemetaries it seems.

Birthday and Retreat

Last year for my birthday Jon had some friends throw a big party with lots of friends, this year with the move and Jon being home it was a small family day long party. Once we all woke up I was going to make muffins and Jon surprised me by taking me to breakfast. We tried to go to Mac's breakfast anytime for the 2nd time but once again it was closed this time at 9am - so I guess it is really Mac's breakfast when they want to be there. Afterward we went to the children's museum here and it was really fun. Molly played and we laughed - it is definitely a must do when friends/family come with younger kids. Then we went to lunch - this time the restaurant we tried did not have seating, it was a drive thru only version so we drove a little farther and found another one we could actually sit down and eat it - Cook-Out Burgers are pretty good but the milkshakes are AMAZING! After lunch Jon took me to get a pedicure while he and Molly hung out at Walmart next door. He had one more activity planned but Molly really needed a nap and I decided I would rather my child have a nap than go in public with her melting down so we came home and chilled. That night for dinner Jon "made" dinner by watching Molly while I cooked and I got to eat off our new family Special Day Plate for the first time!! There was no cake/cupcakes/candles or anything but it was a great birthday and I just ate chocolate chocolate chip cookies instead.
Getting to sit by myself for breakfast
Jon tried to control Molly and all her excitement while waiting for food.
Fascinate-U the entire museum is hands on and it is like a small town with and Army base even. All the lights actually light up when you push buttons in the vehicles. Molly liked the police car the most.
That man was walking around with 2 snakes - that is when you miss Alaska and the fact the entire state is snake less. They say North Carolina especially this area has a bad snake problem - oh boy!
Judge Molly and her bailiff
General Molly and her sidekick in training

And finally the Retreat! Jon's unit (5-73rd of the 3-82nd) had their marriage retreat this weekend in Charlotte. Jon did an awesome job of giving his soldiers and their spouses some information on how to make their marriage stronger. The one major benefit for me is he had to test out some of his theories so I have been getting some nice treats these past few weeks. Also they had a nanny agency that watched the kids during the sessions and on Saturday night so the parents could go out for a date night!! We went out to dinner and then went to play putt-putt golf where I came from behind and beat Jon on the last hole by one shot!! After that we went to the Bass Pro Outlet and tried our skills out on the guns and I once again came out victorious so we went and got some dessert to celebrate my victories. When we went to get Molly she didn't seem like it was too bad for as she was dancing around to her audience of little boys.
Here we are a the Lowe's/ Charlotte Motor Speedway. We went on the tour and it was actually pretty cool. We saw cars racing around at 170 mph and then our tour van got on the track, stopped in the middle of the 5% grade turn which we thought would make the bus flip and then sped up to over 70 mph racing around the track with 2 other tour vans. Now I see why they require small children in their car seats for the tour!!! While the tour was fun I don't think it will turn me into a nascar fan - I still can't see watching cars drive in circles for hours on end being fun.

Picture Update

Molly and Jon enjoying a meal at our new house prior to the packers coming!
Our first attempt at a backyard pool - it went back to Walmart the next night and we got pool #2
Molly helping daddy blow up the pool - how helpful! I was watching laughing and then distracted Molly so Jon could finish blowing it up.
Molly woke up from her nap as the Edible arrangements guy rang the bell to give up our "flowers" It is some good tasting fruit!! As you might tell from Molly's hair she is still adjusting to the hot and humid weather - she wakes up from naps a sopping mess.
Here dad let me help you once again - what would Jon do without two women who can supervise him while he is at home. Maybe that is why he is gone from 5am - 6pm, or maybe this new unit does require that much more??
Before pool #2 gets moved outside Molly uses it as her office.
We have been testing out new parks in the area ever other day - Saturday we took Jon on our adventure and it is a good thing since I picked parks in rougher areas. Molly loves them I just can't stand the heat after too long.
We tried the splash park- you would think a bunch of kids would be there but oh well. Molly not a fan quite yet but we are working on her liking water!

We made it (and did another 3,000 miles)

So many of you noticed the lack of posts on the back half of the journey. Let's just say with family there was not as much down time - or free wi-fi like when we were traveling. In the last 3,000 miles we visited 3 of our 5 aunts and uncles along with all the cousins in those areas. We arrived in NC and I flew out a few days later to go take part of a missions conference with our church back in Waco. We had missionary kids from all over the world and we put on a summer camp while their parents when to seminars and got some training - it was a blast but it was nice to come "home." I flew out early b/c the Army told Jon he would be going to the field and in order to get the keys to the house Jon found for us I needed to get back. So after a nice 12 hours with Jon he left for a week and I went and hung out with Molly at Jon's parents and then took her to my parents before coming back to a very stinky Jon (no shower or change of clothes) and saw our new house which was very nice. The movers have come and unloaded all our household goods the McPherson's came to help out yesterday so we could get a few things put away and gave us their old truck so I am no longer stuck at home while Jon works.
I will post pictures and stories from the back half of our trip but right now we are "borrowing" the internet from some neighbors who don't have it secure so while we have internet it is not fast and I am not patient enough to wait for it to download pictures. Come back Wednesday once the Timer Warner man has come and given us internet!!

3,000 miles down

Our trip across North America has been great so far - we drive until we are tired find a campsite in our AAA book and then go and set up camp. That all ended when we got to Yellowstone!!! The first night we got one of the last camping sites on the West end - that should have clued us in. Well after a day of seeing some of the most amazing sites ever we could not find a single place to stay. No joke!! Seriously all campsites were full and hotels trust me I asked and tried to get us in a few. So we drove an extra 50 miles decided we would spend the night in a hotel since it would be closer to 9pm when we finally got somewhere, well 50 miles out of Yellowstone all hotels, B&B's and other such things were full and luckily we found a campsite that had a few tent sites left. So at 9:30 at night we set up our tent and went to sleep. This morning we woke up to a FREE PANCAKE breakfast at the campsite!!
Glacier National Park was great but the weather stunk so we didn't stay too long, just long enough to get a hike in and see St. Mary's falls.
Yellowstone National Park - AMAZING! We had great weather and Molly didn't hate us for going in and out of the car for 13 hours. We did a few short hikes and saw most of the major sites, which is good since we are now 50 miles outside the park and well from the east side that is 100 miles to the nearest site at Yellowstone so we won't be going back. We are going to take a leisurely drive to Mt. Rushmore and make sure to get our campsite early!!


St. Mary's Falls, Glacier National Park
The entrance for Yellowstone National Park
Look dad some more geysers - the ground is smoking!
Old Faithful - it was amazing!! What I didn't realize is that there are over 100 other geysers that go off during our hiking - pretty cool.
Family photo at Yellowstone. The sun in the lower 48 is much stronger than what is was in Alaska!! After only a few hours outside we all came away with some pretty bad burns - we already have sunscreen on for today. Can't wait to get in the car and start our drive!!

2,000 miles in 5 days

There are less bugs to eat us b/c most are on our car

We have traveled over 2,00 miles and have only about 3,500 more to go on our cross country journey. Molly has been quite the trooper and entertains herself in between naps with reading, playing games and screaming at Jon and I. Jon and I have listened to The Chronicles of Narnia and loved it!! We have camped, cooked, and slept in nature for 4 nights and tonight treated ourselves to a hotel. After 4 nights of being in nature we realize that it is a treat to be in secluded areas with no noise, cars and fast food. There has been some awesome bonding times at night when we try and get Molly to sleep outside without blackout curtains, remember we were in the north where there was no NIGHT- perpetual daylight/dusk. After looking forward to the Edmonton Mall for the past 2,000 miles is was a HUGE let down. Instead of staying 2 nights we will stay tonight and hit the road. We are adding Yellowstone to our itinerary and can't wait to see Old Faithful. Molly cna't wait to be outside where she gets to run wild and play in the dirt.
Night 1 Sourdough Campgrounds
Day 2 - Random roadside lunch, probably one of the highlights of the trip for Jon and I. It was beautiful and Strong River was flowing next to us and Molly ran and played and then fell asleep until we arrived at Tahiki Hot Springs!!
Day 3 - Watson Lake and the sign forest. Not too bad, found some others that went to NC also and found one from the Rose family - Meredith did you take this trip as a kid??
Day 4 - Molly has become one with nature. Yes that fly died in her snot - I guess I don't know. She entertains herself for the 10 minutes it takes me to get dinner and Jon to set up the tent, she comes and talks to both of us but neither of us noticed this until it was too late for the poor fly.
Molly with her 2 sippy cups, alphabet caterpillar and book. I love noise making toys because they entertain her for the few hours that sleeping and books don't!
Day 5 - Edmonton Mall - LET DOWN!!! I guess after sleeping at 2 hot springs and driving with some of the most amazing sites a mall filled with nasty people is just not that great. I guess it was culture shot for us all since AK. I am not used to people running around in next to nothing, shops in malls that I don't want my child to ever enter, or the crazy prices people want you to pay when we had been happy with next to nothing. The upside is that we are making and addendum to our trip and are now going to Yellowstone!!!
Me, Molly and the Mounty.

We have made the best of our hotel stay - playing on the computer, taking a shower without shower shoes and I can't wait to wake up not in the cold dew of the morning but we are all ready for the open road and some more awesome sites!!!

Day 1

Today is the day we start the journey out of Alaska. Just 22 months ago we moved here from Texas and now we head out to North Carolina. We will post some things we see along the way as often as we have wi-fi on the road. We will be tent camping and cooking our food on our camp stove as we head along the path. While we are all super excited Jon did point out that his joy diminishes by 100% when it is raining and cold out like it has been this morning. Today we will be going to Tok, AK can't wait to tell you all we see.

Goodbye snow Oct - May hello open roads.