Making the Trek

After 7 days, over 2000 miles, and a few stops along the way, we finally made it to New Mexico. The kids did awesome and besides a few extra potty breaks along they let us stay right on schedule with our driving. We stayed the first night in Washington, PA, the next in Indianapolis, the next two in Nauvoo, the next somewhere in Kansas, the next two in Colorado Springs and finally arrived in Albuquerque. The drive was nice but would have been better if Joe and I could ride together instead of having to take two cars.

First state after leaving Maryland.

The last time we will probably go through this tunnel. Annika loved going through it every time we drove to Ohio. Seems strange we are on the other side of the country now.

Annika's animals kept her company the entire trip.

Didn't get a picture of entering PA, maybe Joe did, but here we are entering Ohio.

We spent the afternoon in Dayton and took the kids to the Boonshoft Museum to burn off some energy. Wanted to go to a nearby park, but the weather was so hot and humid and there was a heat advisory, so we stuck to the indoors.

Brayden crawling through the tree.

Annika digs this!

Brayden LOVED this recycle truck. We had to visit it a few times for him and he cried every time we made him get off so another kid could have a turn.

Brayden operating the truck.

There was a little zoo inside the museum. This sea otter loved being the center of attention. When people walked up to the window he would swim up to them and stand on the other side of the window right in front of them.

This guy looked like a statue to me. He was funny.

Annika was the pizza king (or rather, queen)!

We drove to Indiana after the museum and spent the night in Indianapolis. Don't have a picture of the Indiana sign, but got on of Illinois.

Our first stop in Illinois was Carthage. This is where Joseph, Hyrum, and those with them were jailed. The family in charge of the jail only held them in bars for a few hours, then treated them like invited guests. They even all ate together with the family.

The jail cell on the upper floor.

The door the mob shot threw and the hole from the bullet that killed Hyrum.

The room Joseph and Hyrum died in. The window in the background is the one Joseph attempted to jump to safety from without success.

The upper window is the room where Joseph and Hyrum were killed by the mob.

Memorial to Joseph and Hyrum.

Nauvoo temple! The experience in historic Nauvoo was amazing. The food in the city, not so much! The view of the temple never got old!

Statue of the first vision.

The Christus.

Wagon ride pulled by oxen.

Annika petting the ox.

Jonathan Browning gun. The guns he made here he added the label, "Holiness to the Lord, Our Preservation."

The missionary who gave us the tour of the Browning House. I thought only Senior Missionaries were assigned to Nauvoo, but during the summer young missionaries are assigned to the mission as entertainers who preform in the musicals put on at night. This was his second mission, his first being a two year one in Wisconsin.

Brigham and Joseph always new the Saints would continue West.

There is a kids area with games and activities of the times. Annika loved this horse and the lamb in the next picture.

Annika having a great time!

There were clothes for the kids to dress up in as they played.

Who needs a playhouse when you can have a log cabin to play in?

Brayden is so adorable sometimes. I love when he stands on his tip toes.

Joe walking on stilts. He was shaky at first, but he caught on quick and was actually pretty good.

Braden riding the lamb.

Annika was thoughtful enough to take food and water to the animals.

Playing house.

Joseph Smith's home.

It was hard to believe how close the house was to the banks of the Mississippi. Those green bushes are growing in the river.

Don't know what happened to the picture I took of the grave, but this explains how he was buried.

We left Nauvoo and drove through Missouri.

Brayden knows how to chill.

Blowing raspberries at me.

Don't have a picture of us entering Kansas, but Joe had talked so bad about driving through it I didn't have any expectations of it. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it! Check out the beautiful sky!

And there were plenty of sunflower fields to enjoy along the way.

We made it to Colorado to spend a couple nights in Colorado Springs.

Walking to the Chapel at the Air Force Academy. Annika is so cool!

Inside the Protestant portion of the chapel.

The Catholic portion of the Chapel.

Hindu area.

Jewish chapel.

No matter where we are Brayden will find stairs to be mastered.

It was interesting that 4 churches fit into one building.

We watched the cadets line up for lunch as the band played.

Annika and Joe went to a dinosaur museum earlier in the day and Annika came out in tears after watching a film where the dinosaurs died. She was so upset and sobbing. We took a drive up the canyon and let the kids play along side a stream. It lightened Annika's mood and was a nice afternoon.

I love this picture of Brayden. He's like "What?"

Playing in the stream.

Annika loved jumping in the stream!

Jumping in the water is fun!

Me and Brayden. He always has to have something in his mouth.

After Colorado we finally made it to New Mexico. The first few days here I thought 3 years can't go fast enough, but we've been here less than 3 weeks and I'm already starting to enjoy the change of scenery.

An old volcano.