Our Epic Road Trip from Start to Finish

I wanted to do a post that made it easy to follow the trip that got Home Sweet Road started. This is an outline of where we went and what we saw. I will link new posts to this master list as I publish them. Hope you enjoy what I have up so far:)

The Dream is Hatched

Remember we Sold Our House in Kansas City after an unforgettable 5 years of making some of the best friends you could ask for. From there we planned on a whim – and under the influence of a sugar high – to take the real long way to our final destination, in the Boulder, CO area. And that is when the idea of an open ended road trip was birthed.

We took a One Last Trip to Branson two weeks before our house closed
Sold a bunch of our stuff – which gave the Boys the seed money for Their First Business
We Packed Up our Place said goodbye to our dear friends

The Road Trip Begins

Our Adventure Begins. After dropping our stuff in a Denver storage unit we headed to our first stop in Bozeman, MT.
From Bozeman we drove to the Seattle area (where we are originally from) to visit our families, attend my brothers wedding and throw my dad his 60th birthday party. We didn’t know when we would be back so we made sure to do lots of fun stuff while we were there.

A Few Highlights from Seattle

Connecting with my Best Friend & Her Family on their Homestead
Our Playful Makeshift Seattle “Dinner Criuse”
Found out what is left of the landscape 20 years after a volcano at Mount Saint Helens
Explored both Paradise & Sunrise at Mount Rainier
Flew over to the Museum of Flight
Took a trip to Seattle’s trademark – Pike Place Market
Had fun Shopping in Seattle
Drank Coffee at the Sky High “Secret Starbucks”
Got hooked up with a Tour a Trident Fishing Trawler
Created Memories doing some of the Quirkier Things in Seattle
Made our Best Purchase Yet and Discovered our Very Favorite Family Activity!

Oregon, Northern California & Nevada

After Saying our Goodbyes to our Families, We Shot South to Crater Lake
Then on to the Lava Beds in Northeastern California
Lake Tahoe was our Next Big Stop
Happened upon a Moment I will Never Forget
Fell in Love with Grocery Outlet
Discovered the Junior Ranger Program
Watched the Salmon Migrate
Biggie Became a Full Fledged Hero by Saving a Drowning Victim!

Living the Dream in California

From Lake Tahoe we Drove Through the Basin to Yosemite
Completely Missed the Redwoods. Twice.
Became Convinced that I Got Pregnant – by Accident
Reconnected with Dear Friends in Fresno
Took Girlr to the Beach for First Time
Explored Pismo
Stayed in a Little Danish Town
Almost got our Hands Bit off Feeding the Ostriches
Blasted past LA on our way to San Diego
Almost got Ran Over on our Bikes
Hit up LEGOLAND & the (Lame) Aquarium – Sorry, not Impressed – Other than Brick-or-Treat, of Coarse
Toured the Taylor Guitar Factory
Went to Joshua Tree

On the Road in Arizona

Seriously LOVED Scottsdale
Had the Best Enchiladas of our Lives in Sedona
Went to the Grand Canyon

Oh How I Love Utah

Enjoyed Zion National Park in Utah
Hung out in Park City
Visited Family and had the Best Pizza of my Entire Life [made by my cousin who owns a food truck] – On the heals of Sedona’s enchiladas, it sounds like I’m exaggerating — I’m Not!
Learned what it Takes to Become an Olympian
Celebrated Howl-O-Ween in a Dog Lovers Town
Walked with the Dinosaurs

Colorado is Calling

Went to Breckenridge
Took the Kids to Adventures in Odyssey
Got Equipped for Ski Season
Wept after Fulfilling a Life Long Dream
Fell Asleep in the Snow
Broke My Nose
Got Medical Attention after Running into a Fence Post (unfortunately unrelated to breaking my nose)
Hung out in Vail
Unknowingly Booked the Most Horrendous Accommodations. It was bad my friends!
Had Turkey from a Green egg
Fell in love with Beaver Creek

The Road Home

Little did we know that God would throw a wrench in our plans to settle down nestled up to the Rockie Mountains because He had something so much better in store for us. By so much better, I mean, something that we would never have planned for ourselves!!! Funny how life sneaks up on you sometimes.

Health Issues force us to move back to Seattle
We crashed my parents house
After living out of our suitcases for 10 months We Bought a Home and Set Down Roots

Our adventures continue. They may not be full time, but they are full force and full fun! Thanks for going on this journey with us!