The last leg

In conclusion...

We left New Orleans early on April 11th. After driving for awhile we were needing a break and coming up on a Bass Pro Shop. My friend Joe from Clovis had told me about how cool Bass Pro Shops are, so we stopped there and had such a good time! If you've never been to one I would highly recommend you check it out, so fun and cute! Who'da thunk?!

Awesome boat! Our next big purchase! ;)

We meandered kinda slowly most of that day and got to Seagrove Beach, Florida around 6:00, just late enough for some of the cute shops to be closed. :(

But we were able to get a cute magnet and some pictures before the sun went down.

(In case your wondering why we stopped there, Seagrove is my maiden name)

We thought this sign was wicked awesome!

Amy lived in Florida when she worked at Disney World so she had been telling us all about the Atlantic Ocean and how the warm water feels like bath water, really getting us excited to go to the beach. So we stop, the kids run out to the water only to run back and tell us how cold it was! "Oopsie" Amy said. "I guess this the Gulf of Mexico, not the Atlantic Ocean." Hee, hee.

When Amy told our dad about the route we would be taking he had 2 requests for us. He asked that we eat at a Krystal Burger and a Waffle House. I think Amy must have the Waffle House pics, but here we are dutifully eating our Krystal Burger, which was actually pretty good.         So here ya go dad.

Anyways, we stayed that night in Panama Beach, Florida. The Easter Bunny somehow found his way to us and, among other things, left Addie a sugar-free chocolate bunny that Auntie Amy so wanted to let her have at! Mean mama vetoed that one and after Auntie left Alexis and Christian ate it. 

By that point in our trip we were pretty tired of traveling, still having fun seeing new things, just tired from the work of traveling with 3 kids and lots and lots of stuff. It seemed like even though we tried to leave early each morning, our mornings kept getting progressively later... which meant we were going progressively shorter distances... but man it was a long trip!

The kids still wanted to frolic and play in this "warm bath water ocean" Amy had told us about, so we stopped at another Florida beach to let them play. A storm was a-brewin though and it was kinda cold and windy. Don't worry though, that didn't stop Alexis and Christian. And the water, though noticeably warmer than Pacific Ocean water, was most decidedly not warm. Amy still claims that during the summer the water is warm, I just don't know if I can believe her anymore. ;)

So. Cold. 

That night, even though we'd only driven a few hours, we were sooo pooped! So we stopped just over the Florida-Georgia border. The next day we headed up to Savannah. So darn cute! Every block (or every few blocks, I don't remember) there are these cute squares, little parks with benches, statues, gorgeous trees and flowers, very neat!

Even though Amy and I would both like to go back to Savannah, there wasn't anything we really desperately wanted to do while we were there, just because we were all so tired, things were expensive, and it was rainy. But definitely a cool city to go back and explore at another time. And with more money. 

Anyways, at the visitor center where we parked they had their own "Whistle Stop Cafe" that serves their very own Fried Green Tomatoes and the "best Peach Cobbler you'll ever eat!" according to the gift-shop girl. We walked around all afternoon, dodged some rain, and finally decided we were ready to get going, so we started walking towards the car and the Fried Green Tomatoes - a girls gotta have priorities!

Anyways, as we were walking we heard this loud siren going off. "Just a tornado warning test,"I assured the group. They did it every Wednesday in Clovis, I know all about that. But after a few seconds it didn't stop like it did in Clovis. Hmmmm, no one else looked panicky so we just kept on walking. Yeah, as soon as we got to the visitors center they were boarding up their windows and evacuating everyone to the theater for an actual tornado warning! Kinda exciting! They ended up playing a 30 minute movie about Savannah for us and then telling us we were free to leave but there were still warnings going on all over. 

Not to be deterred, we headed over to the Whistle Stop Cafe and ordered our delish Fried Green Tomatoes and, that gift-shop girl was true to her word, that was a darn good Peach cobbler!  

Because the rain was so bad we didn't get far that day either. :( We stopped at a hotel off the freeway and let the kids swim in the indoor pool. Not the warm Atlantic Ocean, but still fun. :)

The next days agenda included a small detour from the shortest route to Southern Maryland so that we could drive through Seagrove, North Carolina. Turns out that Seagrove, NC is the self-proclaimed pottery capitol of the world. That's right people, it's big time. You know what a fool I am for anything personalized, so imagine my delight at seeing my name all over town! So happy!

I took these pictures and then...

...my camera battery died!

Merciful for anyone that has managed to get through these loooong trip posts, but sad for me. 

We searched all the pottery shops for cute postcards but finally settled for the plain ones the post office sells so that we could send everyone in the fam a postcard postmarked Seagrove, NC. (we did this for Alexis when we went through Alexis, IL a couple years ago.) All that work of searching for postcards, searching for the post office, writing them all out, and then my dad tells me they weren't even postmarked Seagrove! Ugh! We tried...

We rolled up into Maryland late that night. Finally. And even though I was super relieved to finally be here, I was sad that our fun trip was coming to an end. And that my fun henna was going back home to Seattle. We really had an awesome time. We got to hang out more than we have in lots of years. Amy is someone I have always been able to talk and talk and talk to, and never run out of things to say. She is one of my very best friends and I am soooo lucky to have her for a sissy!

Thanks Amy for coming with me on that crazy voyage! Thanks Matt for letting us! I know Matt wanted to come, to help, to make sure we were safe, but he trusted me enough to let us do it and we really did have a crazy awesome time. Thanks Lex and Chris for all your help with Addie! They all 3 did awesome!

And thank you Heavenly Father for letting us make it here safely and be all together again. 

I'm hoping next time I cross the country it will be just a little less stressful!

The longest road trip ever... continued

***Continued from April 30 post - feel free to read that disclaimer again too! :) ***

Leaving El Paso - April 8

If anyone has ever driven across Texas, you know how loooooong and booooooring it is!

But we did it! And got to Austin that night where we stayed with my sisters old college friend, who very kindly let us - Amy, me and my whole brood- stay the night at her house.

It was VERY generous and we appreciate it SO much!

That night we drove to the college (the University of Texas at Austin) and let the kids walk around, it's a very cool campus! And it really got the kids excited to go to college, so that's a good thing!

Leaving Austin - April 9

By this point we had been on the road for 4 days but hadn't seen anything new. I was so ready! So we got up early and headed towards Louisiana!

On our way we drove past a super cute field of Texas Blue Bonnets and took some cute pics.

As soon as we got to Lousiana we stopped at the visitor center and took some fun pics. 

We thought the Austin-New Orleans drive would be shorter than some of the long driving days we'd been having. But I think we were already starting to slow down... getting worn out... and we took our sweet time!

We got to New Orleans late enough to get a quick shower and get to bed.

The next morning Amy and I got up early and took the Sequioa to a dealership to change the oil and check the alignment, which had started to go bad somewhere in Texas. We dropped it off and went for a walk around a really nice looking neighborhood.

Being in New Orleans I thought we might see some Katrina damage, but I really didn't know what to expect.

It was one of the first houses we saw.

It was abandoned, moldy, awful, with curtains and furniture still inside.

Most of the houses looked good, I guess they had been repaired, but there were a few that had been completely abandoned.

All those damaged and abandoned houses and we saw just one tiny FEMA trailer.

After the car was done and we picked the kids up we went for a drive around another neighborhood that was way worse. This time I had my camera, and even though it felt weird taking pictures of it I really wanted to share them. I had no idea it was still so bad and I'm sure lots of other people feel the same. It's so crazy that so many years later there are still so many homes like that!

This apartment building still had furniture in a lot of the apartments.

And the "Now Leasing" sign still up.

It was really sad to see so many homes like that.

After looking through some neighborhoods we parked by the river and walked to old New Orleans. It's looked just like I had imagined it, all French style.

The only thing I knew I really wanted to do was eat Begneits. One of my moms friends from when I was little was from Louisiana and she taught me how to make begneits, so I knew I needed to have a traditional one!

Amy said the best place to get em' was Cafe Du Monde. It was super crowded and super delicious! And very reasonably priced which was a welcome change!

We walked all around and ate Jumbalaya, Alligator sausage, fried pickles, and some Po'Boys.

So yummy!

(you knew eating would be high on my list of things to do in New Orleans, right?!)

When Amy watched the kids when I flew out to Maryland, she and Lexi had watched some ghost hunter show, and so they both really wanted to do a ghost tour because New Orleans is one of the most haunted cities in the world.

Supposedly.

So we walked around all day (we were sooo tired!) and took a nighttime ghost tour. It was interesting. That's all I'll say about it. :)

We hadn't really planned to spend a whole day in New Orleans, but since the car needed work we figured we might as well. We didn't do even half of what New Orleans offers! It's such a neat city!

(We are definitely planning a trip back!)

Leaving New Orleans - April 11

After New Orleans we didn't really have a plan for how far we'd go or where we'd stop. That is absolutely not how I travel! I like to plan, plan, plan.

But for this trip, this never ending trip, I will admit it worked out.

There Amy! You were right! :)

Next up... THE FINAL CHAPTER... it's about time, right?!

Coming soon...

Summer!!!

Happy Mothers Day!

I hope all you ladies out there are having a very Happy Mothers Day! Because your worth it! You are worth $122,611 per year to be exact. If I was a "working mom" though I'd only be worth $76,024. And since as a teacher I didn't make much more than $30,000, I think I better stick to being a SAHM. :)

That's all according to the Mom Salary Wizard at Salary.com. It allowed me to put in how many children I have and what kind of extra jobs I do each day. Really personalizes my make believe salary calculator.

While it would be wicked awesome to make that much money, I think those calculators were probably created by men and they're pretty ridiculous. I mean, how do you put a price on hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and having a human being constantly attached to you - both before and after birth? Having numerous people all up in your naughty-bits monthly, stretch marks, heartburn, and... everything that happens after delivery... you know what I'm talking 'bout! Not to mention the endless worrying and unconditional love. Nope, can't put a number on that stuff.

I've seen this on a couple blogs/emails but I'm gonna post it anyway because I love it. This is the kind of mom I'm working to be. A lot of days I fail, but I just keep on working on it. And I would like to think I'm getting there. Little by little.

The Invisible Mother......

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? & Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated suma cum laude -but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England ..

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:

'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become..'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.

It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.'

That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right.

And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does.

We never know what our finished products will turn out to be because of our perseverance.

So Happy Mothers Day to all the mama's! Especially my own mama. And on this day (and everyday) we especially think of my Matt's mama.

I am sooo blessed to know so many wonderful mothers and I truly learn soooo much from so many of you!

So let's keep building ladies!

It's the little things...

Go me! I just ran for 2 miles! Without stopping. And by "run" I mean lightly jogged 10 minute miles. :)

Hey, it's a start!

And now 1 big thing: I will someday run (see my definition of "run" above) a marathon!

Anybody wanna do it with me?????

Mouths of babes...

As I was driving Alexis to a slumber party last night we were busy envying everyone living in their houses, playing in their yards, making dinner in their kitchens...

and Lexi said exactly what I was thinking.

"We really take things for granted when we have them, huh?"

What a great lesson for her to learn! That something that we think is as simple as living in a house is such a blessing!

Raising Responsible Kids in an Irresponsible World

A couple weeks ago Matt and I were able to go up to the Washington DC temple -which is soooo beautiful!- visitors center for a parents seminar. It was by Richard and Linda Eyre who laughed at being called "parenting experts." But they have raised 9 kids, written a couple of books, given loads of seminars, and most importantly, been on Oprah. ;)

Matt and I both planned to take notes on at least 5 things that really stood out to us but I found myself taking notes the whole time because they had a lot of really great ideas.

Some of what they talked about were things I had already planned or partially implemented, but it's always good to get a reminder. One of those things was to have a family mission statement, one written and agreed upon by the whole family. They were very big on family meetings and allowing children some say in family issues, thus giving them ownership in the rules and family stuff.

We had started to write a family mission statement after the New Year, but I thought it had to be looooonnnnngggg and detailed, and we were kinda having trouble coming up with what we wanted. The Eyre's gave theirs as an example which was:

Broaden and Contribute

Easy squeezee! We're coming up with ours next Family Home Evening!

The other thing that I really liked was that they had one date night a month devoted to

5 Facet Reviews

That's a time when they talk about each child individually based on how each child is doing using 5 facets:

• Physically
• Emotionally
• Socially
• Mentally
• Spiritually

I love this idea! Matt and I had our first date night/review tonight and it was such a good thing! We had open and insightful conversations the whole time. We were able to compare notes on each child and make improvement plans for necessary areas.

I just love, love, love that it gives us a set aside time to be accountable to each other as parents and ultimatley to our kids. It's nice to know that we're on the same page and know whats going on with each child. Sometimes it gets so busy that we don't talk about what's going on or concerns we have. Ya' know how I like lists and schedules so I am super excited about this plan!

Here's to the start of something good!

11 Whole Months - By Addison

I'm gettin' pretty big over here! Just one month away from turning 1! I could walk, if I wanted to! But I just don't really want to. I stand all the time, and I'll walk if you hold my hand, but that's all for now. Why would I walk when I can be carried?! But just to prove I can stand...

Here I am standing in front of the White House.

And here I am standing at the bowling alley.

It was a lot of fun! But man, those balls are heavy!

I fall a lot, but that's okay. I'm learning.

I had fun helping my mom pack and clean before we left California. She really loves when I help!

Then when we started driving I decided to help with that too. I'm a goooood driver!

I'm developing a taste for the finer things in life.

And I always make my own fun! Even when no one pays attention to me! 

We drove FOREVER but we saw some cool things along the way. We stopped at a place in Arizona where I tried my hand at bartending.

I didn't like that to much, so I tried riding a bull. But I didn't love that either. 

I'm doing my "Old Man with No Teeth" look here, it's pretty cute!

We got to go to El Paso and visit with family. This is me and my cousin Joseph. He's quite a bit bigger than I am, even though I'm a few weeks older. My mom said something about how neither of us would smile for pictures, but I think we look pretty good!

Then everyone had to hold us again. Here we are with Auntie Sara, still not smiling.

And here we are with Lexi.

 I like to move it, move it!

Then we drove and drove and drove. I love to read so that occupied me for awhile.

We saw a pretty field of Texas Blue Bonnets so my family put me right in the middle to try and get a cute picture. I decided I really hate Blue Bonnet fields!

I was doing a little bit of this in the car...

So when we got to Louisiana my Auntie Amy had a talk with me...

Next time we got in the car I did some of this...

Hey, I'm reasonable!

I played with some interesting toys.

I drove a boat and LOVED it!

This is my new smile, I smile super huge and crinkle my nose and squint my eyes. 

It's pretty cute.

I'm kind of an aggressive driver and I really like to use the horn!

We went to the beach in Georgia where my Auntie Amy helped my dad carry on his tradition of putting my feet in any body of water we come to.

Now I've got the Atlantic Ocean.

We drove and drove and drove. I helped drive from the backseat. I'm really getting good!

We finally got to Maryland and I got to see my daddy again! 

Hooray!

My Auntie stayed with us for a few days in Maryland before she had to go home. 

I really love her!

And I miss her and hope she comes back to visit soon!

We rode the subway to Washington DC one day. They've got some cool stops on that subway! Do you see the one I'm pointing to? 

Addison Road!

I walked all over Washington DC!

Whew, I was tired!

Now we're in Maryland. I miss the rest of our family. I remember them by looking at pictures and playing with things they gave me.

Here I am hugging on my baby that Nani Seagrove gave me.

I'm a good mama!

Maybe sometimes I get a little too playful...

but she loves it!

My mom keeps putting stupid barrets in my hair!

I told her she can have it if she wants it!

I'm just trying to stay busy around here. Finding lots of new things to play with and in!

Next month should be pretty exciting! A birthday and our new house! 

I can't wait!!!