Road Trip 2009 Destination --- Washington D.C. via Salt Lake City Utah

***Officially My longest Post Ever***

The reason for the move- Nick is attending BYU, and ever since he started his schooling, he has always wanted to do Washington Seminar (which is an internship program in Washington D.C.). He is doing his internship at the Department of Homeland Security - Immigration Services. We are very blessed that it is a paid internship. So here we go on the adventure.........

Goodbye home in Salt lake City- you served us well!
This is us right before we headed out the long adventure in vw beetle in SLC.

Road Trippin' it Yeah baby! and yes I was driving, but you can't tell but my eyes were on the road.

Nick looking freakin awesome in his sunglasses that fit over his real glasses -they are huge!!

First Stop- The Pugmires in Rock Springs Wyoming!! It was so good to see Emily and her cute little family. Thanks for letting us spend the night!!! Sorry no pics.



Second Stop- Kansas City- Our friend Chris's Dad's house! To rest our little tired eyes. We drove 13 hours that day,....it was a long day. no pics again.

Third Stop- Nauvoo, Illinois


Here is a little butterfly who graced us with it's presence, poor thing had a broken wing.

Nick on the overlook at Nauvoo.

The Nauvoo Temple

Oh how cute!!!!

The Women's gardens at the LDS visitor's center in nauvoo

Nick by an Elephant Ear, he loved them.

Us in the women's gardens.

The Mississippi River

Next stop Carthage ,Illinois

Carthage Jail

Next Stop- Springfield, Illinois
The reason of this stop... look at the picture, need i say more....

This is the delicious Hot fudge Cake at Cheddars! We mapped out our road trip just to enjoy this treat.

Yep, we ate it all!!

Thanks to Eric and Tam we had a nice free hotel stay at the Hilton, with a delicious continental breakfast.
Springfield is the land of Lincoln, and that next morning we paid our respects at his tomb. I rubbed his nose for good luck, hope it works.

We also learned about cicadas (they are a really noisy bug that lives in the roots of trees and comes out when they are 17 years to mate) They were super noisy while we were there.

Next Stop- Jonathan and Mandie's house. We were able to spend a few days there, it was so much fun, they were wonderful hosts!!! Little Makaya is so cute, I think I am the favorite aunt!!!

The N.K. Whitney Store in Kirtland, OH.

A Replica of what the store looked like back then.

The School of the Prophets

The Kirtland, OH Temple

Nick, Natalie, Jonathan, Mandie and Makaya -(sporting an adorable smile)

Cute Makaya

Photo op, by the beautiful green doors of the temple

Next we stopped at Nick's aunt and uncle's house in Maryland for a couple of days, and they fed us well. They are such wonderful people.

We Made it!!!!

This is our lovely home for the next 3 1/2 months

The Barlow Center welcomes you Nick and Natalie.

It really was a wonderful vacation. Now we're off the see the sights that the big city has to offer us!!!