Wednesday, September 15, 2010

We're Here

Hello, bloggies.

We made it, damn it. We made it!

The truck, loaded, by the Delts. I intended on paying them generously for their efforts and not one of these guys would take a dime. That, my friends, is just good people.

I can finally show pics now of where we lived in the Midwest.....since I don't reveal current living arrangements. Our neighborhood.....

And, our cute little house. Loved it. 4 stories, a split level home, lovely trees and certainly a change from what we had in Colorado. This was our attempt at living in an older home. Learned a lot.

We woke early Monday morning to finish up the small details of final packing.......freight carrier took off with the trailer......and we were on the road around noon.

Bye, bye, KC. I miss you already.

Carter loved this Jayhawk statue, of course.

Flint Hills in the middle of Kansas.

Lots of random pictures from the road.







We drove until midnight and then stopped in Frisco, Colorado, near Breckenridge. Slept for about 5 hours, had a birthday breakfast for our 3 year old baby girl in the state she was born in not so long ago....

Back on the road.

Holy road trip, people. I'm not usually a negative person, as Shannon says, but even I was complaining via Facebook about this trip. So long. Longest day of my life.

One of the 12,346 stops we made to go potty.

Birthday girl holding up the bridge!

Glorious Colorado.

And, then leaving it.

Hello, Utah. You're just as pretty. Less inhabited, it seems. But, gorgeous. I listened to the best ever bootleg from Widespread Panic.....New Mexico.....2001. Blake and I traded off vehicles........that certainly helped the trip. Even though he lucked out driving during all the damn naps.

There he is. Hi, honey.

"Wild land fire" in Utah. Signs were on the road telling drivers not to call about it. Contained. OK.

I know these pictures are in order, but I couldn't begin to tell you what town this is. I will tell you that if I ever step foot in a McDonald's again, I will spontaneously vomit upon smelling the fried food.

Rest stop. Blake had the kids doing laps to tire them out.

Back on the road, for what seemed like forever. We drove through Vegas, at night......kids loved that. Blake tried to explain to them that it's really for adults. Jack's response:

"Las Begas wooks cool. I adult. Yainey adult. Carter adult. Wet's go!"

I have no pictures of the low points. I cried. Too much caffeine + stress + driving through unknown territory is tough, peeps. I absolutely didn't want to stay another night on the road, but have never witnessed time pass so slowly.

We arrived in Oceanside around 12:30am Pacific time. Think our total on the road was around 29 hours. I'm still too tired to do the numbers. So, you'll have to live with that.

Furniture doesn't arrive until Friday (hopefully), so we're camping right now. Little ones fell right asleep. Thank goodness for Pa, who was in town when we arrived. He picked up our house key and met us there in the middle of the night to help us get kids settled. I love Pa.


So, it was a very challenging journey.

The good news: we made it here safely; our house is darling; the back yard is even more fabulous than we saw via real estate sites and google earth. Pictures coming.

Lots to do......more to share......we enjoyed our first day here and ended it with a picnic on the beach to watch the sun set.

Heaven:



Oh, one more thing.....while in the hotel in Colorado, Blake spotted a TV on the wall showing quotes. How perfect is this?

"Your kids inevitably want to move where they had their vacations when they were younger." -Jim Harrison

26 comments:

Shannon said...

Awww, fantastic quote. Are you feeling better now?

starnes family said...

Yes, Shannon. Thanks! Still so much to do, but I'm not in the car. That's good.

I knew you'd love that quote!

Dee Stephens said...

The quote brought tears to my eyes. How inspirational you two are. Seriously..your kids will be risk takers and those people who dream and live it. Never look back but look forward and never say 'what if' because you did and they will too. Awesome indeed.
Dee

Leiah said...

Was wondering about y'all just the other day. I swear girl, your family can make a trip to the dry cleaners a great big adventure - can't wait to hear more about THIS trip!

Amy said...

AMAZING! So glad you are there safe and mostly sound! Can't wait to hear more, am so happy for you all!

Heather said...

How sweet is Pa to be the welcoming committee?!? Love that!

Love Jack and his Vegas quote! Funny Boy!

Glad you are there safe... can't wait to hear and see more!

Coco said...

So glad y'all are safe and sound. Wonderful quote.
Great pictures.
Can't wait to see the house.
I will call you in a bit.

donatelli98 said...

Love the quote ... so sweet! Glad you made it safe and sound! Can we all come visit now?

Sara said...

Perfect quote for y'all. And I love that sign leaving Colorado. Seen it so many times in my life and it always makes happy/sad.

Sorry about the rough trip. So glad y'all made it safely. You're a trooper!!! But, the worst text messager ever. And I mean that.
Call me when you can. Love!!

The Soladay Family said...

Okay. You need to have something made like subway art with that quote on it. Awesome. Perfect.

Yay! You made it!

Jennifer said...

Wow!! You amaze me!! Glad yall made it to sunny San Deigo! We honeymooned there {for a night} and loved it! You choose a great place to relocate. Looking forward to following your CA adventures!

Momma to the A's said...

So glad you made it safe and sound!

We drove last August (2009) from Northern Cali to Texas. It was PAINFUL!! I totally get how you feel. Well, not completely, we did is sans kiddos. It was still painfully slow and boring!

Love, love, love the picture on the beach. I am sure even though you are so beyond tired ... you are in heaven!

Welcome Home!

Pam Bowers said...

Yay, you made it...and safely too. Welcome! Cute house.

I'm not on your facebook friends list??? lol

Brittny said...

I am so glad you made it!!!!!! I remember when we were kids that my dad made us run laps around the rest stop too. Now I'm doing it to my kids. Love it!!! I can't wait to see more photos and I'm just over the moon in happiness that you guys are there and your dream is coming true! Can't wait until the next post. But I say that with no pressure.

timmonstimes said...

Welcome home! I love seeing where you lived:) Your house and your neighborhood were so cute! Enjoy your first week in California!!!

The Potters said...

Gosh, I'm right there with you. Moving across the country bites so freaking much. But at least the sting is over. And now you are living in such an awesome place!! Congrats! Please post pics of the new place soon!

Allyson and Dave said...

That is exactly how I landed in Orlando. We went to Disney World at least once a year, every year when I was kid. I am taking my kids vacation in Hawaii. And when they move there I will have a free place to stay!

Good luck with the rest of the move (furniture and such). It will all be worth it in the end.

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

WOOHOO!

That is such an intensely crazy drive - I can't believe you did it!

And I hope you're loving your new place - I can't wait to read all about it!

merrilee said...

Love the quote.....it is SO true! Great pictures, sorry about the long and exhausting trip. Ya'll are troopers! LOVE the pics of Colorado. Call me when you feel up to it.

Merry Mack said...

Perfect quote. I can only imagine the hell you have been through. I am glad you made it safely and with your sanity somewhat in check. I love that you picnicked on the beach. Welcome to your new home.

The Rand's said...

Glad you made it there safely! Can't wait to see more pics!

Kim said...

Glad you made it safely, Happy B-day to Miss Lainey, perfect to get to celebrate in Colorado, what a PERFECt quote!!! Enjoy getting settled!

Jodee said...

Holy cow! I can't even imagine that roadtrip! Our punks can barely make it three hours in the car. So glad you made it there safe and sound. I already miss you (since you were only three hours away)! I can't wait to see your new home!

Kristen said...

I would've been an emotional mess the whole way... I get like that. I am positive... most of the time. But big changes just get me thinking, and for me, too much thinking is dangerous and leads to meltdowns and tears. I don't know how you did it.
And I love that you celebrated Lainey's birthday in the state she was born in. I think that's amazing.
The pic of the kiddos camping out is awesome... glad you're home, safe and sound :)

aunt carolind said...

Texting Carter + reading this at the same time = love

Jeannette Pucella said...

Hey Casey in California! I love that, btw. I loved this post. I know that picnic on the beach would've made me cry tears of JOY and RELIEF at finally being there! Love you!