seattle to alabama to salt lake city!

June 24th--- I woke up at the crack of dawn and headed on my way to the airport by 5:25 am... I am very impressed with myself that I actually woke up in time to take a shower AND shave! I actually arrived to the Seattle Airport a little over an hour before my flight to Alabama. Some of you might not think this is impressive... but it really is! I have almost banned the idea of getting early flights because I have missed two of them!!! with as much as I travel you would think that i would make sure to get to the airport at least an hour early every time... but sometimes I continue to push my luck by getting to the airport fairly close to my flight! Enough said about that it was a good thing! Thanks Jessica, Stephanie, and Janae for waking up at the crack of dawn to take me to the airport! Turns out I spent over 12 hours in the airport or airplanes that day... It kind of dragged on a bit... but it was worth it because I was able to spend the next 4 days with one of my best friends, Rebekah, and her adorable baby, Makena, driving to salt lake city. (troy was in the other car... but he was a great travel buddy too! poor thing had no air conditioning... i would have died!)

We made pretty good timing as we drove and drove and drove and drooooovvve! I was picked up from the Birmingham, Alabama Airport at 7:00 pm. We stopped and got something to eat and then got on the road again by 8:00... We drove unilt around midnight and ended up in Nashville Tennessee.

June 25th
As we woke up we drove through parts of Kansas, Illinois, and had a resting spot in St Louis for a driving break. I met up with Jack, one of my friends in ST Louis, for a few hours and he took us on a small tour of the city. We got to see all of the different areas. Some parts of St. Louis are kind of scary for my non gangsta kind of life style, but the arches were really awesome to see. Jack took us to "little Italy" for some authentic Italian food... how could you not love that! Then off for some frozen custard before our journey began on the road again. Thanks friend for your time! Our destination for the night was Kansas City, Missouri but we came a little bit short of that goal before we were too tired to go on. I can't believe how many pictures I DID NOT TAKE. SAD DAY!!! It was so green and beautiful! It seemed like a large portion looked about the same... but still... what was I thinking not to get any pictures... oh ya!!! I was driving... silly me :)

Jack and I

June 26th
We had a busy day with lots of unexpected car problems that were just kind of huge inconveniences... We drove through Kansas and then spent the rest of our time driving through Nebraska... as we stopped off at the first place for gas we notice the U haul truck had a big bulge in the front tire on the drivers side. We stopped and had lunch while someone came to fix it... that took a little over two hours. Not too long after that someone pointed out to Troy that the trailer he was pulling behind the U haul had a flat tire... luckily we were just coming up to another exit by a city so we went a little bit further and got that one taken care of... I was actually kind of happy that one happened because there were some warnings of tornadoes as we were approaching the Colorado border... I Have always been afraid of tornadoes and their warning signs but this time I was so close by I could feel the wind coming around me in circles... It was so crazy and cool seeing how nature can seem so harmless and then suddenly be so dangerous. While we were at the gas station the tornado warning sirens sounded... I NEVER thought I would hear those... and I did... Did I mention that I thought it was really cool! Because i did! and the clouds were moving away from us in a circular motion no funnels came of it... but it was still neat for me!

..

These are the pictures of the Tornado warnings coming into play... You can't really see here... but the wind was circling and the clouds were moving... I was waiting to see the funnel come down.

Then we were on the road again not more than 5 minutes when Troy called because the U haul said it had the parking break on and was using a half of tank of gas in 20 miles which should have lasted much more than that... we had to stop yet again to call U haul. Apparently there was a computer glitch on it and Troy had to do touch the breaks in a certain order... kind of weird but it slowed us down yet again. We finally got going good again and were aiming to end in Rawlings, Wyoming. As we drove in to the motel area the U haul would not stop. It was as if the transmission had dropped... Somehow it stopped but Troy could not put it in reverse or drive it just kind of stopped there. A mechanic had to drive in from Laramie, Wyoming where we just passed through to come take a look at it. Luckily, the mechanic said it looked like a small part that needed to be replaced and not the complete transmission...

this is in wyoming but it seemed like a lot of Kansas looked the same.

June 27th

What a joke! We weren't able to leave Rawlins til a little after one because the mechanic took so long to get there in the morning. It could have been much worse because all of the mechanic shops were closed in that small town. Rebekah and I did go into the "city" for a little bit and found a Tai food place for lunch that was really tasty! Then on the road again!


I am glad that I was able to help Rebekah and her family make it back to Utah after living in Alabama for 2 years!!! It would have been a two week journey if they didn't have any one to help.. Makena was really good... but she needs to eat often and that would have taken quite the time! Love ya and thanks for the adventure Rebekah!

In Rawins, WY getting ready to eat and head on our way!

Seattle or bust!

Road trip to Seattle!!!
June 19-24, 2009

We started driving Thursday night and made it to Idaho Falls... Thanks to Janae's daddy we were able to stay in a hotel for the night... we woke up early the next morning and got on our way driving to Seattle!

In Idaho I was driving 4 miles over the speed limit and there was a state trouper in front of me... Ironically i asked my friend if it would be a good idea to slow down just because he was there... on the other hand, I find it kind of ridiculous that people slow down just for them.. so I did put on my brakes went into the right lane but accidentally pushed my resume button for cruise control. Therefore, my pace picked back up and I passed the state trooper. A few seconds later, sure enough, the lights went on behind me and I got pulled over. The state trouper had a little bit of attitude with me... and I tried to be respectful... he asked if i knew the speed limit... i did... he asked if i knew how fast i was going... again... i did... he asked if i knew he was a state trouper as i passed him... i said i wasn't positive but thought he might be... then he pointed out that i passed him in the right lane. OK, call me stupid, i am sure i am... but I HAD NO IDEA that it was illegal completely to pass a car on the right. I knew that the passing lane was the left lane... but I never put two and two together. He got my license and registration went back to his car... and i was hoping that i wouldn't be getting a ticket this day. As he came back to my car he asked me where i was headed, i told him and he said you are passing through Oregon be sure to follow the speed limit. He said i will not be giving you a ticket at this time, but be sure to drive the speed limit. This is one of the deadliest roads... if you got in an accident going only 4 miles over you would be killed on this highway. I want you to be safe... Good enough for me... but I was thinking in my head "are you trying to tell me that if i got in an accident at 75 i would be so much more safe than if i was going 79? Really when you are going that fast... does 4 miles really make that big of a difference? I think not" Any way, i was glad i didn't get a ticket for speeding or passing on the right. Ironically before I left my dad said "Cherice, the word of advice i would give you is to keep the speed limit on this trip" I said "Dad, I usually stay pretty close to the speed limit, if anything i go 4-8 miles over... i should be fine" he retorted... Keep the speed limit! Long story... any way... I am glad the outcome was as it was!!!

We stopped off at Snowqaulmi falls on the way into Seattle... They are pretty!

We were pretty tired the night we got in but we went to a few places.... the gigantic Troll and Keri park for a nice view of the city!

Janae, Stephanie, Chara, and Cherice
the troll has a real VW bug in its hand... kind of cool!

Keri Park has a very nice view of the city

Just hanging out at Keri Park!

We went to the temple some doing baptisms for the dead and others doing initiatories. Conveniently I locked my keys in the truck... I thought I had left them inside the temple somewhere so I went on a search... leaving my trunk as the last option... luckily I have a hidden key and was able to get to the trunk... or that could have been a little bit expensive! That is why the clothes vary!

Jessica, Chara, Cherice, Janae, and Stephanie

Sunday morning we took a little walk around the lake... ok the lake is about 3 miles around... but we would go there running many a morning... it is so serene and peaceful there! Love it!

Later that night we headed off to see the sunset at Golden Gardens!

Monday was our day to tour the city! We went close to the Space needle and in front of the the Pacific Science Center climbed up this lovely sculpture!



It was a little scary climbing inside... I am not going to lie... but it was a fun little adventure...

Off to Pike's Market for some fun! If you go to Seattle you have to go here! It is just a FABULOUS Place!!!

I love it when people are helpful and offer to take your picture so that everyone can be in it... but then they kind of miss getting what you wanted inside of it... Notice down below... all four of us are inside the picture... yet the red icon of PUBLIC MARKET CENTER is missing. Oh well... I am just grateful that there are still such wonderfully nice people in the world :)

This man was supposedly 8 feet 11 inches tall... That is a giant at that... I am 5 feet 6 inches... I am a shorty for sure in comparison! I can't even imagine being that tall... WOW!
The market is full of fish, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and little boutiques... so much fun!
Fresh fruits and veggies... so tasty!
The flowers are so beautiful and inexpensive... I bought them a few times while I lived there!
Don't forget to rub the famous pig, Rachel, so that you can return to Seattle! So far its magic has worked for me... three summers in a row! :)

We took a ferry ride to Bainbridge island for a few things... its fun to be on the ferry... there are some cute little stores in Bainbridge... but mostly... there is delicious ice cream at Mora's. Fresh ice cream made daily and the variety of flavors is unreal... SO YUMMY!!!

Silly Faces :0

I had six different flavors of ice cream and they were all delicious... but i especially loved there lemon bar with real lemon bar inside and dark chocolate mint... blue berry, black berry, raspberry, and swiss chocolate were the flavors I ate... yum! (so i might have been a bit of a pig... but we took the ferry ride to Bainbridge just for the ice cream... and i won't get it for a long time after :)

After our ferry ride we stopped on the pier at a few of the shops for some souviners... he met us along the way!
Tuesday we went to Discovery Park for a little hiking adventure... it was pretty... and easy and just relaxing!
Later that night we met up at Gas Works Park for a beautiful view, wonderful Gorditto's burritos and amazing company!

Ben and Jessica

Sariah, Jasmine, Janae, and Chara

Peter, Cherice, and Stephanie

View of Seattle from Gas Works Park.. so beautiful! I love Seattle!
Thanks for the road trip girls! It was so much fun... sorry I had to bail a day early :) It was amazing. And there were even a few days without rain. SO green and beautiful!

A jaunt to Vernal!

June 15-17, 2009

I was able to take a fun little trip to see one of my Snow College roommates, RoseAnna Barker Batty in Vernal, Utah! Katie invited me along and I am SO glad she did! We had a blast! RoseAnna's house is darling... even though she has lived there for three years... Katie and I simply were impressed and kept complimenting her "new" house. We didn't do too much but friends don't have to :) It was just fun to hang out and talk amongst ourselves!


RoseAnna was a champ at making us wonderful food! She made us Cafe Rio style burritos, spaghetti with homemade bread sticks, and we did take the kids to the park for a little bit of pizza!

RoseAnna, Cherice, and Katie

After our yummy meal!


After listening to these cute little kids... I have decided I love the way that kids say YES!!!
It is just too cute for words!
Jacob, Carolyn-Kate, and Caleb

RoseAnna's Adorable family (minus Clay, the dad, I don't know how we missed him)

Jacob, Cherice, RoseAnna, & Caleb

It was so much fun playing again! We have a lot of good memories together!


I made some new friends...

RoseAnna said that after I left Jacob kept telling her how much fun I was... and i believe that he missed me... I am positive that if it was up to the kids of the world... I would have been married along time ago... It is so funny hearing some of the things little boys say to me about marriage... at least they know how to make my day with out even trying!

Caleb & me

Cherice, Katie, Caleb (2), Jacob (4), & Carolyn-Kate (6)

The three hour drive to Vernal went by so quickly... thanks Katie for letting me tag along! I had a ton of fun! I love having best friends... it makes my world so wonderful and gives me so much more to be grateful for!

In between my vacations I still kept busy!

May 25- June 12, 2009

My friend Ivory got home from her mission and I was able to visit her and Jane! They were my neighbors when I lived in Miller apartments and they took good care of me! Yeah for friends!


My first 4 months in Seattle my Flourishing Families group was rather small... but Shawna and I became really good friends! We would spend our free time together playing, cooking, watching movies, and in the mornings she was one of my work out buddies... she kept me running 6 miles at least every other day in about an hour... she kicked my but! which was a good thing :) She is now married to Ed Packer and has a cute little boy, Isaac. She let me come spend the day with her seeing her small little town and her new house in Payson! Yeah, Good memories with Shawna!

Ed, Shawna, Issac, and ME

More friends from Flourishing Families... yeah! These were my roommates in Seattle summer of 2008! We still love to play and laugh. It was so great Living with these girls... even though I was 5 years older than all of them I had the time of my life with them. I felt like I was 18 again... we had tickle wars, scaring contests, movie nights, and so much fun laughing all the time... this was a very good time of life for me! I had a job that I loved and was very good at and had an awesome team! YES!!!

Janae, Jessica, Brittany, and Me

Two roommates missing :( Brittany Hulme and Rachel Lovell...

but they are off serving the Lord so that is a way better place to be!

Janae's cute nephews and niece came to play... so we had a thrilling game of duck duck goose... I love this picture by the way!

Doug was finally baptized!!!! It was a nice day and most of his cousins were able to make it! This was a fun day for Doug! Curt was able to baptize him and Grandpa confirmed him.

Curt, Ray (dad), Dominic, Celeste and Doug
Waiting for Doug to change clothes!

Jackson hanging out

After the baptism family headed over to the Mayer's house for lunch... we had fun playing and being together as family.

Cherice and Grant

Make a face! Lydia, Grant, Camille, Aloa (mom)

Mary was coming in town from St George so we had planned to get together for lunch with our best friends from high school... In the mean time Heather Mills, our roommate from snow college, came in town from Hawaii and we were able to arrange to meet wit her too! We were missing Janell sorry :( We didn't think to call her because she lives in Price... what a lame reason not to call! We'll need to get together with Janell because I have not seen her forever!!! And I totally adore her! It was fun catching up on the details of everyone's lives... we were roommates 9 years ago!!!! Holy Cow... are we really getting to be THAT OLD????

Porter, Mary, Gavin, Lori, (Hyrum), Heather, and Cherice

Heather and Cherice... so cute!

After Heather was on her way to Castle Valley to see her family, we met up with Laura and Kris (mary's mom) for lunch at Olive Garden! Everyone is doing so well... how nice! Maybe now that Rebekah has moved back to Utah we might all 5 get together. I cannot express my gratitude and joy in having my friend that I had in high school... we all wanted to be good and do what was right and we had SOOO MUCH FUN!!!! along with the awkward experiences that happen in high school... it was just fabulous!

Cherice, Mary, Laura, Lori, (Hyrum), and Porter

Trieste and Curt needed a baby sitter so they could celebrate Trieste's birthday I was able to go over to their house and play with the girls. It was a lot of fun! Rylie actually lets me take her picture... she finally warmed up to me. It's kind of funny because when I lived in Seattle Jacie would always run away from me and Rylie would play with me... then I moved back home... and Jacie loves me while Rylie would rather eat dirt than play with me. She must be going through a stage... that is the only explanation of course... all my nephews and nieces LOVE ME!!! if they don't they will :)

NO!!! don't take the picture!

Finally they were willing to get a picture taken... to show off their green teeth from the lettuce they were eating!

Candice and her kids came in town to visit. All of them went to the Oqiuirrh Mountain temple open house without me :( sad day! luckily Drew turned 12 and needed a new suit. They couldn't find one in Denver so they bought one here only 3 months after his birthday... any way... Luckily Drew wanted to go to the open house in his suit so he went with me. We had fun together!

May we all follow the beckoning of our Savior and Come Follow Him!