Nauvoo, Illinois

Zoe was getting a little sick of the car!

We visited the Nauvoo temple on our way home. The Spirit was so strong as Devin took Jade to touch the temple doors. She was completely reverent and peaceful as she walked on the temple grounds.

Elder Stevenson once said, "Even our young children have been encouraged to visit the temple grounds and touch the temple. President Thomas S. Monson once counseled, 'As we touch the temple, the temple will touch us.'"

The Nauvoo temple was truly breathtaking. I know it is a house of the Lord.

Our Last Good-bye

This was a bitter sweet night for us. We were excited to be finished school and moving home, but oh so very sad to say good-bye.

We had a lot of fun memories in this apartment. I finished my Masters, we brought home baby Zoe, and Devin finished law school. On top of that, Jade grew into a little pre-schooler, and we learned how to be better eternal companions and parents. I look back on these pictures and am in awe at how simple our lifestyle was, yet how full our memories are. You really don't need to have a lot to be happy. I think that's an important lesson to remember.

We only drove for 2 hours our first night (didn't even get out of Michigan). Don't worry though, we made up for it! We drove another 28 hours in less than 3 days. I credit the '5 Day Challenge' for our ridiculous travel time.

What was the '5 Day Challenge'? Well, let me tell you. Devin asked me several times if I packed us day bags. Each time I replied, "No, I have packed us each a suitcase to last for the next two weeks of Christmas holidays." Please notice the black and red suitcases in the picture above (those were our suitcases). Just before departure time Devin said, "Okay, I've shut the trailer with all of our stuff! Where are our day bags?" As I'm sure you can imagine, I frustratingly replied, "I've told you repeatedly...I didn't pack day bags!! I packed our suitcases!" Then came the response, "Well, they're locked in the trailer and I can't open the door. It's crammed so full I may not even be able to open it in Canada." I smiled at Devin and said, "I'm in if you're in." So we wore the same clothes for five days (and didn't shower for four days). Devin had to cave and buy socks, Zoe needed pajamas and diapers, and Jade needed panties. I didn't need anything :) "Oh you won Erin. You won!" was all Devin could say at the end of the five days.

Congrats Devin!

This was my gift to Devin for finishing law school classes. I am so proud of all the hard work he's put into law school. Thank you Matt for painting this for Devin!

Last hang-out with the gang!

Yes, the girls won Disney's 'Scene It.'

My Activity Day girls gave this to me!

When I should have been packing...I was organizing pictures!! I think I organized 600+ pictures (plus got them ready to put in albums for 10 hours while driving...I was not going to waste a second of our 30 hour drive home).

Brent, Carolee and Sydney Adams threw us the BEST going away party. It was SO fun to visit, eat delicious food, and dance the night away with some of our closest friends. Thank you for everything Adams! We love you!

This is a final picture of the "Fab Four." We started out as four couples looking for a good time. Over 3 years we found great friendships, amazing recipes, lots of laughs, and even a few tears. We could only hold a picture of the Lows because they were already in Canada (sad...but our sweet reunion was just around the corner).

We love you Cami, Grant, Marcela, and Matt!

Lara, one of my favourite visit teaching companions.

Matt and Marcela. Two of the most talented people I've ever met.

Marcela and I finally got a picture together!

Ashley, my awesome Activity Days partner.

The BOYS :)

The Wagners! Jade still talks about Whitney almost every day.

We had so much fun dancing to Kinect songs (don't even ask about the feather boa).

Party Time!!

Jade had SO many good little girl friends in Michigan. I know she misses them dearly...she still talks about them almost everyday.

Good-bye Good Friend

My 1994 Honda Civic took its last road trip on November 30th, 2010. Never mind that it took us 7 hours to make the 1 hour car ride to Windsor (because we had to stop every 10 minutes to refill with water and let the engine cool down.

We had 6 containers of putty in there!

One stop.

Another stop.

Another great stop (got asked for money twice while stuck in Detroit). One woman was wearing a white bath robe...sketchy!! Her line as she approached me was, "Ma'am, I don't mean no harm!" I must have look petrified.

All of our stops totaled 7 hours (I was able to write and address 65 Christmas cards).

Another friendly neighborhood we stopped in.

By the time we arrived in Windsor our car had over-heated so much they couldn't start it at the Car Recycler. Luckily, the "Retire Your Ride" initiative said the car only had to be in driving condition (we drove it there, so essentially it was in driving condition). Once I realized my Civic wouldn't start, I started screaming, "Go! Go! Go!"

Good-bye Honda Civic...we will miss you!