Documenting Travel. DC------->AZ

The last Monday in April, the Smith Force Four closed up the Penske truck, left our beloved apartment outside of Washington DC, and started on our journey to our new home across the country. 

super sleepy tireds. Bye house.

Monte was literally FREAKING OUT for the first few hours of the trip. He wouldn't eat or drink anything at all, he was walking back and forth between the two of us, panting, and making super scary (demonic) meowing noises. We tried putting him in his carrier, and that made things worse. Finally, we stopped and bought one of those suckers for babies noses and used it to force water down his throat. Then it started pouring and he calmed down and FINALLY went to sleep. Phew. It was stressful.

Virginia was so gorgeous!!!!! The first day went pretty quickly even though it was our longest.

And we stopped by our sister and brother's home for the night! I love our nieces and nephew!!

Monte staed there too, even though most of them are allergic, poor guys!!!!! We kept him in the garage to sleep and he loved it! He explored all over and hunted spiders and mosquito eaters! He's a pretty good sport with kids. They loved him and he liked the attention.

Lauren is also a spider hunter! Ahhhhh I seriously love these children. So much. And their mom and dad, too!! Ashley is an amazing mother and wife. She's a great example to me and she was awesome at taking us around at Babies R Us and helping us figure out the best brands and things to get!! :)

Lincoln!!!! He LIKES me!! :) :) Man, this little boy makes you feel special.

On the road again, day 3 (we stayed an extra day with the fam).

By the 2nd day, Monte was getting the routine. Once we'd get on the freeway, he'd pretty much curl up and sleep the whole time. It's just when we'd stop that he'd get really worried--especially when there was only one of us in the car, and the other was going to the bathroom or something. He'd meow really sad and worried like, "wait! Collin's not in the car! Don't leave yet!" 

Gotcha.

Then in Arkansas, CRAZY POURING RAIN and flash flood warnings!!! WOW, it was pretty awesome!

Skittle and Monte, just enjoying the ride.

We stopped at Ft. Smith in AR, and saw the National Cemetery.

He wasn't allowed to do this while we were driving.

Keeping kitten safe.

He was hiding because the cars on the road scared him. It was pretty cute. Poor little scaredy.

hehehe, our little baby kitten.

Convention center where we both peed. There was some sort of crazy hoopla going on in there.

Fort Smith detention center.

Waiting for Dad to get us pizza.

Collin getting us a room for the night.

It was very nice and relaxing to stay in a motel. We took baths, watched TV, and ordered food. Monte was so happy. He was ready to make it his new home.

BUT we left the next morning, bright and early!!!! On our way from OK City to Alburquerque!

Awesome! We love Route 66!! 

On the road.... 

Sleepies. 

So then we got to Texas and all I could think was that I wanted a big juicy burger from Texas. 

And we found the RIGHT PLACE. This was seriously, the most delicious burger I've ever eaten. It was juicy AND cooked all the way though! It's possible! CS and I shared a burger, fries, and some DELICIOUS mac and cheese. YUM!

Super scary mannequins   

Braums Ice Cream is the MOST DELICIOUS in the WORLDDDD.

Hi cutie.  

We stopped in Tucumcari, the coolest town on Route 66! It was half ghost town and half totally functioning. 

hehe, funny guy.

I was really digging the sky, and feeling some west coast optimism.
I'm a westerner, now!

Then we made it to just outside of Alburquerque and camped at the Turquoise Trail Campsite. 

It was so peaceful, beautiful, FUN!

Campsite 

Tied up so he could be outside 

THEN WE LOOKED AND HE WAS GONE! Out of his harness!!!!! We both freaked out and looked everywhere and then a whole bunch of dogs started howling. Oh man, we almost died, but finally found that stinker under the truck!! SHEESH!!

We set up camp, and since it was only 8pm, we went into the little town, and found ourselves at a cute little cafe. We sat on the comfy couch/chairs, charged  up our phones and camera,, sipped orange twist tea and blueberry Italian sodas, and....

had THIS delicious, amazing salad. It was so good. The place was so homey and relaxing. If you are ever near alburquerque (on the East side), turn off on the 14, and go to Greenside Cafe. Too bad I had to use the camera on my phone because the reg camera was dead. 

Smith Force Four, in a teeny weeny tent, under the stars, with the wind howling all around. 

It was snuggly. It was romantic. Monte the kitten was walking all over us all night and loving looking outside. 

We love camping!

Next morning. We used our shower tokens, and took our 5 min showers. As I got out, I just felt so one with nature. It was pretty early, so there were very few awake in the camp yet. It was pretty glorious. 

Two adorable guys

Happy family, and my big ol' abdomen.

Last day on the road!!!! By this time, Montgomery was super comfortable in the car.

YEAH! We made it!!! (We're nerds and went to the AZ welcome center.)

We went down through the Eastern side of AZ, which was awesome. I'd never been through before. We loved the town Heber. Super cute and lots of woods. AZ is such a diverse place.

And then we got really excited and didn't really stop anymore or take many more pictures. I had the best trip with my BEST FRIEND, Collin Smith. If I had been 1 month further in my pregnancy, I might not have made it, phew! :) We're missing our beloved Rockville friends and ward. We're grateful for prayers and well wishes. It's been a busy weekend, and Collin is LOVING work. We're happy! 

Happy Easter!

My sweet nursery class. 

My best friend, Smith. He sang the most gorgeous

solo of "This is the Christ" in church today. 

I'm so lucky to be on his arm.
And I believe in Christ!

We're leaving so many good friends. We love them!!!!

It was a beautiful day. Humid, but beautiful.

We are READY TO LEAVE tomorrow morning!

AZ, here come the $miths. 

pregnant and moving

I'm feeling great. I'm loving not being nauseated anymore, but now I'm getting bigger so it's weird and uncomfortable. Still, I feel great. I enjoy being pregnant (so far). I'm starting my 5th month. I finally went and got some maternity clothes, and I feel so much more sexy mama-ish rather than fat and can't fit in my clothes!! 

This spring is GORGEOUS! The blossoms are HOT PINK! The breeze is cool. I'm sad we have to leave it for the DEATH HEAT, but I love the sun and will be swimming all summer. AZ is going to be amazing.


We're packing away!!! And also having lots of fun being home together all day. Montgomery is OBSESSED with all the billions of boxes and packing stuff and is constantly running and hiding and attacking. 


Love my little fam!

What I've been up to at the house

Ohhhh, what a trip it's been!!! I've been all over the country the last 2.5 weeks. Many pictures will be posted about that. But this last leg has been spent at Mom and Dad Smith's home in Port Charlotte, cleaning and organizing. It has been the least intense part of the trip and it gets more and more relaxing by the day. I'll be home next Monday evening. :) I can't stop fantacizing about that first moment with CS.

BTW, yesterday I saw the movie, Hanna, and I LOVED it.

A few crappy phone pictures to update you on me:

 Alien Paratroopers:

 Dad making Nachos:

Dirty Silly Band:

Answering messages and boxing up things:

Naaaasty Mango:

Photos in bins:

Babe:

peace

Click on link below and listen to super pretty song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S631tbfalF8



Lord make me an instrument of thy peace,
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.

O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive-
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

mulan, live-action

I'm in Utah with my in-laws and brother, and will be driving back to FL with them tomorrow.
I'll be in FL for two more weeks, helping out my mother-in-law.

I fly home the 18th, will kiss Collin all over every inch of his body, and then we have ONE WEEK TO PACK because....

Collin GOT A JOB at the ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER! WOWOWOWO!! I'm so proud of him. We are moving to Phoenix!!!!

We are excited/sad/faithful as we are preparing to leave this wonderful home and the incredible friends we've made and start a new adventure together. I'm just so grateful for technology to keep in touch, and for all we've learned and experienced. I seriously am moved by all the love we've received. The ward we are about to move from has truly been a Zion ward. People have included us, fed us, sustained us, befriended, inspired, intrigued, served, listened, laughed with us, and taught us. I thank them and Heavenly Father for them, and I pray we can do the same to others. We have been so happy; we've seen so much; Collin and I have grown so close. So many blessings, I can't even count them all.

So many changes! I must say, I'm going to miss seeing that ol' Washington Monument all the time.
We plan to be in Phx by the end of the month. And that will be my THIRD road trip across the country
a) in my life, b) THIS MONTH! Haha!

I miss my husband, Collin, and my kitten, Montgomery. (cute pic above)
Seriously, my heart aches because I miss CS so badly. I wake up fine,
but it gets really bad at night. I get so down, but I am sustained. Then I
wake up and feel okay again. Don't get me wrong, I am having a really
fun time, and I'm happy, feel well, get to see cousins, and talk to and text
Collin constantly throughout the day. But it's just really hard to be away
from my best friend. It's hard not to kiss those lips. But learning!
Growth! And what a talk by Elder Richard G. Scott today at General 
Conference about how to treat and appreciate our spouses. I seriously
teared the whole time. I, I can't describe my love for you Collin. It grows
stronger every day. Babe and I miss you. He/she is getting bigger!
I can't wait to continue our adventure together for this life and for
eternity because that is how long we will be together. Forever.

That.

is.

Awesome.


Love, Nicole Elizabeth Money Smith