the big M.

M is for Move.

we did it. we really did it.

the day after my dads party we packed up our cars with belongings, a cat, two dogs and a little brother and left bright and early with Salina, KS in our sights! 

we decided to take the scenic route since alex hadn't been to wyoming or colorado and none of us had been to kansas or oklahoma. it was so so so worth it. we made a quick stop at little america for ice cream and made our way to colorado. wyoming was surprisingly pretty and i especially loved the billowy clouds there.  

colorado was sooooooo pretty! it is hard to decide if it was my favorite part of the trip, but it was definitely one of them. we drove down through (around) denver and over into kansas. we were right behind a rain storm and it was perfect because everything was so GREEN and the skies looked amazing. this picture doesn't do it justice, but i knew none of them would so i just admired it as alex drove. the colors were all so vivid, alex and i couldn't stop talking about how beautiful it was.

we amazingly made it to salina, kansas in one day. it was almost two in the morning by the time we got the dogs and cat settled in the hotel room and everyone in bed. we all slept really well, but woke up bright and early to two happy doggies! 

soon after leaving salina the next morning, we started seeing signs for a swedish town called Lindsborg. we obviously had to stop and i am so glad we did! it was the most adroable little town and we (especially jon) love allll things swedish! we purchased some swedish themed books, cards and pictures for our future home.

tomten heaven.

you guys have no idea how pretty kansas is. or do you? i shouldn't speak for you, but SERIOUSLY-i want to move there. the sky was so blue and the green fields went on for miles. there were trees every once in awhile and silos here and there. someday i will live there and be very happy.

we got out on the border of kansas and oklahoma to take pictures at both signs and let the dogs run free. sooo pretty, right? the dogs loved running around and it looked so funny to see them bobbing up and down in the tall grass. it was all fun and games (literally) until i found a tick on me as we drove away, stopped the car and jumped out to get it off of me only to find that i couldn't see him anywhere and then a day later had jon search me and discover a real live tick sucking my blood on my back. disgusting. 

oklahoma was a short drive, although we did make a quick detour through Moore where the tornado hit. jon was uncomfortable with driving around looking at other peoples misfortune but i didn't see it like that. i wanted to see the damage mother nature is capable of and it was shocking and really sad. we didn't stay long.

our new home.

bandit was so over this.

BBQ in forth worth, tx!

a couple hours from home i put bandit in the large dog kennel and let logan ride up front with me. i think everyone was happy except me who had to smell logan and his breath the entire rest of the way (he got a bath our first morning in texas).

1,658 miles later, we finally made it to the hagerman compound! i've never been so happy to see such a beautiful house! we made it at about midnight on saturday, june 8th. i can't believe it's already been three weeks! we are slowly but surely adjusting and are so excited for our next adventures...