October 2011: the US Road Trip continues…

Back in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after the amazing 3-week European vacation!  This wedge of cheese fit Hosea’s head too well!

Upon return to Wisconsin from Europe, Cousin Deb and Cousin Cam met up with us.  They had been on the East Coast leg of their own nationwide road trip.  We became a westward caravan after a few restful days hanging out in the Milwaukee area with Gary & Nancy Holty.  From WI, we headed to the Twin Cities of MN to visit Jed (& Cousin Deb’s) family.  En route, we made a pit-stop in Holmen (LaCrosse), WI to visit Bethany’s grandparents and Hosea’s great-grandparents.    

So great to have Deb & Cam spend time in Wisconsin with Bethany's parents

Hosea getting a little ride from his Great-Grandma

What a blessing it is for Hosea to have great grandparents!

Fun to spend time with Jed's family

Lunch with Jed's Dad, John von Steinbergs

Cam & Hosea getting so much attention and love!

Always a blessing to spend time with BJ & Sarah (Bethany's brother and sister-in-law)

Jed's extended family hang-out and game night

We spent time with many family and friends in Minnesota and reoriented our belongings into a U-Haul trailer to give ourselves and Cousin Deb, more room for the trip west.  We also carried a few items out to Whidbey from Minnesota for Jed’s mom. 

How many cross-country moves does it take for you to become packing experts?

Our journey west  took us through southern Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, western Montana (more specifically, Libby, where Bethany went to missionary training school), Idaho, and eastern Washington, on our way to Seattle, where we spent the month of November. 

Beautiful Badlands of South Dakota

Mount Rushmore in the fall is gorgeous!

These boys are PRECIOUS!

Cousins Deb & Cam headed to Yellowstone National Park from Mount Rushmore, while we headed to Centennial, WY (south-central park of the state) to visit dear friends, Darlis & Darwin Anderson - what a great time!

Driving through central and western Wyoming was absolutely breathtaking!

Nothing like changing your baby on the side of the road with the Grand Tetons as your backdrop!

Time in Yellowstone National Park - geysers are always a fave!

Pit-stop in the super cute town of Ennis, MT for some lunch and shopping...an a wagon ride.

The landscape of Montana is amazing!

Time to stretch our legs, admire the beautiful, sunny mountainous scenery...

...and let the little boys run through a field.

Bethany was so excited for Jed to see Mountainside Ministry Center in Libby, MT, where she lived/attended missionary training school from August-December of 2003.

We hadn't seen this familiar sign for more than 13 months!  So excited to be heading back onto Whidbey Island!

Riding the Washington State Ferries = LOVE!

Pulling into Jed's mom's driveway on Whidbey Island - thank the Lord for 5151.5 miles of safe road trip (trip west began September 10, 2011 and ended on October 28, 2011)