Road Trip Day 30

Day 30
I can't believe this trip has come to an end! We got up early this morning and left Tennessee around 7am. We were anxious to get home. The girls' dance studio was putting on Snow White and they were upset that we were going to miss it. Not only that, but Aaron returns to work on Monday so he really wanted to have a day at home in between going back to work. So we decided that today would be a good day to come home. We were home my 10:30! The kids slept the entire way. It was the EASIEST drive we made the whole trip.  Eli was right, we definitely built up our car endurance. Prior to this trip, our kids rarely were in the car longer than 5 hours. We would occasionally take an 8 hour trip to Ohio, but those weren't frequent. Today's trip was a breeze!

We got home and began the crazy task of unpacking our car. We got it done. Now my house is kind of crazy looking, but at least I have the next few days to regain order!

We originally said that we would go and hang out at the pool today. But that didn't happen. We were kind of worn out and there was definitely this sense of relief from all of us that we were home so there was just a lot of chilling out that happened. The girls played with their dolls for hours. Eli played in the yard and tried on his lacrosse gear that came. Aaron and I went through 30 days worth of mail, Aaron mowed the lawn, and I worked on putting things away. For a little while, we were all lounging on the couch, kids watching TV, and Aaron and I napping. It was glorious....but HOT!!!!!  When we arrived in Charlotte this morning (like 9:45ish) is was already 90 degrees! Most of the day was a feels like 109. Welcome back. Our air conditioner has run all day long to attempt to cool it off and it has gone down 1 degree!

I ran to the grocery store with Lily this afternoon for a few things this week that we will need. As we were driving to the store, Lily said, "I like being home and driving somewhere. I know where we are going and we don't have to look at a GPS!"

I was very sad to see this trip come to an end. It has been very amazing. But being home, was a big sigh of relief. It was made all the better when we got to see our friends, jump up and down with excitement, and squeeze their necks tonight at the dance performance. It was like all was made right in the world.

We still have a few things we want to write about in terms of the trip but it is exciting to say that the Roach Road Trip has come to an end. Thanks to everyone who has followed along with us on this journey!

~Juli

Road Trip Day 29

Day 29
We had a late night last night. The kids stayed up very late watching a movie on the Disney Channel with their cousins. So today they were VERY slow getting started.

I did some more laundry today so that I am taking clean clothes home except the ones we are wearing today. Hopefully this will help tomorrow when we get home!!

In each location that we have stopped on this trip, we have been buying a sticker for our car top carrier, a magnet for our fridge, a Christmas ornament, and a mini sticker for my water bottle. When we went to the Smoky Mountains before, we didn't get an ornament or a mini sticker. So we went out to the Sugarlands Visitor center and picked those up today.

Then we went to one of our favorite places to eat with Aaron's Dad,  and his brother's family at Carver's Apple Orchard in Cosby. It is so delicious and the views are amazing!

 We heard that their cousin works at the Orchard but we couldn't find him there. So we decided to drive up to see their cousins. It was a lot of fun to see them and show our kids where Aaron and Ron spent their weekends and summers with their cousins and Mamaw and Papaw.

Then we came home and began the packing. It will be the last time we have to repack the van before we are finally home. I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day of our trip and I will be sleeping in my own bed tomorrow night!

This trip has been nothing short of Amazing! We are planning to do a blog post later in the week of our thoughts and feelings about the trip now that it is over.

But for tonight, we are enjoying being together and watching movies again. Until tomorrow!

~Juli

Road Trip Day 28

Day 28
With the kids having their National Park passports and Lucy having the "every Kid in a Park" pass, we have been busy looking up places to visit that are close by to us.

We are finishing out the end of our trip where we began, in White Pine, TN. But that doesn't mean that our trip is over! While looking in their passports, we saw that Andrew Johnson's home in Greenville, TN is a National Historic Site. We decided to head over there this morning and have a visit. There is a museum, his tailor shop, original house he grew up in, and then you can take a tour of the house he returned to when he returned to Greenville, after his presidency.

It was a very interesting day! I highly recommend visiting it if you are ever in the area. I lived here for many years and we have visited here lots over the last 20 years and I have never been there before. I hope this experience this summer will encourage us to be on the lookout for historic locations all around us and won't miss things in our backyard.

After our visit, we came back to Papaw's house to hang out. It has been super hot here (as I believe it has been everywhere) so Aaron took the kids over to the splash pad to play and cool off.

We ended the evening back at Papaw's house for pizza and watching movies!

~ Juli

Road Trip Day 27

Day 27
We made it to Tennessee pretty late last night. Because we got off to a late start AND a big accident in Nashville, we made it in just before 11:00 last night. We all crashed and slept well last night!!! We slept in some, had breakfast, and a very relaxing day. 1st thing up was a much needed oil change in the car. No surprise there after all of the miles we've put on it! Then, more importantly in my opinion, a MUCH needed haircut for Eli! While the boys were out taking care of errands, the girls and I worked on laundry and watching The Princess Bride! We visited with Aaron's parents, Mamaw and Papaw today as well.

Later in the evening, we made some dinner and ate with Aaron's brother Ron and his family.

The kids have been busy running and playing and we are finishing the night cheering on the US men's soccer team. It was a beautiful and restful day and we loved every minute of it! I thought I didn't take many pictures in South Dakota but nothing in comparison to today! It just wasn't on my radar. I did manage to snap one picture. These two have been inseparable today. To say that we missed our dear Seeger would be an understatement for all of us (except Aaron!)

~ Juli

Road Trip Day 26

Day 26
So today we woke up and ate an amazing breakfast at the hotel and got ready. Then we went to the courthouse where there is a museum about the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and it was fun!

 Inside I just stared at the ceiling because it was so cool!!!

 We got our stamps and stickers and so far it is my favorite sticker!!

The Arch

 

 It took a while to get in the elevator.

 the door is soooooo small!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 we call it the egg!!!

This is what we saw!

Then we hit the road and went to Tennessee it took about 8 to 9 hours.


                                                                                           - Lucy

Road Trip Day 25

Day 25
We got off to an early start this morning but not before Mark and Arla made us a delicious breakfast and packed us a lunch for the road! We were sure spoiled getting to stay with them. We will miss them a lot!! We had between a 10-11 hour drive today but we also get to go through some new states on our adventure.

We were excited to be in St. Louis today since none of us have been here before. It is a fun city to drive around and explore.

Our plans were initially to camp while we were here. I had found a campground that wasn't too far outside of the city. But when we were driving through St. Louis a few weeks ago, I decided that I wasn't too crazy about setting up a campsite, driving into the city, and taking down a campsite with only one night. So we decided to splurge and stay in a hotel for the night. I am SO glad that we did. We chose a hotel right downtown and next to the arch. Once we got into the hotel, the girls wanted to go swimming and Eli wanted to watch ESPN. So we went there. While the girls swam, I enjoyed the observation deck!

While I was hanging out on the observation deck and the girls were swimming, Aaron went over to the Old Courthouse to try and get us some tickets into the arch for the morning. It was closed, but it sure did look pretty at night!

We finally managed to get some tickets into the arch for tomorrow. We were really hoping to be able to get in first thing in the morning so we can get on the road for the next leg. But the earliest tickets that were available are for 11:50. So hopefully that won't delay us too much tomorrow!

~ Juli

Road Trip Day 24

Day 24

Juli- We have been so lucky to spend some time with my cousin, Mark and his wife Arla. They have been the most hospitable to us. This morning, we woke up and went to church with them at Watertown Christian Church. Last night when we were eating dinner, Eli asked what time church started. Mark told him that it started at 10:30. Then Eli asked what time it went to and Mark told him that it ended just before noon. But then he cracked me up when he said, "You know though, Eli. There are a lot of Maynards that go to the church, so you may need to pack a lunch!" It cracked us up! Our family is known for lots of coffee drinking, talking, and very long goodbyes!

Lily- They have a dog named Jet. she Is very sweet and playful.

On our way to church we got to ride in a convertible!!!!!

Juli- After church, we decided for all of the family to continue visiting with one another at the Pizza Ranch. I think we had about 20 family members at lunch. It was such a wonderful time chatting with everyone and visiting. We spent about 2 hours there and I didn't even think to snap a single picture!!!!! When we left, as we were walking out, I said, "Oh no, my mom's going to kill me, I didn't even snap a single picture!"

Lily- Mark and Arla live on a lake and we realy wanted to go on a boat ride so we did.    

They Have a tube that we wanted to go on so they got it and we rode on it!!!

Mom said I could ride on it with dad so he would Keep me safe!!! IT was so much fun!!

(Even mom went on it and fell over!!)

After all the fun we settled down and packed up the car. Did our laundry and me and lucy  drew a HUGE flower all the way down the driveway!!

We had an awesome day and we are so thankful for the opportunity to be with family!

~ Juli and Lily