Hills and Heights

Our first couple days in SF are going well! Ian got to work yesterday and enjoyed meeting the west coast team.  :)

We also successfully turned in the rental van and are now car-less. Walking in this city sure is a work out, but the views are amazing!! This was my walk home today, one block from our place

The apartment is great, needs some

love and care, and decorating but is definitely home material.  You walk into our place from a small courtyard area and then see the entry way and kitchen.  The bathroom is to the left and to the right is the living room.  Through the living room is the bedroom, which has a small balcony off of it. I am hoping to grow some vegetables out there!  

Here's a small peak at the apartment (pay no attention to the piles of stuff)

We will keep you updated as we settle in! Miss you all and sending love!

Bayside at Last!!!

We finally arrived!!! All in one piece and managed to unpack the van and do one target run for the essentials. 

This trip has been an amazing experience     to say the least, and we'll write more tomorrow :) 

Hello San Francisco! 

Miss you all and sending love 

A Great Dam Day :)

For the first time on this trip, we had a relatively "short" drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Las Vegas,NV (4 hour drive, seems like nothing) 

As we followed our directions, we found ourselves in an area with very limited food options...however! We came across the Grasshopper Deli.  This deli has no clear signage and a pot dispensary next door, but let me tell ya, they provided amazing turkey sandwiches.  Seriously amazing. 

From there, we continued to the Hoover Dam!! We had never been before and it was really awesome to see on person.  We also took a tour of the power plant and learned a lot about the dam's history. 

Las Vegas was then our final destination of the evening, and we stayed at the Cosmopolitan which was soooo nice.  Dinner at a sushi bar and grill and some

time on the slots was fun! (I made a profit of $3.50, sweet). Our room at a view of the Bellagio light show too! 

And Ian wanted me to add this picture.... I was excited about my slots profit

Hitting the Ole' Dusty Trail (Grand Canyon)

Today was an amazing day exploring the Grand Canyon!  We arrived at Cameron Trading Post outside of the canyon late last night and enjoyed an awesome breakfast this morning! Mine was a scrambled egg/sausage mix in a flour tortilla with red chile sauce, yum! 

The Grand Canyon was gorgeous and we used our wonderful gift from Ian's coworkers (thanks!), an annual pass for national parks.  

Upon arrival, we of course sat through the visitor center video and then chose which trail we wanted to do :)  The decision was to do the moderate level trail down the canyon to Ooh Aah Point - and we made it!! The views were breathtaking and neither one of us slipped on a cliff ;)

On the way back up to the rim, Ian had some fun...

Tonight, we are staying in Flagstaff, AZ and tomorrow, heading to Las Vegas! Woo! 

Sending love to all of you!!!

Happy Thanksgiving and..... !!

Sorry for the delay in posting - Ian and I have been in areas with very limited cell service but incredible views!! 

Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends.  We miss you very much!!

Alright, we have something big to share :) 

              We are ENGAGED!!!!!

It all started on Wednesday with Ian asking me if I wanted to watch the sunset with him (look to our last post for the view from the lodge).  He asked this in the morning, innocently, and I thought nothing beyond, "how sweet".  

Fast forward to later in the afternoon, when I am laying on the couch post-nap and altitude sickness, and I notice Ian has his jacket and shoes on already to see the sunset.  I immediately pouted, thinking he was going to watch it without me.  I quickly out my shoes on, and my jacket (but no makeup) and went to the door to the porch.  (I did brush my teeth randomly before heading outside) 

When I stepped onto the deck, Ian was on one end, and asked me to come see the well.  I thought he said "wall", to which I said I've already seen it.  Mid-sentence however, I noticed his face, and then noticed a sign made of sticks on the deck.  As I walked closer, I saw this: 

Ian reached out and grabbed both of my hands and he got down on one knee :) He said beautiful words about sharing our lives together and asked me to marry him.  I was tearing up and shaking a bit but I managed to say yes!! (I clarified later that I acutually said it out loud) 

He then slipped an amazing ring on my finger and we smiled and laughed and cried a bit :) 

Afterward, we popped a bottle of champagne and watched the sunset together behind the awesome landscape before us.  

We didn't have much in the way of cell service and still don't, so if we haven't called you yet, we are  working on it :) 

The next day, my sister and her boyfriend joined us at the ranch for a thanksgiving feast and we loved telling her in person!

We are both so excited for this new chapter!!! 

Thank you all so much for your love and support on our journey. 

Will post more soon! On our way to the Grand Canyon as we speak!

Through the Plains to the Mountains

Yesterday was our longest travel day yet! We left good ole' Kansas City, MO at 9am and arrived in Westcliffe, CO by 9:30pm!  Don't worry, we stopped for a longer lunch in Russell, KS so the cats could be out of the cage for awhile.  

We were all smiles in the morning! (Or

whatever faces those are :) )

And drove our way through the flat land of Kansas.  We noted that we could see how quickly a tornado could fly across the plains (mentions of the Wizard of Oz were frequent) 

As we approached the Colorado border, we realized we would gain another hour going into Mountain Time! Woo!! 

On our last leg, we stopped at the grocery store to pick up supplies for Thanksgiving on Thursday!! My sister will be coming down from Denver and we will cook together :) can't wait!! 

And to top off the day, we arrived to a gorgeous ranch/lodge where Ian's coworker invited us to stay.  This is our view this morning!! 

Talk soon! Love and miss you! 

Gateway to the West

Today was a full day of travel, from Louisville KY to Blue Springs MO (right outside if Kansas City). 

We stopped in St Louis and took a trip to the top of the Gateway Arch!!  The view was awesome and we learned a bit of history along the way. 

The cats complained for the next few miles but finall settled in for the second half of the trip.  The first half of the trip included two cats being ninja cats and figuring out how to get to the back of the van.  Oh my goodness, laughs and cat cries were heard :) 

To end a long day of travel, we enjoyed a delicious BBQ dinner at Zarda's in Blue Springs.  We are soooo full :) 

Miss you and will update soon! 

Where we are right now!!

Itinerary for Road Trip

Officially "On the Road"

Saying goodbye to my momma was tough but we got through it and started our trip to the first itinerary stop: Louisville, KY

The kitties were not so thrilled to be back in the car and caused a few additional road stops along the way.  We also have been listening to Gone Girl and are completely sucked in to the story.  Don't tell us what happens if you know!

After arriving in Lousiville around 7pm, we had a delicious dinner at Harvest restaurant, which had a farm-to-table model.

This morning, we are enjoying breakfast at a local diner and we will let you know how it is!!

Saying "see ya later"

Today was filled with coffee, laughter, family, and friends.  It was a great day together (with some tears saying goodbye, or more like a "see ya later") to the Chambersburg crew.  Not only do I have my biological family, but I also have the "village" who raised me.

Chef Bill at the 1000 Club also cooked an amazing Thanksgiving meal for us to enjoy all together! It was wonderful to look around the table and see all the love in the room.  We are so lucky.  Even though we will be farther away now, the love that we feel for our family and friends will only grow stronger. 

Geesh, how's that for sappy? :) 

Tomorrow we head out for Louisville, KY so more updates to come! 

:)

Day 1

Today was the first day of the road trip and was a success! Overall, the cats did fairly well - minimal crying and only a few dramatic moments :)

We arrived in Chambersburg, PA around 7pm and Bill served an amazing dinner (chicken piccata!, Ian's favorite) and it was followed by relaxation on the couch. Driving sure does where you out more than I remember! 

Talk soon! 

- M.E and Ian 

The cats staring out the window at cars flying by (attempting to jailbreak from their cage) 

Anybody up for a Road Trip?!

The time has come - after weeks and months of talking, planning, job hunting, sorting, and packing - we have finally arrived to the evening before our road trip.   The van is packed and after a quick sweep inside, the condo will be ready for Stephany to enjoy! 

As always, in times of transition, many emotions and thoughts run through your brain.  Or at least they run through mine.  I am filled with excitement for our new adventure, mixed with a bit of nervousness about the new journey.  Wish us luck!!

We will be positing pictures and notes along our road trip over the next two weeks so you can keep up with our travels.

Talk soon!

~M.E and Ian 

Pictures of me picking up the rental van (Ian took this picture, I will get one of him with the van soon!)