Well, before this whole trip started, Bill celebrated his 27th Birthday. We went with our families to a Salt Lake Bees game and it was a blast!
Now on to our road trip...Bill's packing job for our trunk. He was very proud of how well everything fit, and yes ladies and gentlemen, it was packed just like this every morning of our trip. I am just glad he was excited to do it, cause if it was up to me? Well, it would not have looked like this.
Getting ready to pull out of town...does it look like we were just crying? (And by "we" I mean "me.") Well it was an emotional two days saying goodbye to our families. We miss them already, but we are so glad that we are here!
Casper, WY...our first stop, and we even got to do some handcart pulling.
Nina at our campsite in Casper. She was the cutest thing for miles...and the only thing for miles for that matter. Kind of an armpit up there, but still fun.
Bill showing our campsite for night one. We did camp the first two nights of the road trip. It was fun, and it made those Motel 6's the rest of the way feel like five star Hotels...just helped us put things in perspective, ya know?
Then we woke up and drove to Rapid City South Dakota. Who knew there was so much to do? South Dakota is awesome! You should go. First thing in the morning we drove to Crazy Horse. So amazing and so huge!! I mean Mount Rushmore could sit on the face of the crazy horse monument! Who knew?! (Oh and I just loved this picture of Nina, of course I have just a regular smiling one, but this? too good to pass up!)
Us standing by a statue of what the finished monument will look like, with the current one in the distance.
Mount Rushmore!
Bear Country USA...so much better than Bear World in ID. Really, this was a real highlight for Nina.Click here to see what I mean.
Okay...if you have a weak stomach turn away now. This next picture is of the bird we hit on our way from WY to SD. We did not think much of it...until we got to bear country. We were putting along in the bear exhibit, and this bear in the middle of the road just starts walking toward our car. We are like, "Oh cute, look Nina he is coming to say Hi." Right. Well when he gets up close he just puts his head down and starts scratching or gnawing at our bumper...where the bird was stuck to our air intake. We were scared he was going to mess up our car, so we honked, which scared him for a minute and he jumped back, but then stared coming for us again. We hurried and sped away, not taking much more time in the bear exhibit.
Our campsite at Mystery Mountain...eating our breakfast of Costco Muffins.
Reptile Gardens...we are still and SD and still more to see!
This one was too good to pass up...thanks honey. 
We went to an alligator and crocodile show and it was awesome. This guy was literally wrestling this alligator while there were about 20 others just right by him.
The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. This was the perfect random stop for a road trip.
Yes, that is all corn.
Nina modeling in our motel 6...we stayed in Sioux Falls this night. This picture also reminds me of just how small those towels were. Glad to be home. 
Another great stop on the road. The Gothic House in Eldon, Iowa. Nina was napping in the car, so we rolled the windows down and ran up and snapped a shot. I love Bill's pitchfork! Ha!!
Nauvoo, Illinois
About one minute before we pulled up to our motel, Nina peed in her car seat. She was such a trooper, and it was totally my fault. So we headed over to the laundromat. It was so HOT and so HUMID!! 
The Nauvoo Temple
Overlooking the Mississippi River
We went on this great wagon ride all over the town, and got to see everything.
By 10am it was 93 degrees with 90% humidity and a heat index of 100. In other words, we bought some fudge and hit the road. Here is a picture of Nina that pretty much sums up her whole trip. Just watching her movie in the backseat. She was so awesome!
We stayed in Dayton, Ohio, but did not do much sight seeing (besides the local Cracker Barrel for dinner.) It was one of our longer driving days. Then we woke up and drove to Pittsburgh. Easily the biggest surprise for me on this trip. The city was beautiful. I would love to go back and spend more time there. We did do a little walking around before the Pirates game. It was great.
After staying near Pittsburgh we woke up and drove home. We were so excited to get to our new apartment!! (and sleep in our own bed, in our own bedroom, in our own place...we had been looking forward to that for a few months!)
Here we are arriving in the beautiful state of NY. Our road trip was a blast, and I would not have changed a thing. It was as the subject line says...the coolest road trip ever!!
Nina and Bill in the truck. Nina was so excited that our "yellow truck" was going to our "yellow house." She was also pretty disappointed when it drove away without her.
Nina's combined birthday party with Grandpa Wheadon and Cousin Ava
Nina's combined birthday with Cousin Lia
Nina, for whatever reason wanted a penguin party...and Bill gave me this awesome cupcake cookbook for my b-day that taught me how to make these little cuties!
On Nina's actual birthday the three of us went to the zoo. I think she looks pretty happy about it.
And it would not be a birthday if we did not have the De Groot family tradition of breakfast in bed. Chocolate chip pancakes. Yum!
Bill, Brandon and Dad golfing at Fox Hollow...oh and I got to come too!!
De Groot Family Elko Trip. Grandma with the girls on the tube. Nina was feeling especially brave.
Nina swinging on the horse swing on the back porch. This was the coveted item of the week. And see the cute shirt she has on? Mom ordered a shirt for everyone, and on back everyone has a number...the order that they joined the family. Fun! I will have to upload the whole family picture when I get it.
Near the beginning of July Bill had his last day of work. It was pretty awesome to have a week where we could just be together before the move.
We also had De Groot Grandkid pictures taken. So cute!
Happy 4th of July!!
