Growing up and traveling overseas has its advantages for visiting places many only dream of. I know I have been fortunate and I am so grateful. BUT I am so excited to take trips and travel the open road of the United States.

It all started two years ago, I decided to go on a road trip with my (then) 13 month old. We began our journey from Oklahoma and spent two weeks exploring sites in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona (my favorite), and California. Texas offered many Silos and farmland to ponder upon via I40 west. There is something slightly eery, yet spectacular about silos that I am drawn to. New Mexico was pretty and reminded me of living in the desert again. Old town Albuquerque was a neat little stop with a town square of shops and local vendors.

Arizona really was marvelous. We drove through the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. We stayed in Flagstaff, it is the perfect little 'mountain town 'with a great downtown and lots of local breweries. Visited the breathtaking Grand Canyon at sunrise. This is huge for me because I am not a morning person so for me to wake up and drive over an hour away to catch the sun rising at 4:50am is RARE (as in highly unlikely to ever occur again). It was so much more than I could have ever dreamed possible. I then drove down to Scottsdale to visit a friend for a few days. We ate at a place called Culinary Dropout. I definitely recommend a visit if your in town or maybe your new to the area and havent tried it yet! We also did a morning hike up Camelback Mountain, which provided breathtaking views of the greater Pheonix area. It was on to California after that. San Diego was the first stop where my now fiance met us out there for four days. Sad part is it rained almost the entire time and after speaking with locals it hadn't rained in almost 4 years! So needless to say we must make it back sometime. We did enjoy the Zoo and a sailboat ride. Best meal here was at a place called Barley Mash. We proceeded to drive North on the coast of California stopping at various beaches along the way making our way to my family in Atascadero. It was so nice to see family that we don't get to see often (Love you all and miss you if you're reading).

A little walk in the Petrified Forest, AZ

Was I brave to do all of that with a 13 month old, absolutely! But she did amazing and it was so much fun and it was a much needed trip to get out of Oklahoma and to see some of the country that I never had before.

2015 was a year of many road trips too! St. Louis: went to the Zoo, Science center, & the Arch. California: a last minute trip for family. Kahoka, MO: visited with Paul's grandparents and attended the Old Settler's parade

We are loaded up in the car now (with my daughter turning 3 tomorrow) heading to Park City, UT for a family ski vacation. We started in Frisco, TX after celebrating the New Year. Driving west to highway 287N through the panhandle of OK. It was my first time & really not much to see off the highway. Unfortunately we drove into Colorado in the dark & overnighted in the farm town of Lamar. We woke and began our drive once more. Paul got super excited when we saw the tip of the Rockies off in the distance! We stopped in Fort Collins for lunch, ate at Coppersmith's Pub & Brewing. We all had burgers and they were yummy! It's located in the central part of town on a really cute town square. I wish we had more time there, but it was onto Wyoming for us. Wyoming was another first time. Its beautiful! Snow covered rolling hills until you rise into the Rockies. We watched the sunset here today- It's a total "breath of fresh air." Tomorrow we will drive into Park City and spend the week skiing, ice skating (in Elsa's ice skates! Thank you Aunt Crystal & Uncle Ethan), tubing, and enjoying the company of family.

Road trips are not for everyone, but if you enjoy taking your time to get somewhere with little adventures throughout the day to break up the constant road time, they are so much fun. Its quality family time and I love that so much. We get caught up in the every day little things and we forget to take time for us. It's wonderful to look around in the vehicle and know I'm surrounded by love and the people that make me happy and I don't need anything else.
Take the time to be grateful for the special people in your life and know that you put them there for a reason. It's truly the little things in life that bring me so much joy.

Happy New Year! What are the little things that bring you joy? Tell me any great road trip locations that are a must!!