Introducing Our Home On the Road!

The cactus on hwy 95 are blurry; Stephen didn't wanna slow down.

Early Wednesday morning we decided to hit the road.  When we climbed in Midnight our chevy, we weren't sure where we would end up.  Stephen had seen a 1975 Airstream on Craigslist for sale in Prescott, AZ.  It had been on the market for almost a week at a very reasonable price.  We had the money so we headed that direction.  When the time was late enough, we called and discovered the trailer was still available. We drove all day to Prescott and stayed in a hotel for the night.  It was a 734 mile trip, oneway.  

 Here we are parked in Reno at the apartment complex.

Thursday morning we went to see the trailer in Kirkland AZ. This was 40 miles round trip. After looking the trailer over and visiting with a nice prospector nearby, we headed back to town. Ms. Doris, the owner, towed the trailer into town and parked it near her bank.  Then we ALL loaded up in our chevy and went to the auto parts store, the credit union, and back to the bank.  It was lunch time so we ate in the parking lot.  Stephen went to work reworking the electrical plug for the brakes. At 3:30 Stephen, Ms. Doris, the kids, and I were relieved to see the trailer, Texas Star, hooked to our black chevy. After a trip to the DOT, we headed back toward Reno.  We made it into NV before we had to stop and rest.  No hotel for us.
We slept our first night in an empty lot in Searchlight, NV.

Friday was more of the road.

We stopped briefly on Hwy 95 after Las Vegas at Big Dune in the Amargosa Valley. 

Can you see the dune in the background? It is nearly a mile away, BIG DUNE.

We got stuck in the sand and used tumble weeds to free ourselves.  Not funny but I laughed at our foolishness any way. The kids were obliviously playing in the sand.  I learned that tumble weeds have thorns. Stephen learned that I laugh during some types of crisis. He probably learned more but I'll leave it for him to share with friends.  

We hit the long hot road and reached Reno at 8 o'clock last night.  Stephen worked today and I explored the nooks and crannies of our trailer. I am so excited about our new home.  I don't know where I want to begin.  Today I started with exploring and measuring our storage. I also bought cleaner and new towels. It has been a productive day. I think I'll order take out and read airstream blogs online. Don't you wish you could hit the road?

 

A day at the park

I borrowed this image temporarily from home&abroad.com

I will change it later today to my own image.

Yesterday, Wednesday, May 19th was a beautiful breezy spring day in Reno.  We arose early and valiantly faced our day at a normal morning hour 6am.  This is a big deal for us.  Our normal family schedule is late nights and late mornings.  This works well for plenty of sleep and Stephen's work hours.  The early rising to take Stephen to work was not as bad as I expected.  We fussed a bit about the cool morning air but we soon warmed up in Midnight our intrepid Chevy SUV.  

On the way back to the apartment from the hospital, we stopped and did our grocery shopping. One hour in the store with no fussing, fighting, begging, or playing with the cart led to a reward of Sonic breakfast.  Mom earned a Dr Pepper. Rachel enjoyed fried cheese sticks. Nathaniel had corn dog and tots.  It was wonderful. We then completed, in record time, school for the day.  So, the park was our next stop right after lunch.  

The Park was crowded with school kids when we arrived.  I was a bit nervous but Rachel and Nathaniel waded into the fray without a hitch.  Soon, the school buses loaded up and headed back to the school.  We were left at a relatively empty park.  The only patrons remaining, other than us, were a couple of dads with toddlers. Then our new friends arrived.

Families on the Road is an online group that caters to families that work, live, and travel together in RVs.  We have met three different families.  Each of them is unique and fun.  Yesterday we met Ali Valentine, her husband, David, and four children.  They call themselves BritsOnTour http://www.touringbrits.blogspot.com

The kids and I had such a blast we had a 5 minute turns to 10 load up to go kinda farewell. The young boys were a great match that quickly asked if they could email each other.  Modern children of 5 and 6, they know they can stay connected.  The girls seemed to hit it off as well. 10, 8, and 7 our little ladies had complementary personalities. I had fun watching them play. David and Dave spent the time playing with the younger boys and flying our stunt kite.  The kite wouldn't stay in the air until Dave the younger invented a duct tape kite tail.  A brilliant young mind and duct tape can do almost anything. Ali and I talked about the kids, trailers, books, coops, and curriculum.  I probably talked too much in my excitement of meeting another mom. The day wrapped up easily with picking up Stephen, eating dinner, and falling into bed.  

We woke up early again today.  Stephen is off at work.  Rachel is done with school. Nate is dragging it out.  I hope to go to a park later today in Spanish Springs.  We will head out in time to hit happy hour at Sonic on our way. Today, I plan to take our yard quilt, a good book, and sun screen.  I like Reno in the Spring time.

I'll soon be seeing red.

The reason isn't what you might think. We purchased a wii balance board today. I am, according to wii, 38 lbs over weight and a wii age of 47. I was born in 1972, do the math, it isn't happy news. So, now we are playing wii.  Stephen has burned 2 calories already. Oh, what a riot.  I'll be seeing red shortly because it will be my turn.  The silly toy has already asked me if I trip over my own feet. 

 Sigh

Now it clearly states that I am unbalanced!

I'm am laughing so hard.

My blood pressure must be up.

Not my forte, but I wanna lose 22 lbs and go hiking with my kids through our beautiful National Parks.

Big Girl Pants

Rebekah and Sarah joined us in Reno on Saturday before Mother's Day. We were all so excited to be together.  Rachel and Nate have sat on Rebekah and Sarah almost constantly. Mother's Day was a lazy day that was so full it whizzed by at sonic speeds.  The girls fixed a full breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen with a little help from Nate.  We watched movies and talked constantly.  I miss that talk time with the girls.  The older two have grown and changed so very much.  It boggles my mind. 

So for this week most of us are all together running amok.   We have hung out doing the family nothing. 

We have traipsed south to the hot springs outside Bridgeport, CA.  After hiking and changing into swim suits, we soaked.  While soaking up the warm water we watched the snow fall in flurries all around the creek below Buckeye Rd.  It was so beautiful.  It was a lovely adventure finished off by quick changes, fun poses, and french fries.  

We then drove the mountain roads over to Placerville, CA.  That was an adventure.  A cold, snowy, nerve racking adventure.  Check out our visibility on the mountain roads.

Nate was unfazed.  

Rebekah was loving the views saying "I want to live here."  

Sarah says "I'd rather live at the beach." 

Rachel responds "I'm with you Sarah."

As for dear old cranky mom and dad, we were just trying to see the road and wondering if we should have used the snow chains.

 

We had breakfast at Mel's Diner in Placerville. It was really good.  The town was lovely.  We would have stopped to explore; but we wanted to get to Yosemite National Park and do our exploring. 

Between all of us we probably took 4 or 5 hundred photos in or near the park.  It was a great day.  I fully recommend visiting our National Parks.  Stephen and I have never been disappointed.  Our Park Pass has been very worth the money spent.  We found lodging and food in Sonora, CA and after a few pouts and grumps and scrapes we ended our day.  We ended with Nate, the youngest at 6, winning two hands of Quiddlers. 

 

 Yesterday we drove through the farms and fields of CA going north from Sonora through Stockton, Sacramento, and Truckee til we returned to Reno.  We stopped along the way for fresh strawberries out of a field on hwy 4 before Stockton.  The berries were so wonderful.  They disappeared quickly.  I spent the next few miles watching in vain for another fruit stand. 

In Sacramento, we continued a family tradition of sushi photos.  Rebekah found us a great sushi restaurant called Mikuni.  They had a gluten free menu and a children's menu.  

 

The next leg of our journey found me fast asleep.  I woke up 59 miles from Reno.  We stopped in Truckee and picked up a new CA map as well as other family luxuries.  The shops here were very boutique.  My mother would have loved, the Cooking Gallery, a kitchen store I browsed.  Then, we came back to the apartment in Reno.  Here we are are collapsed in various stages of exhaustion.  I think we are all happy we took the 760 mile drive.  All us big girls are all now on our computers blogging, organizing photos, or sorting mail and facebook.  

Stephen is searching for our dream airstream.  It is out there somewhere waiting for us.  The littles are playing the Wii.  We are ALL eagerly awaiting the pizza man.

Are you wondering about my title? 

Well it is mostly for me.  It is hard to gather under one roof children that are grown up.  I know they are smart and beautiful.  I know they make me and their father proud.  Yet, I sometimes forget they are grown.  I want everything to be perfect when we are together.  This strange urge will overcome my good sense and I will fuss for silly reasons over foolish things.  My feelings are important but we can't control our grown children.  I need to put on those big girl pants and let them be grown.  sniff sniff sigh I raised them to be strong, opinionated, controlling women.  I didn't figure they would sometimes try to control the world revolving around me. ARRGH I still have a lot to learn.  I know this: despite and perhaps even because of the the little spates of our mini vacation,  I love our girls.  I miss my Busy B.  and I am thankful for Stephen, Rachel, and Nate. I truly like living on the road. 

 

Let's go fly a kite.

     When I here this phrase my mind automatically sets it to music.The music reminds me of the image from Mary Poppins of  the family together at last.  The family despite a very hard previous day are skipping to the park to fly a kite. Mary Poppins says amidst her final scene "That's as it should be."  I firmly believe that great thoughts can be found in tiny places.  Today, this phrase is one of them. 

     Today, I hope to fly a kite at the park with my youngest children.  The success of the day will depend on many things.  Will the sun stay bright, warming the day and us?  Will the wind blow in that gentle way that carries the kite high without being to rough?  Will the trees on the edge of the park be easy to avoid?  Will our string get tangled?  Will the kids take turns nicely? Will? Will? Will? and What if?  There are so many variables, so many things outside my control.  I can not make the day perfect.  I am not in control.  Yet, I know who is in control and like Mary Poppins says "That's as it should be."

    My life is much like that kite that flies high and dips low.  I grip my string and pray but many times I can not avoid the trees.  One minute the wind will blow gently and I will dance on the breeze.  The next a gust will throw me up and then crash me into the ground.  I love to fly. I hate the crashes.  I do not control the winds of life.  The One in control says,  

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, 

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

     Today, I will grieve for a future I believed existed.  But tomorrow is a different future.  I could not stop the storm that has blown in to this world.  But ultimately, I know without understanding "That's as it should be." I do not like it and I never will. But God's promise holds true despite pain, loss, anger, failure, fear, and every other emotion and happening in this sinful world.  God bless us with a peace while we grow past the crashes in our lives. We have not forgotten that with you, we can still fly.