OUR HOME IS WHERE WE PARK IT

Wild and Precious Life

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 05:23:00 +0000

Tell me, what is it

you plan to do

with your one wild

and precious life?

-Mary Oliver

44 trips around the sun, with the 45th soon to be completed. I've had many lessons learned and have a lifetime of more opportunities to grow.

Lately, I've been reflecting on my life and the paths taken, roads thrown in front of me- some I chose to walk down and others suddenly appeared as cliffs or roads with unscalable walls. Bottom line is, from all the journeys, I have grown.

Today, I am a mother of two children- ages 10 and almost 8. I am a partner to a traveling & hard-working spouse & a fur mama to our sweet dog. I'm a gardener. A huge adventure-addict and lover of travel and exploring. A sister, daughter, friend. And, I am happy to say I am entering wilderness work again- this time not as a wilderness guide, but as one who sits in circles and listens. One who witnesses the stories told by others and holds space. I dream of helping others to see their light and to celebrate.

For so many of my years, I looked around and wondered where I 'fit' into things. I worked various jobs, lived in different places, volunteered, and honestly- some of what I spent time doing and caring about really wasn't what was calling my heart, but I kept busy and was "doing".

I lived in suburbia, lived in the mountains, live in the high-desert, and also lived in my sleeping bag for months upon end, traveling all over and dreaming big... and now, I live in a rural river valley, fifteen minutes from a small town, near the Columbia River Gorge.

I am happy to say, actually ecstatic to yell that I am doing what calls my heart today. Number one job- being Mama Bear. Sure, it's hard to balance life at times and things get messy, uncomfortable, and just down right annoying- but on the flipside- life gets absolutely amazing, and freeing, and inspiring at the same time. The fears and 'shouldn'ts' that I once hear are slipping away.

This Mama Bear has big dreams. I mean B I G. I will be the woman who lies on her deathbed in old age (hopefully when I'm really old!) who feels she's listened to the call of the universe and her heart.

I've decided to not ask 'why' anymore, but rather ask myself 'why not?'.

Just today I met with a dear friend to talk about our visions we have for a rite of passage program in our area. The universe is speaking and more shall be revealed this year, no doubt. I am filled with gratitude for the strong friendships in my life. The friends who go to those dark places with me and I with them. The friends who laugh while sitting at a campfire and we cannot even figure out why we are laughing.

Right now, I know that this wild and precious life of mine is indeed full of challenges and celebrations. I will continue to travel through the seasons... childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and back again... and someday soon- I will enter into elderhood.

As I stand on this earth and enter my 45th trip, I vow to grab this one and precious life and listen to what is calling me. ❤

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 21:46:00 +0000

“And though she be little, she is fierce.”

(Found this unpublished post from over a year ago)

An interview with Miss Sierra Grace...

* What makes you happy?

Dancing, music, and skiing

* If you could do anything right now, what would you do?

There are so many good things! Dance, music, and skiing!

* What do you look forward to when you wake up?

I look forward to music and dance on Wednesdays & on Thursdays. I also look forward to Treesong.

* If you could grow anything in the yard, what would it be?

Strawberries. The ones we grow are just sooooo good!

* What makes you feel brave?

Skiing because if I go down a steep hill, or if I'm really close to falling, I can still ski without falling.

* What makes you feel loved?

When I'm with my family.

* How do you show people you care?

Do kind things for them.

* What does it feel like when I hug you?

L O V E. (Puts her hands out in a big circle and spells the word 'love')

* If your stuffed animals could talk, what would they say?

They would say, "How are you Sierra? What would you like to do today?" It would just be straight up creepy!"

* If you could give $100 to a charity, which would you choose?

Best Friends Animal Society

* If you wrote a book, what would it be about?

Dance

* If you could ask a wild animal any question, what would you ask?

I would ask a cheetah why they run so fast.

* What makes you feel energized?

Dancing, but only on Wednesdays. On Thursdays I am tired!

* What are some of the best things about nature?

I like climbing trees.

* You're a photographer for a day, what would you take pictures of?

Birds

* What's a memory that makes you happy?

Our surprise trip to Legoland

* What one thing do you do now that you need an adult for but would like to try to do all by yourself?

Climbing trees. I just need a little help getting up.

* If you had to give everyone in the family new names, what would they be?

Mom- Su Su

Dad- Stevie

Alex- Brussel Sprout

Willow- Pussy Willow

* What would you do if you made the rules at home?

I would make it so you, Mom, would have to pick up for us.

* Tell me something about you that you think I might not know.

I am scared of wasps because I don't like them when they chase me.
Once I got one in my hair!

* What is something you think I want for you in life?

You always say I should do things that make my heart happy!

739 DAYS LATER

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 04:47:00 +0000

What makes your heart soar?

What calls to you & brings you joy?

What do you wish you were doing differently today?

These are just a few of the questions that I find myself routinely exploring in my 44 year-old brain. I've vowed to make this life my best life so far- waking up each day with more commitment. My goal: to live a more present & intention-filled life.

It was 739 days ago that Mr. Adventure & I (along with the kids & dogs) hit the road for a couple months. We pulled the kids out of school & traveled "just because" we had time. What a trip it was, and what an amazing life-shift we all experienced. If you had asked me two years ago if we'd be where we are in life today- I would have said 'no way'! What I have learned over the past two years is that life has an amazing way of opening up when we let go of fears and lean in to life. Today, I am grateful for this life and all we've experienced so far.

For years... actually for most of my life, I felt run by the "shoulds" and "have to's". After graduating from high school, I went straight to college and found myself wandering my first of many college campuses without purpose. Now, years have passed, with many lessons learned & degrees earned... with life's peaks and valleys traveled... I am living a life I love. It is filled with moments of laughter, adventure, pain, joy, and all the emotions that come with life.

So, back to the start of tonight's reflection... today, I find myself reaching within & adventuring out.

My heart soars when I am outside. Outside in nature, seeing the trees and listening to the natural sounds. My heart soars when I see my children happy and laughing... when I see them feeling good about who they are & where they are today.

And what calls to me? The mountains. After many trips to tropical spots & beaches, I know today that the crisp & clean alpine air fills my soul. This ski season we've logged 21 days on the slopes & I am sad to see the snow melting. And at the same time, know that mountain biking season is around the corner- with summer camping & hiking.

Today, I am filled with gratitude for this life and the experiences that are being placed in my path. Being a Mom to our kiddos is the hardest & most rewarding job ever. The exhaustion & growth I experience with each day amazes me & is always morphing and evolving. And, with each sunset and sunrise, I am filled with more intention to live my best life. I find myself moving away from those 'shoulds' and 'musts' and reaching more towards absolute yeses! If I can lay on my deathbed and look back with no regrets and just a handful of "I wish I had's"... that works for me.

This one's for you Mr. Adventure ❤ ...

As soon as I saw you,

I knew an adventure

was about to happen.

– Winnie the Pooh

375 DAYS LATER

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Mon, 21 May 2018 15:36:00 +0000

... and here we are in San Francisco, spending time with Mr. Adventure.

Life has been full of unexpectedness this past year, well actually- for just about the past two years. SO many life changes and perspectives gained. So many opportunities for growth and learning. So many twists and turns and ups and downs and smack you in face moments (literally!)

Today I sit here, filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the gift of life and for the opportunities to grow as a family and for each of us to grow as individuals.

Our family spent Saturday and Sunday at the 13th Annual Bay Area Maker Faire... "A Celebration of Invention, Creativity, and Curiosity... to Inspire the Future". To say it was amazing is an understatement. It was an expo for all-ages, featuring all-ages of creators. As we walked around admiring, learning from, and participating in activities and presentations, I found myself inspired on a new level. I also felt CONNECTED to a greater whole and part of a community.

I could go on and on, describing all we saw and witnessed at the Maker Faire, but I won't. Instead, I will share a few photos of the after effects on Sierra. For the last year, she's been talking about starting her own business (after she watched Alex create his own last fall.) And, watch out world... here comes Miss Sierra Grace! To be continued...

First official planning session

To be continued...

OREGON ZOO 5-11-17

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Fri, 12 May 2017 03:00:00 +0000

Today we took the kids

and their buddy, Sonja, to the Oregon Zoo.

It was rainy and totally awesome!

No crowds (just a few school groups here and there).

Plus, we saw many animals that are usually hard to spot!

I am now all about going to the zoo on a rainy day ♡

Mr. Adventure wore shorts.

After we arrived, he wished he had dressed warmer and bought two cups of coffee to keep us warm.

And, here in the barn,

Steve found a heat lamp for the animals.

Works for humans too!

The new elephant exhibit is over 6 acres.

I know, not big at all compared to natural habitat...

but it is way better than before. And, you can get super close to seeing them since there are no 'walls' along the paths.

For 8 years, I have waited to ride the train.

It was a 6 minute journey. Kids enjoyed it!

After spending a few hours at the zoo, we were all pooped.

What a fun day!

Our kids were in bed and asleep a little after 7:30 tonight.

DOUBLE SCORE!

And, an added bonus...

a rainbow tonight across the river valley ♡

Home Sweet Home ♡

MAY 10th

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Thu, 11 May 2017 06:19:00 +0000

Today I decided that I need to take more time to just sit and be. Not sit with a computer or a book, but just with myself. After spending a few hours outside this morning, I came in the house and walked straight out to the back deck, and actually sat down. All alone in silence. That is pretty rare at our house, especially since the kids are with us 24/7 for our schooling and adventures. The sun was out and I found myself relaxed and content. In general, I spend quite a bit of time in my head... processing, thinking, analyzing, etc. Life is full of so many things to think about! When I'm outside, my brain seems to go from a busy state to a low buzz. Today, the kids and I planted our veggies. This year, we hopefully have spaced out our plants enough. Last year the garden beds around the house were FULL of vines and squash. Amazing to see how much they grew. Our new garden is up by the kids' playground & we probably have a couple hundred feet of hose laid for watering. Someday I would love to have a watering system of sorts.

Alex wanted to be the post-planting water person. I love that the kids love gardening too. In the distance, we could see Mt Hood today. The snow is starting to melt up on the mountain. Wildflowers are just around the corner ♡

And as I turned the corner of the house tonight (I was looking for Willow before it was completely dark... we have coyotes in our area that attacked our friends' dog a few weeks ago... so we like to get our dogs in before nightfall) I spotted an orange looking moon rising behind the trees. My picture does not even capture the beauty I saw.

And we are hoping the garage will be organized and clean this week. I found a cute little mouse in the sink yesterday and rescued it (put it out in the blackberry bushes.) That cute mouse and its friends have left their droppings behind, so we are using it as a good excuse to once again donate and toss. Maybe we will actually park two cars in the garage this winter. Ha!

Always an adventure... a late night adventure tonight!

HOME WORK and PLAY

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Wed, 10 May 2017 05:24:00 +0000

We've been home for 10? days now, and the sunshine is here! Grass has been mowed twice & the new garden bed is now ready for planting. As a part of our schooling, the kids picked out fruits and vegetables (cucumbers, squash, zucchini, melon, and other things I cannot remember in my current Mom brain zone.) Tomorrow we will jump in the garden bed to settle the soil and then we will plant!

And yes, the rig still sits out front. All packed up. Hilarious I say. And, we seem to be avoiding unloading and loading the dishwasher. I am seriously considering putting all dishes away and giving each person a plate, bowl, utensils, and a cup to use. On our trip we never had a dishwasher and were perfectly happy. Now, we seem to run the dishwasher once or twice a day. Crazy isn't it?

I think my favorite part about being back home is being outside here. Titus and Willow love love love being outside and free. Yesterday, I cleaned the front porch and found both dogs lounging in the sunshine there. Now we just need to repair the screen/storm door that broke during a major wind storm this winter. I love to leave the front door open and to just look out. Thank you Steve for replacing the Lemon Cypress trees in the pots out front. I think the ice storms this year were too much for some of the trees and plants, as some of them have died. One fir tree is totally bending sideways from the ice. Another job tomorrow will be to carefully attach it to a stake to help it reshape and grow up versus down.

It's fun to think about what I will do with my time in the fall when both kids are in school full time. I can't believe that time is approaching! My babies are no longer little ones, needing me 24/7. They are gradually being released into the world. Oh my loves!

Today, for art, they had fun with face painting. We finally discovered an awesome brand that washes off easily. Score!

And we played Sequence for kids... Sierra was the champion, Alex took 2nd place, and I came in 3rd.

Hmmmm... which card to choose?

And while Alex has a fun sleepover tonight, Sierra asked if she could go 'clothes shopping' with her vacation money. She saved her cash and was thrilled to go spend it at Target. After she tried on outfits, she went out to show Steve. As I've said before, she knows what she likes and has a passionate personality and in my book, is super smart and sweet!

We ended up buying her a couple new suits (she has grown so much!) and a sundress and outfit for summer. She couldn't decide on which suit, so decided to buy herself two more swim suits and wants to donate the ones at home. This little lady loves clothes, and I love that she wants to give her other swimsuits away to someone in need ♡

Loving her new pajamas and flamingo slippers!

And the drive from town back to home was beautiful.

Mt Hood and the Columbia River... we love you... and,

I am beginning to count down the days to ski season again!

If you see Alex, please tell him to let me take his picture. Today, he was anti-picture taking by Mom

But he was all for me taking a picture of his new shoes... Bobs' Skechers slip on doggie shoes that benefit

Best Friends Animal Society! ♡

And, if you love pets, consider partcipating in

Strut Your Mutt

Last year, Alex, Willow and I attended the event and will do so again this fall... check out their website to learn more and to participate in your city...

or join us in Portland, Oregon in September!

AN OUTSIDE DAY FOR EVERYONE!

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sun, 07 May 2017 02:44:00 +0000

Our sweet Sierra slept for 12 hours last night. I would say she was a tired girl! I watched her as she peacefully slept next to me this morning and snuggled in. She is growing up so fast. Everyone told me it would happen, and it is true!

I think it was around 8:30 when we finally got out of bed, had a quick breakfast, and then the kids were off to nature camp for a few hours. The drive up river road is so beautiful. These shots were taken on the road leading in to Treesong.

While the kids frolicked in the woods, Steve and I spent time outside on our land. One of my happy places is being outside and in the garden. A few years ago, we had a retaining wall built and have slowly worked our way around the front of our house- installing rock and garden beds. What a difference it made and I am in love with planting. Today, we had to move some of the perennials and divide them because they have grown and done so well in the beds. I love my plants and trees ♡

These new friends were put in last year...

can't wait to see how big they get this season!

And Steve loves the tractor. So essential and handy out here!

The green shipping container still sits there...

maybe someday we will convert it into a tiny house?

Yay for rain barrels!

And see all that dirt? Steve gave it to me for a birthday present last November... and we are finally going to put in a vegetable garden (separate from the regular gardens since there is no longer room to grow veggies there.) Mr. Adventure cleared a spot next to the kids' playground area and is outside building a garden box as I type! Thank you Steve!

And the motorhome is still packed... I have yet to go through everything and put in tupperware containers. Perhaps I am just waiting for our next trip in a couple weeks!

I think the bed will be 6 x 25?

The fun part tomorrow will be choosing vegetable starts!

I love up river/country life!

♡

MAY 5TH

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sat, 06 May 2017 03:54:00 +0000

After dinner, Sierra and I were playing

& we spotted a rainbow from the back deck!

And we had a fun day reconnecting with our dear friends Laura, Sonja, and Owen ♡

These girls are awesome!

They both are strong and know what they want!

Hip hip hooray for strong girls...

WHY NOT?!?

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Fri, 05 May 2017 01:43:00 +0000

Home school PE rocks!

SUNSHINE ON OUR SHOULDERS

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Fri, 05 May 2017 01:38:00 +0000

Mr. Titus is happy to be lounging on the cool grass

I'm sitting up at the playground,

watching and waiting for the rain to fall

And,

Willow is happy to be home = off-leash and chasing the ball!

----------------------------------------

We've been back home for close to a week now and I find myself in a new head space. I was hoping that our travels would be life-changing & that I would come back with some deeper knowledge. And I must say, I am feeling the changes.

My daily pre-trip routine has shifted and I find myself living more 'in the day'... less future tripping and more thinking about 'what adventures will happen today?' It really is a welcomed gift. I tend to be a planner and an organizer in life. I like to know what's around the corner & perhaps I like to be in control (ahem ahem). Lately, I've been going more with the flow and letting adventures unfold naturally.

This week I've had a few appointments and already feel like I'm ready to go back out camping again. Driving to and from Vancouver is no fun, except when the top is down. And, Steve's work project is a bit on hold... so we are going to do some house projects for a few days (it's taken him two days to mow/weed whack the upper part of our property!) Before we left, a new friend came and laid mulch in our flower beds and for that, I am super grateful. After being gone for a month and a half, I came back to less than five minutes of pulling weeds. AWESOME!

School is also going well for Alex. He's doing a lot of real-life/authentic studying. Lots of writing and mailing letters to thank people for their hospitality and lots of reading and math facts work. Steve and Alex have been reading the Harry Potter books and will soon be on to book #4. I love that Alex begs for Steve to keep reading at night ♡

Sierra has been begging for playdates with her buddies and today was Libby day! The kids said they were digging to Mexico or China...

Awesome Steve took the girls up to school to ride bikes

You are awesome Dad! So fun and so present!

And quite handsome!

I've also mentioned before that some of our work as a family has been to really look at our stuff and to donate much of what we are not needing/using. It really feels good to do this. Not only do we want our children to develop life skills, people skills, and work skills... but we also want to help them build 'giving' into their lives. We are blessed in so many ways & we can pass it on for sure. I remember a few years ago I was reading a book about raising financially responsible children and it was suggested that the kids donate part of their allowance to a charity of their choice. I love that idea! And, the other night I was sitting at the counter, Alex began to unload the dishwasher without being asked to. Holy shocker! That was really awesome. He unloaded and loaded on his own! Yay Alex!

Another fun surprise, Steve found the saw he bought me on our road trip. We just need to hang it in our kitchen!

And, after returning home from our travels, Sierra was totally game for donating toys and de-cluttering her room. Now, she says no one can go in her "clean" room without asking her first!

Steve and I also cleaned out our bedroom closet and filled my Excursion with garbage bags of clothes and random crap. Now, we have organization!

Our traveling was really good for our family. We uplugged from the daily news and would only catch glimpses of happenings when we were in cell areas. It was lovely. Now, that we are back, I am also reflecting on how easy it was to be more present with each other when we 'unplugged'. We laughed more and treasured those silly little moments of each day.

Every day, and seriously, I mean EVERY day, when we'd be driving to our next camp spot, Titus would leak toxic fumes from his behind. One person would alert the family and immediately, without even saying a word, Steve and I would each roll down our windows to let in fresh air. It became comical and we would say to Titus, "Oh buddy, we are sorry you don't feel well!" And we would choke and gag and laugh.

Really, it was those little funny moments that brought us closer together. Also, giving the kids choices in our travels was another gift. Life suddenly became not about 'why' but instead became full of 'why not?!'. We'd talk about where we'd be heading and the kids would tell us what they wanted to do and where they'd want to go. Back to the Colorado River? Ok! To the mountains? Ok! Back to Flagstaff? Ok! Why not?! Let's go!

My mission is to live life to the fullest! And I mean, not just to say that phrase, but to really take each day as a gift. To make each day fun, to turn lemons into lemonade, to learn, and take some risks and face self generated FEAR (false evidences appearing real!)

And in facing my fears, I hope to continue to grow and to learn. To be an example to my children and teach them that self discovery is awesome! ♡

POST TRAVEL CRASH

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Mon, 01 May 2017 06:48:00 +0000

I think I hit the wall tonight. The transition from traveling to now being home... I can feel it and I am now tired to the core.

The rig is still park out in front of the porch & we have yet to pack things up for storage for a few weeks. Must keep out mice/critters, so we will use the large sealed bins for storing blankets, pillows, etc. Country living definitely means we have more of a chance to have things move into the garage and camper if we aren't on top of it. If I weren't allergic to cats, we'd have one.

I spent a good chunk of yesterday visiting my Mom and brother down in town. They moved to the area a few years back and the kids absolutely love seeing each of them.

And today, Alex and I took a trip out to the land of strip malls and stores to trade in the defective video games he bought in California last week. It was so odd to be out in the city. I am so not into the traffic (and let's be honest, compared to what it was like up in Seattle when we lived there- there is no traffic in Vancouver.) It was a beautiful blue sky day and we cruised with the top down, even though it was a bit chilly. I absolutely love being with my kids, and today we had some Mommy & Alex time.

Alex also discovered that he loves Fakin' Bacon. A few weeks ago, Alex was asking me what Tofu tasted like and we began to talk about tofu and tempeh... and today at New Seasons we found Fakin' Bacon and now he's hooked. Yum yum!

Tomorrow's adventures will include organizing and school. Adventures ahead!

TRIP REFLECTION: PART I (OF MANY!)

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 06:10:00 +0000

After spending a month plus in the desert, all this green looks electric to me. I stood in the kitchen this afternoon, admiring Steve's many hours he took to mow the upper part of our land, and had to go outside to take this picture. I had gotten so used to the rolling desert landscapes... browns, yellows, some greens, and many golden hues. To me, this is like being in Ireland with the leprechauns!

Earlier today, after finally getting out of bed, I showered again and thought back to the many moments of our trip. The brown hair color I put on my hair while at Coral Pink Sand Dunes is now faded. I remember deciding on a whim in Kanab, Utah (after our Best Friends Sanctuary visit) that I wanted to dye my hair. After one of our resupply trips to a local grocer, I bought a random box of dye... and when I decided to actually color my hair, it was a bit of an adventure.

------------------------------------------------

Back in March, when we first arrived at Coral Pink Sand Dunes, it was early in the day and the people who had camped the night before still occupied our site. After maneuvering back out of the campground since we had no where to park, we found a day use area to wait in. We then had our usual quick lunch. Then I got antsy while we waited for the family to vacate our spot so I opened up the box of hair color and got to work- mixing and applying the dark brown color all over my head. Twenty minutes later passed and it was time to rinse. I went to turn on our water and nothing came out of the faucets. Then I noticed that some of my hair was coming out of my scalp! I began to wonder if I'd made a crazy choice to color my hair on the road & began to semi-panic. As the clock ticked and my time passed the rinse window, Steve figured out what was wrong and remedied the situation. With his help, I knelt down on the floor, leaned my head into the shower area & rinsed the color, while watching many pieces of hair wash down the drain. I prayed that I would still have a good chunk of hair on my head as I scrubbed my head while Steve held the shower nozzle for me. In the end, my hair was colored and I kept 99.9% of my hair. Phew. In the future, I will be coloring at home or with my sweet stylist Jessica.

------------------------------------------

This afternoon I walked out to the back deck and saw that two of our potted blueberry bushes have a ton of little flowers on them. Yay! So in love with planting and growing... next year, these will be planted into the gardens out front and new plants will move in to the pots. I am excited to get out and garden again. There is always something fun to plant, grow, and learn outside .♡ Our plant collection is growing each spring. Perhaps the kids and I will have to make a field trip to the nursery soon and add to our collection!

And this little girl has quite the collection of eclectic outfits going on. Today, Sierra came into our room and said, "This is my Spring look today!" All I can say is awesome!!!! ♡

HELLO FROM WASHOUGAL!

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 18:06:00 +0000

There's an incredible blue sky here today. The valley views are peaceful and the trees have their spring buds that are just about to fully pop open. The grass is tall and a vibrant green, and the gardens are springing to life again. Love it!

Last night when we arrived home (sometime after 9 pm I think), we were in a bit of a shock. As Steve went to unlock the front door, he said to us, "This does not feel like our house."

We stepped in to darkness, flipped on the lights, and stood there for a few seconds. This house feels like a mansion compared to the rig. Insane!

Sierra ran across the great room and the kids instantly began to explore the house, our house. It is like everything was brand new to us. And, my appreciation for where we live is much higher than it was before we left for our trip.

As we drove back last night, Steve and I talked about our favorite moments and places on our journey. We shared how we've changed a bit and what new perspectives we gained.

One of the biggest things I've learned is that we do not need much to be happy and to live. I think all the stuff clutters my mind. On the road, all we had to think about was taking care of the kids and dogs, and making sure the rig was in running order. When the generator died, we simply had it fixed and continued on our adventure.

At home, we now have 2 cars, a tractor, a home, and property to maintain. It's a blessing and it's also a chain of sorts. Now don't get me wrong... I appreciate our life, but it really could be so much simpler.

Our bedroom, closet, and bathroom combined are probably three times the size of the camper.

And in our bedroom closet, we have a pile of stuff. I am determined to donate most of it & to go through the house once again and do the same with everything else we are not using. I'm not saying we are going minimalist style, but we sure can live with less & after this trip, I know we can and will be able to. Plus, we have the house rented out to a few families through AirBnB this summer. That is also inspiration to make it guest ready and to pack up and purge what we don't use.

Titus seems happy to be lounging in his bed.
All he needs is food, water, love, and a bed.
Really, that's all we need as well!

Today we will be unpacking the rig and getting things settled at home. I hope to be able to keep my peace and the simple life attitude we adopted on the road. I will check back in later and let you know how that's going.

What's the plan now? As I said, we all feel we could stay on the road longer, but Steve has a project calling him back to this area. So, we will spend the next couple of months in Washington... I will continue to teach the kids until September, we will travel and camp here and there, and will enjoy being back on the property and being outside at home. We have gardens to play in, hikes to do, friends to connect with, and summer is just around the corner ♡

Steve and I also agree on another thing... the journey we just took is not over... it is just the beginning of many more. We are just getting started! ♡

ON THE ROAD TO HOME

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 17:23:00 +0000

Steve and I agree... we live in a beautiful part of the country. The Pacific Northwest is incredible. And after being gone for the last six weeks, we have a new appreciation for just how special this spot is ♡

As we made our final trek home, we passed through Madras & Warm Springs, drove up and over Mt Hood, down through Hood River, across the Bridge of the Gods (connects Oregon & Washington), and finally on to Highway 14 and back down Washougal River Road to our house. Gorgeous scenery and rockin' tunes!

Heading down into Warm Springs Reservation

Driving up on Mt Hood... still has snow! And some was fresh!

South side of Mt Hood, along Highway 35

The drive down

from Mt Hood Meadows Ski area to Hood River

Passing through Parkdale area- heading down to Hood River

Approaching Hood River

At this point we are just about 45 minutes from the house...

Beginning our drive along the Columbia River Gorge

Crossing Bridge of the Gods... welcome back to Washington!

Bonneville Dam

And here, less than a mile from our home.

A country road with no streetlights,

just the moon and soon to be starry night filled sky.

And of course, my phone died at this point, just as I was about to shoot a picture of Steve driving down our road.

JOURNAL ENTRY

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 16:51:00 +0000

FRIDAY
APRIL 28th, 2017

Yesterday, I spent a couple hours at our campsite going through the rig. Organizing cupboards, sorting dirty and clean clothes, and doing a bit of packing up of things for our arrival back at the house. I almost just wrote the words 'back at home', but really, home is here right now. We have everything we need to live and really, we don't need much.

The bed is piled with laundry- all ready to be washed!

We are all showered, organized, and the plan is to grab lunch at Alex's favorite restaurant in Sunriver (Sunriver Brewing Company), hit the laundromat in Bend, buy large storage containers to put gear in when we're home, resupply groceries, and begin our official drive back to Washougal. Knowing us, we will probably arrive at home late tonight, or may just park it up on Mt Hood (weather depending).

I really can't believe we have been on the road for just about six weeks. Blows my mind to think that. How can it be?!? And, I honestly feel like I could stay out here. I am not excited to go nor ready to be back home. And this morning, Alex was a bit out of sorts- he complained that his shoes were too small (really, overnight your feet grew that much?) Steve and I talked, and know that we are all going to have a bit of a shock and an adjustment going back.

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Maybe Willow knows the secret of the missing pillowcase

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Still in Bend, Oregon
And it's approaching 4 o'clock:
    Lunch done ✓
    Laundry washed and folded ✓
Storage boxes purchased ✓
    Resupply mission accomplished ✓

Now, we are beginning the three hour drive back to Washougal ♡

LAPINE STATE PARK

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 15:47:00 +0000

Oh my gosh. This is a gorgeous campground... and I think they have repaved the roads and campsites since we last visited when Sierra was a baby. This rocks! And it only seems appropriate that it is snowing outside! Just a month ago, we were camped out in Flagstaff & it was snowing!

LaPine State Park today

Last month in Flagstaff, AZ

Steve wins the award for walking the dogs in the morning.

Having a cup of coffee in bed is really awesome. Today, we will be drinking Folgers since we are out of our instant packs. There is definitely a noted difference, but hey, caffeine is good even if it's in Folger's crystal form. I use my Hydroflask Food Flask as a coffee mug and love it! Orginally, I had bought it for bringing a hot lunch skiing but somehow used it for coffee one day and am now hooked on using it for just that.

I am also loving how Sierra is facing her fear of riding her bike! The day we left Dead Horse Ranch, Steve bought her new knee and elbow pads & riding gloves. With all that extra protection, she is confident again. (Remember how she kept hurting her knees at the beginning of the trip.) After Steve geared her up, she hopped on the bike today and, with his hand on her back, she took off. Then he let go and ta da... Sierra was riding again! Go girl go!

She was beaming joy and success ♡

Now she is riding her Heely shoes and her bike!

Way to go Sierra Grace!

Since there are few campers here, that means less folks driving in the campground, which means that the kids can ride without having to stop and pull over while cars pass. Plus, the other campsite loop is closed, so we have the option of riding bikes there too. I totally recommend camping at LaPine in their off season. There are hiking and biking trails all around us... and today, I feel like we are the only ones here.

And, directly behind our site, there is a short path that leads to the river. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

Our plan is to spend a couple days here before heading home. We still have a few days left on our Mt Bachelor passes, but instead of skiing- we are going to relax here. Little Miss Bike Rider won't complain! And Alex is loving the mountain biking!

We love nature... and this massive tree!

Chipmunk seekers unite!

JOURNAL ENTRY

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 06:34:00 +0000

WEDNESDAY
April 26th, 2017

Woke up to this view today and to the sound of something hitting the roof of the rig. I thought it was a nut from a squirrel but soon it sounded like tons of little somethings were falling on us. Then it dawned on me... it was rain!

The air here is full of moisture. I've gotten used to being in the dry desert air. My skin has adjusted, and now, I feel like I'm in a tropical rainforest (exagerrating a little... but you get the point.) I know that for us to have this gorgeous green in the West, we must have the rain.

Back home, friends keep talking about the amount of rain we've had in Washington. In Portland, we've had the second wettest winter in more than 75 years. That's a lot of rain! And I, personally, welcome it. When it's winter & cold enough in the mountains- that wonderful rain is making snow. For me, that means skiing! Skiing is a passion of mine and our family spends as much time up in the mountains as possible. And now, with this rig, we will be able to drive up, ski, and stay in the parking lots at ski resorts. SO excited!

We all spent a good chunk of the morning relaxing. It's been a busy last few days... and we all needed some chill time to regroup. I guess we finally left Lake Shasta around noon- an hour after campground checkout hour. Oops! Then, as we headed north, Steve realized we'd left the stablizer jack at the site. Another oops. We'd already been on the road for a while, so I started to calculate the gas/$ it would take to go back and get it, plus added in the value of time. The question was... was it worth going back to get it or should we just leave it for someone to find? In the end, Steve turned around and we headed back to get it.

After our u-turn, we headed back up north towards Weed. Yes, it is called weed & I can only imagine what a killing they make on the t-shirts and souvenirs they sell there. Our mission was to find potable water, so we kept on truckin'. (FYI- The water at our Lake Shasta campground had tasted kind of rusty so that's why we didn't fill our tanks there.)

Mr. Adventure is very friendly & stopped by an RV park near Weed and asked if he could fill our tank with water. The folks were super nice and didn't even charge us a fee. That was awesome!

After filling up with water, gas, and restocking the fridge with food, we headed east along Highway 97. The volcanic lands are beautiful... the red rocks, green brush, pine trees, and open space.

Love traveling on the weekdays... roads aren't crowded and we often feel like we are the only ones out here.

We checked out gazetteer to figure out a good stopping point... and after checking the Oregon State Parks website, realized that Collier State Park was not yet open for the season. That news urged us to continue heading north past Klamath Falls.

A rainbow!

As we drove past the Upper Klamath Lake, both Steve and I said to each other that it reminded us our trip to Alaska back in 2007. So beautiful...

Our drive brought us right along the lakeshore, then into the high desert again with the pines and volcanic rock and soil.

And ultimately, we pulled in to LaPine State Park (just south of Sunriver, OR.) Years ago, when the kids were super little we camped there in our first trailer. There were so many mosquitoes at that time and I remember being so happy to get out of there.

Tonight, I was so happy to be there with no mosquitoes and barely any other people. That's another reason I love travel during the weekdays... it's rare to find crowds and noise.

We scored an awesome campsite (with full hookups) and super clean bathrooms and free showers! Yay! The beginning of camping season means many pluses! And, since Steve is a disabled vet, we also get free camping! Score score score!

And Alex felt he scored with dinner tonight. He fell in love with instant garlic mashed potatoes, Stove Top stuffing, and barbecue chicken & salad. So easy and so tasty!

Today was definitely another long day, but so beautiful! We will be staying here for a few days & hope to get Sierra back on her bike! ♡

STEVE'S DREAM

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 05:28:00 +0000

Ever since I've known Steve, he has been talking about the Mercedes-Benz Unimog and the Pinzgauer... they are high-mobility all-terrain military utility vehicles. A couple of times over the years, we have spotted these rare finds and Steve has drooled and tried to school me on their history, and has gone over all the reasons he loves them. So, when he discovered that an import dealer for these type of vehicles was near us, we had to go. I went to Vallejo to humor and support him... and I must say, it was a really cool experience.

The pictures below show what was on the lot at Expedition Imports. The massive Hellgeth Custom camper is listed for $225k. Holy moly! You could literally go anywhere with this!

And I thought the Pinzgauers were big...

they look small next to it!

And check out this beast!

Alex totally wanted us to buy it & said we could drive him to school. I could put my Excursion in the back of it! H U G E! Can you imagine this driving down the river road?

After climbing in and out of the vehicles, we spotted something else in their garage. And we learned that this importer has a contract to buy the current Swiss Military GE230 G-Wagons that are being exchanged for new ones in Switzerland.

Steve and I both knew what would happen next. Enter checkbook for deposit, and now we just have to wait for the shipping container to arrive in the States! And then make sure all checks out upon arrival. If things are a go, it is ours. Steve is super excited, we all are really, and we can tow this behind us on future expeditions or take it on its own adventure.

The picture below shows the body-style of what we will receive. Just have to put in a forward facing seat and belts for the kids for safety.

There is a canvas top for it as well, and room for the dogs

And below, is a picture of the rig that we have a hold on...

it is now in the shipping container on its way to California.

After fulfilling one of Steve's dreams, we hit the road for a quick lunch stop and bought some new Lego video games for home and at Uncle Jon's house. The kids don't play the Wii at home much, but now that Sierra is older- she and Alex can have fun Lego adventures together when it's cold and nasty outside at home.

And speaking of colder weather, we have hit Northern California now. We saw our first sign telling us how far we are from Portland, Oregon & I found myself saying, "Nooooooooo!" I could seriously turn around and would be totally content to travel for months... perhaps even a year or two.

After refueling and dumping just south of Redding, Steve started his campground search for the night... and he found this great spot on Lake Shasta. The water level is higher than I've ever seen it! We pulled in to this forest campground and found a large private site... and a bonus is electricity and water. Our water tanks were empty by afternoon, so that was super exciting for us to be able to refill. For some reason, it was hard to find a place to refill as we drove north today.

Here at the lake, you can rent houseboats for 2k-8k a week. Dang! That seems pricey! I think I'll camp and bring my blow up raft.

After a family walk, all is good and the kids are finally in snoozeland. They were up WAY too late tonight. They went from being tired, to being hyper, to being exhausted, to tears over where Willow was sleeping, to trying to come sleep in our bed, to then back to their beds and to Zzzzz. Phew. Here is to a day of sleeping in! Tomorrow, we may head NE to Lava Beds National Monument or who knows where. All we do know is that we are not ready to trek home yet. I want to squeeze out every last second we can ♡

RELAXING IN SONOMA

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 05:43:00 +0000

I think I laid in bed til after 9:30 today... it was so nice to chill and know that we didn't have to hit the road. Sweet Alex brought me breakfast in bed... a coconut chocolate bar he'd found in the snack cupboard. Just so you know, that makes a fabulous breakfast when paired with a fresh hot cup of coffee.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Our morning was super relaxing. Steve did school with Alex, while I started to open and compare ticket numbers on the Safeway Monopoly pieces to our gameboard. It was quiet time for me and a reminder that I really should be wearing my glasses more often. Lately, I find myself having to read small print under bright light, and then moving text closer and farther away. My eyes in my mid forties are saying, "please help us a little." Okay, I surrender.

I am not a big game player for contests, but I figured that if I didn't open them all then that would mean we would have had the winning ticket for a grand prize. Well, good news... we opened all the ticket stubs. Bad news... we didn't win. I can only imagine the time it must take for folks who coupon all the time.

In the afternoon, the kids and I joined Katja to pick up Thorston. At his school, there is a large mural on the ground. I love it! I pledge allegiance to the world, to cherish every living thing, to care for earth and sea and air, for peace and freedom everywhere ♡ Truth ♡ Growth Respect ♡

After school, the kids had a blast swinging on Thorston's tire swing and exploring the creek on their property. Sierra was a bit hesitant to walk in the tall grass & Thorston came back to hold her hand and help her. So precious.

The dogs seem happy to have grass to lay on. For weeks, we've been in the desert and it's been sand, dirt, or rocks. And, we think Willow is starting to feel better. Yesterday, she had diarrhea and was very low key. Today she was a bit more active and even barked at the light reflecting in the rig. Hopefully, she will be feeling even better in the morning.

Tomorrow's travels will take us down to Vallejo in the morning to check out some old Swiss Army vehicles that Steve likes... the Unimog and Pinzgauer models. I am not a 'car person', but if Steve wants to go check em out at the dealer we are game for an adventure!

MORE PICTURES FROM DAVE'S

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 05:42:00 +0000

The morning we left Dave's house, we knew getting out of his driveway could be interesting. Steve had to do many turns to point the rig in the opposite direction to get back down the road. Sierra was in tears, scared that Steve would go over the edge and roll down the hillside. The kids and I watched from his cousin's stairs while Steve maneuvered.

Look at this view!

The dogs were happy to chill on the porch for a while

We think the guys are 2nd cousins?

Thank goodness Steve could back up the rig's end over the hillside as he did multi point turns. I kept imagining a helicopter picking us up and just swinging us around to face the other way.

After many reverses and forwards, Steve did it!

Then we were off and headed north.

We decided that it would be fun to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge with the kids, so we took a longer route up north to Katja's house on Sunday. We listened to the phone directing us along and next thing we knew, we were driving through part of the city of San Francisco versus the freeway. That was not part of the plan. Somehow the GPS took us a different route. We were the only RV in traffic, but it all ended up being perfect. The kids fell asleep for a while and then woke up right as we were approaching the bridge.

You too, can own one of these little condos for one to two million dollars! Crazy!

We passed through our first tunnel in the rig.

And then saw the Golden Gate Bridge! A bonus was that it was a clear blue day. Other times when I've driven over it, it has been totally covered in fog. Today, I could see the city and Alcatraz.

Steve was happy to be crossing the bridge for the first time in a vehicle versus on a Naval ship!

And, we had to take this picture of course!

The drive into Marin County is always so lovely

Before we headed into Sonoma, we pulled over to feed the dogs dinner and to all do our business. Steve was funny and said he wouldn't leave until we took his picture in this random gazebo.

Welcome to wine country!

JOURNAL ENTRY: 4-23-17

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 05:57:00 +0000

Oh no. I am totally feeling it. I can feel the approaching of our home state... Washington. Friends back home are complaining on facebook about the rain. That's when you know that things are not just wet, but really wet. We are still in California (Sonoma to be exact) & have a few more days left before we start to plan our trek home. It's warm and sunny with some clouds. The flowers are vibrant.

Steve said I was acting 'off' last night... I had a headache, was tired, crabby, and honestly think I was feeling a bit bummed to leave the desert. It is A M A Z I N G to be in the sunshine everyday and to be dry and warm and happy. I love the sun!

We have seen incredible things in the last five weeks. I cannot believe it has already been that long. Seriously feels like we've been gone for a week or less. The rhythm of life on the road is a constant smiley buzz. Ok, sometimes it's not so happy but those moments are far and few between.

What I'm reflecting on tonight is the experience of being human. There is so much to learn in our life. We can listen, watch, try, hopefully learn, reflect, change, and grow. The adventure keeps going as we age & truly we cannot predict what will happen in the next moment, even though we try.

Back home, I can fall into a rut of routines and happenings. I can predict, fairly accurately, what will happen in a typical day and suddenly my life has been a series of days strung together. Costco, errands, shopping, laundry, school work, house stuff, etc. And, at times, I ask myself what I am doing. Doing in the sense of really, what, am I doing here? I hope that when we transition back to life in a house again, I will continue to live as we've been doing on the road. Adventuring. I may not be going as far as we've journeyed, but I sure can explore and play and live life more fully.

Tonight, I spent time with an old friend of mine. We go back 20+ years and met at Prescott College. The moment I saw her waving at us as we pulled onto her street, I cried. It is so good to have old friends to connect with. We haven't seen each other for over ten years and it feels as if time hasn't passed. Love that. ♡

"SAT"URDAY DRIVE

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 14:49:00 +0000

After we left Owl Canyon on "Sat"urday (calling it that because we sat for many hours yesterday in the rig), we headed west towards Salinas, CA. The drive was full of beautiful scenery. I never tire of watching the landscape roll by...

So funny. We were driving and listening to random songs on Spotify... Brady Bunch, Phil Collins, Jamiroquai, then Elmo (had fun torturing Alex with a trip down memory lane), and I put on some of Sierra's favorite music. At one point, Steve turned to me to say he liked the current selection & asked me, "That's Britney Spears, right?" Um, not quite honey. "You are listening to My Little Pony." This was his next reaction when I began to chuckle.

Love the wildflowers

Welcome to the land of grapes & growing things!

Oh no! We spotted our first clouds indicating that the constant blue sky is no more!

Saw a huge piece of land where oil is pumped

And drove for hours along Highway 101... farming central!

(Note to self: clean the windshield!)

The picture below reminds me of a road on Maui.

Lettuce anyone?

This sign of the man holding his "lettuce" is HUGE!

After many many many hours on the road, we reached Steve's cousin's house in Salinas. This part of California, just east of Monterey, is gorgeous. Sweeping valley views and oh so green! The road up to Dave's house is narrow and twisty. It was an adventure to get up here!

I think Steve will seriously

have to make a fifty point turn to get out of here

The kids love meeting family, and enjoyed a fun game of pool (their version of course!)

Part of the Fronckowiak clan

Another gorgeous campsite... in Dave's driveway!

What fun to meet family for the first time! ♡

OWL CANYON MORNING 4/22/17

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 19:13:00 +0000

I rolled over in bed this morning and here was the view...

Willow's morning routine is to nudge her way between the blinds to see out. The campground had only a few car campers in it today. Love it!

Today is Earth Day... and every day is Earth Day in my book!

Steve is the best. Most mornings he makes me coffee and delivers it to me in bed- I am not a morning person and like to wake up slowly vs starting an instant conversation like Alex and Sierra do. While I sip by brew, Steve takes the dogs out for a short stroll to do their business.

You picked a great campsite in the dark honey! Way to go!

After a quick breakfast, we squared up the rig, and then went for a little morning hike. Beautiful!

Owl Canyon is another gem! If you pass through Barstow and are looking for a place to camp ($6 for a site)... head here. The pictures do not even do the scenery justice. If we weren't on a mission for Monterey today, we could stay here a few days and explore the canyon and hike. Will be back here in the future to visit for sure!

Steve and Alex did a little climb

We passed a man and his daughter hiking. I loved his shirt and asked if I could take a picture!

♡

FRIDAY: FLAG TO CALI

noreply@blogger.com (MamaBear98671) — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 18:42:00 +0000

Such a beautiful morning next to the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff. I wish we could stay here for a few days. So quiet and peaceful. But, we are hitting the road to Cali. Goodbye for now Flagstaff.

HA! It only took us 5 1/2 weeks to figure out the best way to have everyone sit while we travel

And, good to know if we want a drink on the road we can just do drive-thru to buy liquor. Right?!?

As we drove from our campspot into Flagstaff we decided we could no longer ignore the metal noise coming from our brakes, so we just made a stop at Flagstaff Auto Repair to have them checked out. Two hours, and $93 later, we are back on the road. Brake pads look great... we just have a lot of dirt and sand we've traveled in. Good to know we are all set! On the road again!

So green! So blue!

Goodbye peaks of Flag!

Hello desert driving

We drove for hours, watching the desert landscape switch from Ponderosa pines to scrub brush and low plants. The road was pretty rough and in need of repairs. Steve laughed at the signs that said rough road. Every few miles there would a sign to let drivers know the roads are indeed rough.

The picture above was taken by Steve. He was excited because he spotted Dodge's Proving Ground for their new and upcoming cars. There in the desert, they test vehicle reliability, endurance, and quality.

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A couple hours later we crossed the Colorado River and are now in California. As soon as we drove across the state line, gas prices went up by a dollar plus and the road conditions improved drastically. Coincidence? I think not.

The Mojave Desert is an amazing landscape. Vast, open, and surprisingly full of life... Coyotes, rattlesnakes, bats, the Desert Tortoise, Red Tailed Hawk, scorpions, and so much more! We literally drove into the sunset, with the Barstow area as our destination. (Wish our windshield had been clear!)

I think it was around eight o'clock when we pulled off I-15 and into Dagget, a small town east of Barstow. I drove while Steve nagivated. Earlier in the evening, as he researched places to camp, he realized there were not many open land areas near us to boondock in. But, he did find a BLM campground called Owl Canyon. I have officially named the dirt road up to the canyon 'washboard road'. We drove over four miles on the bumpiest road we've been on yet. The sun had set and I was using my headlights to find the rut of least resistance to get to the campsite. After driving a couple miles, we considered turning around but instead went for the end goal and continued up the road. The picture below doesn't even show the crazy bumps. When it rains here in the desert, flash flooding occurs and there is evidence of that everywhere. This time of year we are safe to explore the roads. Monsoon season it would be a different story.

We finally made it! Woo hoo!

Will be fun to see what views the morning brings!