MAY 10th

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

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!

 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

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?!?

 Home school PE rocks!

SUNSHINE ON OUR SHOULDERS

 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!

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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! ♡