OUR HOME IS WHERE WE PARK IT

739 DAYS LATER

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

... 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

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

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!