Settled in at home

Hi! We're alive! Blogging is serious business people. When I finally get a chance to sit down, I usually fall asleep rather than blog. All day long I think about my next blog, but when it comes to getting it done, ugh, I need to be more of a commitment person. There are few things in the world I'm committed to. First, my husband, of course. Second, applying lotion regularly. Third, keeping my kids alive. Thats about it. When I want to commit to something, the idea runs through my head for a few days or weeks and then before I know it, its been months and I've done whatever it is once. 

So, I just sat down, I have a few minutes while Trenton naps and before I get the big boys from school, so Ill blog for a minute. (I cant lie, I hear the door upstairs opening and closing, music getting turned on and off and footsteps running from one room to another. Who am I to kid? Trenton's not sleeping. He will likely fall asleep in the car on the way to get the boys from school and then wake up when they climb in the car, fighting over who touched the car first and who's sitting where. Jake will be excited that the new little girl he's crushing on sat next to him on the colorful carpet and Bryce will need to tell me that he beat a 4th grader in tether ball today. Sums up my afternoon).

So, we have been home from our summer adventure for a little over a month. It was fantastic, despite the stops at the hospital and urgent care several times. The boys are fantastic travelers. Especially since we were going from one place to another in such a short amount of time. They adjusted really well and are still talking about it. The kayaking, the animals, the jet boats, Amanda and Tim's wedding and of course, Nino and Nina. It was so much fun getting to spend time with those who mean so much to us. Our main reason for the trip was to get to Washington for my sister in laws wedding. Its an amazing thing to see how families come together despite the heavy feeling of someone missing. Travis officiated the wedding for my sister in law. This was not his sister. My sister in law is the sister of my late husband. It was in incredible thing to watch Travis marry my late husbands very best friend, his little sister. Stevens family has been wonderfully accepting, open and nothing but loving to Travis and especially Trenton. They mean the world to us and may never know how much we appreciate their support.

​We are missing the open road and the adventure, but planning the next.

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Big things have happened since we returned. We sold our 23ft Toy Hauler and purchased a 30ft travel trailer. To say we got a deal on it all is an understatement. Once we began looking for Travel Trailers, it was slim pickings to find what we were looking for in our budget. We didn't want to finance anything, we wanted to use the cash we got from selling the toy hauler. We also had an idea of what we were looking for. The trailer needed to have a slide out to make the living space larger, it needed a bunkhouse in the back or bunk beds and we knew we wanted a walk around bed in the front. We found it, quick. When we went to look at it, an offer had already been placed on it, but we arrived with cash in hand and some cute little kids and they accepted. This trailer is 5 years newer than our last and Im not kidding when I say its barely been used. Its been sitting. Thats it. We brought it home and began gutting it right away. Our parents were a little shocked and skeptical because it was in perfect condition, but it waswnt our home, it was a trailer. After taking out the dinette and sofa from the slider which was way too easy, we took out the counter tops on the bedside tables, wall paper and the wall between the front bedroom and the rest of the trailer. We will be building a much cooler looking wall to house the TV in and make the wall connect all the way to the other end, so we don't have two entrances. Next we will take out the kitchen counter tops and begin to paint the entire interior of the trailer. 

We are still beyond excited to hit the road for a full year. I am feeling a little trepidation, I won't lie. I sort of feel like we are ditching out on the world. Escaping from this day to day routine. Yet, that is exactly what we are doing. Were spending an entire year, in close quarters, together as a family, focused on us. Having this opportunity seems like something we cannot pass up. Will we be back? Of course! Between booking weddings and photo sessions, holidays and such, we will be visiting. After the 1 year, we will be back. Settle back in and continue on. With adventures here and there. So, trailer updates?! Here they are! Follow our Instagram @ourlivelytribe. Why did we make a new Instagram for all of this? Its a whole new adventure and story and Travis and I will both be contributing. More to come! Maybe. No really, more to come. 

Travel Trailer Before Pictures

Renovations Begin