Are frogs dirty?

My son, actually, all three kids, were fascinated with how the waste got emptied from the RV. After a few days camping we stopped to empty the infamous Black Tank. All went well. My husband did it flawlessly with almost no gross factor (although...just the concept puts it on some level of gross factor). He got out the tubes, the kids watched with big eyes as he hooked it up and drained the YUCK from the bus. THEN…when we were all done, getting back into the bus to head to our next destination, my son spots a frog. Not an ordinary frog....one that lives in the intake tube of the septic drain. As we are all loading back into the RV I spot him out the window, about to actually PICK IT UP with his hands to hold and potentially cuddle this disgusting creature. It was in slow motion as I screamed NOOOOOOO!!! So innocent, he just wanted the frog, but it could have been so extremely disgusting. My son still sucks his thumb...imagine how that plays out. EWWWW. Luckily he heard me and left that little shit-eating frog all alone.

Dirty Laundry

There is a tom petty song called free falling- and a line in it says “ I'm gunna leave this world for a while”. That is what we have done on this adventure. It took us (me) about 24 hours to relax into this style of travel (RV) that I have always made fun of, because I have never understood it. As I look across the tree-used-as-a-clothesline I set up, I laugh so hard. The items on the line tell the story. Underpants hanging there from an afternoon swim, a forgotten bathing suit, towels, and my husband’s shirt wet from diving in after a hurt child. Each piece of clothes drying has its own paragraph of adventure. It hangs behind our picnic-style dinner table, and doesn’t bother me in the least. Motor boats and jet skiers in the background, and some very interesting folks from all parts of America…its all part of this journey in reaffirming what is really important. My children fought like bad business partners the first day. Now they are helping each other. My older daughter helped my youngest after she was bitten by a spider, walking her back to the campsite. A week ago it would have been eyes rolling. We are happy today.

Priority and RV Preparation

It has been 8 months since my last post. The first thing that went through my head when I saw how long its been was a flash of guilt. Then came the thought that somehow I have mismanaged my priorities. Then I took a breath. People say "Wow, three kids under 10, you are a busy mom" and the first thing out of my mouth is always some sort of challenge to that comment, like "NOOO, its wonderful." or "They are really good kids...and here are all the OTHER things I am doing...." Well, I am now here to formally agree that I am a busy MOM, and don't have to be much else for right now. I can (and should) just focus on this wonderful time in my children's life (and an equally wonderful time in my life).

Today we are picking up our 36 foot RV and taking the kids on one last summer adventure. Its not the kind of RV you see driving around, possibly parked in neighbors yard year round. Its the kind from that show where they say "bus driver...MOVE THAT BUS" kind of RV. The one that drives 15 miles an hour up and over the mountain pass while you are swearing at it from behind as it happily clogs up the highway. You look over at it as you finally pass and the family inside is happily playing games, singing and laughing and you think "what the hell could be so funny that they don't even realize they are stopping up traffic?" Well, thats us ...starting tonight.

We have never done this and are not particularly fond of camping, but have heard wonderful things about an RV family experience! The preparation has been long and detailed:

-Costco runs for food and supplies

-Meal planning "yuck! don't make salmon" and "I will only eat mac and cheese" "mac and cheese on a camping trip? grace that's crazy" "OK mom, ill eat pasta with Parmesan". Nice compromise.

-Organizing sheets, towels and bedding for 5- including all the favorite blankets and snugglies.

-Plans for the cats, dog, rabbit, hermit crabs and guinea pig while we are gone

-Mapping the drive and the stops, including the request to stop at every state border so the kids can stand in 2 states at once.

-Pumping bike tires, sorting fishing gear, finding the favorite goggles and remembering each little pair of hiking boots.

-Oh, packing MOM's things (I almost forgot).

The front of my house looks like we are moving, with the piles of gear and food awaiting the bus' arrival by the front door.

The kids are jumping out of their skin with excitement. They were drawing the other day and while the twins drew pictures of monsters and kittens, my older daughter, Maggie, drew an amazingly detailed picture of an RV.

"How much longer until we can pick up the RV" has been asked 3x this morning and its only 7:30 am.

Our friends, the Centeno's, are coming over with their three kids to see this thing transition from a bus to our home for 6 days, and to giggle a little as they wave, supportingly, while we drive away.

I will continue this post when we have more RV stories. Right now I am excited about being a full-time mom.