Traveling To New Mexico

Vacation time has come and we have planned for months now to pack 9 of us in our 9 passenger suburban and travel 1500 miles to see our newest grand child, along with our daughter and son in law, of course. At he time we left Idaho, the baby had not been born...that story is for another post.

So, we packed VERY lightly for our two week trek, and hoped for the best.  Since we lost our 15 passenger van, this is our first road trip with all of us, everything would be different...no cooking in a crock pot while driving...there just isn't room. No big cooler with lots of homemade yummies for our tummies...there just isn't room.  No plethora of games, books, pillows, and blankets...there just isn't room.

So......what we did do is....
1. Pack a small cooler with lunch meat, cheese, mayo and mustard.  And another box with bread and store bought snacks to be given out in between rest stops. We choose fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, granola bars, and trail mix.  These were all XL boxes, but I filled plastic cups with the snacks and handed them out on the road.  For breakfasts on the road, we had granola bars and a banana.  After about an hour and a half, we handed our a snack.  We stopped briefly for lunch, made sandwiches served with chips, and back on the road a bit later, handed out the cups with another snack, and so it went.  For dinner, we located a fast food choice close to our motel, and picked it up in car....after 9 hours in a vehicle we just wanted to get to our motel!  We tried to choose a motel with a pool, so that we could get some exercise into our days, the children greatly enjoyed the swim!!

2.  To keep the trip fun, we had a list of 100 things to look for as we traveled.  Things such as a camel, a circus, a nativity scene, a firetruck, a bicycle with a child seat behind, etc.  We also listened to an audio book which we played on daddy's android, The Hobbit on the way down to NM, and The Girl of The Limberlost on the way home.  Other games we played were looking for all 50 states license plates, finding the ABC's on signs (the word must begin with the needed letter).  And then, the most fun thing we did was bring Rose with us, she is full of fun...when she is not sleeping.  We found that Rest Areas can be alot of fun too....

3. After staying in the plainest and cheapest of motel options, we have come to fully appreciate up-scaling to a motel with a full breakfast and a pool.  It was a significant cost difference, and it was well worth it.  The breakfast was warm and satisfying- getting us off to a good start, and all of us splashing and playing in the pool was also a great reward to a long day packed like sardines in the suburban.
 We also stayed with friends along the way, which was a tremendous blessing and added such joy to our trip.  I am very glad that we went ahead and made the contacts to meet up with old friends we hadn't seen is such a long time.  I was initially thinking we would be a burden..9 of us inviting ourselves over.....but I am so glad we did it---we had SOOO much fun!!

The visit with our family in NM was wonderful...

and then we were on our way home,

 another 1500 miles in three days.

  It all went pretty much like the trip down. 

 The children traveled so well!

 And, if you are wondering what age little people grow out of falling asleep with gum n their mouths, or silly putty in their hands....it is not 4!!

...just sayin'....

Simple Camping

Desiring to get away for the weekend with our son John and his family,

 we planned for a simple and quick camp trip to our favorite campground. 

 Fall campground camping is wonderful, because the campground is virtually empty, 

the landscape turning fall colors is lovely,

 and the weather is fine, albeit a bit crisp in the mornings.

It was a beautiful, relaxing, and fun weekend.

Our tent site overlooked the play area and the lake, giving us a protective and lovely view.

Sitting around the campfire doing nothing for hours is my kind of relaxing!!

Others find sand an amazing relaxer, and can play in it for hours on end.

For those cool mornings, everyone needs a great hat.

Camping is all about taking time to unwind.

taking time to enjoy one another without the distractions of everyday life

And drink in deeply of the beauty of God's creation

How did we Keep it simple with 11 people?

We did all the cooking in the Dutch Oven, making meals and packing less complicated....so we took the water kettle, the french press, and the dutch oven, along with a small box of kitchen accessories.

What did we cook in the Dutch oven?
Just easy favorites, nothing fancy, although there are some very scrumptious looking recipes on Pinterest!
Friday night-chili dogs
Saturday morning- hashbrowns with eggs over the top, bagels toasted over the fire.
Lunch- "Pub Platter" our traditional camping lunch of salami, cheese, crackers, apples, pickles, and
cookies.
Saturday Dinner- pulled roasted meat on hogie buns, cabbage salad
Sunday morning- french toast casserole
Sunday lunch- pub platter again, with fresh picked plums ( a bonus to this particular campground)



Other factors for the keep it simple weekend:
organization for meals-
I keep all the plates, silverware and cups in a plastic washtub so it is handy and not scattered all over.
I have the meal plan written out so I don't forget something.
I precook (before the camp trip) anything I can...sausage for the casserole, made the salad ahead, grate the cheese, etc.

Minimal equipment and clothing-
tents, camp chairs, cooler, camp box, lantern, dutch oven, kettle, sleeping bags, fishing gear, life jackets for littles, towels, and I think that was pretty much all.
For clothing; layers!  We all took quilted shirts for jackets.  fleece pullover, flannel shirt, t-shirt, jeans, one pair shoes, jammies, swim suit, warm socks, and underthings.

And, for extra fun, we took the cutest grandbaby ever!...

  To ensure lots of cuddles, laughs, and endearing moments.

To ensure lasting memories, we took an amazing  photographer to capture the moments-

thank you Rose!

Blessings to you the glorious fall day,

Julianne

Vacation Memories at the Lake Cabin

We just spent an entire week at a remote lake cabin completely unplugged.  

Had it been in Idaho, I might have stayed there. 

 I can easily identify with the hermit lifestyle; 

quiet, peaceful, lots of time for pondering and planning (some of my favorite pastimes)

 and did I say quiet? 

We were so blessed with beautiful weather  the whole week.  

And, we thoroughly enjoyed it while we were gazing at the lake, 

either from the porch or from a boat. 

Here at home, a large storm is brewing, with one of the blackest clouds we have ever seen here 

heading right our way.  

The trees are swaying..it will hit here soon.  

Therefore, the children have come inside from their afternoon excursions
 and are gathered at the table to color and listen to an audio book...
..the perfect rainy afternoon activity.

With a pot of soup simmering on the stove for dinner,

 I thought I would quickly add our vacation pictures while my bread is rising, 

so here goes....

Lake life is easy to get attached to.  

Water is so relaxing-- be it the beach, the lake, or a river, even a pond.  

There is just something about water that speaks tranquility to me.

The lake was brimming with trout, so this became the main occupation for our week there, 

at least for the boys.

  Although Brian and I like to fish, we spent the majority of our time just staring at the water,

 or watching the children play and fish.

I did play in the dirt with the littles,

 making tiny homes for tiny wee folks whom we imagined would come and live there.

My, I haven't done that for ages.  It was great fun!!

 

"EAGLE!!!!" 

 Ben loved watching the Eagles swoop and dive to catch fish, then fly up into the tall trees and roost.  

He never tired of it, although it happened all day- everyday.

One roosted right above me in the very tree I was leaning on. 

 We listened to their squirrel like chatter and tried to imitate them. 

We also heard a Barred owl right behind the cabin every evening, 

but never could spot it in the huge cedar trees, 

though we climbed over all sorts of dense underbrush and bracken looking.

Playing together and hanging out together all week  gave us old folks a nice relaxing get away. 

 The children had lots of fun, too, with all the new surroundings to investigate, 

new swings to play on, and the irresistible water.  

We had all the extravagances of  grid electricity:  like a dryer, a microwave, a toaster, 

and showers whenever we wanted,

 (you off grid people KNOW what I'm talking about!!) 

so we really felt quite spoiled and well rested.

Still, at the end of the week, everyone was excited to get home. 

 As we crossed the Idaho state line, there were loud
(and I mean LOUD!!)
cheers from all.

Vacation was wonderful-but,

There's just no pace like HOME.

Finding Rest and Beauty At Anna's

Here I am in New Mexico at my daughter's house.

Thus far, vacation has been super easy to take to.

We went to bed early, we got up late.  

We sat on the sofa sipping coffee in our jammies, then leisurely enjoyed a lovely breakfast fritata.  

My room has chocolates, roses, lots of pillows to keep me company at night, 

a humidifier, magazines, and a super cozy afghan that Anna made for me. 

 Anna knows how to spoil a guest!

Scott and Anna have a beautiful home.
Soooo romantic!

Note the airplane pillow Anna made for Scott.  All the little details in the living room point to the military life, which is blended nicely with Anna's soft and gentle style.

Love this platter that was a wedding gift from some of Scott's family.

  Anna has made lots of cute pillows that give her home a sweet appeal and comfy-ness.

She has taken great delight in making a home that is warm and welcoming to their many friends, 

whom they have over often. 

Today we shall have a visit with some children whom Anna has grown very fond of, 

and I will get a kid-fix.

I am still working at getting her very shy dog, Zoey, to take to me.

Zoey did come near to me today and sit for a moment just out of reach and look pitiful at me. 

 But, when I spoke to her it scared her to death and she retreated to her special hide-away.

I am gaining on her, however, and am confident to make a friend of her while here. 

 Just a moment ago, she looked at me and wagged her tail, so we are making progress.

(chuckle)

Snap chat, email and a phone call a day is keeping me up to speed with how things are going back in Idaho.

Brian is chugging along through school with very little trouble.  

The children are sleeping well and having fun with daddy at home.

It is a beautiful sunny day here.

Anna and I are still chatting away, sipping tea, making plans for the week ahead, 

and looking forward to seeing all of Anna's life here.

Blessings to you this day!

All the way from New Mexico,

Julianne

Mama Goes on Vacation

The airlines tickets were made, by my thoughtful husband months ago, 

and the time has come, now, 

to go on the long vacation to see our daughter in New Mexico.

Mama leaving home for two weeks has created some anxiety, 

to be honest, mostly in me, the mama. 

 How will I sleep without being smooshed in between Olivia and daddy??? 

 Who will I snuggle with? 

Will I be terribly homesick without my sweet children and loving husband? 

I wasn't worried about the children, you see.  I know my dear sweet husband is very capable 

of managing the household and caring for the family. 

 He is even planning on carrying on with the school work, 

and I have no doubt he will do it well.  

But, what am I , a homeschooling mama with 7 children still at home,

going to do with myself for two whole weeks????  

Can even I jabber on that long???  

(My friends say no doubt!)

Silly though it may sound, those have been my worries.

But, instead of worrying, I threw myself headlong into packing and preparing to leave.

There is lots of organizing to take place in order to feel like I am leaving the house in good order.  

Chore chart to be made,

a menu to be planned and posted. 

A schooling schedule to be made out and details of each students progress noted, 

groceries taken care of, 

daily instructions for Rose, the cook, to be written out, etc. 

Then there was packing to be done, and a home to leave clean and organized...

more organized than I usually keep it, 

so that things would be easier for Brian while I am gone.

I love planning and organizing, so this was great fun.

 After a full week of planning and packing, we got up at 3 am and drove to the airport.  

After a quick goodbye (better on my nerves) 

this mama was loading on the plane and zooming across the sky, on her way to see Anna! 

 Anna's husband is in the military and will serve over seas for at least four months this year. 

 It is during his time away that I most desired to be with Anna, 

to help her pass the time and be a little less lonely, so the vacation is 2 fold. 

 Mama gets to rest and Anna gets company.

For the next two weeks I will be posting from New Mexico

about what a homeschooling mama does on vacation.

Until then,

Julianne