Full-timing & Fuller Hearted

We are officially in our second week of full-timing, as it’s called in our new awesome lifestyle. The change from living in our old town, the girls going to public school and all of us being very immersed in it, to moving to a new town and homeschooling, and now to living full-time in our RV, roadschooling and with some days of just us, has been a big transition. However, I have to say that my children really go with the flow, embrace life and it has been a welcomed slowing of pace to the chaos of the past few months. img_8142

If anyone is concerned about my mental well-being after the first week from Hell, do not fret. Since I have had my multiple panic attacks, made my husband invest a small fortune in upgrading his truck, and froze in states where it’s normally warm, we have found a happy rhythm. It has still been unseasonally cold this week in Tennessee but we hiked, ate some good southern food, explored the beautiful KOA of Sweetwater, and learned a lot this week. While Shaun was working the girls and I bundled up and got outside a lot. Fresh air did us a lot of good!

Now we are trying to make the most of our space, personalize it a bit (which we’ve yet to do) and learn to make the most of everyday. One tip I’m learning quick is that if we are traveling or want to do a full day of something, we need to, and absolutely can, modify our schooling schedule (even doing some reading while still in bed because why get up). Part of this journey is to make the most of our days, and yes they need to learn and grow mentally, but exploring, wandering, and being free is also a big part of it. This is the part that we can not take advantage of when we are home, they’re in public school and there are rules to everything. I’m saying rules-schmules…LIFE is what my kids need!

This week coming up is going to be a GREAT part of our journey! We are headed to Florida to see the Pieklos, our BFFs/Family/Loves! It’ll be the first time we all bring the kids to Universal Studios where we will celebrate Shaun’s 40th. During the week we’ll get some quality time in. Then the following weekend we’ll hit Magic Kingdom and Epcot and the following day celebrate Dani’s 40th. That will be the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae because her and I are hitting the spa and we NEED it! It’s been quite the past 6 months for us both and these mammas deserve a 40th birthday celebratory BFF spa day!!!

I must admit that since Dani and the fam moved, it’s been sad for me (and all of us). I totally get why they moved and knew it was their dream so I support their dreams but am sad without them close by. The best part of our friendship is that we always get each other, think too much alike, support each other in our hair brain ideas, and back each up in our crazy, and sometimes illegal, whims. Other great parts are that our kids love each other and fight like siblings, which is pure love in the kid world. This week is going to be the best, warmest and funnest (yup a word!)!!!!

So, what happened this week past, I did our first load of laundry thus far. Let me tell you, doing your laundry once a week with three machines simultaneously is awesome! It would be less if Shaun’s clothes weren’t so God forsakingly big but he’s a giant so that is life. Then they had big dryers so all of it went into one big drier and was put away in no time. Mom win! Southern food is delicious, albeit not healthy but yummy. Long division and money were conquered in our roadschooling! Mom tackle, goal and field goal!

We went to the Cherohala Skyway and saw the breathtaking Bald River Falls. There were frozen sections and it was truly a display of God’s handiwork.

Tomorrow we start the two-day travel to Florida and we are all excited for the journey because the end of the road is going to be great! See y’all next week…might post after we depart on Tuesday 2/6 so I can give you the full download of our time but you never know, I might be too excited to share the fun also.

Til then… img_8104

Long Live the Valley of Empty Boxes

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The key to it all!

We have officially moved in! We are sleeping, eating, waking up here and all. Thanks in part to my high caffeine intake provided by San Fransisco Bay Fog Chaser coffee, it’s happened! Once the coffee maker changed addresses, then we were officially home.

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It’s happening!

The floors were done! I know you’re happy that I’d stop talking about them now lol. However, we’ve decided to keep the footprint of the kitchen for a few years and have the cabinets painted. So now the flooring, as of Monday, will be throughout my entire house YAY!! So, the glass half full, there’ll be one more floors post.

The painting downstairs will begin in about two weeks. Shaun started painting the girls’ rooms. I, with Shaun’s help, painted the master closet and the new closet system is going in this week. Shaun is finishing up the flooring on the stairs. I am still figuring out where I want all of the furniture. Settling never felt so good!

Thank God for NJ Teachers Convention because the art studio by our new home is having half day art camp and the girls are super pumped to go. During those few hours, I am fitting power box emptying time in, probably clothes because I miss my clothes. We packed most of our clothes about a month ago before the closing was pushed up almost three weeks. Since, we have had limited items that have been washed a lot since, choices will be very welcome. Now that the girls are going to be homeschooled we’ll have A LOT of time together but time to unpack by myself is going to be time well spent.

Homeschooling the girls has always been a dream of mine and I can’t wait to get started. My favorite hashtag is #noschooliscool because I love having the girls with me! It is going to be priceless, quality time together. The girls and I are making excessive lists of topics we want to learn, science projects we want to make, outdoorsy activities to keep us physical, and more. The lists just keep growing and expanding and it’s so exciting!

I do have to say that I am already missing our home, friends, neighbors, and general everyday regular life. On the flip side, I am loving our new home, looking forward to walking the sidewalks, enjoying the view of the beautiful surroundings out of my kitchen window, shopping the local farms, and more! It’s such a change of scenery but totally loving what we are enveloped by. I also found an amazing coffee shop called The Coffee Potter! They make my coffee to perfection and that’s no easy feat.

We are all sharing much love of the office space. The girls and I love when Shaun is home so much and this space will allow him to work at home with more ease! Even if he’s busy working or on the phone, it’s just better having him share space with us. We will also be able to do lunch together, take early morning walks together, and more often than not be together for dinner.

We are truly four solid corners that completes the square shape. The feeling of goodness, happiness, and an exciting future is definitely in the air and I am so excited for it!

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Cheers!