Time Machine

"If we could go back a year, knowing what we do now, would you still have made this decision?" I asked Chris and the boys. I got two yeses and a no (from Oliver, who would like to be back in Mike and Nana's living room, thankyouverymuch).

The family that lived behind our family

It was almost exactly a year ago when I had this crazy idea. When Chris said Yes. When our lives started to take on a lot of extra work. The cleaning, packing, downsizing, and more downsizing. The moving, planning, and now the constant moving and planning. But MAN! the experiences have been unbelievable. It is hard to think about how we would have possibly been able to do this much without getting rid of the house for a while. Because 12 months later we have memories of our dogs in oceans, Thanksgiving in the woods, tromping around countless rivers, museums, and parks. We slowed down our life style while picking up the pace in our adventures and it just feels right.

A couple of yahoos with their wazoos

 I keep waiting for this to end, for me to feel like it's all over now and we should head on home. While those days have appeared and I want to cry Uncle on days when the inside of the camper will not dry and there are no clean socks and the fender is still not back on the camper (side note. Our fender broke a while ago on one side of the camper. We have a new one, but it did not come with the supporting brace so now we have a huge fender that sits outside on the ground during our stays and inside on the couch on moving days and adds to the feeling that our home could just rattle apart, but oh well), I take deep breaths, drink a coffee or head out with the kids leaving the humid indoor air behind and I get those excitement butterflies because in a week or 3 days or 2 weeks we will be at the new place, seeing new things, eating at new restaurants and we really are on a perma-vacation.

If the soundtrack of the laughter could be heard, it would be contagious

Since leaving Georgia we rolled into Hunting Island State Park where we met up with some of our great friends who now lives in SC. Our kids hugged and played on the beach. We got sandy and wet on a beach trek in the rain and our kids played in rivers heading into the Atlantic. We climbed a light house, had a camp fire, talked until 1 in the morning and all had a slumber party hiding from the wind in the camper. After their weekend getaway ended we ate at Saltus and marveled again at how our landlocked, Colorado kids have learned to love sea food. They gobbled the salmon, sushi, and halibut up and we left stuffed and happy. The kids and I experienced a real laundry mat and fell in love with how large their washing machines are and thought it was perfect how a home baked bakery was next door which was a perfect place to finish our book, The Secret of the Indian. We visited the Kazoo Factory and learned about what a versatile little instrument the kazoo and wazoo can be. We left all humming our favorite tunes until we drove each other crazy and haven't touched them since. At Hunting Island we visited the nature center and saw dolphins swimming off of the pier, alligators sunning next to the docks and turtles swimming in the lake. Miles of trails saw our bike's tires and we pulled out thinking that it is indeed a destination worth heading to if you are ever in Southern South Carolina.

Egg Dying party by our Chickadees

South Carolina saw us off into North Carolina where we are camped out in a little gravel parking lot behind a used car dealership. It is as peaceful as it sounds. Thankfully we left the camper here and visited with Gina and Company at her aunt and uncles's beautiful home here in Charlotte, NC. for a long weekend. Our kids chased each other, played with one another and lived on top of one another for 4 days, never letting go. This ball of energy moves around waving it's 8 arms and 8 legs as we chase them from room to room constantly yelling, "go outside!" And they do. They had acres of paths and woods to play in and I'm not sure a single rock wasn't touched. We ate like royalty due to her aunt's love of cooking and incredible hosting skills as well as drank like very happy Italians due to her uncle's "small" hobby of wine collecting. It was a very social weekend that left us all tuckered out from nights that lasted past midnight and conversation worth thinking about.

Austin in the red cap

Today the boys and I explored The National White Water Center as Chris flew off to explore the medical centers of Kansas City again. Honestly, I think the kids and I got the better end of the deal, but don't tell Chris. We climbed our first ropes course and I watched as they took their first wobbly steps onto high wires and I clung to my heart and the ropes holding me up. Austin flew through the course with never a concern after reaching the first benchmark while Oliver put all of his courage into crossing those steps 15 feet off the ground. I can honestly say I am not sure if I have ever been prouder of them. Most of the time when we ask our 5 and 7 year olds to do something that they have never done before, we are right there waiting to help. When you are on a ropes course and you are not allowed to help, they just have to do it. There is no hand holding, carrying, or hugging that can go on. There is no turning back as there is already a line behind and as I watched their faces comprehend all this, and then turn resolute and continue on, I thought for sure people could hear the songs coming from my chest. And it's this, these moments of complete shock and excitement and exploring, that have me saying YES. I would do this all over again. 

Oliver looking very small and high to me