Sunday Brunch

One perk of attending our family's church is Sunday brunch with Mom, Dad and Lorri. CoRielle attend church across town. BreZaak are busy with 2nd service.

This week the Brown's and Leah joined us.  Mom used to babysit for Jim and Gloria when Jamie and I were kids. It's always fun to catch up.

We usually go to Denny's - where Mom and Dad know the  manager and staff....but we were a big enough crowd that we needed to go somewhere else. Ihop - haven't eaten there in ages.

Michael and the boys spent the afternoon working on the bunk modification in the RV.

Bunk Modification

John and Nadine will return this week and we will move back into the motorhome and into an "RV Resort". 😏

Michael has been going over daily and working on repairs and fix it jobs he noted needed fixing. I'll have to take photos for a big post soon.

We all trekked across town for the kids to see if the bunk measurements were liveable. He's putting a triple bunk into a slide in the motorhome. This will leave the living area for those who like to play games late at night and those who wake early.

I'll admit the first thing I noted was the MESS. I'm a neat/organizational freak and this would have done me in to try to live here while all this was going on. The repairs are looking nice.

We currently have two bunks in the slide.  

It's going to be tight, but the kids said they could live with the submarine-like berths. Michael thought of using thinner wood, but was advised to stick with the thicker. Our kids are not toddlers. 😮

Michael thought more than one helper would be a hinderance. Nolan volunteered. This allowed them to enjoy the day together. Alex finished school early this week and joined Michael earlier and Stacia had a date on Friday night with him.

Alex, Stacia and I did the week's grocery shopping and a few odd things we need to get done before moving.

Michael thinks he can finish the bunk tomorrow.  We'd like to bring the motorhome over for a day to load it....then get it parked at the new site before we move out of here.

Daddy Daughter Date - #WYFF

Michael took Stacia out for a Daddy/Daughter date. Both report having a great time. Here he explains boys should open the door for her. The comment was made that boys these days don't know they should hold the door for a girl. The reply - "Teach them."

They enjoyed dinner at Outback. Michael was armed with some conversation starters (my contribution to the evening) which they both enjoyed.

Fred Myers provided a chance to stretch after dinner, and to pick up flowers for Stacia.

Dessert was at Dairy Queen.

Great evening for both.






#WYFF  - Where's Your Feet Friday - is a hash tag sponsored by Fulltime Families.  I thought it would be a fun way to get a quick look at our adventures.  The photo - or collage - serves as the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) if you missed the story and would like to read it, click the link under the photo. For past #WYFF check the tabs.

We Have a Toad

We bought a motorhome in November.  It is the model we wanted and was below book.

We no longer have the van and trailer. That February sale went easier than expected - we didn't even put them on the market.

We have been looking for a towable vehicle - a toad. We needed it before our trip to Denver the end of April. Who, in their right minds - which we are - would want to drive a 38 FT motorhome in Denver traffic?

Michael has scoured various RV forums and guides. He knew the makes which would work. Many popped up in FL. I was resistant to the idea of another drive to FL and back between now and April. We hoped for a manual transmission.  If not manual, able to flat tow. The toad has to be 5K pounds or less - curbside. It needs to fit three youth in the back - comfortable enough for up to 200 mile trips. Our plan is to find a spot, set up camp, and take 200 mile trips around our location.

I had originally hoped for a pickup with a seat in the back. I saw all sorts of potential for packing the back end....however, the weight was off. We definitely ruled out a pick up after the five of us drove in one - our kids are not little. Next, I hoped for a hatchback so Yuuki could ride in the back. We knew the kids were o.k. crowding in the back seat (see blue car), but didn't want to add Yuuki to the mix in the back seat.

Yesterday, we stopped by the car lot of a family friend.  He had two cars that could have worked. He recommended we stay away from one. It was the same make and model  - but had something funky going on with the engine.

Yes, the Jeep is smaller than the 15 pass van - BUT we've been driving
the Versa in the background

We've been using Mom G's Versa - in the background.  This Jeep Liberty Renegade is in good shape, drives well, weighs 4,100 curbside, has a bit of a hatchback, a normal tow package and a partial flat tow package.  We've noted jeeps are popular toads. It had more miles than we wanted, BUT we know some of those miles were towed miles. It still has part of the air brake system, proving it was a motorhome's toad. 

Michael came home and priced the various parts he'd need to fix the tow package for flat towing. He went back this morning and took photos, which he shared with an RV mechanic. He wanted to see if it would be possible to add to what was there, or if it would all need replaced.  The mechanic said the brake and a few other things could be added to what was still on the Jeep. They charged double the prices Michael has seen on Amazon. He'll buy on Amazon and install himself.

Michael took the Jeep for a test drive and loved the way it drove. The price quoted was low book - FROM A DEALER WE TRUSTED. It was lower than our budgeted amount and we paid cash. Win, win, win! He called me and said he'd like to buy it and wanted to come pick me up. I drove it home - playing with buttons all the way. My best find is the radio control under the steering wheel. 😍

We have NEVER bought any vehicle, trailer, or gadget this quickly and easily. Michael's motto is,
"Do the research!" whenever we are considering a purchase. Research takes time - sometimes months. Then we have to wait to find exactly what our research revealed we need. This also takes time. Michael had been researching since we bought the motorhome in November.  We began to actively look when the van sold the end of Feb. We've also never sold a vehicle as easily as the van. Eugene has been good to us in vehicle sales. 😉

Did I mention it is 4 wheel drive? It is meant for the types of roads our tortured vans traveled. 😃The Dodge gave up after our three years in Alaska. 4x4 will be a good feature in Alaska. The Gherkins were surprised at how quickly we closed the deal. They agree they have much more room than in the Versa.

We smile at the changes in us since we began full-timing. At that point, the kids and I couldn't imagine being on the road without a 15 pass van. We had a table for school and each one had our own seat.....now, this feels big and we're excited about the possibilities for adventure.

Bella Time

BreZaak are working on their master's degrees. Bre had a class which started with an on-campus intensive this week. She will then finish the class online.  Gemma was the natural one to spend the week with Bella - and living right around the corner has made this VERY convenient. 😉

Bella and Uncle Cy

Bella is 11 months old now! She seems to have given me a new Grandma name, "Ba!"   I thought she was just babbling, but she seems rather intentional. She began the week saying, "Ma," to which I didn't respond as Bre would. By the end of the first day she'd moved down her list of consonant blends and settled on calling out, "Ba!" when she wanted or needed my attention.... There you have it - Ba, as in Baachan, Japanese for Grandmother. I'll take it.  Our joke is that Michael is sure to become "Ra".....do you know your Egyptian mythology or Prince of Egypt?

Love those teeth 

It's been fun to have Bella here all day. I have determined if I was watching grandblessings on a regular basis, I would pull out my sling and be a baby wearing Grannie! 😊The boys have pretty much stayed in the back room and worked on school. Stacia has gotten up early to work on school so she is able to play and help with Bella.

Bella and Aunt Stacia

Today, Mom and Dad came over for a visit. Today is Dad's REAL 76th Birthday! Bella, however was the star of the show.

GG and Bella 

This girl can sing and dance. I'm going to share the unedited clip - because babies take energy and I don't have time to edit videos! LOL 

March Birthdays

Michael, Josiah and the gherkins spent most the day playing Dominion. 

We  took time to dream about the future - collectively and individually. 

BreZaak and Bella stopped by for a bit between their various appointments. I get too busy playing with Bella to grab photos when they are around. This must stop. 

This evening Arielle, Mom, Dad and Lorri dropped by. BreZaak had another meeting and Cory got called in to work - ON HIS BIRTHDAY. 

We  all got together to celebrate Cory and Grandpa's birthday. Cory's is today and Grandpa's is Wednesday.  Alas, one of our birthday men were missing. 😕 We enjoyed dinner, cake, and Farkle.....fun night.....glad to have a house to invite people too. We'll move back into the motorhome in a week and a half. 

Love Me Some Gherkins

Josiah - our eldest male Gherkin - drove down from Seattle this afternoon! Cody, the sawed off Husky accompanied him. I'll have to get a photo of the two of them. LOL

We ran over to Rebecca's in the afternoon - picked up some stuff we need to take care of for the estate and checked out her new pick up. Wow, it's pretty. I think it's about perfect for a toad - but Michael says it would be too heavy. Still looking for a toad - want one before the end of April when we head to CO and TX.

BreZaak and Bella dropped by in the evening. It was fun to chat together! 

We discussed Josiah's upcoming move to Alaska (May 12th y'all), used the internet to check out a few more pieces of property for Michael and I, talked about HOW Josiah's going to handle the transportation of the move, confirmed my need of a HOT TUB if these crazies are going to move me to Alaska instead of Texas (I may need a sauna too), discussed dreams we all have..... Can you believe it will be over $4,500 for us to take the motorhome up on the ferry?  I predict we get very familiar with the Alaskan Highway (ALCAN). 

After BreZaaks' visit we introduced Josiah to Dominion.  I like this game much better than Monopoly.

*Gherkins - collective and individual nickname for our offspring; online pseudonym for our last name. If you know us in person, you understand.

If you are ever confused by an acronym we use, click the tab at the top of the page for an explanation.