A family on the road living fulltime in an RV.

Tag: Friends

Playing in Portland

When we got to Portland I posted on Facebook asking for advice on things to do. Almost every reply involved food! So we headed to downtown in search of the…

When we got to Portland I posted on Facebook asking for advice on things to do.

Almost every reply involved food!

Walking Portland OR

So we headed to downtown in search of the food trucks.

Powells Bookstore Portland OR

But first we had to stop at Powell’s. Priorities!

Line at Voodoo Doughnuts Portland OR

After grabbing lunch at a food truck we headed to Voodoo Doughnuts but none of us were willing to wait in that line.

Brothers Salt and Straw Ice Cream OR

That’s okay because after dinner we went to Salt and Straw to get our sugar fix with some handmade ice cream.

Farmers Market Damascus OR

We would have loved to eat our way through Portland but we live on a budget so a trip to a farmers market was in order.

Sunset Camping Portland Oregon

And a night eating in really isn’t so bad when you are with the one you love.

Airplain OMSI Brent OR

Airplane Omsi OR

There is more to Portland than food. There is science!

OMSI Museum Portland OR

The boys had a fun afternoon exploring the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, OMSI.

Jenn Rola Portland OR

While the boys went to OMSI, I caught up with my friend Rola. Rola and I used to hang out with our babies almost 12 years ago. It had been that long since we had seen each other.
Friends at Voodoo Doughnuts ORFortunately, it hadn’t been quite that  long since we hung out with some special friends, Greg and Michelle, and their kids.

It is such a joy to hang out with old friends when it feel like it was just yesterday you hung out even though it has been a few years.

It’s also fun to finally get to try Voodoo Doughnuts in the company of good friends without having to wait in line all day.

Doughnut Case Voodoo OR

Por Que No Portland Walking OR

While we were out and about why not go  to Por Qué No?Por Que No Portland OR

Portlandia loves its bikes.
Families Por Que No Portland ORAnd we love our Mexican food. Por Qué No did not disappoint.

Nims and Russingers Portland OR

We finished the night laughing and goofy off with Greg and Michelle at their house.

Family Portland OR

Fun times playing in Portland.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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A Blur of Bits and Pieces

The next few days after finding out we were expecting another baby were somewhat of a blur. Between the shock of the news and trying to decide if we were…

The next few days after finding out we were expecting another baby were somewhat of a blur. Between the shock of the news and trying to decide if we were going to keep traveling, taking along our camera was the last thing on my mind. Fortunately, I rarely forget my phone but even then I was too distracted to take many photos.

After leaving Oceana, we make a quick stop at the Long Beach Thousand Trails to meet up with friends, Nikki and Jason from Gone with the Wynns. Like I said, I wasn’t much for documenting pictures but if you are wondering what there is do see and do in Long Beach check out Jason and Nikki’s post and video on the area.

Nearby the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park commemorates the journey of William Clark and Merriwether Lewis and their team of explorers known as the Corps of Discovery. In November of 1805, over a year and a half after leaving Missouri, Lewis and Clark spotted the Pacific Ocean. Early winter they set up a camp, Fort Clatsop, that would be their home for the next three months.

Had my mind not been so preoccupied I would have spent more time researching the area and taken the boys to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center as well as some of the nearby state parks. As it was a visit to the Fort Clatsop replica and a short hike along the river was all we managed to do.

bowpicker fish chips astoria or

 

As food truck fans we couldn’t pass up a”food boat”. It was a perfect ending to our day in the funky town of Astoria.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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Our 2nd Valentine’s Day in Orlando Florida

We didn’t plan it this way. It just so happened that we were in the same campground that we stayed at two years ago when we celebrated Valentine’s Day with other full…

We didn’t plan it this way. It just so happened that we were in the same campground that we stayed at two years ago when we celebrated Valentine’s Day with other full time RV families. The kids enjoyed exchanging Valentines and a scavenger hunt.

Vlanetines Day Balloon FLBuddies Valentines Day FLTeens Valentines Day FL Friends Valentines Day FLThing Two Valentines Day FL

 

Unicorn Valentines Day Box FL

We’ve been meeting all sorts of new people and enjoying reconnecting with “old” friends. The number of families here has at least doubled or possibly even tripled in the last two years.

The more the merrier!

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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Experiencing Island Life on Orcas Island

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to raise a family on an island with lots fresh fish, play dates at the beach, and calypso music. Since I don’t…

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to raise a family on an island with lots fresh fish, play dates at the beach, and calypso music. Since I don’t think we will be moving to an island anytime soon, the next best thing is visiting a family who lives on an island.

Family life on Orcas Island was everything I imagined minus the calypso music. Orcas Island is part of the San Jaun Islands off the coast of Washington. It is accessible by boat or sea plane. We took the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes. You can take your car on the ferry but since Brent’s friend, Ryan, was picking us up we left the truck.

It was a gorgeous day spent exploring and learning about life on an island. Brent enjoyed catching up with old friends and the boys and I enjoyed making new ones. Ryan and his brother, Matt, own the Deer Harbor Inn and restaurant. That evening we enjoyed a most delicious meal on the patio with Ryan and his family. (There was fresh seafood just how I imagined island life.) Seriously, the food was amazing!

After dinner Ryan took us back to the ferry with homemade blackberry pie and we watched the sunset from the ferry. A lovely ending to a lovely day.

Orcas Island Ferry Terminal WA

Carpenter Family WA Friends Orcas Island WA

Ryan and Son WA Ryan and Son Washington

Tide Pools Orcas Island WA

Old Friends Orcas Island WA

Dessert and Sunset Ferry from Orcas Island WA

Moon from Ferry San Jaun Islands WA

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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Building Friendships in Butte, Montana

We have spent time friends or family in 30 of the 48 states we’ve visited. It’s so much fun to experience the different ways of life around the United States. It’s…

We have spent time friends or family in 30 of the 48 states we’ve visited. It’s so much fun to experience the different ways of life around the United States. It’s one of our favorite parts of life on the road.

We’ve stayed on farm in Tennessee.

Visited a cousin in her Manhattan skyrise apartment.

Experienced family island life on Orcas Island.

Toured a world hunter’s trophy room in rural Georgia.

Spent time with a family raising a toddler in the city of Chicago.

Picked apples from a midwestern orchard.

And reconnecting with old friends in Butte, Montana was every bit as memorable.

Mile High Butte Mt

In the 1920s Butte, rich with copper and natural resources, was a boom town. Headeframes are still scattered among buildings and parks. While the population of Butte has declined, it’s beauty has not.

Oil Fields Butte Mt

Mountains surround the city resting under the endless Montana sky.

All Grown Up Butte Mt

Most importantly, Butte is home to our friends. These guys don’t remember but they used to play together as toddlers in Ventura.

Jump jump Butte Mt

After a few hours, you wouldn’t have know they didn’t remember each other.

Jenn Aundi Mt

I could say so much about this girl. Loving, forgiving, funny, beautiful, and creative is a start. It was hard to believe that it had been 8 years since we had seen each other.

Historic Movie Theatre Anaconda Mt    Lunch on the Trampoline Butte MT

Thing 2 Jump MT

Five days of fun passed all too quickly!

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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Borrowing a Backyard: Experiencing Rural Life in Wyoming

It’s no secret that I love the idea of living on a little farm. Courtney is one of my oldest friends. When we were little we’d spend hours dreaming of owning…

It’s no secret that I love the idea of living on a little farm.

Courtney is one of my oldest friends. When we were little we’d spend hours dreaming of owning our own horses or chucking pastel colored ponies at each other during the “Pretty Pony Wars”. Time changes a lot but it doesn’t take the love of horses out of a horse girl’s heart.

Years later, Courtney lives in rural Wyoming with her family, a horse, a dog, a cat, and a small herd of goats. Their home is surrounded by bad lands leading up to the Big Horn mountains and pastures full of horses grazing under the biggest sky you’ll ever see.

A week there was a week in paradise.

Families WY

So fun to catch up after so many years.

Spotted Appaloosa WY Spotted Horse WY

These beauties trotted right up to us on our bike ride.

Bay Quarter Horse and Thing 1 WY

Courtney’s horse, Biscuit, was so sweet and gentle even Thing 1 who is nervous around them petted her.

Goat Push WY

We all loved Blondie, especially Thing 1.

Hiking in the Big Horn Mountains WY

Spring was in full bloom in the Big Horn mountains.

Thing 1 and Helen WY

Thing 1 made a special friend. He spent 3 nearly full days with Helen, Courtney’s piano teacher, who helped him to improve his music reading skills.

There was hiking, a raptor show at the library, cookouts on the patio, sunsets and sunrises, bike rides, yoga, and relaxing in the wild countryside of Wyoming.

Sweet Goat WY

This (and this) is why I think our next adventure needs to be setting up a little farm of our own or else we need to figure out how to pack a goat in our RV.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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Picnic with a Friend

We met Lucille when we delivered groceries in Ventura to homebound elderly. Every week would would deliver her order of Lean Cuisine, Lays chips, ice cream, and diet Coke. Afterwards…

Cemetery Picnic ID

We met Lucille when we delivered groceries in Ventura to homebound elderly. Every week would would deliver her order of Lean Cuisine, Lays chips, ice cream, and diet Coke. Afterwards we would stay and talk.  She lived alone and had never had children. Her nearest relative, her brother, lived hundreds of miles away.

It didn’t take us long to develop a special friendship with her and when she was moved into a nursing home we continued to visit.  In the nursing home, she had one picture by her bed, a picture of us.

We didn’t get to say goodbye the way we had hoped.

I knew she had been buried in Idaho so once we made it to northern Utah I began my search to locate her grave so we could give a more proper goodbye. I discovered she was buried in a little town called Aberdeen. Once we arrived at our campground I asked the host if they knew where the cemetery was located. It happened to be only a few miles away.

That evening we packed a picnic complete with Lays and diet Coke for Lucille. As the sun set we reminisced and laughed about our times with her.

Cemetery Friend ID

And I finally got to say my goodbye.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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Saying Goodbye in Salt Lake City

We were supposed to say goodbye in Provo. We didn’t. We were supposed to say goodbye on Antelope Island. We didn’t. Instead, Brent and I decided to head back south…

We were supposed to say goodbye in Provo. We didn’t.

We were supposed to say goodbye on Antelope Island. We didn’t.

Instead, Brent and I decided to head back south to Salt Lake City to spend a few more days with our dear nomadic friends.

Temple Square Salt Lake City UT

We visited Temple Square where our friends proved how much they really do like us when Brent and I decided to ask our sisters, a.k.a. tour guides, two millions questions about Mormonism. Fascinating.

Friends Salt Lake City UT

We explored (and got lost) the streets of Salt Lake City and ate German food at Siegfried’s Deli. Highly recommended.

GMO March Salt Lake City UT

Never mind that we all live in RVs because you know you are really with like minded people when you come across an anti-GMO march and find yourself wildly chanting and cheering along with the protestors.

Trader Joe's Salt Lake City UT

Clementine and I cleared the shelves at Trader Joe’s.

The Grill Hero Salt Lake City UT

Brent played grill master.

After a few days in Salt Lake it was time to say goodbye and this time…

Another Group Hug Salt Lake City UT

…we did.

Goodbye Salt Lake City UT

Eli escorted us to the gate on his bike.

Sniff.

See you down the road friends!

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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Adventures on Antelope Island

So we thought we were going to say goodbye to our village friends Sunday morning in Provo. The RVs were packed so we took our goodbye group picture and gathered…

So we thought we were going to say goodbye to our village friends Sunday morning in Provo.

The RVs were packed so we took our goodbye group picture and gathered for hugs.

Then…

In an attempt to deal with my sadness and to throw out one last effort to put off having to say goodbye, I half jokingly said something about coming to Antelope Island with us.

Pause…

After some discussion the village decided to head to Antelope Island State Park for five more days together!!!!!!

YES!!!!!!!!!

The sun smiled and a bluebird came out to sit on my shoulder

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah-zip-a-dee-ay! My, oh my, what a wonderful day!!!!

Sunrise Antelope Island UT

Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. While Antelope Island is only a hop, skip, and a jump from Salt Lake City, it feels like a world apart with its nearly untouched beauty. Mountains surrounded by golden rolling plains overlook the glassy water of the lake.

Visiting Antelope Island State Park UT

An abundance of wildlife, most notably bison, call Antelope Island home. The bison were everywhere: dotting the hills, on the roads, cruising through the campground, and even on the beach.

Three in a Row Bridger Bay Campground Antelope Island UT

Bridger Bay Campground, while primitive, was a beautiful spot to call home for five days.

Morning Coffee Antelope Island UT

We sat on a hill overlooking the lake, a perfect place for morning coffee.

It was a relaxing week filled with bike rides, walks, and being with friends.

Swimming in Great Salt Lake Antelope Island UT

We even braved the cold and wind to take a quick dip in the Great Salt Lake.

Burrrr Antelope Island Great Salt Lake UT

Burrrrrrrr!

Buddies Antelope Island UT

Buddies!

Don't look behind you

I finally got to spend time with a blogging friend and her family who I met online over 5 years ago. Some bison cruised by at dinner.

Brent Biking Bison Antelope Island UT

Brent and I slipped away for some hiking and a bike ride.

Bison on the Beach Antelope Island State Park UT

I have this habit of calling beautiful places “magical” but right now, even with the bugs and the bison poop on the beach, I can’t think of a better word for Antelope Island.

Magical.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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People not Places – Provo, Utah

After leaving Moab we had to make a choice between heading down to Zion and Bryce Canyon or meeting up with our friends in Provo, Utah. We chose our friends…

After leaving Moab we had to make a choice between heading down to Zion and Bryce Canyon or meeting up with our friends in Provo, Utah.

We chose our friends because if we’ve learned one thing it’s the people not the places that really make the journey. Afterall I have a feeling Zion will be there for a while and who knows when we’ll cross paths with our friends again.

The boys were happy to get to spend a week with their friends. There was jumping, skating, sleepovers, bike riding, and a campfire.

DI Thrift Store Provo UT

Jema, Clementine, and I spent an eternity afternoon in the thrift store. Ahhh, women after my own heart.

Thrift Store Wedding Dress Provo UT

I considered renewing my vows just so we could were these dresses. 😉

That Jump Place Provo UT

Jump!

Buddies Provo UT

Silly skaters!

Popping Bottles Provo UT

Clearly, I’m not Mormon.

The Village Provo Utah UT

The Village Provo UT

The week passed and much too soon we were posing for a group picture before we said our goodbyes.

Or so we thought….

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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