Tag: Friends

2 min read

More Fun and Friends in Colorado Springs

Jenn

2 min read

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2 min read

Who hasn’t dreamed of being an Olympian? Perhaps you’ve imagined yourself standing at the edge of the high dive or kneeling in the starting blocks with an empty track stretched…

Who hasn’t dreamed of being an Olympian?

Perhaps you’ve imagined yourself standing at the edge of the high dive or kneeling in the starting blocks with an empty track stretched out before you.

I don’t want to speak for the boys (Dream big fellows!) but it’s probably safe to say that visiting the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs is the closest Brent and I will ever get to being in the Olympics. Even if I can throw a pretty solid side kick.

No doubt, the best part of our day was getting to see the Martin family again. We met the Martins last Fourth of July when I tweeted them after parking next to their truck on our way to the Boston Pops.

Maybe you have never dreamt of being an Olympic Athlete but I bet you wanted to fly a jet after seeing Top Gun?

Yeah, me too.

Our second must-see-spot in Colorado Springs was the Airforce Academy where we learned about the daily life of the cadets. While the visitor center was cool, we’d all agree that the chapel was the best part. That is if you don’t count the falconry club.

Then two days before we left Colorado Springs I got a text from our dear friends, the O’Dells!!!

Over the winter they had stayed with us in our RV in Breckenridge proving what I already knew: they are, indeed, kindred spirits.

Now they were on their way back home to Minnesota but wanted to stop and see us en route.

We hung out. We hiked. Three of the boys slept outside in tent.

And much too soon we had to say another goodbye.

And then another when we spent our last night (unfortunately we didn’t get a picture) with our longtime friends, the Fields.

Such is a life on wheels.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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4 min read

Family on the Road On the Road

Surprise!!!!!!!!!

Jenn

4 min read

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4 min read

Life on the road is not always fun and games. Especially when you are an about-to-be-a-teenager and your birthday comes around. Especially when you are an about-to-be-teenager who is used…

Life on the road is not always fun and games.

Especially when you are an about-to-be-a-teenager and your birthday comes around. Especially when you are an about-to-be-teenager who is used to having birthday parties with lots of friends and family.

Last year, we spent Thing One’s birthday at the Biltmore Mansion.

This year, he was going to be 13 so we wanted to try and make it special.

Thing One is a family guy. He asked if we could go back to Indiana to celebrate his birthday with my family so he didn’t have to be with “just us” this year. I said, “Sorry but we just can’t do that right now.”

Little did he know I was plotting.

For a month and a half, I hid in the bathroom to text or slipped away to the campground clubhouse to make calls for the surprise birthday I was planning.

It worked.

Thing One and Two were a bit confused when we asked them if they would like to go to Denny’s for ice cream at 10 pm. (I’m not sure if they were more surprised that we said Denny’s or that it was 10 pm.)

Regardless, they were even more surprised when we drove up and saw a couple that looked like GG and TT (my grandparents) walking into the restaurant. Oh no!!! However, much to my relief, they were distracted by ice cream and didn’t think it was really them. I mean GG and TT were in Indiana not Colorado. Right?

Wrong!

They were in Colorado Springs for his birthday!

Saying he was happy is an understatement.

The birthday week kept getting better.

Two days later on our way up to GG and TT’s hotel room, I suggested we check out the conference rooms as a potential place to celebrate his birthday. He reluctantly agreed.

When we got to the conference room, we discovered it was locked. Like crazy woman I started jerking on the handle. The caterer opened the door and told me there was a party going on. She didn’t realize it was our party.

Uh oh.

So I ~~stubbornly~~ politely ~~threatened~~ said, “Well we might want to have a party here so we’ll just take a quick peek at the room.”

Thing One was mortified as I pushed past the caterer and told him to take a look. That was until he saw Weewah and Papaw (my mom and dad), GG and TT, and our very good friends waiting for him.

He was shocked to tears.

Elated!

Later, he told me it was one of the best birthdays ever. I think it was even better than the time I made the dilapidated limo cake.

Thing One wasn’t the only one we managed to surprise. Earlier in the day, I had dropped Thing Two off at the hotel for some alone time with GG and TT and he was shocked to see Weewah and Papaw had joined us!

It was a special weekend, indeed!

We ate in an airplane.

We all crammed into an elevator shaft and went 1000 feet under ground at the Mollie Kathleen Mine.

On our way home from the mine, we stumbled upon a delicious little bakery run by German immigrants in a town of just 300 people and ate the most delicious food.

Mostly, we spent time just being together and then, much too soon, the weekend was over.

And it was time to say goodbye.

So sad but so thankful they came to spend time with us and make the birthday of a teenager so special.

Thirteen.

We can’t believe our baby is thirteen.

This just seems like yesterday.

Time is turbo charged and shows no mercy.

It makes us that much more grateful for our life on the road together.

Even if it means living in a small space with a teenager. 😉

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

Like food and fitness? Follow along as I film a workout in every state and explore finding a healthy balance on the road at Girl Heroes!

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3 min read

Family on the Road

The People We Meet – Breckenridge

Jenn

3 min read

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3 min read

Yes, snowboarding was amazing. And we made Breck our home for four and half months. But. Breckenridge wouldn’t have been the same without all the people. The people, with each…

Yes, snowboarding was amazing.

And we made Breck our home for four and half months.

But.

Breckenridge wouldn’t have been the same without all the people.

The people, with each of their unique gifts, filled this winter with even more beauty.

Our time in Colorado began with a stay with longtime friends from Ventura who moved to Colorado Springs four years ago.

I remember going over to their apartment when they had their firstborn with his little mohawk hair. Now here we are in the middle of the country with our not-so-little littles.

Words are not enough to express how much this family means to us. You will meet none more thoughtful, creative, and devoted.

I met up with fitness friends who I had only known online for a number of years.

We met up with, fellow RVers, Jason and Nikki Wynn. Nikki and Jason are an adorable and creative couple with enough energy to fuel their RV.

(You must check out their site, Gone with the Wynns. So fun!)

There was Rick, my favorite snowboarding instructor, who help me go from falling down the bunny slopes to falling down black diamonds. 😉

And spunky Helen from Australia, who I met in my snowboard class.

Helen and I spent a day together exploring Keystone and A-Basin.

Early March, the O’Dells came for a visit.

We met the O’Dells on a walk through a campground in Savannah Georgia last April. Then in the fall, we stayed five days at their house in Minnesota.

When they got to Breckenridge they learned that their RV didn’t meet the “length requirement” for the campground.

So…..

So they stayed with us in our RV.

It was tight. It was crazy. It was wonderful.

Nothing tests “compatibility” more than staying in an RV together for four nights.

They are truly kindred spirits.

Last but certainly not least is “The Village”.

John and his kind caring spirit.

Jema and her thoughtful questions.

Pieter and his generosity.

Clementine and her free “happy-go-lucky” sense of adventure.

Matt and his wicked clever sense of humor.

Wendy and her mad cooking skills.

I could go on but each one of our fellow gypsy friends are brave, unique, caring, and people we feel blessed to call friends.

Of course, there are the kids. Kids who are sweet, kind, and bright. They are missed.

These are the people I have photos of but there were others who regularly, though unwittingly, made Breck meaningful. Debbie at the front desk, Spencer and Rachel, Casey and Marshall, many ski and snowboard instructors, librarians, friends I met at the fitness center, and even clerks at the grocery store (Can you imagine if I whipped out a camera at the grocery check out line and said, “I know this is weird but I write this blog and you make me smile so do you mind becauseI want to remember you.) all brought a sense of community and familiarity, something that is sometimes missing when you are moving from place to place.

As we travel and live a life full of change, there is one thing that stays the same.

It’s the people who bring this journey to life.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

Like food and fitness? Follow along as I film a workout in every state and explore finding a healthy balance on the road at Girl Heroes!

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1 min read

Family on the Road

The Life Nomadic

Jenn

1 min read

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1 min read

Last week, I was out boarding on the mountain with Brent when I got a text and a picture from two of my dearest friends in Ventura. The text read…

Last week, I was out boarding on the mountain with Brent when I got a text and a picture from two of my dearest friends in Ventura.

The text read

“Hello sweet friend! Diane and I were having breakfast together at a bakery downtown and look what was on the table in front of us!!! It’s almost like having coffee with you. We miss and love you.”

And how I miss and love them! I can’t even count the ways these two have helped me and loved on me over the years. Diane even spent multiple days ~~helping me~~ sewing curtains for the RV and one day she spent over 12 hours helping me recover our RV couch frame.

I couldn’t imagine a better way to be notified that the article about us had been published in the VC Reporter.

It’s a really great article that captures our reasons for and the nuances of living full time in an RV. If you haven’t read it already when I posted it on Facebook you can read it HERE.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

If you enjoyed this post you can follow one of three ways! 1. Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox. 2. Subscribe to the RSS Feed or 3. “like” Newschool Nomads on Facebook (Just make sure to check subscribe if you want it to show up in your feed.) Simple dimple!

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4 min read

Family on the Road On the Road

Fourth of July Fun

Jenn

4 min read

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4 min read

What can be more fun than celebrating the Fourth of July in Boston? Celebrating the Fourth of July in Boston with another family on the road! Fourth of July fun with…

What can be more fun than celebrating the Fourth of July in Boston?

Celebrating the Fourth of July in Boston with another family on the road!

Fourth of July fun with friends!

The weather forecast the morning of the Fourth of July was sketchy with a 50% chance of rain. Large crowds give me slight anxiety. (Luckily, I’m good at disassociation that is how I brave lines at Disney World.) However, being in a large crowd in the rain is one xanax away from a nervous breakdown.

Still I was determined. Determined to have fun. We didn’t drive all the way from California to miss experiencing the Fourth of July in Boston. So we packed up and headed to the nearest subway station.

Things started getting fun in the parking garage at Quincy Adams. This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had fun in a parking garage.

In a parking garage with over 2000 spaces, we parked next to another fulltime rv family. I almost couldn’t believe it either.

When I noticed a sign on the back of their truck, I did what any normal person would do. In less than a minute, I found them on twitter, took a picture of my children next to their truck, and tweeted them the photo.

They actually tweeted me back and we ended up meeting them at the celebration. Crazy huh!!!

Not only that they came over for dinner two days later. Of course, I forgot to take a picture but it happened here is the proof. They were shocked to find out there were other families on the road. Welcome to the world of fulltime rving families!

Fourth of July just kept getting better.

There were interviews by NECN.

Here is the link to the video.

There was singing.

There was dancing.

And a whole lot of other fun.

Until the a policeman behind us told we might want to pack up. Huh?

There was a nearby storm and they were thinking about calling the show. We were told everyone could be evacuated into a tunnel to wait out the storm. Since we were near the exit he didn’t want us to get trampled.

Trampled.

Yes, his exact words.

Comforting.

We headed into the tunnel with thousands of others.

Luckily, ~~I’m stubborn as hell and don’t mind ignoring authority, i.e. ,policemen on bikes who kept telling us to move down~~, we were near the “exit”. Amazingly, I didn’t even get anxiety despite the crazy thoughts bouncing in and out of my head.

It must have been because we were with friends. I bet we are the only families to have a group picture taken in this exact spot ever.

We were only in the tunnel about 25 minutes before we got to leave.

The show must go on rain or shine or evacuation.

And rain it did. A sudden downpour during the firework show.

And this is where the fun stopped.

After the celebration, we tromped through the puddles to the subway. As soon as I saw the mob waiting outside the station I considered walking the 45 miles back to the campground. (I also thought about kicking the park ranger who told us, “whatever you do don’t drive into Boston on the Fourth.” Apparently, she has never ridden the subway on the Fourth.)

Our friends who drove into the city, granted they parked in Boston early, got home over an hour before us. They were also spared being herded like cattle and witnessing a fight on the subway at 1 am.

At 2 a.m. we pulled into our campground exhausted but grateful. Grateful for friends, fun, and freedom.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

If you enjoyed this post you can follow our family on the road one of three ways! 1. Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox. 2. Subscribe to the RSS Feed or 3. “like” Newschool Nomads on Facebook (Just make sure to check subscribe if you want it to show up in your feed.) Simple dimple!

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2 min read

Family on the Road On the Road

Holidays at Home Away from Home – Lenoir and Boone, NC

Jenn

2 min read

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2 min read

I started blogging as a way to keep a digital journal of my life. Never did I imagine that my cyber pathway would lead to new friends. I can’t recall…

I started blogging as a way to keep a digital journal of my life. Never did I imagine that my cyber pathway would lead to new friends.

I can’t recall how I actually met Jen but I know it was on a cyberpath. Over the last few years we have had many email conversations and discovered we had many things in common aside from our first name.

We even both have black cats.

After a few years of cyber friendship we finally got to meet in person when I spent the day with Jen in her town of Boone.

Our weekend in Lenoir (which is near Boone) was Easter Weekend. For years, we have spent Easter in Scottsdale, Arizona with my grandparents. This year, I admit it felt a little lonely without them but we did our best to have fun in our little hideaway in the mountains.

Our morning started with the campground church service.

After lunch we colored eggs. Coloring eggs in our house is an event especially when the only people we have to celebrate Easter with is ourselves.

Here we have a Harry Potter, a “Where We’ve Been” Map, Humpty Dumpty, a kettlebell, a Storm Trooper, and a cat.

Who do you think made this “I love Nico” egg?

Yep and boy does he ever love that little dog even with those crazy eyes of hers!

What about this “camouflage soldier” egg?

Of course!

While the boys and I went on a short hike Brent hid the eggs for an hunt.

Brent’s Humpty Dumpty was my favorite.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Humpty Dumpy had a great ~~fall~~ jump.

This is so Thing Two, enjoying something simple like playing with his Easter eggs.

Someday, I’m going to look back at this picture with so much nostalgia it will hurt.

The rest of our Easter was spent hanging out together and being silly. Holidays at home away from home aren’t so bad.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

Like food and fitness? Follow along as I film a workout in every state and explore finding a healthy balance on the road at Girl Heroes!

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3 min read

Pets & Animals

The Magic of Swimming with Manatees

Jenn

3 min read

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3 min read

This was the conversation that followed our purchase of snorkeling gear in relation to my fear of sea creatures. Me- “Now I feel like I have to go snorkeling when…

This was the conversation that followed our purchase of snorkeling gear in relation to my fear of sea creatures.

Me- “Now I feel like I have to go snorkeling when we get to the keys. (pause) My brother saw a barracuda there once.”

Brent- “Do barracudas attack people?”

Me- “Yes, they are very aggressive. That’s why there is a song called “barracuda”.”

Totally rational.

Thankfully, my first snorkeling experience as an adult was with manatees and not barracudas. We rented a boat with three other families and headed to Three Sisters Springs where manatees congregate in the warm spring waters. Despite their appearance manatees don’t have a lot of fat and during the winter they seek out the warmer waters of springs and power plants to survive.

We drove down the river our eyes squinting for signs of manatees. A ripple in the water, a large dark shadow, or a “floating rock” could be manatee. While we passed a few on our way to the springs, we weren’t prepared for what awaited us near the spring’s outlet. At least 50 manatees, probably many more, were lolling about under the turquoise waters.

We put on our snorkeling gear and slipped into the chilly clear water. Slowly we headed over to their sanctuary, a roped off area where the manatees can rest, to swim along its edges. Once near the sanctuary a ranger told us if we stay still a curious manatee was likely to approach us. Not far from us, a group of patient young girls stood with a manatee who had decided to rest in between their feet. So we waited and sure enough it wasn’t long before a manatee found us. He swam right next to Thing One rubbing against his legs like a very large aquatic cat with elephant skin. It was both exhilarating and nerve wracking to watch what I guessed to be a thousand pound giant get friendly with my hundred pound son. Another manatee even seemed to enjoy the boy’s attention rolling onto its back as if wanting a belly rub. Thing One and Two were happy to oblige.

It was magical.

They may be one of the most beautiful and odd creatures I’ve ever seen with their large paddle fan-like tails, small flippers, rotund bodies, square short snouts, itty bitty eyes, rough skin, and quiet nature. Time with these gentle giants passed much too quickly and stepping backing up onto the boat deck, I felt like I was was waking up from a dream. A wonderful dream filled with nonchalance, dancing beams of light, and creatures peaceful beyond my imagination.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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1 min read

Homeschooling

Valentine’s Day in Orlando, Florida

Jenn

1 min read

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1 min read

If there is one thing our kids miss about school, it would be sugar class parties. If there is one thing our kids miss about living in Ventura, it would…

If there is one thing our kids miss about school, it would be ~~sugar~~ class parties.

If there is one thing our kids miss about living in Ventura, it would be friends.

Spending ten days in Orlando with other fulltime RVing families gave my kids the opportunity to hang out with new friends. Since Valentine’s Day fell in the middle of our stay, I thought why not have a little party ~~and some sugar~~ with our new friends. We made Valentine’s Day cards and ice cream sundaes. However, Margie Lundy had the best idea of the party. When we were done with the cards, we passed them out around our the “neighborhood”. I think it made everyone smile.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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2 min read

On the Road

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Camp

Jenn

2 min read

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2 min read

You might be surprised, as I was, to learn that there are quite a few families who live fulltime in RVs. We’ve met a number of them already by coincidence….

You might be surprised, as I was, to learn that there are quite a few families who live fulltime in RVs. We’ve met a number of them already by coincidence.

Our weekend at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Camp was our first planned event with other families on the road. Being a family four with three of us being introverts, joining large groups is not exactly easy for us. Although, we usually end up having fun.

Unfortunately, our one extrovert got sick and spent the majority of the weekend on the couch.

Thankfully, he did get to enjoy his first day.

Thing One loved playing the violin. In fact, a few days later he bought a used one of his own that was for sale at a different campground. It’s a sweet story. During morning prayers he prayed to find a used violin for sale and later that same morning came across one posted on a campground community board. He was excited. Until he broke his E string. Then…

Anyway….at the end of the weekend, the kids put on a little concert.

Here is our whole group!

Most of the weekend, I was feeling shy and I wrapped up in taking care of a sick little boy so I didn’t get any pictures of our new friends. I did get this picture of me putting a sticker on Artist Jema’s RV. She is doing a public art project called Inspire to Inspire.

Speaking of inspiration, I think that is how we could best sum up the weekend. The boys left inspired to play more music and we left inspired to keep on our journey!

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

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3 min read

On the Road

Friendly Fairhope, Alabama

Jenn

3 min read

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3 min read

There is no doubt that what we lack in in familiarity we make up with adventure. Yet there is a part of me that longs for familiarity. Longs to run into…

There is no doubt that what we lack in in familiarity we make up with adventure.

Yet there is a part of me that longs for familiarity. Longs to run into someone in the grocery store who knows my name. Longs to sit with friends and “remember when” which partially explains why parking in my sister’s mother-in-law’s driveway in Fairhope, Alabama, for three nights felt like a family gathering. The other explanation is that Jerri, my sister’s mother-in-law, is just cool. And she’s a great cook. And she’s not afraid of the rattlesnakes that she found hanging out on her doorstep. Oh and she folds towels like a pro. Seriously, she puts the military to shame.

Not only did we feel blessed by Jerri’s hospitality, we got to have lunch with two of her sons and their families when our visits overlapped by a few hours. How refreshing to talk with people who know a little about us even if it was just through my sister. We are hoping to be able to visit Jake and Emily later this year in Pennsylvania.

Our time in Fairhope was mostly spent doing school and catching up on work. Despite what it may seem like on our blog, our life isn’t a “vacation”. Since it was raining it worked out well to catch up.

Our last day in Fairhope, the sun decided to come out and shine. We ventured into the downtown area where we discovered quaint architecture, the lovely Mobile Bay, majestic oak tree lined bluffs, charming shops, and many friendly faces. As we were walking down Fairhope Avenue we passed an art gallery. In the window was a lazy Persian kitty on a mini wrought iron bed with a sign that read, “Please do not beat on the window, it gives me a headache. Thank you for your continued admiration. Love, Matisse”.

A Persian cat. A Persian cat on a miniature wrought iron bed? A Persian cat named MATISSE!

I’m not a cat lover. Oh no not all.

Of course, when the owner of the gallery, Christine Linson, said we could come into to pet him ~~I ran in full speed like a crazed woman~~ we couldn’t refuse. (Don’t tell Meow Cow.) After admiring Matisse, we met her other rescued Persian, Toulouse Lautrec and we spent some time chatting with Christine. In 1998, she visited Fairhope and fell in love with the town. Not long after she decided she wanted to start a new life in Fairhope. She now owns the Christine Linson Gallery where she also does all her work. If you are in the area stop in to say hi and pet the cats.

Love and Laughter,
Jenn

If you enjoyed this post you can follow one of three ways! 1. Subscribe to the RSS Feed 2. “like” Newschool Nomads on Facebook, or 3. Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox. Simple dimple!

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