Christmas. What is there to say? Kids open presents. Kids play with new toys. Kids move on, and everyone begins talking about next Christmas. We did have a nice time. The kids gave Grammy their painted pottery gifts, and they got everything on their Santa Claus lists. The last minute … Read More
The Holiday Spirit
I guess as much as anything else, Ali and I have tried to fill our kids’ lives with good memories. Their holiday memories aren’t focused on one location, so that it becomes a part of the background—instead, the locations become as integral a part of the memory as what actually … Read More
Snow Season?
Houston, Texas. Who knew it could be so cold? Good prep for our trip up north to Portland, though. The kids finally got their Christmas lists together. We read a Berenstain Bears book years ago in which Sister Bear makes a long Christmas list, and Brother Bear warns her that … Read More
Beach Birthday
There was just one nice day in the 10-day forecast, so with a bit of magic, Ouest’s 7th birthday moved up one week and we headed off to Holly Beach. All birthdays start with balloons. A few of them with a dollar slid inside. When we got to the beach … Read More
Grungy in NOLA
I asked, “Do you guys have any idea how dirty you are?” And this was their reply. Lowe looked genuinely surprised. Ali and Ouest had to fly back to MN for a quick one-day trip, leaving me and Lowe to have a boys-only day. Lowe spotted this guy first. We … Read More
The Gulf
Big Lagoon State Park. We’re on our way towards New Orleans, ambling west along the Gulf. A little further along the trail from that sign we hit the ocean where we could swim again. Unfortunately, there were a million huge, pink, moon jellyfish. They were pretty harmless, but still, nobody … Read More
Airstream Work and Play
It took us seven days, but we got it done, and the Airstream now feels much more like a home. Everything got a fresh coat of paint, cabinets were rebuilt to make them more user friendly, new cubbyholes were added under the kids’ new bunk beds, book cases were built, … Read More
Airstream Updating
We rolled out of Georgia, through a bit of Alabama, and into the Florida panhandle. One of those places that we’ve always missed. In part, because we generally can’t stand Florida. But hey, we’re just passing through, we can give it another shot. Another swimming hole we couldn’t enjoy. Gators, … Read More
Devil Went Down To Georgia
Here’s the problem with Georgia—there are all these great State Parks with camping right on the lake, or on the river, and then there are the alligator signs. Oh, how I wish I could dismiss those signs. I mean, look at that water. Think of the hours of play my kids … Read More
Macon Halloween
It’s starting to feel like we’ve been in Georgia a long time. We just sort of bounce around from one state park to another, spending a couple days in each exploring what they have to offer. Lately there has been plenty of lakes to swim in. From the looks of them, … Read More
North Carolina Mountains
A cold snap hit, just for a couple of days, but enough to bust out the winter clothes and convince us it was just about time to get moving south. Max Patch is a bald mountaintop along the Appalachian Trail, and would no doubt be a wonderful place to spend … Read More