Home Sweet Home

We made it home on December 18, 2011.  Lots of mixed feelings upon our return.  We all learned so much on this trip.  We learned that Michael has a strong desire to homeschool.  Once we got over the shock, we have embraced this new journey that Michael and I will be on.  God works in mysterious ways; if we hadn't taken the trip I don't believe Michael would be a homeschooler.  Sarah Rose learned that we have a really big house.  Joe learned that beds/mattresses are overrated and he prefers to sleep on the floor with Chloe.  Keith learned how to sleep-in til 7:00am!!  I learned that we can live a simple life and be very happy.  Living in a box with my family is my utopia.

There is not a thing I would do differently with our big adventure (except maybe make it longer :)  When life  throws lemons our way, we will be prepared to Make Lemonade!

Destin, FL

"We are home!"  that is what Sarah Rose wrote in the sand on the beach.  It was cold and rainy, but it still felt like Florida.  The first two nights in Destin we stayed at Camping on the Gulf which was right on the beach, but not a very pretty rv park.  The beach was amazing!  Sarah Rose and I spent an  entire day on the beach and we were the only ones there.  The second campground was a state park called Topsail Hill State Park.  This state park had full hook-ups and was beautiful.  I would say that this is the nicest state park in Florida.  Miles of paved biking and the sites are slightly wooded and there is a pool.

The boys made their own sleeping arrangements!

While in Destin, we surprised my cousin, Brett.  We showed up at the restaurant that he works.

Red Bay, AL

The highlight of Keith's trip is finally here!  A tour of the Tiffin Motorhomes plant.  We brought Big Red to her birth place to have a few things tweaked and fixed.  They offer daily tours of the plant at 9:30am.  They take you through the whole process of making a motorhome.  Yes, it was interesting, but not exciting.  However, Keith would disagree with that statement because he thought it was fantastic!  He took over 25 photos and was like a kid in a candy store!  I may have to return to this posting and add some of the pictures that Keith took while on the tour.

It was SNOWING!  As I have mentioned before, I am tired of being cold!  Dark, cold, snowy and gloomy.  That is the weather since we've left New Mexico.

Tupelo, MS

The birthplace of Elvis Presley!  Not much else here.  We did go to a Buffalo Zoo which had a variety of animals.  To get in the Christmas spirit we did spend an entire day baking Christmas cookies.  Fun was had by all.

As we prepare for our return home, a few things came to mind.  First, change is hard even if the change is bringing you back to what you were once familiar with (traditional school).  As Michael continues to say that he wants to homeschool, I feel a sense of comfort since that is what we've been doing all semester.  Second, our life on the road has been such a simple life (one toilet to clean, no volunteering at school, no fashion pressure).  Finally, it was a lot of work to prepare to leave and it will be a lot of work to come home (unloading the rv, home repairs, school/activities).  Changing back to the life I left behind is a little frightening. 

Memphis

We are staying right across the street from Graceland.  The Elvis private jet, the Lisa Marie, is right next to the rv park.  The rv park is actually part of the Hearbreak Hotel.  We had a pink limo pick us up for dinner at Marlowe's BBQ.

We would have gone on a Graceland mansion tour, but it is $31pp for a self-guided tour!  We'll just look at it from the curb :)

Little Rock

Have I mentioned how tired of being cold I am?

Our rv park is located right on the river (Arkansas River) in downtown North Little Rock.  Its a nice little rv park in the city.  We visted the Clinton Library/Museum which I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. 

Dallas

Good times in Dallas!  Tracy Dubois found us an rv park right behind her house (1 mile door to door).  As soon as the kids walked in the door, they were off running. Sarah Rose and Grace wrote songs and sang for us.  And, the boys hung out in the man cave. 

Matt, Tracy, Keith, and Erin spent their time solving the world's problems and coming up with a new career for Keith.  We can't share our ideas because we don't want anyone to steal our ideas :)  We took a fieldtrip to the 6th Floor Museum (Kennedy Museum at Dealy Plaza).  Matt even stood right on the spot where Kennedy was shot!

Nobody wanted to leave :(  We are already looking forward to the time when our paths will cross again!