What a Month!

Albeit the shortest month of the year, we packed February 2023 full of memories!! We took a vacation for the entire month and traveled all over the south east! We hooked our camper up with our THREE kiddos and took off on an adventure. (We were fully aware that traveling with a 4 month old could be a disaster and we would have turned around and stopped…..but they all did amazing so on we went!!)

Memories include but not limited to- loosing a front tooth, boondocking, the Ark Encounter, a flat tire, a goat eating Mac’s shirt, a visit to Biltmore, baby’s first time at the beach, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, small town Texas, Kentucky Horse Park, frozen camper, and a Chiefs Super Bowl WIN!

The family and friends we got to share moments with will be a treasure forever!

A baby in a camper you say…..

So at this stage in the game in looks like we are going to have a baby in the camper….no siree…I don’t mean literally give birth in the camper but this will be where she comes home to! We didn’t know if God would have lead us out of here by now but seems like we’ll be in here in 6 weeks so here we go!!! 

We’ve made a few little adjustments to make room! 

I rearranged/ organized/ built more storage above Merrick’s bed. I used to know where everything was but it was not pretty….in fact most of the time we had it hidden behind a curtain 🙈 In the updated picture, all the little tubs in front will be for baby items…blankets, wipes, diapers etc etc. 

There is a closet space that had Mac’s shirts and Merrick’s PJs…but we did a little rearranging and now all of Merrick’s clothes are under his bed or hanging by his bed. Mac now has two drawers with all his clothing items. That freed up the tiny closet for us to start putting itty bitty pink hand-me-downs in! Had to put some hooks on the door to hang up all the bows! 🎀

We have a little moveable bassinet type item that she’ll sleep in for the first few months!

I really wanted a rocker to be able to rock in….we were looking for tiny real ones and even thought about getting rid of the love seat to make room for the rocker we had with the boys….but it just wasn’t going to work. So we opted for a folding rocker, I’ve thrown a blanket it over and it’ll do the trick just fine!

We don’t plan going joining the minivan club…..so its three in the back seat for us. Mac in a booster, Merrick in the high back and baby in the infant rear facing one! We tested the seats all in the back and the boys were begging to go for a ride using their new seats… so hopefully that excitement lasts 😉 

Mac has sown a double sided quilt with tacked down basting and all! He also has made a little rag doll from fabric that he picked out for her himself! 

Its just been little small updates here and there but we feel pretty ready to add another little to our tiny spot!

Smoky Mountain National Park

Chimney Tops Trail—this hike united our family like no other hike has. We had no idea we were going to do this hike, it was just something we saw on the side of the road and thought we’d pull over and check out, maybe go a little ways then turn around…no we did the whole thing on a whim. This was by far the hardest hike we had ever done. It was a 1.75 out and back trail for a total of 3.5 miles. And there were well over 600 steps of climbing, not all together but just steps and steps and climbing and climbing and Mac did it ALL. Not one moment of being carried. The confidence boost of mastering this was so sweet. The talks we got to have about endurance, family sticking together, cheering each other on, and using your voice tell us when you need a break, water, a snack etc.. because we can’t see in your brain…..ahh it was a great hike. The views at the top were neat. We had brought snacks had a nice rest at the top. A crew in front of us on way down saw a black bear, we never saw it but were keenly aware that they were around! The game most know as “20 questions” took form in our family as “the animal game” we played for hours on this hike. This game how now transformed into “person, place or thing”….still very much “20 questions” but now broader than just our original animal version.

Greenbrier area—This was the closest part of the National Park to our campground. There are several pull off areas to go down to the Pigeon river or to go hiking in the woods. At the very back there is a parking lot with multiple trails, one leading to the massive Application trail itself! That is where we found an old barn. We stopped there for awhile and our old fashion farm boys played pretend! They had animals and fields and made homemade pancakes with the flour they crushed from the wheat field, the eggs they gathered from the chickens and the milk they got from the cow….all invisible to everyone else 😉 . We went to another spot one day in between showers and walked through the puddles.

Cades Cove—This is an iconic drivable loop of the Smoky Mountains. We did it last year and enjoyed it so much we did it again on this visit. We hiked a little further on a trail and saw another homestead. We stopped at an old church. Its amazing seeing how they built things back then. We now have a metal picture of Jesus being the cornerstone, and what a cornerstone actually is!

Grotto Falls—This hike takes you back to a waterfall….that you can walk BEHIND! Definitely a fun hike, 2.8 total miles. Parking was a bit tricky for us in the ole pick-up but we were able to park on the side of the road down a bit from the parking lot. On the way to the falls it is mostly up hill and then a fast down hill on the way back. We saw all sorts of little crawling critters on this hike. We ate on a rock in the river watching the waterfall, crazy how loud moving water can be!

Quiet walkway— There are a few signs off the main road through the park that just say “quiet walkway.” We parked at one and got out and went adventuring. We called this place the “Secret Schneider Spot.” We went back a few times to see how the water had rose after a rainfall, had a picnic, etc. Just a beautiful green, moss covered rock, gentle water rolling kind of spot! The sign about the quiet walkway reads “A short walk on this easy trail offers close-up views, subtle aromas, and the serene quiet of a protected woodland. You will be walking in on the the last great wildland areas in the East, but you won’t need a backpack or hiking boots. Take your time. Have a seat on a rock or a log bench. The trail has no particular destination, so walk as was far as you like and then return.” ….and so we did!

Our Next Chapter

I have no real clear vision of our future and I don’t know what it holds, but we have been shown our next chapter; not the whole book but an exciting new chapter! This chapter wouldn’t have come with out my days of struggle in Tennessee. It is amazing to look back and see how He uses ALL things. It reminds me of Romans 8:28 “We know that in ALL things God works…”, it’s just amazing and soooo true and hope filling!

It was while we were there, during those difficult first couple of weeks, that we started looking anywhere for new jobs…. not just at www.workampingjobs.com where we had found all of our previous ones. (Chase found this new one on Indeed of all places!)

We’ve talked about management and/or owning a campground one day. At three of the spots we’ve worked, we’ve been asked to stay in a management position, but it never felt right.

And on another note, did you know Chase and I met in college at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas? We are born and raised Kansans and both of our families still live in Kansas. However, our boys have never lived in Kansas………..yet.

So, without further ado, we are happy to announce we have become managers at a tiny campground just outside of Ottawa, Kansas!! We never would have dreamed this would happen but so excited it has! This next chapter is sure to be different that our last 15 months of full-time traveling but we are trusting in His ways and looking forward to all that’s in store. Spending the winter in our camper in Kansas may become more chilling than thrilling so we will be sure to keep you posted on our survival.  😉😉😉

South Eastern Kansas

I’m sure you’re like yeah who cares about that…. now now now before you throw the baby out with the bath water let me just say I would have thought the exact same thing! Never did I think oh we should go spend some quality time in south East Kansas I’ve heard it’s a happening place. But let me tell you, you should! We loved our visit! 🤩

Big Brutus….we had NEVER heard of this. I’d encourage anyone in the KC area to go see this monster. It’s a 16 story tall old mining excavator! It is HUGE! And it just so happens that it has a tiny little RV park in the parking lot and so we stayed at ole Brutus for two nights, getting to enjoy some Kansas sunrises and sunsets!

We did the museum they have on site and with that you get to climb INSIDE Brutus-we had no idea this would even be an option so it was a very exciting surprise! (that green arrow in the picture below points to the look out deck from inside!) We all learned something, Chase and I were more impressed than we thought we would be and the boys LOVED it. A lot of the old mining strips in the area have been turned into wildlife areas. These are stocked with fish and a good area for hunting. We had no idea that was a thing! We definitely could have spent more time exploring the area! 

Little House on the Prairie….I’ve eluded to the fact that we have listened to hours and hours of these audio books. They have really been a treasure to our family. Merrick listens, he can tell you stories about them. He knows everyones name. I’ll be cooking or doing something and wish I could talk to Laura or Ma and just keep learning and asking questions. When ever we find our selves in a pickle in this current world Chase and I just share a look and then one of says something to the effect of “what would Pa do?” 🤣 

And then Mac, golly the kid is a sponge and asks questions about anything he doesn’t understand so he has learned so much from all the stories as we’ve listened. We’ve caught on that Mac has a knack for learning about historical things. Last year when he wanted “an old fashion wagon” cake for his birthday I thought it was just a phase that would pass. But the kid has continued for the past year to want to stop and see any “old fashion” thing from “back in the day” along our travels. (He also references the 90s like it was the 1700s 🤣  we have a bit of time comprehension to grasp!) When we saw that there was a Little House on the Prairie site a little over an hour from Big Brutus….this boy lit up! Once we got there he would run from one building to the other just hyperventilating-style breathing trying to soak it all up! We read every sign and enjoyed every second we spent there. 

Mer and I just might have arrived in costume 😉 …..I couldn’t think of a better place to wear a prairie dress than to the Little House on the Prairie!! 

I’d highly encourage spending a day or two or a long weekend seeing an area know one ever talks about, South Eastern Kansas!

(And if you’re wondering why we were there…it was because we were in route to our next gig and it happened to be on the way! Stay tuned! 😜 So thankful we aren’t traveling in a covered wagon to get there!)

Travel Days

What exactly does a travel day look like???

If we are on top of our game the bed of the pick up is all packed up and the outside stuff is pretty much done the day before we are actually pulling out. All the chairs, the outdoor rug, the toys, bikes… all of it in the bed of the pick-up all packed up.

We truly do not have to move much in the camper. There’s a little bit in each area that we have to secure or put away for travel. All my plants go in the shower, it turns into a little green house 😊 (My Grandma taught me that trick!) We pull the slides in and we are set for hooking up to the pick-up.

The last thing we do on the outside is disconnecting all the hoses. The sewer hose and it’s holder, the water hose with the filter system and the electric cable all go into a giant tub. This tub goes right inside our door. It’s the last thing we put away and the first thing we get out so it’s just easy for it to be right there. 

When the camper gets hooked up to the pick-up Chase guides me as I (and Merrick) back the pick-up up….he’s better at the guiding part 😉 and then Chase (and Mac) hook it all up. The last thing we put away after hooking up are the wheel chocks (things you put beside the tires so it doesn’t roll). There’s been 3 or so times we have forgotten this minor detail and they have gotten run over…easily replaced but hopefully we’ve learned our lesson enough on that one! 

As we travel we use three apps to really help us out: Trucker Map, All Stays and Google/ Apple maps. We use the trucker map app to show us the route semis would go from point A to B. We compare this to regular ole google maps and figure out our route. The “All Stays” app has so much info on it. It’s a map based app and it tells you about low clearance bridges, big down hill road grades, and most importantly to us…. where gas stations are that we can easily fit. Not just a Casey’s in a tiny town with one pump but the huge trucker travel center type gas stations. It’s gives details on these. Some big one even have RV gas lanes. An RV lane has no cover and are easily accessed by larger rigs. With our pick up and camper we are 3 ft shy of being as long as a semi….but we don’t have a diesel pick-up so we need huge regular gas lanes and they are not everywhere. Chase has become a pro at maneuvering through normal gas station when needed. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

When we get to where ever we are going and it is hopefully a pull through spot (exactly like it sounds you pull through to park) but if it’s not I get out and guide through the backing up and then we reverse everything we did on the packing up process. 

I’ve made a lasagna in the morning put it in the fridge during travel and then put it in the oven while we set up. We usually try to do something easy like that or leftovers etc for our dinner meal upon arriving. We pack lunches and snacks for the actual travel time. Our stops are for gas and that is when everyone has to try to go to the bathroom. The boys are sooooo good with this, I honestly can think of one time these past 15 months that we stopped because one of them asked to go to the bathroom. 

When we take off we say a family prayer and we play On the Road again by Willie Nelson and I usually take a selfie of all of us. Sometimes on longer travel days we listen to a story telling pod cast called “Circle Round”….20-30 minute story with a moral or audio books. It’s amazing how much we have all grown fond of Ingalls family after listening to 7 of the Little House on the Prairie books. (So fond we had to travel to a homestead of theirs, I’ll try to write about that one of these days!) We didn’t know what we were doing when we first started this traveling thing but we’ve really gotten the hang of it and travel days are an enjoyable part of the adventure!

Boondocking….Ever Heard of it?

We had never heard of boondocking until we got into the camper world, and we had never done it ourselves until July. The way we typically have our camper set up is the extreme opposite of boondocking. It has full “hook-ups.” We have unlimited amounts of water, we have electricity and can use any amount of it at a time, and we can flush our toilet without wondering if the black tank is at capacity. Not to mention WiFi and cable all included in our stay. 

Boondocking is when a camper has no hook ups…no electricity, no water or sewer. Typically you go find a random spot, park it and your done. It’s simple, it’s easy. No campsites, no reservations, typically free. It is also a super flexible way to travel, just pull over when you’re tired and go to sleep. 

When we were in Montana we told ourselves we were going to practice this sort of thing. We did have a site that we had reserved and it did have a water hose we could fill our fresh water tank with before getting to our spot…but that was it. So we had fresh water, we knew we didn’t need full hook ups because we weren’t truly going to be in the camper much. Just to sleep and it was going to get down into 50-60s at night so we’d be fine without electricity and air conditioning. Our fridge can keep cool via propane so we’d be just fine. 

Well all of those preconceived notions were true except the fridge part…our camper battery actually has to be used to keep the propane going to the fridge… our battery lasted about 6 hours and then went dead and the fridge stopped cooling. With no way to keep the battery charged (via solar or a generator) we just put everything in the cooler and skipped the fridge. 

This was a great learning moment. So we know we can handle one night of boondocking not a full week of it. 

We did do real boondocking for one night on the east side of the Tetons. We have friends that are pros at this they held our hands and showed us how to do it. Chase and the husband went and scouted out a spot right by a river. Just our two families right there. It was a pretty neat experience. They do have a generator and did let us charge our battery so we could have some lights on for awhile. We still have a lot learn but we did survive and actually enjoyed it!

After leaving the Tetons, we had a camp ground we wanted to stay at with full hookups (water, electric, and sewer) in south east Wyoming. After talking on the way there about going through Denver traffic in the morning we decided to keep trekking and get to the east side of Denver that night. Once there, we decided we were still awake enough to make it all the way to Limon, Colorado. Once there, we circled through 3 different gas stations to boondock for the night, the first two being completely full of other campers doing the same thing! We found our spot at the third gas station. We stopped pulled out the slides and rested for the night. (Fun fact….the boys LOVE “cleaning” the windows and are always excited when there is a long handled squeegee…it’s the little things in life!)

I honestly don’t know how much boondocking there will be in our future but we are so happy to know how to do it and what our camper is capable of, two things we knew zero about before trying it out ourselves! 

By the Numbers

We have spent approximately $42,000 these past 12 months. 

For 14 weeks we were “between jobs” aka….traveling. 

We’ve been to 9 national parks: Smokys, Hot Springs, Saguaro, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Glacier, Tetons, and Yellowstone. 

Lived for 3 months without cell phone signal or wifi in our camper.

Logged roughly 8,949 miles towing the camper!! 

Averaged 8 miles to the gallon while pulling the camper. 

For 40 weeks lived over an hour to the closest Target…hence we have spent $79.12 at Target this past year.  

Lived in all 4 different time zones. 

Spent roughly $3,500 on gas while pulling the camper. 

Been to 23 different states! 

Never in my life would I have thought we would live a year and have any sort of numbers like these to represent it but I’m thankful for them and the memories we’ve made! 

That One Time We Got All Dressed Up…

The gentlemen were all asked to be apart of Trey and Stephanie’s wedding at the end of August! It was beautiful and so fun to get to be apart of.

The boys took to their roles with high priority. We kept calling it their job and coming from the ranch I think they truly understood what a job was. Mac really got to bear the ring and Merrick walked a sign down. They smiled for the pictures, they didn’t complain once about anything they were wearing. Upon getting dressed Mac commented “mom I’m feeling pretty handsome”….that my son you are…both inside and out!

I don’t know why but it never occurred to Chase and I that we would share our story while at this wedding. But of course it came up in conversation and it was so encouraging, both to us and those that wanted to know more. Whenever someone hears what we are doing they are usually struck with awe. They tell us about feeling trapped with their lives and jobs and the normal-ness they are living. And then they see and hear about real life humans doing something different and I pray that they see His light while we share our hearts. We have no idea what we are doing but we are trying to live intentionally while wisely stewarding all the He has given us. It caught me off guard sharing in this setting but I know nothing comes without a reason!

Campground Reviews:

We spent three nights in in Illinois for the occasion. The first was in Macomb, IL and the second in Rantoul, IL.

Spring Lake Campground

$20 cash/night for full hook-ups (30amp)

It had a lake we didn’t hardly acknowledge and a playground the boys played on while I got groceries. Easy nice spot for one night.

Prairie Pines Campground

$56.50 for 2 nights- full hook-ups (50amps)

Laundry facilities and play ground. Clean, nice spot.

Yellowstone National Park

Well well well now that’s a horse of a different color….said the wizard of OZ and that’s how I feel about Yellowstone! What a bizarre and amazing National Park! 

Yellowstone is basically made up of two huge drivable loops, the north loop and the south loop. The south loop is larger and contains most of the volcanic activity stuff. It also hosts a huge valley area where a lot of wildlife can be spotted (and a beautiful spot to watch the sunset!)

We had a couple days in the area to explore Yellowstone. We thought we would give each loop a full day. We decided to do the south loop first and it did not disappoint! 

We got into the park around 2 or 3 after doing laundry (that hadn’t been done in 2 weeks!!) and eating lunch. We got home around 10:30pm, we saw soooooo much!

So neat to see and learn about so many new things! Our first stop, the “Fountain Paint Pots Trail” area gave us a unique sample we weren’t expecting. It really might have been our favorite spot because it was so unexpected and had so much! Hot springs?!?! (Picture 1) Boiling mud?!?! (Picture 2) Fumaroles?!?! (Picture 3) Geysers?!?! (Picture 4) —Fun Fact: When driving in a normal neighborhood now days seeing a sprinkler go off Merrick calls it a geyser….not correcting that sweet comment just yet. So crazy how much they are learning and soaking up!

Next we saw the Grand Prismatic Spring….the 3rd largest hot spring…..in the WORLD! All the different colors present different microorganisms that live at different temperatures. Red is actually the coolest part and blue is the hottest… completely opposite of the normal temperature visual we see…which I just thought was really strange!

We saw Old Faithful going off while we parked but then didn’t want to wait 1.5 hours for the whole thing so we trekked on to see the rest of the loop! 

In the Hayden valley we saw bison after bison, herds of elk, swans and geese. After every curve there was a new view to take in and beauty to see. I loved being there at dusk and getting to witness all the animal activity and take in the sunset.  

After that FULL day we decide a day of rest was what we needed so we never made it to the north loop, which we hear has more big views…not the volcanic activity type thing. On our rest day we did not leave the camper. I don’t know the last day we had rested and it just left so good. That night some friends pulled in and we shared a meal with them. It was a beautiful day….even if we didn’t see the other half of Yellowstone!