RV Dreamin'

I never claimed any talent for drawing, LOL!

Matt is at work right now working his last full day in the office. After today, he will officially start his new job with his same company & will work from home with regional travel. Yay! Yay! Yay!

When he travels, we can go with him or stay home while he goes. Right now if we go, we have to leave our dog behind. And even though he has the World's Best Doggie Sitter (my sister), the kids have a really hard time being away from him for days at a time. And, of course, when Matt travels without us, we all have a hard time with that.

We've talked off and on of living in an RV full time. My big dream for a lot of reasons and an idea that seems to be growing on everyone else. It's an idea that always sort of hangs out there in our minds. The kids often build Lego RVs. Maya draws a lot of RV pictures. Riley is least sure about it and back and forth about whether he wants to try it.

So, with the combination of flexibility and travel that comes with Matt's job change I'm feeling one big step closer to the RV dream becoming a reality.

Here are links to the FOTR website (Families on the Road) and blog roll -- two great places to hang out and fuel the dream.

Now, do we dare seriously consider selling this house?

To Be Continued...

Biking the Busse Forest Preserve

The Busse Woods Forest Preserve has become my favorite place to go while we're hanging out in the Chicago suburbs when Matt goes there for work.


We brought our bikes this time so we could bike the trails that run through the woods. It is just beautiful when you get back in there.

Views from the parking lot.

Part of the little herd of elk that live in part of the preserve in the town of Elk Grove.

Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

Here are some pictures of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Learning about diesel engines

Do the molecule bounce

One of the Eye Spy displays

*The* Weasley car!!!! My favorite thing we saw all day!

Conducting electricity

Kenton County Parks summer programs

Kenton County Parks and Recreation has so many great programs. Their director, Steve Trauger, does an excellent job putting together programs that are fun and interesting for all ages, and my kids have loved going to these for years now. Two of our favorites are Wild Wednesdays (which are animal-themed programs) and Almost Every Other Thursday Science. Both of these happen at park shelters with nearby playgrounds, which works out great if you are bringing several people with varying interests -- some can stay at the program while others go off to play or swing or dig in the sand or ...



The programs include an ongoing Nonperishable Food Drive for Senior Services of Northern KY (Senior Services of NKY is very open to families with kids volunteering together, by the way -- we did Meals on Wheels with them last year -- they're excellent to work with); pop-top tab collections for Ronald McDonald House; various opportunities for volunteering; and often prizes, popcorn, and/or pizza for all!

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A recent farm/petting zoo-themed Wild Wednesdays program



Maya and her friend, Hayes





Seth, Maya, and their friend, Chooj



Maya & Seth

Riley milking a goat

Maya with a baby chick

Riley with a baby chick

Seth milking a goat




Another Wild Wednesday Program: Raptor Rehab

Almost Every Other Thursday Science: Bugs & Insects

Insect building

Lookin' at the world through flies' eyes (Oh, No! I can't find a link to the Heywood Banks song!!!)

Contrary to popular mythology, kids really can still listen and learn, even if they are not sitting "criss cross applesauce" in a circle on the floor. One of the things I love at these programs is seeing the kids able to be however they are comfortable, coming and going from the program if they need to, etc.

Taking a pass on holding the hissing cockroaches. We'll just look today, thank you very much!

Pizza!