A Way We Go . . .: An Extended Stay . . . Part Three

THE TREE HOUSE IS FINISHED!

Mr. Fix-It built an amazing tree house for the kids -- completely constructed from "re-claimed" materials. (Re-claimed materials, in this case, were snatched from my dad's woodworking workshop, or from the storage area of his barn.) Naturally, the kids couldn't wait to have some friends over to play in it with them.

One day after church, "S" and his sister "S" came over to play. First, they explored the RV.

They awarded our house on wheels "two thumbs up."

This multi-level hideaway has a few different points of entry, including a climbing wall. It has peek-out windows, a tree growing up through the inside and out the roof, and . . . two emergency exits. One is a slide placed at a dangerously vertical angle, and the second is a zipline. Yep, all re-claimed material.

LAR's friend "S" on the zipline.

Of course we rode horses and played on the Loop-O-Swing.

CER on the only 360 degree swing. It makes your tummy tickle.

The kids had several friends over to play at Grammy and Pop's. Actually, Mr. Fix-It and I even got some time to visit with our friends. Thanks for all the babysitting Grammy and Pop Pop! (And Aunt "K" and Uncle "B"!)

Kids got to go over to "T's" house and play. Just like old times!

Just before Christmas, we were able to visit with our friends "J" and "L" from Charleston -- they were in KY visiting family. We hadn't seen them in six months, so it was wonderful to catch up!

The kids loved having so many old friends around to play with. Thanks so much to the "P" family for always letting all three of our kids stay overnight. Our current home is just not that "sleepover friendly." These pictures were taken just after they put on a rock band performance for the parents. They were WOUND UP!

Then the Christmas rush began . . . lots of our family traveled to Kentucky and Tennessee, so we were able to be with all our families for Christmas!

CBR, cousin "P", cousin "R", CER, and LAR.

Without even really meaning to, we had an RV Christmas. I think because we had the motor home with us, my family decided at the last minute to all pile in the RV on Christmas day and drive two hours north to be with my grandmother and Aunt "J". What fun! We all just piled in! We had Christmas music playing, and we went bumping along the interstate talking and laughing, and the kids playing games.

Christmas 2012 - LAR, CER, cousin "R, and Grammy.

An RV Christmas! Dad, my sister, and my brother-in-law.

We were able to have Christmas lunch with my grandmother in the dining hall of the complex where she lives. Then we loaded her onto the RV too. We all went to Aunt "J's" house for more food, games, and some riding, of course.

CBR, and G.G. - Christmas 2012.

Playing with cousins at Aunt "J's".

Aunt "J" gave the kids a riding lesson, and then we all just rode for fun. Because that's what you do on a KY Christmas. After you get out of your RV. I just love my country life.

Aunt "J" giving LAR a "talkin'-to" before she rides.

Grammy leading CBR on Booger.

Yeah, that's my 98 year old grandmother riding a horse. Christmas Day, 2012, Aunt "J's" barn.

Dad, showing off his new knees.

My mom and dad. Christmas 2012.

The kiddos about to dive into Aunt "J's" Christmas dinner.

The days after Christmas were spent watching the kids play with their new toys and gadgets.

LAR and cousin "P" played lots of made up games. One game involved taking turns telling and acting out stories for each other. This one lasted nearly two hours. Love those sweeties.

CER received a weaving loom for Christmas. Ever since she watched a lady in Canada working on a loom, she's been begging to have her own loom and take weaving lessons. As soon as she opened it, we set it all up, then she taught herself how to make scarves. Once she became proficient with scarf making, she challenged herself to make a rug. She's been wanting to make a rug for our friends in Minnesota that took us sailing. She was finally able to do that, and she put it in the mail for them. She absolutely loves to weave!!

CER weaving a scarf for Aunt "K".

I CAN NOT believe I didn't get a picture of this, but CBR lost his first tooth in Kentucky. LAR also lost another tooth. That makes a total of three teeth lost on our RV trip -- two tooth fairy visits from the Kentucky tooth fairy, and one from the Oregon tooth fairy. There's one for each state, ya know.

The week after Christmas we spent in Tennessee visiting family. Our family from Utah was able to fly in, so we were able to spend time with them too.

The kids love hiking in the woods behind Julesy and Rollo's house in Tennessee.

All the cousins playing in the bed of Rollo's new truck. There are seven grandchildren. Can you find the one hiding in front of LAR? Her tiny hands give her away. She's so stinkin' cute!

Julesy buys all these shirts for the grandchildren. Each one shows the child's age. I'm thinking about buying them for all the parents too.

CER sneaking some snuggles from cousin "J" and "J's" new Christmas puppy, Roxy.

The cousins.

Rollo's birthday party.

For New Year's Eve, Mr. Fix-It's sister and brother-in-law hosted a party. It was so fun to see some old friends from college, and to visit with our family . . . and to eat cheese dip. Tons and tons of cheese dip. I would've denied it on the night of the party, but now I can admit that I stood in front of the cheese dip so none of the other guests could have any. And for this reason, the holidays have padded my thighs a little.

One day, Julesy went with us to the Adventure Science Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Playing on the Archimedes lever. They actually lifted the car!

The girls trying out the astronaut's space walk simulator.

Our stay with family was super. I'm so thankful for this RV adventure of ours, and for all the extra time with family it has afforded us. I love that we're not tied to any particular schedule, so if we want to hang out somewhere for a stretch of time, we can. The day before we left, Julesy and Rollo came by my parent's house to tell us goodbye.

Rollo enjoying the awesomeness of the tree house.

Julesy looking out the window as Mr. Fix-It fastens CBR to the zip-line. Hands down, the best tree house!

Rollo and dad playing "burn out" in the sauna.

Somewhere during the period of time leading up to my dad's knee replacement surgery, he purchased an infrared sauna. I think he just thought it looked cool, but he sold my mom on the purchase by finding some data that suggested it may help his knee pain. Well, he still had the knee replacement surgery, but he's never complained about the sauna purchase.

Julesy had given CBR a lasso for Christmas. This boy spent

A

WHOLE

LOT

OF

TIME

practicing with his lasso. He desperately wanted to lasso a fence post.