The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!

I think I am going to try to start posting reviews. Will you read them? Would you like to read them? I think that there are too many businesses out there that seem to creep along without having to provide quality customer service, quality product, and a clean environment. One thing I have discovered in our travels is how I Hate to spend our hard earned money on a less than desired experience. I also know there are alot of small businesses out there across our country that provide top notch across the line. I believe those need to be recognized. Maybe I will start a new blog and others can share their great or not so great experiences too. Real people, real reviews! So many of the reviews I have read on places seem to be from owners or management, there is really no other explanation.

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! One of the Last places I wanted to spend a week or a month or longer. There are wind farms all over the US , but we are sent to Oklahoma. Well, let me explain, Oklahoma isn't bad, I just didn't want to be stuck in the middle of Oklahoma. However, here we are and I was so surprised that I actually like it here. Just enough to be here for a month or so. More than a month would probably be overkill. After all we are over an hour away from a Target or a mall. Elk City is a small town in what is considered Western Oklahoma, it is located on Route 66. We are closer to Amarillo than Dallas. An hour and a half drive east will put you in Oklahoma City. It is dry, flat, and ugly here. Much different from the scenes in Pennsylvania. My to do list for this week include a trip to the National Route 66 Museum here in town, a picnic at a great park we found, and a possible stroll along main street for some antiquing. Other than those few things we plan to stay in quite a bit and cook and bake in our full size kitchen in our old but nice, clean, and charming hotel. Hope to update soon with pictures!

New Post

Wow! Look, I posted twice this month. On a roll now. I want to start catching up on all we've done in the past 8 months so that we have a "record" of it. I don't want to forget all the amazing things we have done, seen, and learned. Just don't know where to start. Maybe from the beginning? Maybe backwards? Who knows. Check back to find out!

And, I'm back atleast for today!

Wow! 8 months! Already? Where did the time go? It has been 8 months since I blogged last. Well, alot has happened in 8 months. Yes, we are still traveling. I have just not had the energy to keep up here. Hopefully that will change.



I have alot of catching up to do and will try my best.



Currrently we are in Southern Pennsylvania and loving it. It is so quaint and simple here. So many historic things to do and see. The only problem is that most of the sight seeing things to do are closed for the season.



We are hoping to head out to Pittsburg today just to drive thru and say we have. Tomorrow we hope to leave for NYC! Rather bummed that Mike doesn't get to take any time off to go with us. Our cash flow is slow, so we will not have the expericance I had always wanted. We'll have to see how this frugal mama can make a trip of the Big Apple a trip to remember.



Stay tuned!

Here We Go!

So, we are finally leaving today. We have been in Denton for three weeks getting my Mom and daughter settled. We have also been enjoying the flu or similar virus. The van is packed with everything I think we will need for 3-6 months. This is definitely a bitter sweet day. I am going to miss my little girl that has grown up all the sudden, My mom who I have never lived more than 45 miles away from, and my son who has grown up and out of the house. I will be back when the Grandbaby comes. I am excited to get to be with my husband of 9 yrs this month (can you believe it?), I have always dreamed of traveling around and seeing different places. I am excited that the kids will have this opportunity to see the USA.

I sit here, online writing when I should be putting everyone and the last few bags in the van and leaving. No one else seems to be eager to wake up and go. Well, I should use these last few moments before waking everyone in prayer. I'll try to update and post pics from the road!

Nobody's Counting

Ok so, we have 14 days till we are out of this house! I really can't believe it is happening so fast. We will spend 3ish weeks in our hometown visiting friends and family, and doing stuff we've missed for the past 16 mths. Then we will be off to wherever Hubby is. We have had to put off buying our truck for a few months, but our countdown to having one and buying our trailer is ON!

Now, we are at the hard part of packing, what do we need for 14 more days? What do we need for the next 14 mths?? Everything I take to Denton, is everything we will take on the road with us. Everything else must stay here in storage.

I figure there are stores in every part of the country so IF we realize we need something we can just buy it right?? Which reminds me I am off to buy blue jean baby diapers for the grandbaby. Have you seen these?? They are adorable! Almost makes me want another baby. If you have a baby you gotta get some!

Skeptic and Familly Building

Ok, so I am a skeptic, and I despise video games. One of my biggest pet peeves is to see a grown man sitting around after work or on the weekends playing video games. My next pet peeve is to see children or even men sitting in a dr.'s office, bank, grocery store, wherever, playing a handheld video game. I also cannot stand to have to Wait on my children to finish a level to be able to save their status or whatever. For the record I DO not allow them to do that if I am needing them right away. I am proud to be the worlds meanest Mom.

We have owned in our house several different versions of game players. They usually stayed in their "home" in the closet. Occasionally we would pull them out and play all day or two, then back they'd go. At most the kids had 2-4 games to choose from.

Now we enter into the age of the Wii. The interactive, family fun advertisements, health benefits could Not sell or buy me. We were Not getting one. I was not spending that kind of money on something that would sit in the closet.

Suddenly, this late winter I decided we would go ahead and buy one of these things. We would not buy any games, we would use only Wii sports. On any child's birthday they could pick a game as a gift. This will add up to a whole library as we still have 5 children at home. Each with their own birthday. This brings me to my next topic.

Family Building, I have to say that I put strict rules on the use of our Wii. We only play at nite after dinner. This way, when I loose focus and forget what I have asked, told or assigned to any given child, I don't have to contend with the game system.

After dinner has worked well, we work off dessert, the kids are more worn out and they are limited on time. I have been known to accept bribes for daytime use. (hey I have alot of stuff needing to be done before the move)

What I have been the most surprised about the whole Wii ownership is family building. The kids all play, share, take turns so well. For Avy's birthday yesterday we got her Disney Sing It. This is the Best investment so far. We have sang, danced, laughed, and just had the best time with this game. Everyone seems to get along so well when we are playing the Wii. I even bought a special bag to carry our Wii, so it can travel with us. The skeptic in me, is still there, I am sketical of every game on the shelves at gamestop as I sneak a visit all by myself several times a week.