5th Wheel - All the changes and tiny spaces

I mentioned in the last post that over the past 6 almost 7 years (gasp)  we really have changed the 5th wheel.  Please note that these are just completely random pictures from throughout the years. If you look closely you will notice we started out with picture frames, lamps, etc. Those are all now in storage. LOL! I try so hard to keep things to essential purposeful items and really could put more in storage! We live in a small space...about 200 square feet. It gets cluttered quickly, like when a plate is out much less toys! So when I hear people say they are busting at the seams...I wonder how they would feel living with this set-up for almost 7 years with 2 labs, kid, and hubs! I don't mean that in a mean way, but honestly you really can make it work in small spaces. It takes a lot of patience, creativity, imagination, and work!

The beginning

 The extreme makeover...couch and table out..custom cabinet installed.

 

Ultimately we moved that cabinet several times inside trying to make things more functional. We bought a couch when I was pregnant with Wyatt and couldn't get it in the door...so that was fun! LOL!

Then I set up an area for Wyatt...many.many.many.times and kept rearranging it!

Pre-baby

 He's Here!

 Re-arraigning to try and make things with an infant work better

 It seems to be working....

Then ultimately we had to take out the built-in cabinets because of  the leak that couldn't be fixed :( So we had a lot floor space but, less storage!

 Then W started crawling out of the Pack-N-Play...so in came a big boy bed

 I decided that W's bed area needed more insulation because I kept the pack and play protected from drafts. In my late night attempt to find curtains I was unsuccessful, so I put up make shift curtains to cut down on the cold/draft from the wall....(Make shift...hahah they are still up!) The above picture was his first time in his bed and he wasn't sure about it!

 Then I added another dresser/cabinet because we needed storage! (Horrible phone pictures from a few months ago!)

And honestly, it looks a little different every day. Always changing, rearranging, and attempting to figure out more ways to store toys. I just took pictures and of the current state at 10:00 at night and nope...horrible..lol! We are packing and organizing things to move so that random stuff everyone has is all over the place! :) Yes even in a small space you still have it! 

If you have been reading our blog you know we have had our share of issues with this 5th wheel. I have kept myself from painting and doing all the neat things I see on Pinterest because I think some people would like it with the wood original if we traded it in.  I go back and forth almost daily.  I would love to whitewash the cabinets, paint the walls, put in a backslash, wood floors, etc. Pinterest oh dear Pinterest why do you make me dream of anther RV remodel. HAHAHAHAH! Seriously you only dream about these things if you full-time rv! I think we FINALLY have the the living room leak fixed. It only took 6 years and over a dozen (at least) different RV repairmen and dealerships all over the country to figure it out! Now watch it leak...lol! 


Ultimately I just wanted to share because so many people have asked about our lifestyle. I still can't believe we have been on the road this long and am so thankful for all the amazing experiences we have had. That doesn't mean every day is great because lets be honest, I obviously don't have a lot of cabinet space  and when crackers fall out every.single.time I open the pantry I do get irritated. I don't like the shower but I have gotten used to it, the bathroom stinks just because rv bathrooms do, the refrigerator is small, my oven is tiny, and yes it is annoying that D and I have all of our clothes outside in our closet/cargo trailer, and that I can't dry my hair with the ac on....but I know this isn't forever (I think). I will look back on these years and know I will miss the closeness (because this lifestyle will either make or break a marriage and family) and the fact that my husband is asleep in the chair beside me and my soon to be 3 year old is tucked in his bed only feet away as I blog while listening to the intro of Jimmy Fallon. Years from now....I will miss this! :) I know I will and I know I will miss the simplicity. I know I will miss always seeing and experiencing new things. I know I will miss how we take full advantage of an area while we live in it. I fully get the fact that when you live somewhere it is very common to not visit/do all the fun things it has to offer. I know I will miss how creative I have to be with cooking because it gets so hot inside. I know I will miss how the dogs race to the door when D pulls up after work because they can hear his truck. I can not hear anything over the air conditioner! HA! I know I will miss meeting new people all the time with interesting stories and why they rv. I.know.I.will.miss.this lifestyle when it is over! 

We move on Thursday and I hope to blog about that soon. I am 100% sure I will rearrange things when we setup in the new town. (New way to store the toys, new rugs, pillows, etc) I have to keep changing things to make it feel bigger! LOL! Please please pray and send vibes for an easy, safe and uneventful move!!!!!!!!

Hugs to all! 

6 Years of blogging...

We are in our 6TH YEAR of this adventure!!!?!?! I know can you believe it?!?!! My first post was on March 28, 2008,  ( Getting Ready) and boy did we did not have any idea what we were getting into! LOL! I kid.... I kid. Although we did think this was just something we would do for a year or possibly even two. (Look at the babies in that picture!) Even now.... just this week.....I thought we had plan.... a firm one......nope!!!!

 The 5th wheel has changed so much..inside and out! :/ I should get a post together on the  changes and as they stand at this point. (It is kind of ever-changing!)

I am hoping to get caught up on blogging very soon. Wyatt and I have been very busy making lots of friends since we arrived. Not complaining as I love meeting new people!

I know I have not been good at keeping the blog updated. I am trying...we have so much fun stuff to catch up!!
I guess that is the price you pay when you live a gypsie life! :)

A Different Kind of Workout Music...

This is still cracking me up hours later!

In action....

My boy...

This guy loves sports of any kind. Ok, really anything outside. It doesn't matter playing or watching..it can be: baseball, football, soccer, racecars, towing anything, running, jumping, hanging, climbing, spinning, cars, basketball, motorcycles...

He even sleeps with a ball, car, monkey, it doesn't matter..lol!

Love my little guy!

Traveling kid?

Sorry for the silence..since moving our internet has been hit and miss and we were ripping through all our data (and couldn't figure out why)! We made a trip to the AT&T store changed our plan and got a new wireless card...so we are up and running! Whoo Hoo!

Ok back on track..can you tell this kid has spent his life on the road?

I can't even use like Father Like Son because mama is always towing something as well! He cracks me up because he is constantly looking back to make sure his "Motorcycle is still towing the other Motorcycle!" LOL! All this has done is also just fuel his obsession and love to ride his motorcycle! I.spend.my.life.outside! :)

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Birthday To Nannie

A little late in the evening..but hey better late than never!




PS I thought I had stopped recording but, clearly I hadn't. I think it Goldfish in the chair "Make a mess" just adds to it!
Love you mama and hope you had a great day!!!

Bluebonnets... not planned but I love them!

 We had to make quick day trip to Austin on Sunday. As we were driving we found a lovely patch of Bluebonnets. Of course we had to stop and get a few shots. It was impromptu but, I love them! I am hoping we are able to take more pictures on Easter all spiffed up! This has become a tradition and it is one that I love!

 

Celebrating a sweet girl, boy, and seeing lots of besties..

Last month...where did the time go?

The beginning of last month one of my besties and her family were Dallas to celebrate their daughters 9th birthday! When she called me and asked if we would be interested in meeting them of course I jumped at the opportunity!! She said they were going to make it very special and go the American Girl store! Umm..yes please! I read the books when I was a little girl but didn't have any of the dolls.  Meet Kirsten was my favorite! (I even dressed up as her for a school book character day!)

I was excited to get to go the store..I didn't realized just how excited I was until I really didn't sleep the night before and I admit that I looked up dolls on the way down to Dallas! LOL! Yes, like a dream for a girl who really loved playing with her baby dolls! I arrived in the middle of the appointment and D and W headed over to the hotel to swim with the other men folk!

We had so much fun being girls and I am so glad I was able to join in on this special experience.

After finishing up I made sure a few special memories were captured. #makingmemories! You only get one chance at going to the American Girls Store for the first time!

 

After shopping, we went back to the hotel to join the boys at the swimming pool. The boys were having a blast and my little guy was right in the middle of having fun with J. He was so cute! I was not sure exactly how he would "remember" the water..but he did great! He was even jumping off the side of the pool into Daniel's arms.

A also went swimming and that provided and opportuntity for Andrea and I to really chat. We were talking so much and catching up before we knew it, it was time to head over to the Galleria for the next suprise! Ice skating! We knew W was to young so we were watched and did some shopping. D loves a certain kind of custom shirt with french cuffs and they are not easy to find. I am always looking for a brand that is easy to work with or a company that makes a tall and will custom order online as well as, in store. We found a new company that sounds like a winner! Whoo!

 

Someone took a nap....

 After ice skating, it  was time to head over to Grapevine Mall to eat dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. It was yummy and Wyatt thought all the animals were really neat. He loved when the thunder started!

When we were leaving the mall, the kids spotted the train. I love this picture so much because D and I were amazed that W just sat up in that train car and acted like a big boy! Not long ago...(we were expecting it to happen that night) he would not have gone without one of us..just another step of gaining indepence :( HA!

W thought riding a train was the neatest thing ever!  So happy!
I am so glad we were able to see our friends and help celebrate the birthday of a special sweet girl! We love you guys and are lucky to have great friends like you! I am so glad we got to part of a special experience!!! Love you! 


The next weekend it was P's turn for a birthday celebration! J and J invited us to come to a fun birthday party at a jump place! W has only been to one other birthday party (other than ones at his school) that wasn't his own and he was only 1! LOL! I am not sure he really understood it but he certainly grasped it and had fun! 

 Not sure at first but, he caught on quickly!

 Tackling the incline...he mastered it and would slide down on his tummy.

 Cake time!

 Playtime fun with the birthday boy!

 We had a great time! Thank you for inviting us. J is one of my besties and I love being able to spend time with her! Love ya girlie and am so lucky to have you in my life! I am also so happy the boys are relatively close in age!! Obviously someone had a great time..this was before we left the parking lot!

 

We left the party and headed over to my grandmothers house for the afternoon. Lots of outside playtime on the tractor. We had a yummy dinner and were able to do laundry and relax.

As always thanks Great-grandmaw for letting us come in and spread out! LOL!

Then the next week another bestie Kerryanne was in Dallas for a work trip! We drove down and went to dinner at Chuy's! We gave her the inside scoop on how to order! She spoiled us with some new Razorback gear! W loves is Aunt Kookie and has been wearing his shirts and Hog Nose nonstop! I was also spoiled with super cute scarf and I am surprised her hands didn't burn off she even got D something with Longhorns! :) 

 What more could a kid ask for a new hog shirt and a sucker! :)

I know I am super blessed to have such amazing friends and my love tank is definitely full! I really needed some friend time to recharge before moving! We love all of you and hope to see you again very soon!!!
XXXOOO