Chris planned this trip over a year ago, when Ara was first born. I like to think that we were a little over-zealous and for sure overly confident in our parenting and coordinating abilities. As we got closer and closer to the trip I had a lot of dread and anticipation even though I knew it was something Chris has really been looking forward to.
I'm going to let the photos do the talking instead of giving a day by day play by play... Also because the days kinda blurred together! When you're living in very close quarters with 4 people and playing in the sand all day without agenda the time goes slowly.
The sunsets were just gorgeous and the lighting was really beautiful. I'm hoping for a new flash for xmas to up the photo quality.
These two rolled all over the desert.
I took a lot of photos of the children, this post is just a fraction of them.
Chris had a minor mishap with the hub/lugnuts on the rear tire, requiring a second trip into town. This was after his morning trip into town to run a diagnostic test on his truck as the check engine light came on about 60 miles into our trip. "Town" was about 40 minutes away.
My sweet boy adventuring.
Sand. Seriously. Everywhere.
Contemplating the dunes and their expanse.
One happy duning daddy.
Seriously these desert skies were to live for!
My hearts!
Britton Selfie
The ice cream truck drove by every 30 minutes starting at 8am... Chris and Amanda had these about 7 years ago, so of course I had to re-create it!
Owen had about 20 licks of this gigantic rocket pop
The more RV trips we take the more prep I do ahead of time, meal wise. Our dinner menu this trip was: zpie, turkey lettuce wraps, chili and cornbread, polenta, pizza (trader joes dough) and Baked salsa chicken. I did cook aka throw together this yummy breakfast of apples, quinoa, steel cut oats, almonds, cinnamon, coconut oil, and apple juice. It was really yummy.
These gals set up quite the outdoor kitchen for cooking up the greasy stuff you don't want hanging out in your trailer, bacon and sausage.
Goof!
Chris and O racing around a bowl.
So much fun! Owen would protest a ride for a while, shed a few tears, and then have a total blast once in the RZR. Chris converted a booster seat plus the 5 point restraint system plus an awesome helmet. The coolest thing (that I was a little grumbly about to be honest) was the intercom system. We could listen to music and then if one of us talked it cut out over the music and we could hear each other. This was KEY for communication with each other, but especially with kids. Also we used CB's that were tied into the intercom system as well. Pretty sweet even though I was resistant to the investment (ha, me frugal? go figure...)
THIS BOY! He has a history of disliking loud noises, even with things he loves like monster trucks, and racing cars. He ROCKED the Drag races on Saturday night. He was dancing around, clapping, and just having the time of his life watching the cars race down the strip.
A "duner" as Owen called it.
People lined up for at least 200 yards along side the drags.
Driving time was 11:56, travel time was about 14 hours.
Trailer kids
Chillin in the sand.
Two thumbs up!
Wood is so enticing you know.
She napped well but was up 3+ times per night.
Yet another gorgeous sky.
Tarantula home?
caged them sometimes to avoid chasing them in opposite directions.
Morning skies also quite amazing.
We camped with some old friends who seemed to know about 30 trailers around us. They are retired and have been there a month are staying 3 weeks into december.
Owen had a blast coloring outside with his friend Krista.
Crusty morning snuggle faces full of love. So glad to have so much time with my bests.
Awesome Auntie Amanda & Ara. She watched sis so we could go to the drags, so cool!
Sometimes you need a rest in the sand.
And a wrestle.
And a roll.
And an attack.
Josh and Sandy cruising nearby.
There are no hookups, you have to haul everything in and out. There are flatter areas where people park, but nowhere to dump your waste, fill up or dump water, etc. So we were pretty conservative with our water usage. I've never smelled stinky feet on a baby, but after wearing tennis shoes every day for a week, Ara's feet were ranky. We did bathe the kids a few times, and Chris and I took 2 brief and efficient showers... Yipes!
Another example of the trailers lining the desert. They kept coming in, more each day. Holiday weeks are big duning traditions in the sand toy world.
Profile pic of my handsome hus.
The dunes have a mysterious sense of beauty and calm. This may or may not be felt while on a RZR ride. Sometimes it feels like Mr. Toads wild ride.
As soon as we pulled up I immediately had a huge sense of relief. All of the preparation, anticipation, etc of the trip melted away. The kids really do well in the car, although O needs detox of the kindle after every road trip. He does well with books and a white board as well, but of course prefers technology.
The lows of the trip included Paul injuring his knee prior to the trip, having a trailer mishap on the way, our check engine light on, hub issue, extremely long truck ride, sore back for me, cooking a plastic cutting board on accident, and multiple wake ups at night.
The highs of course were many!!! Arabelle loved the sensory experience, as well as meeting new people. Owen played in the sand all day long, and slept 7-7 most nights. The campfires were relaxing and we met many new very kind people. The food was good, the company great. I finished a book I'd been working on for a few months, as well as 10+ magazines. I got a 3 mile solo run in and almost daily walks. Nana and I had some downtime with the kids. Papa and Ara had many cuddles. Chris got some dune riding in, riding the sand highway to the mexico/US border. We had some belly laughs playing hide and go seek in Nana and Papas trailer. Ara started saying Uh-oh. Owen was a quiet rider, saying "I just love you guys" many times over the intercom while riding. We would sing songs and quote the Cars and Planes movies. We were in bed most nights by 930, really feeling the effects of the time change a month ago, plus being out in the sun all day we were like chickens roosting when the sun went down. Plus the majority of the people camping around us were retired and early to bed. Owen learned what the word nutritious meant and spent a lot of the drive asking "Is ______ nutritious?" Of course that made me VERY happy. He is slowly realizing a lot of his preferences aren't in the very nutritious category...
A wonderful trip! I'm looking forward to hunkering down, enjoying the holidays and prep and family time around here, where we only drive 30-45 minutes to get to our destinations!
I'm going to let the photos do the talking instead of giving a day by day play by play... Also because the days kinda blurred together! When you're living in very close quarters with 4 people and playing in the sand all day without agenda the time goes slowly.
Another amazing sunset
The lows of the trip included Paul injuring his knee prior to the trip, having a trailer mishap on the way, our check engine light on, hub issue, extremely long truck ride, sore back for me, cooking a plastic cutting board on accident, and multiple wake ups at night.
The highs of course were many!!! Arabelle loved the sensory experience, as well as meeting new people. Owen played in the sand all day long, and slept 7-7 most nights. The campfires were relaxing and we met many new very kind people. The food was good, the company great. I finished a book I'd been working on for a few months, as well as 10+ magazines. I got a 3 mile solo run in and almost daily walks. Nana and I had some downtime with the kids. Papa and Ara had many cuddles. Chris got some dune riding in, riding the sand highway to the mexico/US border. We had some belly laughs playing hide and go seek in Nana and Papas trailer. Ara started saying Uh-oh. Owen was a quiet rider, saying "I just love you guys" many times over the intercom while riding. We would sing songs and quote the Cars and Planes movies. We were in bed most nights by 930, really feeling the effects of the time change a month ago, plus being out in the sun all day we were like chickens roosting when the sun went down. Plus the majority of the people camping around us were retired and early to bed. Owen learned what the word nutritious meant and spent a lot of the drive asking "Is ______ nutritious?" Of course that made me VERY happy. He is slowly realizing a lot of his preferences aren't in the very nutritious category...
A wonderful trip! I'm looking forward to hunkering down, enjoying the holidays and prep and family time around here, where we only drive 30-45 minutes to get to our destinations!