Santa Rosa so far

We haven't made it very far yet today. Just meandered up the coast a bit and then inland to get to a Walmart for some new window shades for Winnie.
Yesterday afternoon we went to Pacifica to fetch some keys that had been mailed to us. We forgot the keys to William's gun safe in Arkansas and thought we had better get them in case the Canadian border patrol needs to search the trailer on our way up. In Pacifica, we went to William's 2nd cousins house. Her nickname is Cookie, which completely puzzled Julia. It was nice to meet her family. We travelled on across the Golden Gate Bridge last night and along a very curvy portion of the Hwy 1 until we stopped at the edge of an oceanside cliff and slept the night.


TOP TEN THINGS I LIKE ABOUT LIVING IN A WINNEBAGO:

1. The incredible views -everchanging.

2. Julia sleeps all night because she isn't afraid of the dark when we're all in the same room

3. Housekeeping is easy! I clean the windshield with windex and sweep beach sand out of the back door and I am all done.

4. Free Wi Fi at most shopping centers.

5. Campfires instead of casseroles...okay, I will be ready for a homecooked meal once we get settled!

6. Making memories and counting our blessings.

7. NO T.V. - not even a portable dvd player...that's right, we must have left that behind in Arkansas as well, but it has been really a good thing!

8. New neighbors every night!

9. No rent or MLGW bill. Especially when you pull over on the the side of a cliff to sleep.

10. Happy children having the experience of a lifetime.

killing time






sea lion





Carmel by the sea...





happy again




starfish n of santa cruz

Pacifica

Well, Wednesday we weaved around lots of steep cliffs and drove along a lot of pretty beach to get just past Ragged Point CA and camped at Plaskett Creek state park. It was very pretty. John was running a fever and lethargic all day and night. Poor thing, he was just miserable. He needed lots of mommy time. Thursday, we drove on up further north and did some minor repairs in San Luis Obispo and played at the pebbly beach in Carmel. We ended up last night about 25 miles N of Santa Cruz at Gazos gas station just across from a gorgeous stretch of beach where we found starfish and played in the sand. We also saw a little baby sea lion come ashore. I will try to post pics later. Thankfully, John is feeling better and back to his happy self! Thinking of you all!
Love WGypsies

Pismo Continued

Start me up!




We found a lot of sandollars.




that hair!




Rise and shine





We're moving on up today. Will post again when we get a signal...

Destination : Pismo Beach

Here are a few pics from The road and Disneyland.




This is how we roll ...LOL





Dumbo ride...so much fun!



Julia met a few princesses in the park...Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle. She loved it. Her favorite princess is Cinderella and she was getting some beauty sleep so we didn't see her. I think the character meals are the way to go if you want to see specific characters, but we just had a day at the park and it was tons of fun even without Cinderella!!




We loved the teacups!!! Love this picture too-- such a happy moment!





Who knew Minnie had such a cool kitchen!!!


Hi All,

We made it to Pismo Beach CA today. My brother said it would be a nice spot to be and he was right!! It is so pretty. We're at a campground close to the beach. The kids are lovin' it. There are 4 playgrounds, a little carousel, the Beach, lots of other children!! It is a bit windy and chilly tonight.

We did a bit of laundry--that's a major ordeal to keep up with on the road-- only 3 outfits have perished so far due to mold or dramatic staining! I need to have children that will wear bibs--but I don't! Oh and on top of it all ... we did have a bottle of tequila break in our laundry bag on the way out of the Hyatt this morning...but we got it all 'Bounced' tonight.

Ole Winnie is doing her part. Just had to tighten up a few hoses today and she was on her way. We do have a brake light that we need to replace tomorrow.

We are missing our family and friends and I was just saying tonight that I just can't really believe that we are on our way to Alaska for good yet. That won't sink in until we get there, so maybe that's why we are taking our time getting there. That and the fact that the Alaska Board takes forever to get their licenses processed!!

"I am the Vine: You are the branches" John 15:5 hangs in Winnie and it reminds me of where we stand each day. Where we need to focus and what is most important. We are happiest like this : just living & loving in Jesus!!
Miss you all
Love Winnie Gypsies
Ps disney was magical!

Winnie Revealed

Here she is - our Winnie





The grand canyon





More Canyon



Lake Mead




Winnie at the Trump Vegas




More Grand canyon



And a random but precious pic of a happy family...Aunt Jodi, Uncle Steven and their favorite little rascals in Nashville the night after William's graduation.

On the Road

Well, we've been travelling gypsies for a week now. It has been a whirlwind so far.

The first day, we made it all the way to Rio Rancho, New Mexico to see William's second cousin Maggie G. It was about a 900 mile maiden voyage with only a few hiccups ,like Julia getting carsick all over herself and carseat. That was tricky to clean up!!!! We played a lot of lincoln logs and took really necessary showers at Margarets house and enjoyed the beautiful view of the valley and mountains. The 2nd day we made to the Grand Canyon just in time to enjoy the sunset. It was beautiful and chilly that night. We stayed in Trailer Village RV park in the Grand Canyon. We grilled yummy burgers. The next morning we rode the free bus shuttles around to different parts of the canyon. Then, we moved on to Lake Mead. Once again arriving right at sunset (Julia says each time "we beat the sun again!!") We couldn't drive over Hoover Dam because we are pulling a trailer behind us. So, we missed that landmark, but Lake Mead was a really beautiful spot to park "Winnie" for the night.

Speaking of ole Winnie, she has been a REAL trooper for her age. She's almost as old as me!! I wanted to load some pics today, but I can't get my software to load up on this laptop for some reason.

Okay,
on with the travel log... Then, on to Las Vegas. We went there for me to take the Western Regional Boards to get my dental hygiene certification for Alaska. They we no fun!! After practicing for 11 years they should just tell you you're too old to retake any kind of board exam and maybe just get a job at a coffee shop! i felt so unprepared compared to all the girls that had just finished up their dental hygiene programs and had all the current mock boards,etc. But I did it and I will get results in the mail in 3 weeks. I need major prayers for a miracle in that department!!

So, Vegas was totally NOT kid friendly--totally sin city. Which we knew already, but you are grafically reminded everywhere you look!! We pricelined our hotel and got to stay at Trump--which was GREAT. We had a suite and it was smoke free/casino free!!! Our hotel room and eating at In/Out Burger was the highlight of our time there.

So, that brings us to where we are now. We left out soon after the end of my exam yesterday and made it to Victorville CA. The campsites in town were full. So, we are REAL roadies now---Wal Mart parking lot ones!! And free WIFI - sweet, we must be pulling off someones connection parked near us in their 1800rvforrent --those are everywhere we go. We head on to Disneyland next. Can't wait to post pictures. I will as soon as I can get some software loaded right.
Love to all friends and family, the Winnie Gypsies

Wrapping Up

This is what one of our neighbors gave as a going away pressie -- all summer fun essentials! Guess she doesn't want us to forget how warm feels! She is known for laying out in here bikini in her front yard. It was actually the first things we noticed while we were moving in 4 years ago. She has turned out to be a great neighborhood watchdog during our times away from home and just really kind hearted.

One of my favorite gifts is definitely a special journal - not the journal to just write all the good pretty pretties in life, but the one to vent frustrations and write it life as it really is. Thanks Cindi!



Well, craigslist has made us some gas money for the trip this week. We have sold so much on there. Even our dining room table. Pictured above is our new dining room table.



This is someone soooo special to my heart - AMY.
Julia has been lucky enough to have her as a teacher in preschool for the last two years. She just wrapped her arms around our family. Thanks!!



Diane is John's first love. All we heard after he met her was "Miss Diane-go to Miss Diane". She will be missed!




Our zoo pals and all our pals have been great -thanks!!! We will miss all of those people who have touched our lives.

Lord's Army

Well, we are nearing our departure for Kenai Alaska. William graduates this Friday and we are just crazy busy trying to get things rapped up for our move. In the last few days we gave Winnie (our motorhome) a new coat of paint. She's a true beauty now!
Below is the record King Salmon which maybe William can top this summer.



Longtime Alaskan and resident of Soldotna, Les Anderson (in orange rain suit) admiring his catch while a friend holds it up for photos. This picture was taken in the early afternoon and after the King Salmon had been officially weighed on a certified scales at Echo Lake Meat Lockers. The official weight in the record books is 97 pounds 4 ounces. The fish was not weighed until several hours after it was caught and Fish & Game estimates that due to evaporative weight loss, the fish may have broken the hundred pound mark if it had been weighed promptly after being caught.

In Focus

Little miss just after her dance recital. Thanks to all the family and friends that came to it!!!





Racing around with their Bob!




Kiddy pools and oreo cookies make a mess!

Camera

New camera came...new camera went back. Did all the customary research and then it came in the mail. But it had that shutter delay (cannot stand that!) and wouldn't focus nicely on close ups as evidenced above. So, did more research and hopefully the one I ordered today will take the best pics ever :)
Until then, am debating closing blog to friends and fam as we head on our way to this new chapter in life. If you want to be a part of the ride email me. If you don't have my email ad there's a link called 'about me' to the right. If you click on that you can send me an email and when I close it you can come along...

Little Sillys

Little silly mans idea of potty training--keep those pants on! He thinks it is soooo funny!




Little miss silly has a way of finding dress up outfits that are way too small for her and parading around in them all day giggling at herself in the mirror!

Little girls love shoes too

Well, I returned home late Thursday night to find while checking my email that I had somehow bought some shoes on ebay that I had never even seen before. After much thought and confusion, I checked the history of the computer. I found that while little miss was on playhouse Disney dressing Darby she somehow managed to get onto ebay and after looking at a few convertible red corvettes she bought a pair of very fancy little dancing shoes for her mom!
Thankfully, the ebay seller was happy to omit the transaction and just said, "I hope you can help her get control of her shopping habits while she is still young" :)
I can only assume he has teenage daughters.

On another note, the countdown is here for graduation and we are almost in a state of shock that we will be moving into our nomadic camper in less than a month. I had always envisioned making a long trek across country in a Winnebago without wee children but it should make for great family albums and fun memories for ages to come.
Camera is broken - new one on the way. Pictures soon to come as it has been torture to be away from the lens for a couple of weeks!

Easter 09

The little man is starting to get the hang of egg hunting this year!



We are greatful to our saviour!