What I’m NOT bringing: 
My engagement ring. Leaving my diamond safe at home. I chose a simple, white gold wedding band for just this reason – so that I could wear it independent of my precious diamonds while on adventures – and still look married! 🙂
Any To Do lists. Yessss! Just 5 days of hanging with my kids and watching my husband (the true concert junkie of the family) enjoy the biggest Christian Music Festival in the Northeast.
Any Projects. I did ask my husband if I could bring
my sewing machine. He just looked at me funny. I will bring the laptop and write up some more Tipi Tales if our experience brings on flashbacks…
What I AM bringing:
My Big Sister. You didn’t know I had a big sister? OK, I admit. She’s adopted. She’s everything a big sister should be – Older (not by much), Wiser, Inspiring, great example in Fashion, Balance, and Loving my kids. Oh, yeah – did I mention she has three kids? 4 adults, 6 kids under 6, for 5 days in the middle of nowhere. With lots and lots of music.
Marinaded Teryaki Chicken Thighs – frozen and ready for the campfire coals. Homemade Bread and Hamburger Rolls. Thick, Creamy, Homemade Yogurt. Frozen Tortillas. Fresh, Raw Milk by the gallon. Fresh lettuce from my garden and Homemade Maple Mustard Salad Dressing.We’re eating Real Food on this camping trip! All recipes from my book. 🙂
The kid’s oldest clothes, and our entire stash of best bibs.
Good reading material. I’m hoping in between 3 kids, dozens concerts, and late night chats over the campfire that I’ll have a chance to read a full length, adult novel for the first time since I decided to write a book. I’m packing Christ Walley.
The Kitchen Sink. Yes, I know – I don’t really think the term camping applies if you have a sink. Which I will have, along with a shower, toilet, fridge and stove. All this in generous interior of the new Holden Family Bus – an old Greyhound style bus converted to an RV – we’ve got a kitchen, bathroom, entertainment center, and sleeping for up to 13. And I’m not ashamed of the luxuries. I have nothing to prove – you guys know I know how to rough it. 🙂 I lived in a tipi, peoples!
A full report, including hilarious stories and random pictures, promised when we return. Photos of the bus on its maiden voyage this past weekend.
As the older sister to the younger sister, I'm happy to be adopted as I never have had a sister of any age! The trip was wonderful and the concerts that we opted to see were all great. And just think, some day we'll be in the season where all our kids will wash their own plate and cup, and dress themselves, and walk without wagons and strollers….
…but then again, they also probably won't giggle as much, splash in a baby pool, or get excited about riding the shuttle bus. So until then let's just keep enjoying this season! I love you!
The bus looks so comfy…have a great with no to do lists. (That is the thing that makes a vacation for me…)
I laughed out loud about you asking to take the sewing machine along. Most of our trips are for music teaching at churches, and I don't like to sit still any more than I have to. So I don't sit quietly in the sessions listening adoringly to my husband teaching and leading choirs. Instead I find a nice quiet Sunday school room and set up a sewing room. Then I listen to books on tape and sew and sew and sew.
If we had an RV, I would get a yard sale sewing machine and leave it in there to take on every trip.
I had to laugh about you not taking projects 🙂 I can't count the times my mom has carted her sewing machine on family trips/vacations. And yes, she did take it camping once. We had a generator with us 🙂
Enjoy the music and this special time with your family. Seth is getting SO BIG!!! I hardly recognized him!
Ah, wishing I could go on a camping trip! Your kids are adorable!
It sounds like so much fun! Have a wonderful time, and I hope you can read a whole book while you are gone.
thanks for the carseat tips, anonymous. I appreciate your concern. I am aware of the rear-facing law and the increased safety it affords. These seats are actually facing sideways as the benches line the walls of the bus in the livingroom.
The bus falls in the category of an RV, so seatbelts are not actually required. We like to strap the kids in just so things are a little more peaceful when we're on the road. 🙂
Please consider your baby's safety! He's not yet 1 right? It's illegal to forward face him until he is a min of 12 months AND 20 pounds. It is now reccommended to rearface until age 2!
I'm not trying to be mean… I really care about kid's safety in cars.
Please make sure the chest clips are at armpit level. Any lower and it is not going to hold your child in their seat in an accident.
Sounds like you are prepped and ready for FUN! Hope you all have a fabulous time. Can't wait to hear all of the details when you get back to real life… 🙂