Why Did We Bring a Crock Pot?

“The trouble with simple living is that, though it can be joyful, rich, and creative, it isn’t simple.”
-Doris Janzen Longacre

-    Today we are sitting in a Comfort Suites hotel room in the UFO capital (Roswell, NM), as we complete our first week of travel. It's been a high-intensity week full of lots of time in van, super cool locations and crappy fast food. Moving from place to place every day or two would not be long term sustainable for us. Fun, but too much to keep up with school and work. 

      Our first stop was in the Phoenix, Arizona area. We got to stay with family and spend some with them and some friends in the area. We couldn't have asked for a better time there - it was the perfect start to our journey.

       It was while unloading stuff on our first day that we starting thinking stuff like, "why did we bring a crock pot?" We specifically purchased a small crock pot, so proud of our great idea thinking how effective it would be for us to have it on the road. Easy meals and a small foot print. Well, with everything fitting inside that van every tiny space matters - even the space of a small crock pot. So, seven hours into our trip and we've already donated our special travel crock pot.  

      It wasn't until next day that we decided to donate a backpack we brought. And really we mean Ammon here. It was a really cool waterproof backpack though. Plus it rolled up really small. But it's gone now.

     Next stop was Tuscon, AZ. We stayed in an AIRBNB with Tim and Holly. A small two bedroom house behind their house Upon arrival, it seemed pretty questionable, but ended up being a highlight for the kids. Still not sure why, but they loved this place. Probably because they left out Halloween candy for us and an arrowhead necklace as a gift - simple things I guess. 

      And if we thought that place was questionable, Shanae got her first taste of Hostel life at our next stop near Alamogordo, NM. Sharing a bathroom and kitchen, bunk beds make from 2x4's, mattresses that felt like old hideabed mattresses. and dog friendly to the point of having dogs begging for your oatmeal breakfast were just a few of the fun parts of this hostel stay. The people we met were amazing though and make all the weirdness completely worth it.    

      Which brings us to Roswell, NM. We were happy to find more comfy beds and a private bathroom here. On our way here we had our first literal "road" schooling experience as the boys did home school in van on the 3 hour drive from Alamogordo - which actually worked out pretty awesome somehow.

      Unloading our van here and doing laundry we again had another crock pot moment. We've shed another 8 articles of clothing between us (which significant for the limited number we already have) and 1/3 of the Legos. We also said goodbye to 3 pillows.

      It's been an amazing week 1. We feel very fortunate for this opportunity and all the amazing people we've been able to spend time with and meet along the way. We stayed in Queen Creek, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Cloudcroft, NM, Roswell, NM and we leave for Texas in the morning. This week we visited Saguaro National Park, Tombstone, AZ, White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Cavern National Park and of course the Roswell UFO Museum.