Water or no water...that is the question.

First and foremost, expect to see a few pictures of monster trucks the next time you see this blog. 

Now, let's move on...

We left Tucson, AZ and headed to Joshua Tree National Park in California.  This place was quite interesting because I don't think it was really ever made for RVs as the sites were quite "interesting".  Anyway, we had a great time there and meat a few great folks.  We were supposed to had met up with another full-time family that we were introduced to through some other folks that we have met along the way but we found out that were saying on the other side of the park and we weren't able to meet up.  We stayed at Joshua Tree for a few days and enjoyed some great weather but had a great surprise when I noticed that one of our handles had disappeared from under our RV that emptied our waste tanks.  I contacted people in the local SMALL city (did you get that I was a bit worried about not being able to find the correct piece there !?) and ended up finding one and replaced it and was able to empty our tank before we left.  Before that we headed to the visitor's center to get the kids a Jr Ranger badge, went to local coffee shop and did a bit of walking around, and saw some cool sites. 

This was a spot that we stopped for a night at a BLM and loved it!  This was on our way to Joshua Tree.  We have found boondocking and being disconnected is a great way to go!

We learned so much about Joshua Trees and even sent back to Illinois to see if we can get some to grow!

On a hike and in the middle of somewhere. 

Out doing a bit of rockclimbing.

After leaving Joshua Tree, we headed to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada.  It was a quite a bit interesting driving through Las Vegas with the fifth wheel but once arriving it was just as interesting having to parallel park at Nellis AFB; that was a first!  We spent an entire day in Las Vegas and saw a ton of things...animals, circus shows, 55,000 gallon fish tanks, animatronics, family safe side shows, water shows, laser shows, and so much more!  We spent a whole $24 in one day and that was to feed our entire family the whole day (with a coupon I might add!).  The rest of the day was FREE...Yes, we felt quite accomplished!  It was quite neat to be in Vegas and stay at Nellis  because this is the home of the Air Force Thunderbirds so we had an airshow every day.  The downfall was that they started flying every day at about 0620.  It was also extremely cool because they fly about every airframe known to man there.  We also got to go to run and play on the world's many tanks, Russian Migs, 6x6's, helicopters...you name it, we got to learn about it and climb inside of it at the warfare center with no one else around!  It was a free and fun-filled day.  We also got to spend an evening with family and had dinner together.  Then, we had another great treat while in Vegas when we had some great friends fly in from St Louis to spend their first anniversary with us!  It was great to see them and had a wonderful time with them.   

One of Las Vegas' finest and we had a few minutes to get to know him and his partner.  He gave us good info about the area, some great info about himself, and some gifts for the kids. 

We got to know the baker at Carlos' bakery (which we have watched on TV) through the glass. 

Of course...we walk by magic and Caleb must be involved.

Airshow every day at Nellis. 

Everyone is involved!

Kamryn and her cousin playin in a room that could not be much more "Princess".

This was a morning when Kamryn grabbed the Bible and started reading at Nellis. 

We have been out west for a year and we finally filled our Nevada sticker.

We stopped in the Pawn Stars shop. 

A walk through the Venetian.

We found a store that sold large rocks and robots made from recycled parts.  We loved it. 

Chilling at the Flamingo

This was our sever at Denny's.  We feel that God puts certain people in our lives for a reason and she is one of them. 

Taking a break in Circus Circus. 

Daily entertainment while at Nellis

Yes, we got to crawl inside of a Mig indoors!

The kids loved this!  We have a whole new understanding for people who had/have the jobs of driving tanks. 

A cool day of education and PE wrapped up in one!

Out for the day with Jen and Charlie.

Statue of Liberty made from chocolates.  There was also one made from Twizzlers and another made from jelly beans.

So glad to see them!

After we left Nellis AFB (after having to get new tires on the fifth wheel), we headed to Death Valley; that was a true treat!  We had planned on staying for three days but stayed for seven instead.  We chose to boondock (no hookups) while there and we loved it.  We met so many people; a retired couple from British Columbia, a nearly 1 yr married couple from Los Angeles, and a young lady who converted a van into a home/workshop and decided to full-time...and some others who just fell in between.  We loved this place!  Not only did we meet all of these amazing people but there is an amazing amount of history in Death Valley.  There is also even more beauty.  I am amazed how God put so much beauty in such a desolate place, but He did and I am thankful that we got to see it.  We also found out that there was a resort across the highway and ended having access to a pool and showers and even ordered a "so-so" and overpriced pizza for dinner one night.  The kids earned another Jr Ranger badge and we met a fella that blessed our socks off.  He said we were the blessing to him but it was surely him that was the blessing.  He has spent a career as a Ranger with the National Parks and spent some extra with us and even chose to give the kids a special gift before we left.  So all in all, this has been one of my favorite stops on this entire trip.  The campground alone is at the top of my list, then add the access to the pool and showers, and then the great company...it was great!

Zachary found great excitement in this.  We have now added this to our list of "Biggest, first, smallest, etc list"

Taking a little time to complete the Jr Ranger book at Death Valley. 

The Badwater Basin in Death Valley.  It is amazing how the ground breaks up here.   

Finding a few trails of our own for the day. 

Off on a jaunt, the boys found a mine pretty far off. 

We took a drive to a volcano and decided to take a hike...and a hike it was!

The bottom of the volcano. 

The Sand Dunes in Death Valley, Kamryn and Caleb enjoyed making sand angels...mom and dad did not enjoy cleaning them as much. 

This is Ranger Amy and the kids.  She told us all about the 20 Mule Teams at the borax mines.  We never knew this was the place where the product that we used originated.  Quite neat!

There was a NASA exhibit at the visitor's center.  The kids really enjoyed it.  This was the tires that were on the Mars Curiosity and they learned about how they were going change the next version. 

They learned here all about meteorites and even held a rock from Mars. 

This is Ranger Bob.  He was an amazing blessing to us although he said we had an impact on him. 

Two of the NASA engineers had the kids create a project to core a potato.  Very interesting. 

This was literally the last day of winter for the Cloningers...in Death Valley.  Sad thing is that it got hotter that 99 degrees, we just didn't get a picture of it!

This was a couple that we met that lives in their 19 ft RV in LA.  They were great!  We really enjoyed our time together and even worked together to figure out a few things on their RV. 

Caleb finished a project that Ranger Bob gave to him!

Our "yard" in Death Valley. 

Kamryn and Caleb playing a new game with a new friend in a neighbor's RV...

...while we hung out in the shade.

Zachary met our neighbors before we did and hung out for a bit. 

This is Narcissa.  A young lady who took her business and built it and her house in a van.  then took it and her puppy in the road.  We got to know her well. 

Earning a badge with Ranger Bob. 

Having Miss. Narcissa over for breakfast and some great conversation.

Yes...a spring fed pool in the middle of Death Valley.  Who knew? 

It was 100 degrees and Kamryn was a bit wore out after swimming for a bit.  She fell asleep...

Our kids find things to do when they get bored...like take empty oatmeal cans and play soccer in Death Valley!

Time for school...shirts are optional...it's hot.

Shuffleboard or bocce anyone?

We left Death valley and headed back to Nellis for a day to empty our tanks and clean up a bit.  Then we headed back to some more desert to boondock some more.  We went to Stewart's Point on Lake Mead and checked off #72 on our National Parks after earning that Jr Ranger Badge.  This place was beautiful also.  We had a great overlook and sat above the lake.  We were going to stay at a different place but ended up staying here after it was recommended to us by a few other friends even though it was a it further up the road.  We stayed there for a few days and a few really neat things came of it.  Caleb ended up finding something that we took to an archeologist at a local museum, and they said that they thought it may have been something that was from before the 1880's.  We also went to local church and were invited to stay for lunch and had some great conversation to get to know some marvelous people.  While there, not only didn't we create a new game called "rocci" like bocci but with rocks instead of with balls, we found selenite and some other amazing rocks, went fishing, Kelly got her paddleboard fix in, cooked over fires, took a few 4x4 trips in the truck (this makes daddy nervous because this truck pulls our "house" but it worked out) and otherwise had another opportunity to enjoy Creation in a whole new way.  While there, we also went to Hoover Dam.  Again, we were amazed by the feats of engineering of mankind and spend a day marveling at this immense project.  It was quite a great day of homeschooling from many different aspects and enjoyed it immensely.

A new item that we got to enjoy.  The kids love it!

So much history to Lake Mead.  This is the water that Hoover Dam backs up and it actually has a WW II plane crash story.  Neat place. 

This was our "yard" at Lake Mead.  Thanks Laurie and Scott!

Kamryn and her new lizard friend. 

Getting read for dinner at Lake Mead. 

Caleb was about to find out what the item was that he found under a rock.  Come to find out, he probably found a eating utensil that is over 130 years old. 

Park # 72

One of the views from our "yard" at Lake Mead. 

Looking down over 600 feet into Hoover Dam

Now that's a good lookin' family right there! 

One of the concrete buckets used at Hoover Dam.

One child in Arizona and the other is standing in Nevada at the Hoover Dam.

We left Stewart's Point and the desert and headed for a treat; an RV resort (which we don't do normally...actually we haven't done.) but it is across the street where we are going to the Monster Truck Finals.  I talked about this last time but this is something that we have wanted to do for quite a few years but the location and/or the budget has never come together.  Well, this year it's come together and we stayed very close to the location where it is being held and can't wait to attend!  The people here are great and we have been coined "Monsters" (because we are here to see the monster trucks, not because we are terrors) at the park where we are staying. 


We thought about it and ended up dry camping for 20 of the last 30 days.  We love that for three weeks of the last month, we were not connected to any city water or electricity; we only ran off of what we had in our on board tanks and off of our batteries.  We never even pulled out a generator.  We really enjoy being disconnected and being so aware of our usage of water and power.  It almost becomes game at times to see how long you can go on about 50 gallons of water, propane, and 2 batteries for five people. Anyway, we enjoy it and look forward to the next time as we know it will be soon. 

We had talked about going to Alaska this summer but weren't real sure what we were going to do; again, we don't make plans very far out.  Now, after we leave Las Vegas, we are going to start heading into the Midwest.  We are going back to see family and see where the Lord leads us from there because we haven't been back as a family in about two years.  We have a route planned and hope to see a few things along the way but we will have to wait and see how things work out. 

Oddly, while writing this, I have just now realized that we have been out west for nearly a year, which we had never planned or talked about, and will see how things move forward as we head back east.  We have many memories, many friends, about 30 National Parks, and even a few places to consider to live in the west.  We look forward to heading back east and also look forward to the opportunities that the Lord gives us as we travel back.  We don't know what is in store but we do know one thing...we trust Him with what He puts before us. 

Until next time...