A Day in the Life...

Unconventional.  That word 100% describes our world right now. As we've made the move back to Utah and started to establish  new routines, we're doing very little the normal way...and we are loving it completely!  Now that we're a few months in it's time to start sharing again with all of you the fun and easy ways we find to get out exploring.  But before we begin, we've teamed up with Taralyn at Keep Moving Forward With Me for her "Day In the Life of a Blogger" series.  Here's a glimpse into how we're living our way, and fitting it all in...

First off, we've all done a little growing...
"B" is now in 2nd grade
"P" will soon turn 5
And "The Babies" are no longer really babies.
The second noticeable change is that my husband is now working from 2pm-midnight.  That schedule is  AMAZING for our family.  He's home with us during the day to help out around the house, to let me run errands or just have some time away,  Most importantly, though, it gives our family the opportunity to get out and do things together every single day!  Yes, we still have preschool classes and doctors appointments and normal things we do, but free mornings and empty hours quickly fill up with snowshoeing or bicycling (thank you, weather gods for the most fabulously mild Utah winter!), hiking, and geocaching.  Instead of coming home at dinnertime and only being part of the getting-ready-for-bed routine, time with Daddy is full of adventure and quality time all week!


The third piece of the puzzle making up this unconventional world we've created is that we are now fully homeschooling.  We dabbled with it when "B" was in kindergarten, then sent him to public school during our year in Iowa.  Now "B" & "P" are schooling at home with me and we (mostly) love it every day.  With the 2nd shift schedule it works out perfectly for us to play all day and then crack open the books before and after dinnertime.  We're all learning and the boys are getting hands-on lessons from both their parents in the most incredible outdoor classroom every time we go wandering.

So what about me...and, oh yeah, the blogging...?  

(Can I  quick say "thank you" for being interested in the things that bring passion to me?  Without you reading, I'd lose my outlet to share what I love and you do that for me.)

8PM-midnight are my working hours and it all happens in my pajamas.  It's another huge perk of the 2nd shift schedule.  The kids go to bed and I have 100% me-time until I crash in bed or my husband comes home.  I do freelance work through Elance.com and fill in every extra minute with the behind-the-scenes legwork it takes to make blogging more than just a passing fancy.

 I LOVE networking and all too often waste away my precious working hours asking other people to share their interests with me.  My blogging focus while in Iowa was at Freemples, where I do product reviews. I find myself more on the enduring end with the legwork it takes to search and promote myself there. filling out applications and responding to emails.  However, it gives my family opportunities we would never have if I quit so I'm more than willing to make the nightly sacrifice.   

And all this brings me back to A Local Wander.  I cannot shout it loud enough how excited I am to get back in the swing of things here!  I hope you never doubt this vagabond's passion for adventure and sharing the fruits of my labor with you.  It's fun legwork and the 6 of us are looking forward to getting back out into the wide unknown and coming back to share it with you!

73 comments:

  1. It seems like you guys have been having some great adventures. These are the moments that make life worth living.

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  2. So much change, but it sounds like it's all been for the best! Looking forward to "wandering" into you more often! :)

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  3. That is so great that hubby can be home during the day to help. Sometimes it can get overwhelming having to do it all, so an extra set of hands really helps!

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  4. I am so happy that you and your husband now have a schedule that fits your life and the life of your family so perfectly!

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  5. Thanks, Michele! It is working out pretty nicely.

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  6. I used to hate to admit it, but it's totally true and we are all a LOT happier with him home during the day!

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  7. It definitely has been an interesting road, but we're loving it. I hope to see you around!

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  8. Sounds like you guys made the right move. Really happy for you.

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  9. BIG changes. I am glad itis for the better

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  10. Katherine BartlettMarch 12, 2015 at 1:24 AM

    Your family is growing up. So sweet!

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  11. It sure sounds like things are in a great place for you all now. I love all the extra family time!

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  12. Sounds like a good day. Glad it is working for you.

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  13. The kids are growing so nicely and I would have loved that schedule for my own family. I'll be retired in a week and can't wait to be able to do more with the kids.

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  14. That is great that you get to spend time during the day as a family. Whatever works for you!

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  15. It's my hope that I can establish a home that my children are so secure in, that they feel the courage to travel and explore, knowing that there will always be a place to come back to no matter what. I can only hope my children are given every chance in the world to travel the globe. If I'm lucky enough to go with them, outstanding, but if not, I'll be home when they want to return and tell me all about their experiences.

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  16. One summer we studied all about Colonial Williamsburg and then took our fall vacation there. I'll never forget the look on our daughter's face when she realized (even though we had told her that we were reading about real places and people) that she was actually seeing the places we had read about. We've tried to do that each summer - study a place we will visit in the fall - it's a great way to learn.

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  17. I would love to travel the world. Maybe some day if our businesses get going we can wander the world and learn and see great things.

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  18. I have not had the opportunity to travel the world, but just in visiting sites closer to home, I can't help but wonder what the people were like. How did they fill their days? Who did they love? This article is a great reminder, too, to be intentional and present with our children.

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  19. I hope to someday travel with my little guy, you are so right, it is such a powerful thing. To be able to teach our children real-life lessons while traveling and having fun while doing it!

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  20. Traveling is awesome! I really wish I had money to hop around the world with my family for a few months. It would be such a fun thing to do!

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  21. My husband and I love to travel also. Our dream would be to travel the world with our children.

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  22. I love to travel but we are on a tight budget right now. We are hoping to get out of state soon though and it will be my 3 year olds first trip!

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  23. Lisa @ Saving Cent by CentMarch 17, 2015 at 9:26 AM

    My family and I love to travel. We usually go to see places that are within a day's drive of where we live, but I there are so many things to see right around where we live.

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  24. My family hasn't traveled much of late because we've had some large expenses, but I'd love to do some more traveling!

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  25. That is amazing that you are able to travel as a family. I was able to travel as a kid and it did amazing things for my education. I was so thankful to have that time with my parents too. Keep it up.

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  26. You bring up something so important! Traveling away from home is a great opportunity for both kids and parents to unplug and pay a little more attention to each other. So great you were able to do that when you were young!

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  27. I hope you get to one day. But even getting out and exploring close to home can be a huge eye opener!

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  28. Finding cool things to do close to home can be just as rewarding! (My blog is called A "Local" Wander, afterall). I'm glad you get out to see what you can!

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  29. First trips are so exciting if you let them be! Where are you taking him?

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  30. Never lose that priority! It's a good and important one!

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  31. I agree with you! Good luck on winning the lottery and taking them all around the world!

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  32. I hope you are able to take him many places. Until then, watch for those life lessons in nearby-I promise they are there :)

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  33. Thank you for wording it that way "intentional and present". I needed that reminder. And close to home exploring can be just as much a learning experience. Never stop getting out there!

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  34. Good luck with the businesses and making travel a reality!

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  35. I LOVE this idea! Maybe I'll start thinking about a way I can implement it for our family before fall.

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  36. You have such a great perspective. For a long time travel for me was about getting away from home and it can be pretty lonely out there when you feel like you don't want to go back home. I'm sure your kids will always know you're their waiting for them.

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  37. This is such a beautiful sentiment. I really want to try it the next time I'm away from without my little ones.

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  38. You are right! There are memories to make in everything we do.

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  39. Oh, you've summed up my thoughts exactly. Traveling does change you, hopefully for the better, and that's a large part of why I love it.

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  40. All 50 states at once? You're my idol! :) Let me know when you're out Utah way and I'll pass on my best local hotspots!

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  41. Thanks, Stefani! It is working right now and I'm so grateful.

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  42. Happy retirement! I'm sure your kids will love the next stage.

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  43. We could not possible ask for more right now. Thanks for stopping by!

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  44. Thanks, Lena! It seems to be working out pretty well right now.

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  45. Thanks, Lesley! Moving back to Utah has been right in so many ways. We love it here!

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  46. Traveling is so important. We never put much thought into it until about a year ago and we started traveling more which has been a huge boost to our family's health and happiness. Great post!

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  47. I love to travel. Traveled all over the world before I got married and after my husband and I had kids, we traveled with them. I like them to see new things and learn. It's fun. Don't have the funds now to travel to all the places I would like but maybe one day.

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  48. We are going to try to get to Tennessee from Colorado. Just saving up gas and travel food money.

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  49. I love this. One of the reasons I've started my blog was to share our experiences with others so they could learn from them. I haven't been a traveler since becoming a parent due to lack of funds, but I long for the day to be able to show them the world the way I saw it when I was growing up.

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  50. Oh, I'd love to do more traveling with my kids someday! Hopefully when they get older it's something we can do as a family.

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  51. My Dad was part of the military, and moving around was a part of our lives. I think much of who I am and how I think is based on the other people that I've met and learning that the world is a beautiful place because everyone is unique. I think it's great to travel and learn so you can teach your kids something about it. I'm just grateful I was able to remember most of our trips that we had as a family.

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  52. I want to do some traveling. I watch those traveling shows on Pbs. I would like to go with my family. My sister and I was talking about how nice it would be to travel together. I hope that I am able to visit some of these beautiful places around the world.

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  53. I too have been to Pompeii. And I agree. its not about saying "I've been there" and ticking it off a list. It's knowing/experiencing the location in time and space. having a memory to connect with the history

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  54. Oh heavens no, just one state at a time! Lol!

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  55. I want to travel desperately. It's not in the cards at the moment. It would be wonderful to share that experience with my children. Thank you for sharing.

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  56. I've only traveled a bit but I'd love to travel more. We went to Mexico two years ago and my girls still talk about it. It's definitely interesting to experience another country and culture. Going to Australia in university made me think more about my own country and myself. :) Thanks for sharing!

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  57. I'm in Utah too! We've been SO glad for the warmer winter... As much was we love snow (really!) our baby girl has sever eczema, and I can only imagine how much worse it could have been if we had a really cold winter like we did a couple years ago!

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  58. I travel as much as possible. I love seeing other places, eating new foods and interacting with locals elsewhere. We don't have tons of extra money, so I find ways to save money in order to go where I want. Being creative helps to stay on budget.

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  59. I'm so glad to hear that! When everyone in our house is grouchy and irritated, it's a tell-tale sign that an adventure is overdue.

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  60. We are in the same boat with the funds. I'm so glad we did as much as did when our first was little. I know we wouldn't have saved that money to do it now and then we would have been out of any travel memories at all.

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  61. That is the same goal I have with this blog. And I'm in the same boat with the funds-parenting does make it harder. But still try to get out there, even if it's only close by. It will mean so much to them!

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  62. I hope so, too! Until then, though, I hope you're taking trips close to home and making memories that way!

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  63. It's nice to hear a military child speaking fondly of those memories. Too often it seems people who grow up in the circumstance resent it. I'm glad you've carried the positive parts with you!

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  64. My wanderlust started with a travel show I used to watch on the Travel Channel. Just last weekend I finally got to go somewhere I remembered seeing on that show all those years ago. I hope you and your sister get to go soon!

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  65. You are absolutely right. What was your favorite part of Pompeii?

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  66. I hope it works out for you in the not too distant future! But until then, hopefully you can find some fun adventures close to home.

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  67. Mexico and Australia are definitely two very different places. I love them both for very different reasons. Which did you like better?

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  68. I'm glad the weather was good for her! When we were considering moving back, the kids were so excited for skiing and couldn't wait. With the warm weather, though, they only went once-having too much fun doing warmer weather things.

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  69. I love that you do that! Both travel the local way, and save to do it.

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  70. I think my favorite part was seeing the ruts from wagon wheels in the streets. I could picture the centuries of people walking and pulling carts over those streets. And the ash covered bodies were really dramatic and moving

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  71. You have reminded me of the precious time to cherish with my own 8yo. Thanks!! BTW, do not be so psyched on our warm and record breaking winter. We need the water (and tourism) desperately. Utah is a desert. We are not a state that should rejoice in consistently dry weather and mediocre winters.

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