I feel like the last few weeks could have been a drama called "Escape from Bakersfield". It seems like we just cannot get out of here for anything. Brake controller troubles, waiting on the repair guy, kids sick, parents sick, lousy weather....it has just gone on and on.
We had been having trouble with the trailer brakes, so we put in a new brake controller in the truck. It indicated there was an intermittent short in the trailer wiring (which we had already guessed). So we took it to Camping World today to have them take a look. Good news: in about 10 minutes, the tech has the brake wire fixed. Bad news: while underneath, he noticed a few broken leaf springs in the suspension, which explained why the trailer had started bouncing on and rubbing the tires, and was close to breaking the propane pipe to the fridge. Good news: repair will cost less than we originally thought when we heard "suspension", "alignment", "tires", and a few other scary words. Bad news: can't be fixed until tomorrow.
So we're spending the night here in the Camping World parking lot. They have an electrical box out here for just such an occasion, so we'll be comfortable and I suppose we can count the free night of camping when we get our bill. Maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to escape the hold Bakersfield has on us. So far today, we made negative 8 miles of progress toward Phoenix. So even if we just stay put tomorrow we're doing better than today.
At least it's warm and it's mostly stopped raining.
We are a family of four, including two young children. We decided to sell our house and move into an RV to travel the country, visit friends and family, and take a step back from our consumerist lifestyle. This is all new territory to us, so undoubtedly many laughs, mishaps, and adventures await us!
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Currently in: Lynchburg, VA
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Friday, January 22, 2010
Bakersfield, the black hole
Posted by Kim at 8:52 PM
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Kids Laugh of the Day
Rinnah has taken to saying "thank you" for just about everything these days, and since Ian loves to copy her, good manners are spreading! They like to play where Rinnah pushes something across the table to Ian, and he returns it. She says, "thank you!" and he says, "you're welcome!" And then they both giggle. It's so precious, and makes us think maybe we're doing at least something right around here!
12-28-09
Sept 09
Lately, if he doesn't want to do something, Ian tells us he can't figure it out. For example, we ask him to pick up his books. "I no figure out pick up my books." I don't know where he got it but it's kind of amusing.
8-10-09
Ian loves to eat pepperoni, and has his own name for it-"bump bump bump ONI!"
7-21-09
I was washing some dishes when I heard Ian behind me say, "I all ready go. Ma push Ian please?" There he was standing crouched in his little plastic dump truck with the cutest look on his face. I couldn't resist pushing him for a lap around the kitchen.
7-14-09
Ian bumped his head, and Jeremy said "I'm sorry". Ian replied, "No, I bumped my head all by myself."
7-10-09
I was opening up my tub of coupons to file and Ian spotted the small scissors I use in the store. He said, "Ma cut Ian's hair off with these?" I told him no, and he started pleading for me to cut his hair off! Maybe it's time to try a buzz cut.
6-27-09
We went to a deli to pick up some sandwiches-a special treat since we rarely eat out. I was in the car with the kids while Jeremy went in to pick up the food.
"Daddy go?" Ian asked.
"He went inside to get some food," I explained.
"I want burger may-naisse and pickle" he said very clearly.
Where did he get that? Who knows, but it cracked us up!
6-10-09While walking to the park, we saw a white car drive by.
"White car go?" Ian asked.
"Where do you think they're going?" I asked him back.
"Store" he said, after thinking for a minute.
"What are they going to buy at the store?"
"Food" he said. And then added, "With coupons"
Ah, what a proud mommy moment that was for me!
6-5-09
Ian's favorite game lately is "Ian go?" which is "Where did Ian go?" He'll 'hide' by putting his face behind a sheet or simply looking another direction. If you don't suggest places Ian could be hiding, he'll suggest them for you. Then he'll say "no!" and laugh at each place. Now he's started coming out from his hiding place and saying "there you are!" when he appears. :)
6-2-09
Ian doesn't like to go to bed, and usually after we go into his room three times we'll close the door. Tonight we did, and then we heard a tiny little wail, "Door open! I want see yooooooooooooouuuu!" It was so adorable, I wound up giving in.
5-27-09 I was nursing Rinnah today, and when she finished I was burping her. Then she started to crawl away and almost slipped, so I was catching her fall. During this time I hadn't fixed my shirt yet. Ian ran over saying, "Close milk! Close milk!" and tried to pull my shirt down for me.
5-26-09I had practiced with Ian saying "Happy Birthday Uncle David". It's a big sentence for him, and he had to concentrate really hard to get it out. When the time came, I asked him to say what we had practiced. "Uncle David" he carefully said. "Do you remember what else?" I prompted. He paused. I whispered, "Happy Birthday". And Ian very carefully whispered "Happy Birthday". Can't fault him for that!
5-17-09Completely out of the blue today, Ian decided he wanted to do my hair. He got out his detangler spray and comb and went to work. He actually was doing a very meticulous job, and kept saying, "People look all nice momma hair" which I'm pretty sure translates into, "People are going to see momma's hair all nice."
5-16-09 Ian was driving his tractor with the farmer and animals today. He told us they were going shopping, which is what he usually says people are doing when he drives his cars or trucks. We asked him where they were going. "Red store", he said, which is what he called Target when we were there the other day. (He identifies stores by the color of shopping carts.) He then informed us that the farmer was going to the store to buy socks for Rinnah. :)
5-15-09 Ian likes to play where he 'hides' and we look for him. He doesn't quite have the idea of hiding down yet. As long as he can't see you, he's hiding in his mind. So he'll often pull the curtains over his face, and yell "Ian go?" which is short for "Where did Ian go?" If you don't start looking right away, he'll offer suggestions for you. "On couch?" "By door?" "In box?" He'll also answer "No!" when you ask if he's in any certain place. Here's a picture of him "hiding" during the game.
5-14-09 I was showing Ian some kissing bears that we are putting in the garage sale. They're the kind that have magnets in the snouts so they kiss. We've had one floating around for about a week that Ian found, but we just found the mate today. I showed him how they kissed, and he was very excited.
"Daddy!" he proudly said, holding up the boy bear.
"Good!" I told him. "What about this one?" I asked, holding up the girl bear and waiting for the proud moment when he said my name.
"Ian!" he said, and made them kiss.
Too sweet!
Sept 09
Lately, if he doesn't want to do something, Ian tells us he can't figure it out. For example, we ask him to pick up his books. "I no figure out pick up my books." I don't know where he got it but it's kind of amusing.
8-10-09
Ian loves to eat pepperoni, and has his own name for it-"bump bump bump ONI!"
7-21-09
I was washing some dishes when I heard Ian behind me say, "I all ready go. Ma push Ian please?" There he was standing crouched in his little plastic dump truck with the cutest look on his face. I couldn't resist pushing him for a lap around the kitchen.
7-14-09
Ian bumped his head, and Jeremy said "I'm sorry". Ian replied, "No, I bumped my head all by myself."
7-10-09
I was opening up my tub of coupons to file and Ian spotted the small scissors I use in the store. He said, "Ma cut Ian's hair off with these?" I told him no, and he started pleading for me to cut his hair off! Maybe it's time to try a buzz cut.
6-27-09
We went to a deli to pick up some sandwiches-a special treat since we rarely eat out. I was in the car with the kids while Jeremy went in to pick up the food.
"Daddy go?" Ian asked.
"He went inside to get some food," I explained.
"I want burger may-naisse and pickle" he said very clearly.
Where did he get that? Who knows, but it cracked us up!
6-10-09While walking to the park, we saw a white car drive by.
"White car go?" Ian asked.
"Where do you think they're going?" I asked him back.
"Store" he said, after thinking for a minute.
"What are they going to buy at the store?"
"Food" he said. And then added, "With coupons"
Ah, what a proud mommy moment that was for me!
6-5-09
Ian's favorite game lately is "Ian go?" which is "Where did Ian go?" He'll 'hide' by putting his face behind a sheet or simply looking another direction. If you don't suggest places Ian could be hiding, he'll suggest them for you. Then he'll say "no!" and laugh at each place. Now he's started coming out from his hiding place and saying "there you are!" when he appears. :)
6-2-09
Ian doesn't like to go to bed, and usually after we go into his room three times we'll close the door. Tonight we did, and then we heard a tiny little wail, "Door open! I want see yooooooooooooouuuu!" It was so adorable, I wound up giving in.
5-27-09 I was nursing Rinnah today, and when she finished I was burping her. Then she started to crawl away and almost slipped, so I was catching her fall. During this time I hadn't fixed my shirt yet. Ian ran over saying, "Close milk! Close milk!" and tried to pull my shirt down for me.
5-26-09I had practiced with Ian saying "Happy Birthday Uncle David". It's a big sentence for him, and he had to concentrate really hard to get it out. When the time came, I asked him to say what we had practiced. "Uncle David" he carefully said. "Do you remember what else?" I prompted. He paused. I whispered, "Happy Birthday". And Ian very carefully whispered "Happy Birthday". Can't fault him for that!
5-17-09Completely out of the blue today, Ian decided he wanted to do my hair. He got out his detangler spray and comb and went to work. He actually was doing a very meticulous job, and kept saying, "People look all nice momma hair" which I'm pretty sure translates into, "People are going to see momma's hair all nice."
5-16-09 Ian was driving his tractor with the farmer and animals today. He told us they were going shopping, which is what he usually says people are doing when he drives his cars or trucks. We asked him where they were going. "Red store", he said, which is what he called Target when we were there the other day. (He identifies stores by the color of shopping carts.) He then informed us that the farmer was going to the store to buy socks for Rinnah. :)
5-15-09 Ian likes to play where he 'hides' and we look for him. He doesn't quite have the idea of hiding down yet. As long as he can't see you, he's hiding in his mind. So he'll often pull the curtains over his face, and yell "Ian go?" which is short for "Where did Ian go?" If you don't start looking right away, he'll offer suggestions for you. "On couch?" "By door?" "In box?" He'll also answer "No!" when you ask if he's in any certain place. Here's a picture of him "hiding" during the game.
 |
5-14-09 I was showing Ian some kissing bears that we are putting in the garage sale. They're the kind that have magnets in the snouts so they kiss. We've had one floating around for about a week that Ian found, but we just found the mate today. I showed him how they kissed, and he was very excited.
"Daddy!" he proudly said, holding up the boy bear.
"Good!" I told him. "What about this one?" I asked, holding up the girl bear and waiting for the proud moment when he said my name.
"Ian!" he said, and made them kiss.
Too sweet!
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