What a day is like

Of course, each day is different, each day we are somewhere new, each day brings new challenges and adventures. So, this schedule is never the same, but will at least give you an idea of what our life is like.

6am - Sheri wakes up to go for walk. Shae usually comes along as she totes the baby in a sling or stroller.
7am - Cody and Hanna start to stir. They read their bibles, devotions, and prayer before getting out of bed.
Cody and Shae eat or wait to eat in case I make something good!
8am - Shae begins work in the bedroom, as an engineer. The little kids start waking up, hungry. Cody either does school or begins working as a volunteer.
9am - Diapers are changed, kids fed, Hanna and Naomi start school or begin to pack for a day of adventure.
10am - Hopefully everyone has complete outfits on, clean underwear and diapers. Teeth brushed, and hair. Prefer ably hair brushed not with the toothbrush. Pray, head out the door for a museum, hike, park, or other fun place.

11am-3pm If we have decided to stay home, the wild day progresses with toys, playing, eating, potty, cleaning, washi ng dishes, cooking more food and more food. Shae works. Chores and chores. Constantly training kids how to act kindly and use their words appropriately.
3pm - Sheri retreats to the bedroom for a moment of peace and then returns hopefully refreshed and ready to have more fun and more work.
4:30pm - Hanna starts dinner if she wants to earn money. We pay her $3 per dinner. Sheri cooks if Hanna doesn’t.
5pm - Shae is supposed to be done with work, but usually has to work later, for free.
5:30pm - Sit at table for a crazy meal with camper manners. Chaos tends to erupt with squeals of delight from the little ones. Eating together is important, so order is tried to be recovered and food eaten.
6pm - After cleaning up dinner, family plays outside, goes for hike, checks out campground, Shae chases kids every where, etc.
7:30pm - Some kids get ready for bed. Shae checks over mechanical things to make sure they are working.
8pm - Little ones off to bed. Older ones play guitar, write books, blog entries, facebook.
9pm - Naomi off to bed.
10pm - Cody and Hanna think about going to bed soon....hopefully...probably not...
10:30pm - Shae and Sheri crash on their bed hoping to have 10 minutes alone before falling asleep. Maybe watch the nightly news
11pm - Sheri has a quick cat nap and then heads back out to the computer to work on website, blog, books. She is hoping to make money so they can eventually buy some land to settle back down on. They want to be debt free. Hanna and Cody finally go to bed.
1pm - Sheri off to bed. Other nights she falls asleep at 10pm, exhausted.
6am - Sheri too tired to get up so sleeps in until 7am.

If we spend the day out doing activities, dinner may be later, bedtime a little later.

INTERNET:
We used an Alltel phone that had a tether/cord that hooked to our computer. We accessed the internet through it. It was $30 a month. It worked ok, but signal was sketchy sometimes and it was pretty slow. So, last year I decided to spend $60 a month for Verizon MIFI. That is a lot of money to me, so was certainly a sacrifice. But, we found it a necessary expense since we were trying to start a business. It works pretty good. I can use it wireless so Shae and Cody can hook up at the same time I am. I can have 5 computers on it at one time. I do have a password so that other people can’t get on. It is not unlimited usage. There is a maximum megabytes that can be used. I can’t remember how many it is, but I know we have never gone over.

Now, Shae uses AT&T aircard for work. It is pretty fast. He usually uses that since his work pays for it. Very rarely does he not get service, and when he doesn’t, he tries my internet, the tether cord, or wireless that might be available at the campground.

If none of those options work, we just can’t stay. Shae has to work so we have to have internet and cell signal.

CELL PHONE
We use Alltel/Verizon. Signal has been great. There are places we lose it, but for the most part, it is in most areas. Now, out in the middle of no where we usually don’t get signal, but we don’t want it there! I like to turn off my phone and let it sit a few days. Sometimes it is nice to go a while with out communication.

Our nation has gotten so used to having what they want when they want it. I think we all need to get off the web and turn off our phones sometimes. I dare you to put it down! No calls, no internet, no texting. Try it one day a week. We make Sundays our day for no technology. Now, we do break that rule sometimes. It is just a guideline, but a good one. Maybe you can make it that after 8pm no technology or one weekend a month. It is a relief when we do it.

GO TO MY BLOG FOR AN ARTICLE ON INTERNET

HOME SCHOOL AND ROAD SCHOOL

Traveling full time is an amazing education.

My children have

·	not only studied volcanoes, but climbed in them!

·	walked where cowboys walked

·	hiked on mountains

·	climbed in caves

·	kayaked where Lewis and Clark went

·	visited distant family

·	learned skills from people they have met

·	gone on an airboat ride in the Everglades

·	hung out with 508 WWII and current active duty Paratroopers

·	seen homeless

·	saw poverty

saw greed

·	swam in oceans, lakes, river, and ponds

·	dodged thousands of cactus on numerous desert hikes

·	been in trees, grass, desert, mountains, oceans, etc

·	walked lava fields

·	camped next to Mexico and Canada

·	watched for grizzlies, mountain lions, rattlers, copperheads, sharks, alligators, jelly fish, and strangers

·	spent quality time as a family

·	map skills and vehicle maintenance

·	how to get along

·	think of others

·	not value “stuff” more than people

·	AND SO MUCH MORE

We do textbooks and complete education requirements, but just the life education my children are getting could fill all the texts they would ever complete and more......

To read more on home schooling and road schooling, go to both of my blogs at
www.smittysinfo.blogspot.com

www.smittysinfoschool.blogspot.com

HOW TO CHOOSE WHERE TO GO

Questions we ask ourselves:

·	Is there a really awesome National Park near by.

·	Is there a significant historical event we need to study near by?

·	What is the weather and temperatures?

·	Are there relatives or close friends to visit?

·	Does God want us to do some volunteer work?

·	I do a search for camps in that area that we might could do volunteer work.

Once we decide the region or city area to go to, then we have to narrow it down to a campground.

·	What size camper does it take? Ours is 42’.

·	Is it a pull through sight or back in? We can do either, but if it is just for one night we prefer pull through.

·	Full hook ups-sewer, water, electric? or just water or electric?

·	If not full hook ups, is there a dump station?

·	Are there shower houses and bathrooms?

·	How much per night, week, month? And how many people does that included?

·	Is there an extra charge per child per night?

·	If you have pets, you need to ask if they take them and if there is a charge.

·	How long is the spot we might get available in case we decided to stay longer.

·	Can we get a more secluded spot or one on the end? With all the kids, it is better to not be right on top of someone else.

·	If I need to get mail, I ask if we can there.

·	Is there a playground?