Gearhart Gypsies

The traveling life of the Gearhart Gyspies isn't one for the faint of heart. Thomas took off for bachelorhood May 16th, leaving the woman of the house (that's me) in charge, well I'm probably always in charge, but I don't like to tell Thomas that. Anyways we stayed put until an hour after the girls last day of school, June 16th, where we loaded up the Santa Maria, or the Gearhart Death Star as some more eco-friendly ward members have called our vehicle, and took off with out looking back.
First stop, 530 miles and some 8 hrs away, Dekalb IL, to pick up my saintly mother in law to accompany me for a one day trip of 15 hrs plus or 1020 miles to Colorado Springs, CO. Can I just say my Mother in Law saved my life. I drove maybe 5 hours of that trip and I was so frazzled, there was no way I'd be able to make it on my own.  When she offered to travel with me, I said "Teresa are you sure you want to drive that far?" and she said "Oh sure I'm always up for a good car trip." and I said "But Teresa, a good car trip with 4 kids?" and she told me "I'd do anything to be with my grandkids." Could I be any luckier than that? She is an amazing woman, mother, grandmother, confidant, but really I don't have to fluff her up to anyone the proof is in the pudding.

Anyhow after reaching Colorado Springs and recouping for a day, I set off for 837 miles and 12 hours of my one man show to get HOME to Arizona. When we would travel back home from visiting "greener pastures" in the past, I used to think how awful it was to come back to dirt, and rock and cactus, but not this time, no way. I was smiling ear to ear and partaking in one of those moments where you truly see the beauty in something for the first time. Not only was I in wide open space, with streets that made sense, familiar scenery and parking lots, but I was able to stay a full week with one of the best friends I have ever had. Have you ever had a friend that you could complete sentences with? Cheesey I know, but Erika is one of those friends. Even after moving away our friendship hasn't dwindled we still talk 3 to 4 times a week, for 3 to 4 times too long and still have that genuine connection that can't be explained. Maybe it's because we gave birth to our 4th children merely hours apart...thats bonding you know.

 We had an entire week of catering to a combined number of 8 kids including face painting, swimming, shopping sprees,  and much, much more I can't think of at the moment.  Removing and painting her kitchen cupboards, running to here and there to meet up with numerous friends, yummy mexican food, and all the other good restaraunts I missed for the year in Pittsburgh, girls nights out and 2 am bed times, it was the best.

I loved having the opportunity to take a look into her full-time life. While we were together nearly everyday I lived in AZ I was able to be part of her family and feel completely at ease. I enjoyed seeing her interact with her children and husband and see them on a different level. She has a wonderful family, an 11 year old girl that Alli is a best friend with and 3 charming boys who took such good care of  Rainier he still mentions them weekly wondering when he'll be able to play at their house again. I can't express my gratitude enough to her and her husband for opening their home up to me and my kids and allowing us to have such wonderful memories of that short time.

Enough of the cheese, here's the fun stuff.

Our attempt at taking Glamour Shots. Erika is a very talented photographer, and we decided we need at least one decent picture together to mark the ocassion, too bad it took about 100 of these to get one good one. Sorry E!

P.S. I LOVE this picture...goes to show how comfortable we were there. Thats Erika with Rainier and 2 of her boys walking on her back for our Sunday entertainment.