I can hardly believe that we have not posted here since Easter. So much has changed for us over the last few weeks and those changes have kept us so busy that I haven't had time to blog. So for those of you who are not aware, shortly after Easter we decided to move back home to Bakersfield. From the time we made this decision to moving was less than a month, so you can say it has been a bit of a whirlwind!
Many factors came together at once which caused us to make this decision. They are too many to list, but our decision really came down to wanting to simplify and enrich our lives. We wanted more time together and with our families that we love so much. It has become increasingly important to us to be available to our parents as they age, and be nearer our nieces and nephews as they grow. The opportunity arose for John to complete his degree, while working in a railroad job with a regular schedule and to also pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot.
So all of this meant that we decided to move back to my parents house! Crazy to actually decide such a thing, when so many people today move back in with their parents only when they have no other choice. But we believe it will give our family the kind of life we really want. We are keeping our house in Flagstaff for now. But here in Bakersfield we can help my parents with the upkeep of their property, which is becoming more difficult for them and our boys will have time to learn from their grandparents vast wisdom. We want to create a place for our boys to grow and learn away from the craziness of the world. A place where they can learn everything from raising animals, and driving tractors, to collecting their own eggs and growing their own food. We wanted a more basic and simple life for all of us. A life that revolves around family. A life where three generations can happily live together, helping one another to grow and learn. So far it's become exactly what we hoped for.
Sam learning to hang the laundry on the line
Will enjoying a ride on the tractor
Frog boots and cowboy boots
Learning how the tractor works
Jake driving it for the first time by himself. What a feeling for a 12 year old!
To me this picture is perfection. My honey, in Wranglers and a cowboy hat, holding his boy. Who knew after 20 years he would find a way to make my heart flutter like I had just met him!
Jake in his new muck boots. He'll be getting a lot of use out of these when he is mucking his pig pens!
Will found the mud in the pasture!
Pop and Jake painting the building that will soon be our schoolhouse. A dream come true, my own little red schoolhouse!
Stay tuned...lots more adventures are coming our way!
