Adventure | Be a Rebel

cross-country in the Moho

Posted on August 13, 2015 by kristingenovese

we took our first big trip in our motorhome. it was hot at times, but so, so good. we had NO idea how much we would love it, how much the kids would love it. no idea.

we had the few very important things with us no matter where we went. good coffee, comfy beds, good food. a private space to go and shut the door. priceless. the rest of everything that’s important to us was just outside our door everywhere we went. literally. family and outdoor adventure Just outside our door. it felt like magic.

the Motorhome did beautifully, mechanically. of all the things I know Ben was worried about at the thought of driving a 37 year old motorhome across the country, it went swimmingly. maybe he’ll write a post about how we lost reverse one day and he had to jimmy the steering column in the MIDDLE of a Trader Joe’s parking lot, maybe not.

one incredibly cool factor I hadn’t thought of: our kids age being a blessing. most of the time I assume that if my kids were older, somehow things would be easier. but neither of my littles are old or wise enough to even Know to be Angry about the heat, or the long days on the road with no breaks. they were AWESOME. they played, we ate, we took potty breaks and naps. they were road warriors. total champs. I’m so proud.

so, if you follow me on Instagram (@kmgenovese) you’ve seen most of our trip pictures. but I’ll include some exclusives here.

my girl, getting to ride up front with daddy for a bit. looks so big sitting up so tall.

after a day on the road, this mess isn’t even the half of it! good thing it takes about 15 full minutes to get the Moho back to clean and usable.

our rest stops were carefully chosen. there must be grass. and shade. 🙂

a quiet breakfast in the wee hours of the morning, parked outside Grandma and Grandpa’s in Duluth, MN.

sleeping road warrior beauties.

well, we’ve been home for not quite 2 weeks, and we can’t wait to go again. we miss the road, we miss our Moho. we’re headed out for one night this weekend to a local state park and we’re planning a beach trip for late September. that’s all for now, but honestly? this stuff seems to be in our blood, the whole lot of us.

expect more.

until then,

the Genovese clan

and so it begins…

Posted on April 11, 2015 by kristingenovese

it’s 62, foggy and misting. Ben is burning brush in the fire pit and Sophia is playing in the chicken coop. Austin naps and I sit here on the back porch, typing away on my laptop, keeping warm in Ben’s red, soft hoodie.

I dream, for a minute, of a morning much like this one, maybe 3 or 4 years from now. except that I’m writing on the picnic table outside the camper, my view is that of a forest or morning fog on a lake instead of my backyard. the view is just as beautiful but things are slightly different here. we’re together as a family. we work and play and adventure and explore and live and eat and rest and love all together. every day is new and the world is our backyard. it’s so simple. we have less stuff or home is smaller but our lives feel bigger, richer, more alive.

that dream is one I hold in my mind’s eye a LOT these days. and it’s starting to take on a life of it’s own. but I digress.

we bought the camper yesterday. the purchase feels like the first step towards a very BIG dream of an adventurous life for our family. and yet, it’s not the beginning really at all. the beginning was years ago, when little by little we read books, found blogs and started talking within our marriage about what we want in this life. what we want for our kids. it’s been such a journey, even just the dreaming part.

but buying the 1978 Argosy Airstream motorhome surely is the beginning of this dreams manifestation. and it feels just like we knew it would: ridiculously exciting AND super scary. although I’ve heard that fear is just excitement without the breath and we’ve definitely had to remember to breathe at times this week.

so, without further ado, meet our new baby. name still pending.

Camper Logistics: the Argosy was found on Craigslist and currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ben leaves Tuesday morning to pick it up. She’ll get new tires and then they’ll head home. We have big inside renovation ideas for this 37 year old motorhome. Expect massive amounts of before/after reno pics.

CAN’T WAIT to get my hands on her.

Until then…

to being a REBEL and living DEEP,

the Genovese crew