Overlanding....with College hugs & Rollercoasters

Hi blogging friends!  I have created this lazy habit of going on a trip, taking a week to recover and then finally do a blog post.  This fall has been so busy with trips and I have two more in the next 4 weeks.  They are all long weekend trips, but when those are added in with work and keeping up at home, I don't have a lot of energy left!  I try to stay caught up as best I can on reading posts, because I so enjoy this community, but my blogging hasn't been as consistent as I had hoped this fall.  But Lord willing, there is another week to get it better!

As a result of not blogging in a week..or two, I have an overload of pictures.  Last week, my husband and I set out on an adventure.  We began by visiting our oldest daughter in Chattanooga.  It is always fun, even though this was a short visit.  We stayed with her on our way to Virginia.  The next day, we drove to Virginia and camped in our van.  Yes, you read that right!  There is a movement called overlanding...have you heard of this?  It is adventure based vehicle camping.  Here is a definition I found online on the difference between overlanding and camping:

"With Car Camping, a campsite is set up outside of a parked car, but an Overlander's car is the campsite. Overlanders sleep inside their vehicles and typically have everything they need for travel inside or attached to their rig."

So we camped in Virginia 2 nights and attended an Overland Expo.  At the expo, you were able to see different ways people camp out of their vehicles (usually a jeep, large SUV, truck or van).  There were lots of people selling amenities to transform a van into a camper van.  It was actually pretty interesting to see.

I actually read a good 'ol fashioned road map while on this trip.

Some shelves for storage in the van, which has actually been improved since this picture was taken.

This was the sleeping area

I bought this amazing chocolate mixture with pretzel crunch and candy corn.  Um, it was delicious.

This was the view from our campsite the first morning.

Breakfast tortillas with eggs, cheese, bacon and avocados

We went in a few campers and saw lots of ways people use their vehicles for camping.

The next day, we were able to meet up with some Colombian friends who are stateside in Virginia and have breakfast with them. 

 While we were in Virginia, both of our daughters had driven to my in-laws home outside of Charlotte for the weekend.  We decided to drive to Charlotte on Saturday so we could see them both.  We had just seen Isabella, but it had been 4 weeks since seeing Brook and I was so ready.  So we drove 4 1/2 hours to show up in Charlotte Saturday evening.  We all went to the amusement park decked out for Halloween.  My sister-in-laws went with us too, along with Isabella's roommate who had traveled with her.   The 4 of us, plus the roommate rode roller coasters until midnight.  There were so many people there, but it was fun.

So good to get a hug from this one!

It was fun being together as a family again!

Sunday morning, we left Charlotte for the 9 1/2 hour drive home.  It was a long drive, but so worth it that we got to see both girls, even for a few hours.  My goodness, that unexpected hug did this momma's heart some good.  The fall colors while driving home were so pretty! These were taken at a rest stop in Tennessee.  You can see our van in the parking lot :).

We also stopped at the new Buc-ees in Tennessee (currently the only location in the state) and I met Buc-ee himself, ha!  And of course, I got the brisket.

Monday morning, I was out the door by 7:15am to go keep those cute greats.  Tuesday morning I was out the door just as early for work.  So after this whirlwhind the last week, you can see why I am behind at blogging.  I am just trying to get some food in the fridge and pantry and wash clothes and just sit a minute.  

And for a weekend wrap-up, I spent Friday night with my sister and 4 of the greats spent the night and 2 others were there for part of the evening.  It was busy to say the least.  I brought my computer down thinking I would blog some there....ha, with 6 kids 6 and under, there was not a down moment, but there were lots of laughs!

After stopping for lunch with my parents and getting home Saturday afternoon, I rested, blogged, and did a little cleaning.  

Sunday, I went with a friend to see the play Pretty Woman, which was fun.  Then my oldest came home yesterday afternoon for a few nights for fall break, which is a treat since she hasn't spent the night at home since the summer.  We will be spending the day together, so looking forward to that one-on-one time.

Happy Monday!