Hell’s Half Acre

I, the mom, am in my 40’s and have always enjoyed a wanderlust. I think I inherited this from my maternal grandmother and my childhood. Before I hit 8th grade, I’d lived in too many states to count and 5 elementary schools. Grade 8 was split between two schools; I began the year in Alabama and ended it in California. So, gypsy blood runs rampant through my veins. In my late 20’s I chucked the security of a pension plan and escaped to South America for 3 years. I have hiked the Chilkoot Trail and the Torres del Paine (very southern Chile). After having kids, however, we settled very firmly down.

Jamie was born in the midwest and lived there til heading westward upon graduating highschool. He lived with his brother until we met and I have somehow brainwashed him into travelling. He is an avid cyclist and has ridden trails from Alaska to Mexico. He has always been an equal partner in the parenting realm and the best parter in life anyone could imagine. Once I got to know him, I knew we’d always be together.

Jesse was born in 1994 and loves Legos and books. He is the guinea pig of the kids; we make all our mistakes on him but he rises to the challenge with an exceptionally healthy self esteem and certaintity in his correctness. He will argue points to a fault and is so certain his view is correct that he will argue written Monopoly rules. He is so very much like me that I can almost see inside his head.

Pike was born closely after his brother, in 1996, and they are so close many mistake them for twins. It baffles me; their features couldn’t be more different, but their closeness in age and bond confuse those who don’t know them well. Pike loves to draw and create. He is highly emotional and reminds us of the feeling side of life. His brother named him and it fits him perfectly. This last year he has finally begun to find his own voice instead of sitting in the shadow of his brother and it is a wonderful metamophisis to see.

Caroline is our first girl and very much her father’s girl. She loves horses and has been recognized by strangers for her strange running horse imitation. She seems to actually be able to mimic a horse galloping using her hands and feet. She loves her brothers and is their shadow, many times to their annoyance. She is a very sensitive soul and my only morenita. She walked at 7 months and hasn’t looked back.

Ellen closely followed her sister and the two are solid playmates. She and Caroline are 25 months apart, so, like their brothers, are closely bonded. Unlike her sister, Ellen is the alpha dog of the entire pack of children, and as a baby would run her brothers ragged. She is still very much a mama’s girl. She loves playing with My Little Ponies and adores her sister. She has a very strong personality and thinks she is the first born.

We hit the road back in November of 2004 thinking we’d look for another place to live, but honestly, after 1.5 years on the road, I’m not sure I want to settle down. Until that happens, we’re very happy to spend at least 1/2 the year in Mexico and the rest wandering.

We have 24/7 satellite internet courtesty of Hughesnet and Barb and Joe. We have always unschooled the kids, though Jesse did a 3 month stint in Kindergarten before dropping out. We drive a 15 passenger 2002 white Ford van which tows a 2005 Ameri-Camp T315QBS travel trailer. While not designed for fulltiming, the trailer has done amazingly well.

I think you now know more than you really wanted to.