Gypsies, who knew

Hi there! I'm so happy to be guest blogging today for Erin who I contacted through SITS. By the way she's guest blogging on my site today too, a recipe I can't wait to try! Guacamole with Peas! I'm Prairiemother and you can find me and more of my ramblings on Kansas, cooking, motherhood, art, photography and whatever else I deem important for the day at my blog, prairiemother.

When Erin asked me to guest blog here I asked her what topic she'd like me to cover and she graciously left the door open for me to cover any topic I wished. So without any further ado, we are going to jump into the world of Gypsies!! No, I'm not referring to the Europeans gypsies but rather my own family. Yes I consider my little family a band of American Gypsies.

You see that good looking guy with the beard up there? Well, that's my husband DR along with our Hobbits; Yip, Yap and Yahoo (no not their real names! Geez, what a complex they'd have if I actually HAD named them that!) DR and I have been married for 7 years. In those 7 years we have lived in 7 different houses in 5 different states; Kentucky, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois and for the last few months Kansas. I sure didn't plan on being a gypsy. I mean what little girl plays make believe that she's loading a moving truck? DR didn't plan on it either but, due to his career, it has become part of our lifestyle and, I have to say, I've come to love it!

The best thing that has come from living in so many places is the opportunity to see this wonderful country of ours without having to plan a big long trip. Most of the sights we've seen have been just a weekend away. Our family's first trip started when my twin boys were only a month old when we moved from our home state of Indiana to Delaware. In the few months we lived out east we went to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Gettysburg. While we lived in Illinois we would ride the train a couple hours to downtown Chicago. In Indiana, aside from visiting lots of family, we visited hidden destinations like French Lick and West Baden Springs, plenty of state parks and campgrounds, and my favorite, Purdue University's campus! But living here in Kansas has been a historical sight seeing adventure! We are only half an hour from Dodge City where you can visit the historical front street. There's also the Sante Fe Trail and Monument Rock. Back in August we took off for a weekend in the Colorado Rockies, what a glorious sight. Even though our family get uprooted every few years I'm learning to enjoy the sights that await us in our new home...where ever it may be. Most of the places DR and I have visited we probably never would have taken the time to plan a week long vacation to go see.

Of course with moving so much I'm often asked about my houses. Which house is my favorite? Don't you hate house hunting all the time? For example, when we moved to Kansas from Illinois DR headed west first and found a house. Many friends are shocked when I told them I had no idea what my new house looked like before we arrived. I've learned to live in just about any kind of home; town or country, one story or two, basement or no basement. I've learned to make it work and be flexible. It doesn't matter what kind of house I've lived in there's always something good and bad about every one of them. Being a gypsy I've also learned I don't need "stuff" and I'm always throwing away things I don't want to move! I used to be a packrat, saving everything...see, being a gypsy is a good thing! I sure don't have that problem anymore! After all, houses aren't that important it's the home we build inside them that counts.

Before my boys, Yip and Yap, started school this year I did worry that maybe all this moving around wasn't a positive way for them to grow up. Those thoughts were quickly dashed a few weeks ago when Yip asked me, expectantly, when we were moving again. He proceeded to inform me that we are a moving family and it's what we do! His choice of our new home? Australia! Maybe moving isn't as big of a deal for kids as I thought. And how cool would Australia be??

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of things I hate about moving too. Usually it means the kids and I are separated from my husband for a month or more. Unpacking is a chore I still haven't gotten the hang of. Settling into a new neighborhood; finding new doctors, schools, banks, etc. can be a daunting task too. So far though, the good has outweighed the bad. If I was asked tomorrow to move again I wouldn't bat an eye. What bad can moving be when you view it as an adventure?

I only recently started blogging as a way to stay in touch with friends and family so far away but I've found a world of wonderful and intriguing women bloggers too. Who knew what a wonderfully supportive online community there was out there? I'd love to have you stop by and check out our Kansas adventures!

Thanks Erin!

Now go check out some of her other awesome posts! Over at prairiemother