To PAINT, or NOT to PAINT!!!!

Actually, there is no choice, really. If we want to drive the thing as an RV, we have to remove the SCHOOL BUS-NESS of it. That includes "SCHOOL BUS YELLOW"...which brings us to now. We are washing and putting a primer coat on the bus over the next few days to a week. This is tedious but good work. We have had MANY, MANY people say "YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW WHEN YOU ARE PAINTING THE BUS!!!!" and I just want to be clear. IF this is the kind of mass-painting you enjoy, drop by anytime. If it is sunny, then most likely I will be out there slapping on this blue primer coat. IF it is the mural you are interested in, however, our PAINT DAY is tentatively scheduled for AUGUST 7TH. Anyone who wants to paint flowers and bugs and such on the GARDEN side of the mural can do so and anyone who wants to try their hand at the fish and sea creatures on the OCEAN side of the bus may also do so. The amount of space you get to paint depends upon the number of people who show up interested in adding to the overall decor. Anyone who paints will also get to sign the bus. SOOOOOOOOOOOO, check back here before AUGUST THE 7th to find out all the details of time, rain date, etc. Here's a few more pics and a few more visitors/babysitters in the meantime.

SEE YOU THEN!!!!!

Bed, bath and beyond B. Cook Bday!

Happy Birthday, B Cook! (AND MOCHIE SOON TOO!!!!) As you can see, we had some visitors from the far WEST at the BUS STOP. Wahoo!

Yes, there is a special place in our hearts (and space on the bus) for some Cook kiddos. LOTS has happened since we last wrote - as the pics will divulge. But FIRST, a little verbal meander. JR and I have started to really talk about living in a bus, and the prep therefore, as an exercise. In stupidity, you ask?!? Futility? In many things actually. In creating, trusting in yourself, making choices and decisions, living simpler, finding out what it means to scale down, gratitude, letting go, abundance, allowing yourself NOT to know, learning, teaching, being taught, effort, reviewing basics like cleanliness and routine, living together as a unit, crock pot cooking, flexibility, surrender, and many, many more that I am sure we haven't even stumbled across yet. I am sure it will not be pretty in a number of ways - I am not naive about this! But I am hopeful that the evolution emerging from such an experience will benefit and inspire us for years to come. I would also like to praise my husband for a moment. The work he has put into this movehicle is substantial, do not be fooled. If upon completion the bus drives ten feet and dies (which we are not hoping for) it will have still been worth watching him accomplish something he has never done before and inspires and excites him on a daily basis. I look forward to a time when the kids are a bit older and he and I can work more consistently side by side on a project. He has taken the lead on this and grows with confidence and enthusiasm (and aches and pains) each day :) Thank you, Jones, for all your work. We love and appreciate YOU!!!

Meanwhile, in an effort to remove distracting children from the mix, in just the last two days alone the kids and I have been to three creeks and night pool swimming! Wahoo for tiring out children and adventure no matter where you are :) On to bus development:

Morg stopped by and gave some good advice on carving out the back of the cabinets to fit around the plumbing and electric.

While the other Williams boys entertained P.

The kids helped out priming their bunks and the walls and the bunk boards and mattresses were tried out.

Except for P's bed, though she seemed ok with a drawer instead. Just like Daddy, right Omi!?!

The kitchen is starting to shape up nicely. Lots of extras and hopefuls in the mind, but we will see what time and expense will allow.

And Uncle T was the first to christen the toilet. (Just kidding, we don't even have it yet! But the bathroom is framed at least :) Lastly we have been working on our rough sketches of the outside murals on the bus. We are going with themes from the natural world and images that are easy enough for children young and old to feel comfortable adding.

Don't worry, we will post the painting date for all to join us once we have done the base coat and picked a date. We would LOVE to have you all add a flower, fish or any other odd thing to our world :) Finally, here are a few of the latest faces to drop by and check us out or lend a hand...

OK, so those last two weren't anywheres near the bus, but we were soooooooooo happy to see those crazy ladies and their families regardless. And we look forward to parking in their driveways someday :) In any case, PEACE!!!! More news to come soon. Are we crazy?!? YES!!!! But at least it's a nice place to visit and you can join us on this wild ride.

Randy Padgett in DA HAUS!!! (or DA BUS, actually :)

While things have stalled a bit while JR has been off at work, BAM BAM Padgett paid us a special, guest-star visit and knocked the bus back into play!!! In the pics you'll see the major differences they made from our last post...

P is, of course, in the middle of everything and helping.

Using her favorite tool...the screwdriver. At this point, the floor is done and they begin framing and insulating the walls, among a few other details with reinforcing and a bench in front.

They finish the walls and move to a bunk bed structure, much to the elation of the kids :)

Fear not!!! There was some fun to be had as well...

As well as some good-bye tears! DON'T GO, BAMS!!!!

As for some drop-ins...

Milo bikes over to say "HOWDY" and drive the bus, while Penelope is more interested in the chickens.

Uncle R takes a peek, but didn't get the blue shirt memo in time.

And O helps P sort nails with her teeth. (Yup, another good one.) Seems like the mild summer is an amazing time to build a bus, play with friends, and just enjoy the ride.

Stay tuned for MORE special guests, crazy progress, and useless news! Finally, just want to thank you, brother BAMS for all your hard work and for loving our kooky clan and humoring our kooky plan!!! And to your family for giving you up!!! I hope you had as much FUN as we did and we look forward to toting you around in our big yellow sardine can. Cheers

to YOU!

Where We At

OK, we have already mentioned that we have thrown the original schedule OUT the bus window! While speed is not our forte, we (and by "we" I mostly mean my husband!) are making progress and learning a TON! And, clearly, so are the kids.

He ended up ripping out the entire rubber flooring, which we weren't going to do to allow for extra padding and insulation, but are now glad we did.

Next, JR - with the assistance of others here and there - worked on floor insulation, frame and sub-flooring. Sadly, my input lately is minimal with the littlest working on night weening and being rather clingy during the day. However, this has also given JR some brain space to make decisions and choices without too much distracting outside input.

I try and make it a point when I step on the bus to involve whomever is nearby - even with the smallest task. We have had many a visitor stop by. Some to get an eyeball on the situation and chat, some to lend a hand. Unfortunately, the kids all love to flip the switches...which leaves the battery requiring a jump if not caught in time!

I think my favorite is watching my husband really blossom with his creativity and exploration. Not that he is not a creative guy generally, but he isn't often given a carte blanche. Not with something like this. And while he does reach out for help and advice occasionally, there is also something nice about allowing yourself to make a decision and then learn from the results. This is not just a project for him, it is a journey into himself.

In any case, we look forward to more people dropping by just to take a look over the next little while. We have some MAJOR guest stars planned, so stay tuned for more pics!!! Possible future blog topics: why men feel badly if they aren't born a carpenter/handy, balancing the importance of asking for help and creating a team with the benefits of independent learning, travel as a life and not a lifestyle, how to avoid fast food on the road, arial gymnastics in a moving vehicle, making due with what is available, the aerodynamics of a roof-top pool, speeding up in life in order to slow down, how to hide a 40-foot vehicle in the woods, and something with a goat. As always, we welcome baby chasers, advice, building materials/left-overs and keep an ear to the ground for a chance to paint this 'ol girl with us!!! Til then!