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Hi! I'm Becky and my husband, 2 kids, 2 dogs, a fish and I all moved into a fifth wheel a month ago full time for a year. My husband is a military man and is doing training around the states, so we thought this would be a great adventure! I'm loving it so far but I find some frustrations in managing a 4 year old and a 2 year old when they have no bedroom to be sent to sometimes! Or I feel chaos of having two large dogs that take up all the rest of the available space in the camper. We are just in the phase of figuring out how to make it all flow...
We are currently staying in a Fam camp on a military base in Arkansas. I would love to hear stories and connect with other moms! (Of kids or pets or both!) how the heck do you cook thanksgiving dinner in a fifth wheel?

Oh- I started a blog to share the things I've found entertaining and unique to camper living. I would LOVE some feedback! Before we bought our fifth wheel I tried to find some forums to get questions answered. I wish I would have found this one then. I love it! Y'all would have been a HUGE help to me-
FYI- my stories are not exactly conventional.
Blessings-
Becky.
The Crowded Camper Mom
My brand new Blog link http://Www.crowdedcamper.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thecrowdedcamper

Hi Becky,

I too am camper mom, this is the second time I have done the camper thing and I tell you my kids loved it the 1st time we did it and the second time is turning out even better. This time we have a bigger 5th wheel and everyone has there own space. May not be own rooms but its still doable. I also have my 2 sons and a husband and of course the family dog in our rig. My sons are 7 and 16.

In the past I have found that less is more. You really have to figure out what you cant live without. I myself have a lot of cooking stuff and I found this time I really need to scale back and get rid of the stuff that I didn’t use often enough. Also my husband and I use to own a custom furniture business so my husband is very handy in modifying our space. We took out the dinette and made it into a breakfast bar and put in more cabinets. Best advise I can give you is make your space work for you. If you don’t use something get rid of it. Both kids have there own place to put toys and things and when it get full I have them go through it and get rid of stuff they no longer use.

Would be happy to exchange email addresses if you would like. I know its hard sometimes being a parent and living in a camper, just nice to be able to talk to people in the same situation.

Welcome Becky. I enjoyed reading your blog. Hope you'll keep writing.

Thanks y'all! I am so happy to have a connection to some other ladies in the same situation. I can't wait to see what y'all do for holidays between decorating and meal planning and strategic camper space use. I guess Christmas trees are out. Well outside maybe.

And thank you for the encouragement on the blog. it's my stress relief but if people don't like it I think I would just start a journal. Haha it's just nice having people that can relate!

Becky

Welcome, Becky. I don't fulltime just go camping for 4-10 nights with my two big dogs so can't give you any advice.

Welcome Becky, I don't full time. Just a few longer trips each year. My DH doesn't enjoy it as much as he thought he would. Different DH, I gave birth and raised my younger 2 kids while living aboard a 45ft. sailboat for several years in the Pacific. So I understand the lack of space, but found we did really well without because we spent most of our time outside!! Just a few holiday things I hung an Xmas tree upside down from the ceiling one year Cooked several whole turkeys for holidays. Usually in foil pans with foil wrap over creating an oven and cooked all day over charcoal Sometimes people would dig an imu (hole in the ground oven) and we would put the whole turkey in with spices wrapped in banana leaves like they do for luaus. Sometimes just cooked Turkey legs and all the trimmings since the kids liked the dark meat Anyway, you will find fun and creative ways to celebrate the holidays. Your kids are very young and they don't have a lot of pre conceived ideas about what a holiday should be

Welcome, Becky and crew.... We are Army Retirees who have full timed for over 9 years now....FamCamps and or Military CGs are a great benefit for us who serve or have served..great places to stay a few months while TDY for training...I don't know which Famcamp you are at in AR, but for Thanksgiving, check with the "Dining Facility" about dinner....they really go all out, you know...or you can do dinner at the camper, you just have to be clever....

Christmas tree is doable, just not a big one....We have a 4ft artificial tree that we put on a TV tray and just go from there.... Small gifts under the tree....and let Santa know that if he brings anything BIG....to leave it out by the picnic table.. or on the patio....As for the 2 large dogs, well, I'll have to think on that....I only have Spinner who's a spoiled rotten Jack Russell, who thinks he's a kid...

Don't worry, you are a military wife and you will figure it out and adapt....anything I can help with, just let me know, and I'll try to do my best....we military wives stick together....

Welcome! Your blog is very entertaining! You have your hands full! You will find a lot of good advice on here and gets some good laughs as well.

Hello Becky and these are the events that make a lifetime of memories.

We had an empty nest for a couple of months and then our granddaughter (GD) came to live with us at the ripe ole age of 6 months. She'll be 3 in December so she's between your two. There is a reason why you have children in your 20's and not your 50's Since all our friends are playing grandparents and not parents we started looking for things to allow the GD to be around other kids. We joined a "resort" with cabins, camping, playgrounds, pool and pontoon boats as part of the package. Well cabins remind me of hotels and since I use to live on the road as a trucker I dislike hotels. We did learn real quick we needed a room for the GD so she could be sent to bed and we could still have use to the trailer. We chose a trailer with a bunkhouse and a separate 1/2 bath. Life is better when everyone has their own bed.

We spend a lot of time outside, weather permitting. She also enjoys a program called http://www.abcmouse.com which is an online classroom for toddlers. With a touch screen laptop and some parental controls, she can occupy herself, learn and giving us a break. Camper is just a small house so the basics are the same just less room inside. She has a toy tote we keep in the 5'rs "basement" along with a big wheel that sleep under her bedroom slide and rides in the 1/2 bath. You can learn many tricks by watching your neighbors and most are more than willing to share their how to secrets.

Due to a health issue we've been at home for a couple of weeks. The GD came and sat in my lap the other night and said "truck, go" I asked where too and she replied "camper". Friday we will squeeze in one more long weekend for the year. It's going to be a long winter with her wanting to go to the camper.

Welcome Becky!

No kids here, but have met several with kids who travel, some who have workamped places I have. It's all doable. You just need to be creative. One of them uses the main bedroom (her bedroom) as the place for the kids to be "sent" to during the day when not schooling (she home schools). The kids love being sent there lol I'm sure you'll find the combination that works for you.

I have purchased window stickers to decorate with - on the years I remember to do so. I'm in a much smaller space, but have been able to get the holiday spirit if I work at it - got battery powered window candles (which I love) one year. Gave most away, but kept one for myself and love it.

One of the best turkeys I ever ate was cooked over a campfire - so that is doable also.

Great to have you with us.

Hi Becky - wow - sounds like you definitely have a full house. Have fun on your travels. I don't have a camper yet - but the fish bowl is a great idea for checking level Keep up the blog - you're a great story teller.
(still laughing at the thought of sparkles coming out the blank water tank)

Welcome Becky! I really enjoyed your blog!!! With your sense of humor you will do fine I'm sure.

Hello and welcome to the forum.
I look forward to reading your blog.

Read your blog and had tears of laughter running down my cheeks. Your story telling is superb. I see a movie version in your future. Who will play your parts? Welcome to the forum. I am so going to enjoy your year on the road.