Wandering with Purpose | Our Plan for Life on the Road as a Big Family of 6 + 2 Dogs

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Welcome To Our Blog!

We are the Wyckoffs - Cole (26), Jessica (24), Lyon (5), Reese (4), Hank (2.5) and Lucille (1). We also have 2 dogs - George (8yo Newfoundland) and Butter (1yo Saint Bernard).

We’re an adventurous family who has found ourselves stuck in the routine of the everyday, realizing we haven't taken our kids on the kind of adventures we always dreamed of before having them. That’s about to change. We’ve made the bold decision to pack up, sell most of our belongings, and hit the road to explore this beautiful country together (hopefully within a few months).

We are passionate about healthy, sustainable living and supporting local businesses wherever we go. Living intentionally and making choices that align with our values is at the core of who we are—whether it’s choosing natural products, eating whole foods, or reducing our environmental impact. Above all, we believe in keeping God at the center of our journey. It’s our faith that guides us as we explore new places, meet new people, and embrace this adventure together as a family. Our hope is to inspire others to live more intentionally in everything they do, whether at home or on the road.

Cole and I started dating in high school and got married right after we graduated (I was 17 on our wedding day!). During high school we had the incredible opportunity to travel Europe with my parents. This trip sparked a love and desire to see more and do more. This desire has never left us, though it has been on the back burner during the last 5 years of having babies... Until now!

We have felt God pulling us towards a change that would cause us to be with our kids more closely and intentionally. During a normal night of putting the kids to bed, one of us mentioned road life and traveling and other said "why don't we just do it?!" This little conversation quickly turned into planning, telling our freinds and family and now packing up. Can you tell we have always been pretty spontaneous and impulsive? ;)

Preparing for Life on the Road as a Big Family | What We're Doing Right Now

Very soon after our first conversation of this adventure, we started packing up! It has been a slow and steady process thus far. We have never been the best at keeping a clean and tidy home so the process has been even slower.

We started by organizing our kitchen cabinets and decluttering as we went through - creating donation and sell piles, which grew very quickly.

I like to motivate myself with delicious drinks :)

Next was laundry - a constant for any family. With each load being folded, donation bags are being filled and dropped off. While going through our clothing, my priority is natural fibers. If an item is made of synthetic fibers, I immedietly add it to the "get rid of" pile. This has made the process of downsizing our closet much easier and quicker. Simplifying to natural fibers is something we have wanted to do anyways so this has been the perfect opportunity.

The kids'/play room has been an amazing thing to downsize. I have filled a few donation bags + 2 bins for storage of their toys and books. It has made our everyday so much simpler! They are making less messes and have actually been even more entertained by the few toys left out.

Our Plan for Travel

We have had dreams of traveling as a family for many years now. We have had countless conversations of going abroad and the beautiful experience that would be for the kids. We finally realized that we could give that to them within the U.S.

As a big family, our best option is to get a 6 seater truck and a toy hauler fifth wheel. The toy hauler option has seemed to be the best with kids and dogs. Often the "garage" section has bunks that slide down (this will be for the kids). We will have a cozy rug that will be rolled out each stop to create an inviting space for us and the kids to hang out.

There are so many places we are planning to see, but no set plan. We are very much on-the-fly people and will probably make a lot of decisions along the way.

A few places we are most excited to explore:

• The East Coast in general, but especially Maine, New York and Vermont.

• Marfa, Texas - recommended by a friend.

• Several spots in the South - Tennessee, Alabama and others

• The Dakotas

• Utah, Colorado, Wyoming

If you have any recommendations for us, we would love to hear them! Message us here.

What You Can Expect from Our Blog

My brain is constantly spinning with ideas and plans. It has been overwhelming until I finally thought of starting this blog. I decided it would be the perfect place to share the many things we are passionate about.

Some of the things we will be sharing about while on the road:

• Tips for family travel

• Roadschooling with 4 kids

• Whole food living and what that looks like on the road

• Our travel adventures with lots of photos - make sure to follow us on instagram for more pictures

• Sustainable living and cloth diapering on the road

• Highlights of local farms we visit

• Local, family-friendly guides in the places that we love

What we will be sharing while still in Montana:

• Travel guides for the Flathead Valley. Here we will be highlighting our favorite local, family friendly spots including shops, activities, coffee/bakery spots, and hotels

• Our steps to preparing for this wild ride and what we are taking with us

Thank you so much for following along this journey with us! Our kids ask every few days to see the calendar and when we might be leaving. We have so many fun things planned and SO much work to do!

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