Our First Christmas on the Road

When we moved into our travel trailer and started workamping I had no idea how we were going to do Christmas.  I saved our stockings and a small box of sentimental ornaments, but other than that I didn't give it much thought.

Our Christmas stockings.  I love the Lands Ends ones my grandma has bought for all the kids!  I still need to get Evie's name put on hers, though.

The contract with Amazon was to work until Dec. 23rd.  I had a rough time planning our "Christmas" with the idea that we would most likely be on the road that day.  A week or so before Christmas, Amazon announced that Camperforce's last day would be Dec. 21st, that meant it would be possible to reach our next destination (Phoenix, AZ) by Christmas!  Then, we got another surprise.  Chad was hired in at Bowlin Travel Centers as a manager in training!  We were hoping to be stationed at one of their AZ locations, but instead ended up in New Mexico.  So with less than a week before Christmas, we had a new destination and many miles to cover!

Our route from KY to NM.

Our last night in Kentucky, we spent the night hanging out with a few of the "Blue Badges" (fulltime, regular Amazon employees) and their families.  It was a great time!  I know where we'll be headed whenever we pass through there again!  

The following day we packed up and hit the road!  We averaged about 400 miles a day over three days.  We stopped at various truck stops, slept in a Walmart parking lot in Arkansas, and a nice city park in Elk City, Oklahoma.  The kids and dog did awesome, in spite of asking if we were there yet about 15 minutes after we left Greensburg!

Elk City, Oklahoma...free electric!

We finally arrived at our new site in New Mexico at about 3pm on Christmas Eve!  We had time to hook up and settle in before opening our Christmas Eve gift (new pjs and a movie) and reading the Christmas story (Jesus' birth.)  Let me tell you, it was a blessing to get to the end of the road and be able to keep most of our Christmas traditions.  In the morning, our kids woke up to a stack of presents under the (tiny) tree and we got to spend the day together as a family complete with a big turkey dinner (made in the instant pot!) 

Our tiny Christmas tree.

It was a great Christmas!  We kept gifts simple.  We loosely did the four gift method: One to wear, one need, one want, and one to read.  The kids all got a book and something they "needed" in their stockings (hair brushes and ties for the girls and underwear and socks for Morgan.)  Morgan and Chloe got Lego sets and Evie a Magnet "Paper" Doll.  And of course, everyone got new Christmas Eve pajamas.  We also bought a drone as a family gift.  The kids also received new dresses and Legos from Grandma and Grandpa Vorel and Boogie Boards from Aunt Mary.  We choose to give the Boogie Boards before we left KY and the kids hardly put them down for three days in the truck and use them every day since!  Definitely a good purchase for kids of all ages.  The thing I love about keeping Christmas simple is we are able to focus on the reason for the season (Jesus) and family and the kids LOVE their gifts and aren't overloaded with stuff.  The only disappointment was not spending the day with extended family.  

As we look into the new year, we look forward to what it may hold and are excited about all the possibilities!  I love that our new lifestyle keeps us flexible.  We can go where we are needed or we can go where the next adventure awaits.  What are you excited about for the new year?  Where is your next adventure?  Where should we go next?