Before anything else, I’m a mom.
15 times over ❤️
And every single one changed my life in ways I never expected.
Happy Mother’s Day to every Mom out there doing hard, beautiful things.
#MothersDay #RealMomLife #MotherhoodJourney #BigFamily #MomLife #YouCanDoHardThings
I’m incredibly honored to share that I was recently interviewed on the Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast - a show produced by @rei Co-op. And the episode is now released - just in time for Mother’s Day.
In this episode, I open up about some of the hardest and most beautiful chapters of our family’s story…from surviving domestic violence and losing nearly everything… to making the wild decision to take my 15 kids onto the Appalachian Trail. 🥾
We talk about:
• Hiking 2,198 miles as a family
• Raising 15 kids as a single Mom
• Healing through the outdoors
• Fear, freedom, resilience, and starting over
• How adventure changed our family forever
There were moments on the trail where we drank water from mud puddles with tadpoles in them…nights where we froze inside our tents…and days where we didn’t know if we could keep going. But somehow, one step at a time, the trail gave us hope again.
To all the moms out there carrying heavy things no one sees, this episode is for you. You are stronger than you think.
Thank you to Shelby and the entire REI & WIWL team fors giving our family the space to share this journey.
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts by searching for “Wild Ideas Worth Living” or visit the link in our bio.
#AppalachianTrail #OutdoorFamily #AdventureFamily #FamilyAdventure #WomenWhoHike #ThruHiking
And so it begins!!! Prep is in full swing, passports are in motion, gear is being fine tuned. We’re officially gonna head west!!! Here’s to clutching up America’s Triple Crown of Adventure!!! Hike, bike, paddle! Let’s gooooo! #greatdividemountainbikeroute #appalachiantrail #hiking #biking #paddling
We saw them from shore…
Nine massive abandoned ships…just sitting out there.
Built during WWII.
Made of concrete.
Then sunk on purpose…and left behind.
Full episode on our YouTube channel 👉 youtube.com/@32feetup ?sub_confirmation=1
#exploremore #outdoors #familyadventure #ghostships #abandonedplaces #exploremore #travelwithkids #outdoorfamily #bigfamilylife #adventurefamily #hiddenplaces #wanderlust #optoutside #familytravel #chesapeakebay #virginiaadventures #dohardthings #realadventures #familyjourney #abandonedplaces
We saw them from shore… and honestly, it didn’t feel real.
NINE abandoned ships…frozen in time...just sitting out near the Atlantic Ocean.
We waited all day for the wind to die down and finally went for it.
Paddling out to these ghost ships was one of those moments where everything just hits you...the history, the scale, the “how are these even here?”
And the best part?
Doing it together.
This is exactly why we do these adventures.
Go do something that feels a little crazy. You might just find something unforgettable.
Full episode on our YouTube channel 👉 youtube.com/@32feetup ?sub_confirmation=1
#familyadventure #ghostships #exploremore #travelwithkids #outdoorfamily #bigfamilylife #adventurefamily #hiddenplaces #abandonedplaces #wanderlust #optoutside #familytravel #chesapeakebay #virginiaadventures #dohardthings #realadventures #familyjourney #keepgoing #outdoors #abandoned
Day 2… and this one didn’t go how we expected.
We woke up in our yurt at Kiptopeke State Park, excited to finally paddle out to the ghost ships.
Me and the kids. You could feel it. Today was the day.
But the weather had other plans.
By the time we got to the water, the wind was howling…gusts pushing hard, waves building, whitecaps everywhere. It was clear pretty quickly. Knowing what we know from the Mississippi River, this wasn’t something to mess with.
We stood there looking out at the ships. They were so close, yet completely out of reach.
And we made the call…
We wait.
Instead of forcing it, we spent the day exploring Cape Charles. The kids walked through old railroad relics, learning how trains once crossed the bay by boat, and soaking in a place that feels frozen in time.
But the whole time…those ships were still out there.
Waiting.
Then, finally! Late in the day, the wind dropped.
The water settled.
And just like that… it was go time.
We launched into the water at sunset, pushing through the breakers, riding waves that felt just big enough to remind you this is the bay of the Atlantic Ocean.
And then…
We made it.
Up close to the Kiptopeke Ghost Ships. These things are absolutely massive...concrete relics from World War II, built when steel was scarce and later sunk on purpose to protect a ferry route that no longer exists.
Sitting in our canoes surrounded by birds, water, and history…it felt like we were stepping into a forgotten world.
The kids asked a hundred questions (per usual).
We laughed.
We pushed through something uncomfortable.
And in the end… it was worth every second.
Stay tuned for our YouTube episode. If you're not subscribed already, click here 👉youtube.com/@32feetup ?sub_confirmation=1
#familyadventure #ghostships #kiptopeke #chesapeakebay #capecharles #virginiaadventures #hiddenplaces #abandoned #maritimehistory
We made it… and this one already feels different.
We arrived at Kiptopeke State Park and for the first time ever, we’re staying in a yurt. The kids were pumped the second we pulled in… and honestly, so was I.
But here’s the wild part…
We can actually see the ghost ships from shore.
They’re just sitting out there on the horizon They quiet, massive, and a little eerie - like they’re waiting for us.
We can’t get close… yet.
Tomorrow morning, we paddle out.
Cameras are charged. Gear is ready. And we’re going all in to explore the Kiptopeke Ghost Ships up close.
And Ya'll, these sunsets are beautiful here.
Everyone is excited for this one and I have a feeling it’s going to be something we never forget.
Make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel…we’re documenting our entire adventure 🎥
#familyadventure #ghostships #kiptopeke #travelwithkids #outdoorfamily #exploremore
We have arrived at Kiptopeke State Park - where we are styaing in a yurt (for the very first time) and will exlore the ghost ships! Everyone is excited.
#outdoors #FamilyAdventure #explore
When this is your good morning it’s impossible to have a bad day. This girl is a water hose playin, dirt digging, puddle stomping, climb everything, walking ball of sunshine, energy, opinions and feisty crazy happy energy. Between her nanny and 14 aunts and uncles FaceTiming her everyday she’s about as social as it gets. Happy Monday! 😍💖
Announcing our next adventure....
And we're so excited to take you along!
Our next adventure will be to explore the Kiptopeke Ghost Ships.
We will stay in a yurt and then paddle out the next morning to explore the abandoned ships.
We are SO excited!!! Stay tuned for pics and video clips.
#FamilyAdventure #abandoned #GhostShips #outdoors
#ad The #1 question we get asked while we're on multi-month trail adventures is - what about school? Miacademy Learning is what we use.
Schoolbooks were way too cumbersome to bring in our packs on trail. With Miacademy, everything is available at their fingertips. My kids love the lessons and they're able to learn anywhere.
#homeschooling #homeschoollife #homeschoolmom #homeschool #education #school
