New Mexi-Castaways

My husband, Nathan's birthday was much more low-key than the epic surprise-fest he recently threw for my 50th, but watching his baby girl (Ziva - number 11) enjoying and excelling in a sport she loves was a great birthday gift. • Although the team didn't win, he still enjoyed his day, especially with beloved family and friends by his side. • Happy Birthday, my love! ¡Te quiero mucho! ❤ • • • #volleyball #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Moriarty, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzNxchle4U/?utm_medium=tumblr

A bunch of characters heading to school this morning (yes, still living in a camper). Black Widow, Hulk-dragon's love child and Varsity football player (not a costume for her). Freezing out, but still a barefoot boat baby! • Happy Halloween weekend everyone! 🎃 • • • • #happyhalloween #halloween #hulk #dragon #football #blackwidow #camperlife #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Tijeras, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVnaQcoJmiy/?utm_medium=tumblr

Fall hiking in New Mexico with my boys. ❤🍁🍂 • • • • #fall #leaves #hiking #nature #mountains #forest #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew https://www.instagram.com/p/CVW8-hQA6gv/?utm_medium=tumblr

Samuel and I had a visitor at the campsite today. Luckily Nala was sleeping and didn't see it or she would have gone crazy! • • • • #coyote #notabobcat #wildlife #camping #forest #piñon #juniper #eastmountains #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #nalagsd #GSD #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew https://www.instagram.com/p/CVBKAQlFQzX/?utm_medium=tumblr

There's no crying in football... unless, of course your baby girl not only catches her first pass during a game but also scores her first points! Possibly the first score in a football game by a girl at her school ever. Then football crying is allowed, right? Asking for a friend... • • • • #girlsplayfootball #football #highschoolfootball #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #a2ztk #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Española Valley High School) https://www.instagram.com/p/CU6ZyfqL0AM/?utm_medium=tumblr

We have such interesting neighbors. • • • • #cow #dragon #pasture #rurallife #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Tijeras, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUBwZHGrOnc/?utm_medium=tumblr

On Monday Ahava played in her first-ever high school football game. It was so exciting to see her down there on the field, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her teammates. As her mom, I knew how hard she had worked to earn the right to be there. Not just as the token girl but really as part of the team. • From weeks of grueling practice in the summer sun (sometimes with a mask on!), to two-a-days, to fighting back from a dislocated shoulder, she never wavered from giving it her all. From the stands she may have looked like any other player on the team, learning the ropes at the first JV (Junior Varsity) game of the season, but to us we were witnessing our little girl's dream coming true. • This is not to say it is all smooth sailing, because there are definitely some unexpected barriers that she has had to face. But I continue to be amazed with the way she navigates these hurdles and challenges with grace. I am humbled to get the chance to learn from her every day. • Yes, I know I am biased, but I believe, if my kids are any indictation, the future is very, very bright. • • • • #femalefootball #femalefootballplayer #highschoolfootball #football #santafe #girlsplayfootball #footballplayer #girlpower #newmexico #landofenchantment #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Santa Fe, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTWScvzLOwI/?utm_medium=tumblr

Sometimes words aren't sufficient. #pauseandhonor • Repost from: @spoondrifters https://www.instagram.com/p/CTTfyV4rLzw/?utm_medium=tumblr

"Round and round and round we go. Will I stop? Never! No! • The little circle disc is fun. One more time, I'm never done" -Nala • • • • #newmexico #landofenchantment #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew #nalagsd #gsd #funnydogs #happydogs https://www.instagram.com/p/CTQxIialZI-/?utm_medium=tumblr

From late night Friday night lights to an early morning SAT test, this one was burning the candle at both ends this weekend. • Although Ahava wasn't allowed to play in the team's first game, she was happy to be down on the field with her team, proudly sporting her #11 (which is also Ziva's volleyball number) at the first ever high school football game she's been to. • If all goes as planned, this time next week I'll be posting about the first game she plays in. • • • • #boysoffall #football #girlsplayfootballtoo #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew https://www.instagram.com/p/CTLLYjfBiFX/?utm_medium=tumblr

You never know what you might find on a family hike. • Today's favorite treasure: an arrowhead Ahava found just sitting on the trail. I guess recent rains must have unearthed it. • I hope you are all enjoying time with your favorite people this weekend! ❤ • • • • #hiking #piñon #juniper #moth #arrowhead #treeclimbing #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #GSD #gsdnala #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Tijeras, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTKy6xHpHCU/?utm_medium=tumblr

Ahhh... nothing like the glow of a morning, fake fire on a chilly morning! 🤣🔥 • • • • #camperlife #rving #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Tijeras, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTCZ4KyFxnL/?utm_medium=tumblr

And then there's that middle child... our Ziva. Like the NCIS (@ncis_cbs) character she is named after, she is a powerful force in this world. I have been told the name, "Ziva' means sunshine AND sword in Hebrew. Both are fitting for her. • Like her big sister, she moved off the boat and decided to fully embrace whatever this landlocked life has to offer. While her sister, Ahava, is the only girl on the high school football team, little sister also moves to the beat of her own drum and always with an impeccable sense of style. She is a great big sister to Samuel and her proudest accomplishment is growing several inches taller than her big sister (and her mommy!). • At school, Ziva surprised us by joining JROTC. She also made the Junior Varsity volleyball team. She loves her guitar class. Academically, she is a grade ahead of her age. As her mom it is fun to see her explore so many possibilites. • Today was the first day she wore her JROTC uniform to school. As always, she looked sharp and ready to take on the world! ❤ • • • #ziva #jrotc #newmexico #highschool #volleyball #landofenchantment #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Tijeras, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTAIqzfv0PP/?utm_medium=tumblr

9 days. The total number of in-person school days Samuel got to experience before his school closed due to Covid. 😭 They are now doing 10 days remote learning, which Samuel described (through tears) as, "The worst of both worlds! I have to do school ALL day and not see any of my friends!" 😥 • I am grateful that he has had years of training by boatschooling to learn how to focus while on the move. Day 1 of distance learning was spent at a Firestone dealer to fix my car's broken window. Today is day 2 which he is doing here in the rental RV. • We now have a new appreciation for what all of our land-based friends went through with remote learning last year. Here's hoping we only have to do this for 10 days. • • • • #newmexico #remotelearning #distancelearning #school #covidclosure #covid #camperlife #gsd #landlocked #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew https://www.instagram.com/p/CS7Ee9mLP3U/?utm_medium=tumblr

Sunflower season! • • • • #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #sunflowers🌻 #sunflower #naturephotography #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew (at Tijeras, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSpogUihAPO/?utm_medium=tumblr

Samuel's school bus stop. • We live in a rural area in New Mexico with kids at 2 different schools with different start times (one of which is 21 miles away). This first week of school we've spent a lot of time sorting out school transportation. • Mostly I like to drive the kids because, unlike boat life where we have lots of togetherness time, on land our hours are consumed with separate activities. But when you add sports and Nathan's work trips to the mix, there will be some days we just can't get everyone to their proper places on time. Gratefully, there is a robust school bus system even out here "in the boonies!" • Walking Samuel to and from the bus stop this week made me smile remembering how we used to walk the girls to the same bus stop when he was still too little to go to school. Back then, like now, the bus didn't always get it right -- on day one it turned around about a half mile from our stop so Nathan had to drive him that day -- but overall riding the bus has been a positive experience. This time around we have our boat dog Nala eagerly anticipating Samuel's return. Back in the day, our old German Shepherd, Tova would stand watch in all kinds of weather until the kids were home safely. • (**swipe to see some bus stop pictures from Ahava & Ziva's elementary days**) • Today I am super grateful to have caring people in our community who go out of their way, literally and figuratively, to get our kids to and from school safely! • • • • #schoolbus #sunflowers #newmexico #landofenchantment #newmexicotrue #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #GSD #nalagsd #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew https://www.instagram.com/p/CSlLrPQLvs3/?utm_medium=tumblr

Happy first day of brick-and-mortar school to my landlocked boat babies! • Ahava, 11th grade. Ziva, 9th/10th grade. Samuel, 5th grade. • • • • • #school #firstdayofschool #newmexico #landofenchantment #travelfamily #nomads #travelingfamily #fulltimefamilies #landlocked #landlockedboatbabies #NMCastaways #A2ZTK #rosalindaroman #dawntreadercrew https://www.instagram.com/p/CSYPrVHLbzM/?utm_medium=tumblr