Contents May Shift During Transport…

Lois… Mama to seven of the eleven.

Age: 29*

Lois has an infectious laugh, the ability to make something out of nothing and an absolutely astounding ability to roll with the punches, even when juggling a basement full of baby chicks, a house full of guests and a bob cat, or camping in a hurricane.

She’s equally likely to be found boiling off seven gallons of maple syrup of a spring, sewing matching clothes for the kids, creating beautiful bead work, or baking hundreds of cookies for little league during baseball season.

Her best feature: Her “can do” attitude and “glass half full” perspective on life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenn… Mama to four of the eleven.

Age: 29*

Jenn’s got a master’s degree in Family World Travel from the University of life and is in her fourth year of full time travel with her kids. She’s equally comfortable in the souqs of North Africa, the chicken buses of Central America, or riding the trains of Europe and beyond. Her life is one big road trip.

She’s equally likely to be found  hand washing the family clothes in a bucket or lake with “natives,” sorting out travel plans in three languages, teaching backpackers to bake her famous bread, or cooking for a crowd on her camp stove.

Her best feature: Her ability to knit on all forms of transportation, no matter how rocky the ride, and to make lifestyle travel with kids look easy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremiah… Lois’ oldest son.

Age: 15

Jerry is the biggest boy we’ve got and the “man in the van” for the trip. He’s too tall for his own good and really wishes he was just a *little* bit older and could help drive! He’s a reader, a hunter, a lover of all things “field and forest,” and is his Mama’s right hand man. He wants to be a conservation officer when he grows up and is already taking steps, educationally, in that direction.

He’s equally likely to be found shooting skunks and possums found in the chicken coop, playing his guitar, coaching a Little League team or toting a baby on his hip. He’s an AMAZING big brother!

His Best Feature: His cheerful willingness to work and his ever-ready smile!

 

 

 

 

Hannah… Jenn’s oldest (and only!) daughter.

Age: 15

Hannah makes up the second half of the “15 year old club,” and is delighted to be making this road trip with her best friends. She’s a reader, a writer, a singer, and she goes nowhere without her violin and guitar. When she grows up she’s interested in pursuing journalism. She’ll be coordinating the filming of the mini-documentaries on this trip.

She’s equally likely to be found jamming with Jeremiah around a campfire, collecting a following of little people in three languages, journalling about her adventures or getting involved with social justice causes around the world.

Her best feature: Her ability to juggle the three ring circus almost as well as the Mamas and her willingness to jump in and do so!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gabriel… Jenn’s oldest son.

Age: 13

Gabriel is best known for his sense of adventure and his willingness to try anything once (even fried grasshoppers with chile & lime!) He wants you to know that he’s NOT a girl, even though he has a lot of hair. He’s a WW2 fanatic, a climber of ruins on all continents and a willing participant in a pick up game of just about any sport. He wants to be a farmer when he grows up and thinks Gene Logsdon is  a pretty cool dude.

Gabriel is equally likely to be found playing knights or pirates with his brothers, picking at his guitar, swinging from a vine, leaping off a local cliff into the lake, or hanging with backpackers in a youth hostel somewhere.

His best feature: His ability to set up tents FAST, even in the rain, and his sense of humor in the face of all manner of travel trials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan… Lois’ second son.

Age: 13

Meet the other half of the infamous “13 year old club;” together, these boys are double the trouble and double the fun! Jonathan is the perennially cheerful, delightfully quirky, comedian of the bunch. He’s got a definite bent toward the “tech world” which is well balanced with his passion for all things “outdoor adventure.”

Jonathan is equally likely to be found chasing his dog, Madison, stick fighting with Gabe, helping James navigate life, or reducing the crew to tears of laughter with his antics.

His best feature: Without question, it’s his sense of humor and his resilient spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jillian… Lois’ oldest daughter.

Age: 11

One word: Sweetheart. Jillian is the cheese in a “boy sandwich” of two older brothers and two younger. She’s smart, big family savvy, graceful and a joyful older sister. Jillian is game for just about any adventure, but she’d rather baby-sit her little sisters than gut a chicken any day. Her favorite color is purple and she’s a girlie girl who’s not afraid to get a little mud on her boots.

Jillian is equally likely to be found cuddling a little sister, sewing, playing “town” out in the woods with her friends or icing a delicious cake; she’s a GREAT baker!

Her best feature: She’s inherited her Mama’s cheerful optimism and she’s always working to encourage someone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elisha… Jenn’s second son.

Age: 11

Elisha is just like his Daddy, which is a great thing! He’s an observer of life and is known for his knack of seeing what everyone else misses. He’s got a gift for learning languages and he makes friends where ever he goes. Elisha wants to work with computers when he grows up and he’s interested in science.

He’s equally likely to be found riding his rip-stik, stacking firewood to make money, taking pictures of things or practicing with his poi balls (a pre-cursor to fire dancing!)

His best feature: His curiosity about the details of how things work and his empathy for other people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jordan… Lois’ third son.

Age: 10

Jordan is the surfer-dude in training. He doesn’t have a board yet, but he’s got the style and that’s what matters! He’s mellow and yet adventurous. He loves baseball and can take a ball to the face with the best of them! He was the “chicken daddy” this spring as he raised three  broods of meat birds for the family freezer.

He’s equally likely to be found running errands to the basement for his Mama, carrying sap buckets, practicing his drums or playing soccer in the backyard with the whole crew.

His best feature: His willingness to persevere when things are hard and his hugs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ezra… Jenn’s youngest son.

Age: 9

Ezra is the epitome of Lois’ definition of a boy: “A loud noise, covered in dirt!” He’s spent most of his childhood cycling, backpacking, chicken busing, train riding and camel riding around the world; this has contributed to his “quirkiness.” Ezra is in love with anything that might explode or otherwise create an interesting form of destruction. He’s got big plans for his life, but they change every time you ask him. Whatever he chooses to do as an adult, he’ll be in charge of it.

Ezra is equally likely to be found chattering with Mayan kids in Spanish, swapping travel tales with other backpackers, building a mud fortress for his plastic knights, or helping Mama chop carrots for dinner.

His best feature: He’s completely unfazed by anything and he’s tough as nails.

 

 

 

 

 

James… Lois’ fourth son.

Age: 6

James has a cute factor rating of 99. His ambitions in life, at six, center mainly around keeping up with the big boys. He’s an avid baseball player, having recently graduated from the T-ball league, a budding reader and a five star egg collector on the farm.

He’s equally likely to be found riding his yellow tractor around the yard, unloading the dishwasher or with a frog in his pocket. This one is 110% boy!

His best feature: His smile and his cheerful attitude!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica… Lois’ second daughter.

Age: 4

Jessie is the happiest little helper any Mama could ask for. She basks in the shade of the older girls and is eager to work alongside anyone in the kitchen. Her favorite color is pink and she’s ALL girl.

She’s equally likely to be found bringing a book to someone bigger to read, playing with her plastic food, riding in her pink jeep in the yard or holding her baby sister’s hand for moral support while she gets her hair brushed (because it hurts!)

Her best feature: Her laugh and her helpful heart!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer… Lois’ littlest daughter.

Age: 2

With eyes that would melt the heart of the Grinch himself and dimples you just want to eat, Jenny is the darling of both families. Her piggie tales bounce when she runs, her giggle is so sweet it’s sticky, and she’s the kind of toddler that makes us wish we could have ten more!

She’s equally likely to be found balanced on some bigger kid’s hip (the big kids fight over who gets her!) munching on raw carrots (she loves them!) or nestled into Daddy’s shoulder.

Her best feature: She’s the baby, all of her features are the best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Mamas in the rear-view mirror may be younger than they appear!