one family. one bus.

big on adventure. small on stuff.

Hi! We're a family of 5 (sometimes 6 when we have our bonus child in the mix) on an epic journey to turn a retired school bus into a tiny house on wheels. We'll go from McMansion to Minimalist and you're invited along for the ride.

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The latest.

Blog
Busworthy: Silipints
Busworthy: Silipints
Reset.
Reset.
Better (Almost) Late Than Never.
Better (Almost) Late Than Never.
End of the School Year: How to Make a Clean Start for Summer in 6 Steps.
End of the School Year: How to Make a Clean Start for Summer in 6 Steps.
Mama Don't Need Your Crap: 5 Things to NOT Get This Mother's Day.
Mama Don't Need Your Crap: 5 Things to NOT Get This Mother's Day.
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bus stuff!

See the entire conversion from start to our current state.

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(in a totally non-creepy way, please and thank you.)

Bunks are done! . Ok…98% done. I still need to do trim around the inside of the porthole windows and get their privacy curtains installed. . We get a lot of comments from bus visitors about how narrow the hallway is to get through the bunks to either the kitchen or the bathroom and it was one of those things we agonized over. In the end, we added up how many minutes of the day we’d need to suck it in to be able to get through versus how many hours the boys would spend hanging out in their bunks every day. Gaining every possible inch for them to be able to really live it up in their spaces won. . The bunks are even big enough for me to be able to get in there with them to snug! 😍 . Oh! And! I still need to repaint the outside panels...so make that 97% done. 🤦🏻‍♀️ . Anyone have a recommendation for paint that can withstand 3 climbing boys? The Valspar furniture paint I originally used is already nicked and dingy looking. 😒 _________________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolienation #skooliekids #livesimple #buslife #minimalist #tinyhouseliving #travelingwithkids #prioritize #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #homeonwheels #tinyhousemovement #smallliving #fulltimefamily #schoolbuslife #doallthethings #boymomlife #threeboys #wildkids #letthemplay #secularhomeschool #skooliebedroom #bunkbeds #homeschooler #spacetogrow #thepigeonbus #themeasureofus
Taking a pause from the crazy scramble that is being only 26 days away from living our new buslife to give a sneak peek of the fabrics for the bus! . The more I look at them, the more I love the pops of color that are going in as privacy curtains for the boys’ bunks. I’m already jealous that they each get their own super cool porthole window and now they’ll get to make their spaces into personal hideaways with their favorite colors, too. . Thank you again to @greendrop19 for the shove to step away from my gray safety net. #grayismyfavoritecolor . Now back to doing all the things! The countdown is on! _________________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolienation #skooliekids #livesimple #buslife #minimalist #tinyhouseliving #travelingwithkids #prioritize #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #homeonwheels #tinyhousemovement #smallliving #fulltimefamily #schoolbuslife #doallthethings #homeschoolingmom #thepigeonbus #fabricstack #sneakpeeks #themeasureofus
It’s time for us to find a place to live and we need your help!! . Here’s what we’re looking for: . Within an hour’s drive of Marietta, GA. . Power and water (a garden hose is great!) hookups. (Composting toilet = no sewer!) Depending on the situation, we will consider paying for the hookups to be installed (see below), and we can work with a simple extension cord on a temporary basis. . Not an RV park. (Although we’d love a list of great ones in the area just in case!) . Someplace quiet with outdoor space. We’re a family of introverts and super crowded isn’t for us! . Family and pet friendly. We’ve got 3 homeschooled kids (3, 5, and 7) and a small dog. Everyone is well-mannered and well-supervised. (Happy to provide references!) . Rent under $1k a month plus utilities with a formal, written agreement in place so we are all on the same page. . Long-term! We’d want to try out possible spots for a few weeks before committing, but we’re looking for space for at least a year. . We’d LOVE a work/live situation to offset a portion of the monthly rent and we’d consider paying to have power run to an unconventional spot. I can see us as caretakers for land that’s used seasonally, for an Airbnb property, or to lend a hand to an elderly resident. The boys would be thrilled if we ended up on a farm or with adopted grandparents. We’ve got a wide skill set and we’re already starting to wonder what we’re going to do with all of our free time with no bus to build or house to sell...put us to work! . We’ll be off on adventures a few weekends a month and spend several weeks out of the year traveling with Jake for work, so I don’t think we’ll cramp anyone’s style. . Know of the perfect spot? Send us a message…we’d love to chat! Know someone who could help? Tag them! Thank you for helping us start the next part of our adventure! ________________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolienation #skooliekids #livesimple #buslife #minimalist #tinyhouseliving #travelwithkids #prioritize #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #mariettaga #atlantaga #livework #tinyhouses #busfamily #crowdsourcing #thepigeonbus #themeasureofus
I need to do major shoutouts to all of our bus helpers from the last week! We only have 34 (eeeek!) days until #buslife happens and we couldn’t even dream of pulling it off without all these helping hands. . Trey inadvertently spent his day off helping install the new heater. When he agreed to help, I don’t think he imagined we’d hand him an angle grinder and send him to cut the dash out as part of the install…but he got puppy kisses as payment…so I’m not sure he minded. (I finally connected that last wire!) . @rcody86 is a long time helper and never afraid to be thrown under the bus. He wrapped all of our coolant lines, got the gray tank installed with Jake, and let me take not cute photos of him when he wasn’t expecting it. (Next time, I need you to bring @jolut09 and that margarita maker.) . Long-time bus fan and first-time helper, Erica, braved being social to paint the bunks. My boys got spoiled by her girls and I’m still hearing about all the fun they had. When you see the finished bunks (which are THE COOLEST)…know that it was Erica who painstakingly painted every slat! (I only had to touch up the edges! A full second coat wasn’t even needed! You’re officially in charge of painting the living room!) . We love help outside the bus, too! @tinapagliaro took all three boys for the day and I got so much done. Silas has asked no less than 14 times an hour when he gets to go and live with Aunt Tina because she’s the best. (Seriously…there have been tears and he’s already packed and ready to move in.) . Puzzlemaster @paggy00271 got the windshield wipers installed in less than 15 minutes….a task I’ve been putting off for a YEAR because it seemed too complicated. He also agreed to build our couch which makes him the second best after Tina. (Sorry. Silas said. And pick a day for couch building. Tina said.) . And our own personal seamstress, @greendrop19, braved the Joann’s with me and the boys to pick out fabric for the bus curtains. She’s brilliant and did all the math for me, too. She’s also the reason there are colors other than light gray, dark gray, and gray on the bus. (“How about blue?” *insert Dana’s look of disgust* 😆) . All the 😍😍😍😍😍!!!
Once a babywearer, always a babywearer…even when that baby isn’t such a baby anymore and you’ve got to improvise with a ruck! #babywearingdaddy . I didn’t imagine that all of the kids would be so into hiking and exploring the trails, but everyone loved it! So much so that I got “Get Your Kids Hiking” by Jeff Alt at the library so I’d be full of the how to next time we get the chance to hike. . What are your best hiking with kids hints and tricks? And if you’ve got kid-sized hiking packs that you love, I want all the links! ____________________________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolielove #skoolienation #skoolies #skooliekids #travelgoals #bucketlist #livesimple #minimalist #microhome #tinyhouseliving #buslife #travelwithkids #prioritize #dowhatyoulovemore #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #wearallthetoddlers #babywearing #hikingwithkids #letsgooutside #naturekids #exploringwithkids #travelingwithbaby #virginiaisforlovers #themeasureofus
We used to talk about traveling when the boys were older. It always seemed that some distant age would be the better time…they’ll appreciate it more! They’ll be able to remember it! They’ll get more out of it! . But along the way, life kept pointing out to us that later might not be waiting for us. Why couldn’t right now be the perfect time? . Watching our two oldest boys (who couldn’t be more different) on this roadtrip reconfirmed the feeling that the timing couldn’t be more right. Faced with new places and experiences, these two upped their relationship from brothers to friends. Now that we’re back home, all the conversations are still about all the things they saw and did in Virginia. . Do you wish you had traveled more early in life? If you did…did siblings make the experience a delight or a disaster? ____________________________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolielove #skoolienation #skoolies #skooliekids #travelgoals #bucketlist #livesimple #minimalist #microhome #tinyhouseliving #buslife #travelwithkids #prioritize #dowhatyoulovemore #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #brothersandbestfriends #growingupwithsiblings #adventurekids #hikeit #homeschoolers #bettertogether #themeasureofus
What do you do when you have three habitually dirt covered little boys and endless house showings? You do one last super deep clean, pack everyone up, and take a road trip! . Two weeks ago, we decided to run away from constantly trying to keep the house show ready and gave ourselves a much needed break. Now we’re back in Georgia (with a house under contract! 🙌) and I’m reliving the wonder that is summertime in Virginia. . Y’all. It was actually COOL IN THE SHADE! We were able to hike without being eaten alive by sand gnats and mosquitoes! (And there were trails everywhere!) It didn’t feel like you were drinking the air through a humidity straw and everything was so GREEN! . I’m no nature photographer, but this place had me clicking away. . This trip was a taste of what buslife will have to offer us and we are so ready for more. . “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” - John Muir ____________________________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolielove #skoolienation #skoolies #skooliekids #travelgoals #bucketlist #livesimple #minimalist #microhome #tinyhouseliving #buslife #travelwithkids #prioritize #dowhatyoulovemore #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #homeschooladventures #visitvirginia #richmondva #traillife #hikingwithkids #summerroadtrip #themeasureofus
We said goodbye to Jake’s truck today and, despite being a pro at letting go of pretty much everything, this farewell was more emotional than anticipated. . The truck (lovingly called the Dodge Ram by everyone other than me...I thought it was silly that we call it anything other than “the truck”) has been a fixture in our lives for the last 10 years. . Jake bought it just before we became “dating” official and we spent who knows how many hours of our early relationship just driving around...Jake singing along to the radio and me knitting in the passenger seat. The truck hauled all of my stuff from Florida when we became “let’s live together” official and brought our first (and third) baby home when we became “parent” official. . Every house project, every bus project, every move from one place to the next…the truck was there. Saturday mornings started with telling the kids, “get loaded up in the Dodge Ram” and even the most epic of meltdowns could be tempered with a promise to get to ride to the feed store in Daddy’s big truck. I don’t know how many times I washed it and cleaned it out before Jake got back from weeks away at work...just so it would be ready to take the boys on the next adventure. . I used to be terrified to drive it, but at some point it became no big deal (I’m hoping the learning curve of being behind the wheel of the bus is similar). And seeing it turn into the driveway was always a thrill...it meant all my guys were safe at home again. . The truck is getting a second life as a work truck for a local landscape company, but it will forever be the Dodge Ram to us. A few tears were brushed away as the boys and I watched it go, but this is just another step closer to buslife. . “I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it.” — Mae West ____________________________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolielove #skoolienation #skoolies #skooliekids #travelgoals #bucketlist #livesimple #minimalist #microhome #tinyhouseliving #buslife #travelwithkids #prioritize #dowhatyoulovemore #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #sayinggoodbye #dodgeram #boyhood #childhoodadventures #memoriesnotthings #minimalism_life #themeasureofus
Meet David, my new favorite handyman. . David is the guy behind The Other Man (@theotherman_savannahga) and he’s the one you want to call to get projects around the house (or bus) taken care of. He’s knowledgable, friendly, and trustworthy. David is one of those rare people who legitimately cares that the job is done right and the pride he takes in his work shows. . You know how Mary Poppins sings about how Bert is the ultimate gentleman? A vanishing breed? That’s David. He’s ultra-polite, his ma’ams are genuine, and he managed to leave the bus cleaner than when he started. Y’all he EVEN SHOWED UP EARLY. #bonuspoints . He came to work on bus stuff full of enthusiasm, patience, and high-fives. Our fans, water pump, and AC all run now thanks to his ability to apply years of experience toward finding solutions. . I almost don’t want to share him because I have a list titled “THINGS FOR DAVID TO DO ON THE BUS,” but I like him too much to keep him a secret. . (He’s not even paying me to say any of this and he likely died of embarrassment at that Mary Poppins comparison, but if you’re in the Savannah area and have things that need to get done…he’s your guy.) (You’re welcome!)
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#skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolielove #skoolienation #skoolies #dreambiglivetiny #savannahgeorgia #midwaygeorgia #poolergeorgia #davidprater #theotherman #handyman #handymanservice #helparoundthehouse #doitright #electrician #thepigeonbus #themeasureofus
So while I was off getting a house ready to sell, there were still things happening on the bus! . Our super fun recycled glass countertops from @multistoneinc were installed and they did a great job! . This was a remnant piece that juuuuuust covered us. When I went to pick out counters, I had a totally different idea in mind, but I fell in love when I saw the blue and green. It’s a fun pop of color and they sparkle when the light hits just right. . We inherited Jake’s mom’s antique bottle collection when she passed away and this felt like a nice nod to those pieces that she loved so much. We’ve chosen a couple favorites as busworthy and the rest are being carefully packed away and put into storage until we end up wherever we are meant to be. . Also a big deal on the bus...we’ve got running water! Jake channeled his inner Mario and handled the plumbing like a pro. The kitchen and bathroom sinks work and the 100 gallon tank is ready to go, too. Shower is coming up soon! ________________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolielove #skoolienation #skoolies #skooliekids #travelgoals #bucketlist #livesimple #minimalist #microhome #tinyhouseliving #buslife #travelwithkids #prioritize #dowhatyoulovemore #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #recycledglasscountertops #antiquebottles #keepwhatmatters #ikeakitchen #thisishappening #thepigeonbus #themeasureofus
Swipe to see what a difference two years can make! . What hasn’t changed is that Quill is still my very serious bus baby. Heading to work on the bus? You better believe you’ll have a Quill shadow. Out of the 4 kids, he’s hands down spent the most time hanging out in there. . The fact that it’s hot and sweaty and loud and dirty does little to deter him...or maybe all of that is part of the appeal. . He keeps his “ear googles” on like a pro and likes to drain my water bottle once his is empty. He can climb up to the top bunk like it’s nothing, but needs a little help to get back down. Driving the bus is his absolute favorite and he’s been over the moon since we reinstalled the driver’s seat. . Back when we thought it would only take a year to convert the bus (hahahahhahahhahaa, yeah right), I was sure it would be the first home he would remember. . Gotta hurry up and finish so maybe it still will be... _______________ #skoolie #skoolieconversion #skoolielife #skoolielove #skoolienation #skoolies #skooliekids #travelgoals #bucketlist #livesimple #minimalist #microhome #tinyhouseliving #buslife #travelwithkids #prioritize #dowhatyoulovemore #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #lifeofatoddler #quill #snugheadphones #eargoogles #thepigeonbus #themeasureofus
So this happened yesterday. . *insert mild panic here* . I’ve spent the last two months focusing on getting our house ready to sell and it really felt like we were never going to actually get to this point. But here we are with a for sale sign in the front yard and a lockbox on the door. . Guess this is happening. *internal screaming* . The listing should go live in a couple of days, so I’m spending the weekend in a wonderful state of not doing anything house related. (Other than constantly cleaning up after everyone because oh em gee it took me 4 days to get this house to be this clean and it’s instant mama death glares to anyone who dares track mud across the fresh floors.) . So now, while we wait for our wonderful buyer to come along, I get to go back to bus work! . Have you ever sold a house? What’s your best tips for surviving showings and keeping it show ready (especially with kids and a dog and a cat in the mix!)? _____________________ #livesimple #minimalist #microhome #tinyhouseliving #buslife #travelwithkids #prioritize #dowhatyoulovemore #travelfamily #dreambiglivetiny #sellthishouse #houseforsale #downsizing #mcmansion #skoolielife #showready #letsdothis💪 #backtothebus #dontpanic #lockbox #blues #themeasureofus