After the Chicago event, we stopped back home to check on things, get supplies, maintenance for everything.  We also discussed some plans to vacation with Max’s parents and siblings.

After discussing it, and making sure that all who wanted to go, could take the time together.  Michael was off at college, Josh was working at the grocery store and as a life guard at the local pool, so neither of them would be coming, so  it would be Carl, Maria, Maggie and the twins David and Riley.

Max’s parents would be taking the other RV while my folks would stay at the campground in the cabin when they wanted to stay out there.

The old RV would have room enough for the 5 of them, it would be tight, but would sleep them all, they would just have to put the dinette down.  They would follow us out to Colorado to the Rocky Mountain National Park, where the plan was to visit for a few days, maybe a week.  Max and I said they could take as long as they wanted traveling with us or not.

The contractor had done the site prep for a 50×50 foot metal building on the new land and were starting to pour footers the beginning of April and the building should be up in a few weeks. Then a concrete floor, electric and plumbing next.  This would be the first building on the new land, and would be used for lots of stuff.  First as a construction office for the rest of the group camping area, storage for materials, a work shop, a place to store things like 4 wheelers, tractors and trucks.

The first of May we left the house.  Max and I had reserved some time in a few state parks in western Ohio and Indiana for 3 weeks to kill some time before the kids were out of School.  This would probably be the last summer that Riley and David would want to be with their parents doing stuff, being 15 and all.  Since they started Kindergarten late when they were 6, they would be freshmen when they go back to school in the fall.

The kids got out of school on a Thursday, that Wednesday afternoon, Max and I drove the fiat back to my place to get the other RV.  We dropped it off at his parents for them to load up their stuff Wednesday night. 

Thursday Max and I went over to help Maria pack their stuff into the RV.   The nice thing about  the old RV is that it had a lot of storage underneath and over the cab; which is good because Maria had two plastic totes full of diapers, looks like it will be a great time for one or both of the twins.   As we were loading the RV, the school bus came lumbering up the road.  Off first was Maggie, then David and Riley.

I could tell something was up with them.  “I can’t believe you did that, why would you wear those to school.  Now. People are going to think I do too”, Riley said

“Well because I wanted to, and the last time I checked, you were still wearing them at night too, which is totally fine if you need or even if you want them.  It’s not like we are going to see them for 3 months, plus we are the oldest in our class” David said..

“I know, and i’ll defend you through anything.   It’s not like we are going to see them for a month or so, but did you have to moon them?” Riley asked David

“I didn’t have to, but it was funny, and will keep them wondering for a bit” David said

“David James, did you wear a diaper to school after I specifically told you not to?  Well don’t come crying to me if it blows up in your face.” Maria said, a little pissed that he disobeyed her.

Not wanting any of this to fall on him, Riley made it clear that he told his brother that it was a horrible idea.

The boys finished packing the RV, as Carl wanted to be able to head out in the morning.  Though not too early.

We had parked for the night at the grocery store and would swing by their house in the morning.  Carl did not want to tow a vehicle so the only tow vehicle we would have is the Fiat, but if we needed to get a bigger vehicle we could for a week.

The next morning Max woke me up and changed me, we unplugged the RV and ran through the checklist to leave and headed to his parent’s house. They were up and ready, Maria was making breakfast sandwiches on paper plates for everybody.

Riley and David walked out of their rooms in just a onsie and diaper. I could tell both were in disposables and both were quite soggy.  They sat down and drank some juice and ate their sandwiches.

Maria was running around making sure they had packed everything and was getting stuff ready to leave.  “David, Riley go get your diapers changed and get ready to go. Riley remember what we talked about last night, I expect you to be padded up just in case you fall asleep.  Also make sure you take your meds before we leave.  I packed all your extras too.” She said to Riley as he walked out of the room.

Both returned about 10 minutes later obviously still diapered beneath their shorts.

“Mom can I ride with Max and Jason?” David asked

“If it’s ok with them” Carl pipped in

“Fine with us” Max said

We left around 9:00 am, not as early as Carl would have liked, but still we should make good time.  We set a CB channel for both of us and made sure the CB’s worked and on the road we were.

After I got the destination and first stop in the GPS I hopped in the back where David was sitting.  “So your brother did not seem like he cared about having to wear on the trip did he?” I asked wondering why Maria would have him wear.

“No, mom asked him to wear while driving in case he fell asleep, and he really said he did not care if he needed to wear them, he was fine with it.  Between you and me, I think on some level he likes to wear them too.  I mean he started wetting after he started seeing this counselor lady.  He likes to claim that since the doctor upped or changed his epilepsy meds it was causing it.  But hey, he’s no longer a jerk to me, in fact we get along better than ever” David said

We rolled down the road and I hopped back up front to navigate, when I turned back, David was asleep on the sofa.

Max drove for 3 hours and then we stopped off, switched drivers and drove another 3 hours.  Stopped for food, rested for an hour and drove for another 3 till we found a stopping spot and pulled off for the night.  David asked if he could stay with us, and we gladly allowed it.  This allowed the other RV to not have to tear down the dinette.  Riley even asked if he could stay with us too. 

“As long as you two are able to fit up top or one on the sofa. Either way it is bed time.” Max said as he directed me to the back of the RV to change me.

“So what did you decide?” I asked, inquiring about how the sleeping arrangements were going to go.

“I think we both can fit up top” Riley said, “plus it’s not like either one of us are going to get up in the night.”

He had a point there.  One by one they went to the back bedroom and got changed. Riley took his meds before They both climbed up to the bunk and we went to our bedroom for the night.

I am an early riser, so I was up at 7:00am, and woke up Max to get a change.  Max grabbed the stuff to setup for the picnic tables outside between our campsites, while I clanged around in the kitchen to awaken the two sleeping teenagers.

About 8:00 Max went to the other RV and knocked on the door, “Breakfast is ready”

“Ok, just a minute” his dad replied back

I had made enough for all of us, scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.  His parents brought the coffee since they already had a pot made.  I had the juice and milk.

Without even thinking about it, David and Riley stumbled out of the bunk and outside in just their onsies.  Nobody said a thing, as if it were normal.

We ate quickly, and cleaned up and got the RVs ready to take off.  The teens were still looking sleepy, but I had to tell them that the bunk had to be put up so we could pull out. 

“If you still want to sleep, you can go to the back bedroom and sleep there. Maybe get changed if you are really wet too.” I said as both boys were still in their night diapers.

I then did a final walk around and let Carl know that we were ready to hit the road.  We were on the road by 9:30.

David went into the bedroom and got himself changed and returned to the sofa, and then Riley said he was getting changed too and went to the back and did not come out.  After he did not emerge, I went to the back to see if there was something wrong and what I found was kinda shocking.

I first looked at Max’s bed which is the one right inside the door, but he wasn’t there.  He hadn’t disappeared into thin air.  I then looked over to my crib and see the blanket covering up a sleeping 15 year old Riley. I could hear him quietly snoring, so I quietly backed out of the room.  Now my curiosity was definitely peaked. Why was he in the crib?

I went back out front.  “Where’s Riley?” David asked.

“He decided to go back to sleep, just leave him alone.  If you want to doze off out here on the sofa you can” I said, not letting on that I had just witnessed Riley in the back in the crib.

I went back up to the front, but not before whispering in Max’s ear that Riley was asleep in the crib.

“Huh?” He said

“I dunno, should we leave it be, do you think he had an episode.” I said, telling Max not to tease him about it.

After an hour David was dozed off, and Riley had still not emerged.  We waited another hour before stopping for a rest break, at this point Riley had been sleeping over 2 hours. 

I quietly slid into the bedroom, which was darkened due to the blinds being closed. I slid the door shut and then gently woke him up.  “Hey Riley, we’re going to be stopping soon, did you want to get up and get a snack. Did you have meds you need to take?” which I said a couple times.

When he woke up a look of terror came over him.  “Please don’t tell anybody…. I…. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about, guess I dozed off” He said, but honestly how does one just try it out and end up covered up and snuggled in with MY TEDDY!

It’s ok, I just wanted to make sure you were ok, did you have a seizure or anything?  Max knows you were back here, but he won’t say anything and I kept David out of here too.” I said

“Seriously, I thought i’d see what the allure was, got in, covered up and I must have fallen asleep instantly.  I don’t think I had a seizure, I usually end up waking up crying and don’t sleep it off.  Holy crap it is 1:00 almost, that’s almost 3 hours”

“Yeah you slept for awhile, it was 2 hours since I first checked on you.  We’re stopping at a rest area to get out and stretch and eat some, better get out of there before David sees” I said as he had already sat up and I unlatched the gate.  I could tell he needed to get changed as well.

I left the bedroom and he followed shortly in what I assumed was a clean diaper. David went in and got himself changed as we pulled into the visitors center.  We grabbed our trash, including the quickly filling diaper pail, and got out and stretched as we disposed of the trash.

Maggie was happy to be out of the RV as were the teens.  Really I was glad to be out of the RV too.  It was nice to get into the sunshine.  We were in the middle of Nebraska, with nothing really around.  We got some subs out of the fridge and sat at the shelter house to eat.  After an hour we hit the road again, Max and I switched the driving duties.

We drove until about 5:30 before stopping at a McDonalds that we could park at.  We changed drivers, got some sandwiches and chicken nuggets before heading to our campground at a state park, we were a day earlier than expected.  We were tired and did not want to have to cook that night.

The next morning Carl and Maria cooked breakfast sandwiches before we set off.  We stopped along the way and rented a SUV to go into the park with.  We decided when we planned the trip to not stay in the national park, as their campgrounds do not have RV hook ups. 

We pulled into Estes Park, found our campground and spots where we would camp for 4 days. We got leveled, hooked up, and slides out.

“Ok, ready to head into the park?” I said

“Almost ready, just packing some bags” Maria said

Max and I grabbed the yeti cooler and our 2 gallon drink dispenser. from the garage area that morning and had loaded it up with bags of ice.  We had filled the fridge with bottles of sports drinks, and juice boxes last night, so they were cool. Both RV’s have pretty good water filters, and we use water containers in the fridge too to always have fresh cold water.  We all had metal water containers that kept water cold all day.  My mom had put everybody’s name on their container with her vinyl cutter.  The last time I was out here I went through lots of water to stay hydrated.

Max filled the cooler with a layer of ice on the bottom, then I started tossing drinks to him as he put them in the cooler along with layers of ice.  Carl came over with some sandwiches for later on in water tight containers, which we put in the cooler and put some more ice on top.  Then they carried the cooler out and put it in the back of the SUV.

Max came back in as I was grabbing some more supplies for a picnic.  I had checked my camera bag and diaper bag to be sure I had all I needed.  One look from Max, and I knew it was time for a change or check, as I was marched to the bedroom.

After getting changed we headed out to the SUV and loaded the picnic supplies, while we put my diaper bag and camera bag in the Fiat.  We then just sat in our lawn chairs and waited for Max’s family to come out.

“Did you feed Zorro this morning?” Max asked

“No, did you?” I asked

“That is your job, then he does not weasel out two bowls of food from us” Max said, as he directed me to feed the kitty

The kitty was fed and now wanted nothing to do with me until he was done…. Fine be that way!

I came out and Carl and Maggie had emerged.  “She’s making sure that we got everything packed, bottle of water?” he said.

Shortly thereafter Maria and the two teens emerged.  I could tell that David was diapered, and Riley looked like he was as well.  I didn’t think he was going to be wearing unless he was at risk to fall asleep, but then again the bathrooms are kind of scarce and ‘rustic’ to say the least?

They loaded up in the SUV, and we in my Fiat and heading towards the park entrance.  We stopped at various turn-outs along the way to see the landscape and shoot photos.  Max’s family was amazed at the beauty of the national park.

Around noon the 2-way radio squaked to life.  “Gotta find a bathroom? Know where any are?” Maria said

“I think there is a picnic area up ahead on the right, there’s probably vault toilets there, not sure” I replied.

Since entering the park there was not cell phone service, not even for a text.  We pulled into the picnic area near the bathrooms.  I see Maggie open the back door and run towards the door, as maria followed her…. Both came out in a couple minutes.  Carl then went in, followed by Max.

Max came back to the car quickly looking like he was retching.  “Oh god, those are nasty.”  To which Maria, Maggie and Carl agreed.  The teens and I just laughed.  We moved to the picnic tables away from the toilet building, so we did not have to smell the stench emanating from there.

We got done eating and David and Riley were whispering to each other. “how are you” “I need to, but not in there they say it’s filthy” “I won’t last much more and don’t want to” “well ask her” “no you ask her”

“David, Riley, do you two need to get changed?” Maria broke into their conversation.

“Uh huh, but not in there” David said

“Yeah not wanting to do that in there either” Riley said

“Are either of you messy, or just wet”

“I am, sorry couldn’t wait longer” David said

“I am about to poop too” Riley said

“Well you have choices, either in the toilet in private, though it smells really bad.  Or in the back cargo area of the suburban and take your chances with other people seeing” Maria said

“I’m not going in there, so I guess the back of the car” David said

“Ugh, neither is a good idea, but I guess the back of the car” Riley said

I had a picnic/beach blanket ground cover called a neat sheet.  I also carry a bunch of magnets in the bag for it too.  We opened the hatch of the SUV and with Max’s help kinda set up a curtained off area for the cargo area.

David went first, since he had already messed, and then Riley after he finished messing.  Both diapers were bagged up and put in the trash.  It was at this point that Maggie made revelation.

“I now see why they wear diapers, that bathroom was nasty, next time I’ll think about just using my pull-up, rather than going in there.” Maggie said revealing that she had been in a pull-up.  Not sure how much of the trip, but could have been the entire trip so far.

We continued on further into the park towards Rainbow curve overlook… Which was another 90 minutes.  Sadly this year the snow lasted late in the year, and this was as far as we could go; the ranger said that they may have it opened tomorrow, as it was pretty much cleared.  Max, Maria and Carl got out to use the bathroom while Riley watched Maggie and David took photos.

“Maggie, do you need to go to the bathroom, it’s going to be several hours before we get back to the camper.  These bathrooms are better than the last ones” Maria said

“Do they flush?” Maggie wanted to know

“No, but they don’t smell as bad, c’mon let’s go” Maria said

“Uhm mommy, I….” Maggie said trailing off.

“Ok, let me get the bag” Maria said as she grabbed what I assumed was a diaper bag from the back of the SUV and then walked Maggie to the bathroom.  They returned several minutes later, to Maggie bouncing towards all of us. 

“Better now sweetie” Carl said

“Uh huh” She replied

I had taken the chance at Rainbow Curve to get my diaper changed as well, which barely was hanging on at that point. 

It was about 4:00 PM, we had been gone since shortly before 10:00 AM, and everybody was getting tired.  Based on how long it took us to get to where we were, it would be probably 2-3 hours back to the campground in Estes Park.  We decided to go back the same way we came so we could check an area that we skipped due to being too busy.  Otherwise, we could have come out another entrance and been closer to the campground.

Almost three quarters of the way back it started hailing and sleeting, which turned into a big rainstorm.  We discussed dinner plans, and decided to go out to eat.  The kids wanted to get pizza, Carl and Maria were looking for a good sit down dinner, maybe steak and burgers.  I could really use a good steak, Max said too.

As we entered the park we passed by a steak house, maybe that would be good.  I suggested that which everybody said was fine, but they wanted to go back to the campground first and get changed into some better clothes.

Max got me changed as soon as we walked in and then got into the shower himself.  While he was showering, I looked up some steakhouses and their menus.  One was the better choice since it had a wider menu.  We had to remember that Maggie still would want a kids meal, and not a big steak.

I had called the steak house so they knew we had 7 people, as it could be busy.  They said they would see us at 7:00 pm.  By 6:35 we all were dressed and ready, David had come over and used our back bedroom to get changed and dressed, since there were less people trying to get ready in our RV.

We all headed to the steak house in our respective vehicles.   I had asked if I was allowed to drink at dinner that night and Max said it was ok, but only 2 drinks and that was it, as he has heard I can’t hold my liquor.  It didn’t matter anyway, because when we got there I noticed that they had milkshakes on the menu, and being the kid that I am, that is what I ordered.

Oh my! That steak was so good, everybody loved the food they got too, yeah it was a little expensive, but we had been eating McD’s and basic food on the trip, it was nice to get a good meal.

We got back to the campground and sat around the campfire for a few hours, just talking and chatting. One by one the kids went off to bed, and soon it was my time to go to bed too Max said.

The plan the next day was to drive out to bear lake and go hiking around the lake.  The next morning we packed up our vehicles along with food for a picnic, and diaper bags and headed out.

The drive was only 15 miles but it took over an hour due to the twists and turns on the road and lower speed limits in the park.  Plus you know people stopping to take photos and stuff. 

We arrived and got our walking gear out as this trail was paved.  We started walking and about half way around the lake I could see that both Riley and David had stopped for a moment to use their diapers.  However Maggie was looking worried and asked her mom where the bathroom was. To which her mom told her that it was back where the cars were parked, and she leaned down and they whispered something back and forth and they continued to walk, stopping once and looking at something and then staying to the back.

We made it back to the parking lot and everybody decided it was time to go to the bathrooms.  I needed a change, both twins, and to my surprise Maggie as well. I was not aware that Maria had her wearing the pullups, but she must have.

“We are quickly running out of those, I only packed enough for night time and the occasional accident, and you’ve gone through 2 at least each day since we’ve been here.” Maria said

“I can’t help it, there’s never a bathroom around and the ones there are, they are so gross.” Maggie said, getting upset

“Well we will need to go to wal-mart tomorrow and see if they have anything” Maria said.

We all ate the picnic lunch that we had, hydrated some more and then headed back down bear lake road to the main highway.  Since today was a nicer day we drove back up to Rainbow Point and on over the mountain into Grand Lake.  By the time we made it there it was close to 3:00 and we really could not stay that long, but we grabbed a quick snack and headed back to Estes park where the RV’s were.

That evening we decided to just grab some pizzas and head to the RV park for the evening.  Tomorrow we were going to re-stock on provisions and such, maybe do some shopping in town.

I found out the last time when I was here, there was no walmart for 60 miles, just a Safeway and some specialty shops.  First stop was Safeway which was not as packed as it was the days before when we drove by, but the shelves had been picked over.  We were able to get the basics that we needed, meat, eggs, cheese, frozen food, cat food (it never hurts to grab a bag when you can.), milk, etc…

What Maria did not find was any of the larger sized pull ups that Maggie had been using.  She found a medical supply store about 2 miles away and they were open and she had discretely called and they did carry youth diapers that should work.

“OK we can stop by there after we’re done here” Maria said

“Why not take the Fiat and we will meet you after.  I think we are going to hit up the hardware store next” I said

“That sounds like a plan, David did you want to ride along?” Maria said, knowing that the SUV was tight unless one of the teens rode in the Fiat.

“Sure” David replied.

We got all our groceries paid for, loaded into the SUV and then headed around the shopping center and eventually to the hardware store, which was more like a grocery store without groceries… they had everything but food.

Eventually Maria caught up with us as we were in the hardware store.  Maggie looked none too happy either.  On the ride back to the campground,  David said that the store they went to did not have pull-up type diapers, just the tape on kind, and Maggie was not happy about those, but her mother made her try them on and got several bags of them anyway and made her wear the sample out of the store.

We dropped the groceries off at the RVs and then headed back into town and walked around at the shops and such, got ice cream, chocolates, and such.  We stopped into an outerwear store that I had been in before.  Needless to say I and David both got some hickory striped overalls, and an engineers cap.  I will certainly have mine sent to my seamstress for some snaps in the legs.

We walked around until about 4:00 and then decided to get something to eat for dinner, as we had stuff to do back at camp.  I had started Max and I’s laundry before we left, so first thing I did was put it in the dryer when we got back.  Maria brought a load of laundry over and I started it, then we started getting ready to watch a movie on the TV outside my RV.  First one was a kids movie, animated… so during that time, Carl and Maria slipped back to their RV to get showers and ready for bed, then they sent each of the Teens to get showers, David used our shower.  Maria switched her first load of laundry to the dryer and then started a second load in the washer.

David and Riley both emerged from the RVs in just their onesies and diaper and took their seats and watched the movies.  Maria waited about 30 minutes to let the water heater in their RV recover, and then she ushered Maggie into the RV for her to take a shower and get ready for bed.  They emerged about 20 minutes later as we started the latest Avengers movie.

By the time the second movie was over Maggie, David, Riley and I were pretty much asleep.  We all went into the RV’s and got our last night’s sleep in Colorado.  The next morning we packed up everything, ran through the checklist, dumped the tanks, made sure we were full on fresh water, filled our water bottles, and extra containers before disconnecting.  We stopped and got propane filled up and then hit the road.

We had discussed the night before that we could either drive about 3 hours and stop for the night or we could power through 6 hours and get close to Yellowstone NP.  We decided to get started early, drop the SUV off at the rental car agency and head north.   We drove for about 2 hours, stopped and stretched and topped off on gas, we would do this several more times, as there was a stretch where there was no gas for almost 100 miles, or if we did find gas it was $1.00 a gallon higher than elsewhere.

We ended up rolling into Dubois, WY about 6pm.  Having been here before I knew that places closed early.  So I had told the boys to be changed and ready to go as soon as we got parked at the RV park.  The campground had golf carts that we could take around town, so between the fiat and the golf cart we headed the two blocks to a little diner called The Cowboy Café.  Frankly the whole town was a cowboy town, dirt roads and all

Carl and Max wanted to be adventurous and got the Wyoming Wild Platter, which was spicy elk, Buffalo sausage over grilled onions.  Me I got the Swiss mushroom country fried steak, Maggie got chicken strips and fries, Twins got hamburgers and Maria got a steak.  The food never disappoints.  Max and Carl ate it all, but I could tell it was an acquired taste.

We made our way back to the RV park and turned in for the night, we had a short trip tomorrow to get into Yellowstone National Park.  We would stay there for a week and still not see it all.

I found a car rental place that was willing to meet us at the national park and drop off a 15 passenger van for us, and I had reserved 2 camping spots for us next to each other for the week.

It was a 3 hour drive from Dubois to the Moran entrance of yellow stone and another hour more to get to the campground. We got checked in at the campground, started setting up the campsite and then Carl and I went to meet the car rental people at the Grant village general store and get the keys.

Back at the campsite lunch was being fixed, just some hamburgers and potato chips before going over the plan of what we were going to do.  First stop is Old Faithful, then Grand prismatic springs and whatever we find along the way.

Everybody helped clean up after lunch, getting all food and coolers back in the RV’s, we turned on the magic fans, as there were no hookups.  Both RVs had solar and were charging the batteries, and we could run the generators when we got back until 10 pm, but today that would only be about 2 hours. Luckily the batteries in my RV were at about 85% and Carl said they were at 80%

After getting cleaned up, Maria told the boys to get changed into clean diapers if they needed to. David and Riley came to our RV to get changed while Max and I loaded the van up.  Maria directed Maggie into their RV and she emerged a few minutes later in the same outfit, so I guess it was for a diaper change or getting diapered up for the trip.

It was about an hour drive to get to old faithful and as always it is busy busy busy, we got out to the viewing area and found places to sit and take photos.  The wait was about 30 minutes before the eruption of Old Faithful.  I don’t care how many times you’ve see it, it is still amazing.

Next we traveled to Grand Prismatic springs, but we also stopped off at a few pull outs to look for wildlife as well, and seen several bison.

We made it back to our campsite around 8 pm and fired up the generators to get the AC units going in the RVs and top off the batteries.  We ended up making some campfire pizzas with the pizza stones over the campfire; letting them cool down while we ate and relaxed.

The teens decided on their own to get ready for bed before being told to, as Maria had ushered Maggie into their RV and put her to bed.  Max took me inside the RV for us to get ready for bed, and then we joined the others outside around the campfire.

“This has been a really fun trip, thank you for inviting us” Riley said and David agreed.

“Well just remember it, because in a year or so you two won’t want to hang around with mom and dad anymore” Carl said

“Maggie is having so much fun too” Maria said

“Yeah, first time I came through I did not allow myself anywhere enough time to see everything.  There is so much to see here.  Maybe one morning we should get up early and catch a sunrise from a nice overlook in the park.  Tomorrow we’ll drive around this side of the park, the upper and lower falls, etc.” I said

We spent the next day driving to the Yellowstone falls, stopped at the tower general store for some ice cream, and basically driving through the entire park.

We would spend the next few days doing activities like taking a horseback ride, hiking.  One morning Carl, David and myself got up before 5:00 AM and found the perfect overlook and sat there sipping coffee and waiting for the sunrise.  Of course we shot plenty of photos and video as well. David was getting pretty good with a camera, some of his shots rivaled mine.

We were in Yellowstone for a week, before heading eastward, towards our next stop of Mount Rushmore.  We had to stop off in Gillette WY to get supplies that we had ordered (diapers and food), so we stopped there for the night and left that next afternoon. 

It was at this point that I realized that Maggie had pretty much been diapered the whole trip, as Maria had ordered another box of youth diapers for her, to last until we got home.  Of course the twins and I also had more diapers waiting for us.

We made it to keystone, SD the next afternoon and setup camp.  That evening we went to Mt Rushmore to see the monument lit up, via the RV park’s shuttle and then went back the next day to do the full tour.  We also stopped off at Crazy Horse.

At this point we had been out for almost 4 weeks, and everybody was ready to get back home.  I had been checking in with dad about the campground and construction.  Carl and Maria were in close contact with the grocery store and the other two kids.

We had no other places to stop, ok so we stopped in Wall, South Dakota – you have to; other than that we were on our way home, save for the stop at a Dairy Queen in Minnesota to see the Jolly Green giant.

We would drive for a bit, switch drivers and drive some more.  Stop eat, drive some more and stop off for the night.  With having two drivers each we made it home in 2 days.  By this time both RVs needed to have oil changes, and other servicing done.

I will admit it was SO NICE to be in my own bed, I mean crib at home.  We stayed around the house for a few days, and then put the RV’s back out to the campground.

Max and I  stayed out to the campground most of the summer, only taking a 3-4 day trip during the week a couple times.  Mostly we were keeping an eye on the new section of the park that was being built.

Mom and Dad ran most of the management of the campground, and staff with max and I helping out when and as we could.  Carl, Maria and the kids came down some weekends, often David would stay for several days up to a week, followed by Riley as well; usually both were in diapers the whole time. I was beginning to think that Riley was more interested in diapers than he wanted to let on, but at this point it was just unspoken that it was not brought up or made a big deal about it.

The summer played out like the last two, with us closing the campground on the weekend before Halloween.  Everything was pretty much buttoned up by that first week in November, the water shut off, blown out, and the shower house closed up for winter. The construction continued on over the winter as much as it could.

One thing we did when we returned was to go visit Earl at the campground, and see how he was doing.  He was doing about the same as when we left.  We were still working out if we could make a go of owning the campground and running it.  We let him know that we would have an answer in the new year.

On January 5, 2019 we called Earl and made an offer to purchase the campground.  All of us had plenty of time to talk it over, and we decided to buy the campground.  We paid the asking price that Earl wanted, and when he asked if he could stay in the cabin for 60 days after closing just to get his stuff situated and find a place to live; I said that he could stay there for the next 12 months and after that he could rent it for $1 plus utilities.

As soon as we closed on the sale, I had an electrical contractor out and got a bid on making every spot capable of 50 amp.  Got an estimate on what it would take to clear out the woods and expand in the near future.  They mapped out every wire run and ordered all the equipment needed to get up to the challenge and as soon as the ground had thawed got to work.   The contractor setup shop in the campground and would basically update the park map with what sites were open and what ones were closed.  The project goal was to get it all done before we opened in early May, latest was memorial day weekend.

By the time we opened up for the season in early May, the electrical project was 90% done and was finished that next week.  The campground was booked almost every weekend in advance, and I hired 6 part-time, and 4 full-time employees, to help out, so there was a total of 12 of us working, plus earl still helped out around the office often just covering the phone or holding the desk chair to the floor.  He just wanted something to do.

The second week in June, I got up to find Earl’s house dark, and my calls unanswered.  I went over and knocked on the door and got no answer.  Having a key for this scenario I entered and he was quite sick.  We got the squad out and he got to the hospital, and when he came home we knew it was near. 

The second week in July, I got a call from the hospice nurse that it was time.  Earl’s son had came out from the west coast a week earlier, and we put him up at the local hotel and he was on his way.  True to our agreement, he was able to live out the rest of his time in the cabin he built.

The campground was different the rest of the season.  Earl’s son had cleaned out what he wanted form the cabin and said to do whatever with the rest.  Mom, Max, Dad and myself cleaned the place top to bottom…  Putting things in piles of Save,  send to his son,  send to goodwill, and trash.  We worked off an on for 2 weeks, and once cleaned out, we started fixing it up.  New windows, new flooring,  new furniture.  This ended up being a lodge with 5 bedrooms, we put a hot tub in as well on the back deck.

Of course Max’s family came down, we put them up in the new lodge, and they loved it.   David and Riley each stayed with us as well on their own.  I don’t think I saw David ever out of a diaper the entire time he was at camp.  One weekend when they all came, David brought his friend Will too, and I think one night around the campfire I saw the outline of a diaper under his shorts too.  Maybe David found a special friend.

When Riley stayed with us, he was still wearing at night for bedwetting that he had developed (or possibly claimed to have developed).  He seriously was a different person than that first time I met him.

We had a good income and great campers that summer.  We had very little problems with campers, and the ones that we did have were quickly resolved.  Maintenance issues were limited to things like broken water and electric pedestals, clogged toilets and showers.  We were able to keep most of the work in house.  Though our lowes account got plenty of use.  Sometimes it is better to just buy the tools you need than to rent them over and over.

We ended up doing almost double the income that first year. We raised the camping fees 10%, but were almost 100% full the entire summer, most of the seasonal people came back from last year, and the holiday weekend people booked for next year too.  We had lumber clearing contractor come and we were able to add 15 more spots with electric only, another 15 for primitive camping, with the plan to finish them all out with water and electric.

Like the previous year, we planned to close that last weekend in October, winterize everything and have our RV’s out of there and hit the road for the winter.  Dad had scheduled the part-timers who wanted to do winter stuff to check on the place.  Really there was not much to do, make sure no trespassers were in there, check for damage in the buildings, check for downed trees, plow the lane, etc.

This off-season we would be completing many projects.  The lumber clearing company was able to clear out about 15 more spots, which got us up to 75 spots.  The electrical and plumbing contractors would be out when or if the weather permitted it.

Before we closed down we had already sold a good portion of sites to seasonal campers for next year.  The campground was definitely turning a profit and I had no qualms about re-investing. 

One of the other big things that we decided to do with the profits of the campground was to purchase another 16 acres on the other side of the campground, through the wooded area surrounding the north and east end.

The area was still mostly wooded, with an area in the middle cleared.  Somebody had once had an old hunting camp there, but the cabin had long since burnt down.  Earl had told me one time that the owners allowed people to walk the trails back in there as long as they did not cause issues years ago, but had since revoked that privilege.  So even before he passed we had been looking at the land. 

One day I called the owner up, gave him a price for the plot of land, which was about what it was worth, he settled on our offer.  I then set about our plans.  We were going to build (or buy) cabins for group camping, so we could host private events.  One big bunkhouse, and several smaller single bedroom cabins that can sleep 4.  I had an architect draw up plans for a bunkhouse that had 6 large bedrooms and 4 large bathrooms, large open floorplan with kitchen.  This would take about 2 years total to complete, with needing to get the utilities out there first, so it would take some time.  The utility work would start as soon as we closed and be done at the same time as the other work in the campground.

This new area was going to stay wooded and would be gated off from the rest of the campground.  We wanted to keep it as a private group camp.

Max and I again ventured over to eastern PA for the ABDL convention, and this time I had even more fun and not as much con drop either.  We then headed down the coast to Florida for a month to ourselves, before trying to re-do what we missed last Christmas with my folks, minus the broken arms. 

It was nice to relax with no place really to go at any particular time, no phone ringing in the office, camper issues, and more.  After breaking both arms, I finally became more comfortable with being little around my folks.  I also did not care who saw me in little clothes or in little mode.  I did not do dumb stuff like run around in just a diaper, but if I went out and was obviously diapered, I did not care.  Even the hushed whispers and stares no longer bothered me. 

Mom and Dad stuck around Florida with us until the new year of 2020, and then we all agreed to move on down the road, my mom and dad were on track for the Grand Canyon, which I had given them all the notes and such that I had on where to stay and what to do.  I let them know all the places I stayed along the ways.

Max and I kind of meandered around the southeast for a bit, headed west along the coast, ended up being about 3 days behind mom and dad, but they decided to stay a few days in Tucumcari and recharge, so we ended up catching up with them about 5 days later in the Grand Canyon.

We ended up going to the winter places in Ehernberg, Lake Havasu and such.  Mom and Dad were both semi-retired, and had nothing to really get back home to until the campground opened.

As it became warmer, mom and dad started heading towards home.  Dad was going to be my point of contact on the construction projects around the campground and the new land.  We followed them kind of zig-zagging towards the Midwest.  We would be a day or two behind, and they would scout out places and we would meet up for a day and they would go ahead.

By the first  of March we had made it back to around Indianapolis, where we parted ways.  Max and I had tickets to an AB event in Chicago.  After that event we decided that we were going to explore this summer.  Mom and Dad said they would handle the campground, I had given dad full control over everything he would want to do , including hiring and firing.  Over the winter we had to fire one of the guys.  He had thought that he could throw a party at the lodge without asking since we were out of town.  NOPE! We know when that gate is opened, closes and how long it is opened, plus we keep cameras going all the time.

While traveling we learned about an idea to keep our payroll down, work campers.  People who want to make some money, and exchange camping spots for working.  We talked with some of the camp hosts about what they liked the most, hated the most, and what they thought a good balance was.  We were going to try to entice some people who would be interested in doing the coming season.

We wound down the campground and closed mid October with a fall harvest party / trick or treat. We were so worn out from all the work that we did the past 5 months or so maintaining the campground and running it, that we just wanted to relax.

That final night, after all the campers were gone, Max and I were sitting outside around the campfire, when I see Earl walking over towards us.  “Mind of I join you two?” He said as he sat down on one of the stumps.

“Sure, want something to drink?” I said as I opened the cooler

“Naw, I got my coffee” He replied.  “You guys did a good job this year, heck I don’t think I ever had a season as busy as you all did this year.  These last few years my energy has been going down, I haven’t had the strength to devote to this place like I wanted to.  I had planned on clearing out the woods on the other side of the fishing pond and putting electric to there, but I just never could get caught up enough to do it.”

“Yeah it was great” Max chimed in

“Boys, I don’t have that much time left.  I have stage 3 liver cancer, and it looks like it is going to go to stage 4 despite all the chemo.  I’m done.  Docs say I have maybe 12 months, but most likely 6.” Earl said

“Oh my, I am so sorry, I did not know” I said

“I never wanted it to be known as it would influence the sale.  I spent 30 years building this place up with my wife, it was our love, we started out with nothing but the cabin and the lower pond and started having friends camp out, and slowly we bought more land and worked on building it up to what it is.  My wife died alone in a nursing home, I am not leaving here until the funeral home comes to get me.”

“I hope you get your wish.  Have you got anybody looking in on you, helping you out?”

“My son is on the west coast, he is busy with his family, the calls got fewer and fewer.  I called him last week and he wants me to move out there, but I want to stay right here.” Earl said

“I can totally understand that, we will be pulling our RV’s out tomorrow, and getting our stuff out of the office and cleaned up and winterized.  We will get everything closed up for you, as our lease ends November 1.” Max said

“You boys are more than welcome to come by whenever.” He said

Earl bid us farewell, and went back to his cabin.  I knew that if we would buy this place, the cabin would be Earl’s home as long as he was alive and wanted to stay there.

Max and I talked into the night about purchasing the campground.

“I think this was a good investment for the season.  What do you think about purchasing the place?  We grossed about $75,000, and I think upgrading the non-rv sites, and clearing out the woods to add another area for camping, adding a few more could bring that higher.  We could open earlier and possibly stay open a bit later in the season” I said

“We all will have to sit down and decide, you just can’t decide to do this and not have a plan.  You should discuss this with your folks first to see if they want to do this again.  You also need to hire some people, we were quite busy this year.  The 4 of us cannot run this place on our own…we’re gonna get burnt out” Max said

The next afternoon we packed up both RV’s, and readied them for the road.  We were back out later that afternoon with dad helping us close up the campground.  We shut the water off and drained out as much of the underground pipes as we could. Blew them with air and pumped them.  The bath house was closed up as well, winter coverings were fastened up, same as with the lodge.  Earl said the only thing that should be left on in the lodge is some heat, as the office line he transfers to his cell in the winter.

We told Earl we would be checking on him, as he was getting more worn out with his illness and treatments.  He had all our numbers and we told him to call if he needed anything and we would be talking it over about purchasing the place in the next month or so.

Max hopped into the first RV and I guided the new RV out of the spot and down the lane.  I stopped and closed the gate at the end of the lane.

That Tuesday like we had been doing for the past several months, it was dinner with my parents, Wednesday night dinner with Max’s parents. 

“So dad, what are your thoughts on the campground?“ I asked my dad

“Well it was fun running it this year, but do you really want to spend all summer there, and not be able to travel?” He said. “Your mom and I liked being out there but we could not run it all by ourselves, we’d need help and also would not want to be stuck there all summer either.  If we were to buy it, we’d need more than just us 4 doing it.  You would need to hire some people.” He said

“How many more people do you think we would need?” I asked

“Probably 2 full time and/or 4-5 part timers, maybe another maintenance skilled person like me.” Dad said “that is just to run it as well as we did this year and allow us to step back”

“So about 8 people?” I asked

“Yeah I think. They could help open the place for the year, cover the office and the maintenance work”

We crunched the numbers and talked on and off the next couple weeks.  We were all still on the fence about it.  On one hand it was great to have a place to stay and have fun, and it was a fun project, but on the other hand it was a lot for us to do and more than my dad and mom wanted to handle.

Finally Max told me that the campground talk had to end for the next 2 weeks.  I was being too grown-up and he wanted his little toddler back.

Max and I were off to the ABDL convention again this year, then we did a long trip towards home.  The whole time, there was no talk about business ventures, just Daddy and I enjoying each other.

So my Christmas of 2017 and New Years 2018 was spent being an invalid.  I spent 2 months in casts on both arms, and when they were finally healed it was so great.

The weekend after I got the casts off we took a trip to Fort Wayne to celebrate Riley and David’s 13^th birthday.  Max and I got Riley an X-box gift card, David had wanted  the same.  We also got both a case of diapers, Riley plain ones, and David some printed ones, along with about another 10 cloth diapers for both with their names sewn into the back. They got the diapers when we got back from dinner that night. 

I must say it is unique to see two 13 year olds not totally horrified by getting diapers, actually they were more than happy to get them.

Once I was free of my casts and able to use my hands again, I wanted to see about getting a new place to camp for the summer.

We looked at some other campgrounds, found some nice places, but their rules were either too lax or too strict.   The final place we drove by, which was about 10 miles from my house, was closed with a for sale sign.  We called the number on the sign and it was the current owner’s number.  He said that he just could not open this season with his health and decided to sell.  He said that it was pretty much ready to open for the year, but he just could not devote the time it needed.

We set an appointment with him for Tuesday to see the property, just to get a feeling about if this would be a good investment.

“Hey! you know I will follow you to heck and back and support you, but you don’t know anything about running a campground, and do you want to be tied to a business this entire summer?” Max said, trying to stop those wheels from spinning.

“Yeah you’re right, but can we at least just meet him and see what he is asking and what work needs.  My dad has worked construction for years, and is pretty handy.” I said

“OK, we will look at it and talk about it, but we won’t be jumping into something without fully talking it over with all involved” Max said

I had texted my dad to see if he could spare some time to help me look about it.

On that Tuesday, Max, Myself and my dad met at the small campground I was looking at.  It had maybe 30 spots and 20 of them were RV spots, with the a few others just having 15 amp electric and water, and the others just primitive. It had a nice office/camp store. Swimming lake and fishing pond, shelter house, shower house and bathrooms.  My dad did the looking about stuff, tested outlets and water, inspected the structures.   

“Jase it looks pretty solid, just some minor repairs and cleaning, nothing that can’t be done quickly.  The pedestals are all pretty new, GFCI’s not sharing with the water outlets. I’d have to crunch the numbers and see what you think is fair, but it’s your money.” Dad said

“So would you be interested in a 1 season lease option, just to see if this would work.  We would manage it, you retain ownership of the property.  Then we can see if a purchase would work?” I asked

“Well. I hadn’t thought of that, I was hoping to take the money for the sale and then have to find a new place to live.” The owner said

“So you live on the property?” Max said

“Yes I have the cabin right across from the office, that would be the owner’s cabin” He said

“Well let us talk this over this week and get back to you” Max said

I agreed and so did dad.  We talked it over that night and came up with a proposal to give to the owner.

We would take over the running of the campground and open within 30 days. We would pay a minimum amount each month or 35% of the gross space income.  In exchange we would make the needed repairs, he can still stay in the owners cabin and would not need to do anything at the campground.  He would basically be a permanent camper. 

My dad was ready to retire and wanted something for him and mom to do, I was getting tired of not working and traveling every other day or so.  Dad and Max would handle the maintenance stuff and mom and I run the office.

We wrote it all out and presented it to him the next day and he said yes.  Our lease ran from May 1 to November 1

The next two weeks we spent time at the campground learning as much as we could from Earl, the owner, who was not my former landlord Earl.  He said that he would still be around if we needed him, but he was not able to do much in terms of work other than maybe cover the office for a bit.

We moved both RV’s to the campground and parked the older one up next to the lodge. Then we parked our new RV on the best looking spot too.

We painted, cleaned, scrubbed and mowed.  We added WiFi to the lodge, and put several repeaters where we could.  The first thing I had done was get ahold of a pond company, we got the swimming pond as clean as we could do, I wanted blue water and no algae.  It took about 3 weeks of almost daily treatments, but we got it clean.  Then 2 truck loads of sand and we have a sandy beach.  Just in time for memorial day.

We had been open since that first weekend, at a discounted rate while we got things fixed up.  Our constant social media posts and advertising had the phone ringing off the hook the week before memorial day with last minute campers. 

We advertised as a family campground, for families and those who want a quiet peaceful experience.  It was amazing how many people wanted just that.  Quiet hours at 10 PM through the week and 11 PM on Friday and Saturday nights.

Memorial day we were fully booked, I don’t think I was tucked in until way after midnight that Friday night, and I lost track of the time Saturday and Sunday night.  Monday as the campground cleared out it was time to relax.  After an afternoon nap, Max got me dressed in my shortalls, printed onsie and a ball cap and let me go over to the playground and play, and then I came back and played outside with my cars in the playpen.

Earl was out on his golf cart and stopped by.  “So you really are a toddler aren’t you.  I knew you were young at heart, but did not know how young you were. Hey you do you” He said with a chuckle, wave and he was off.

I had a nice time playing and then Max said I had to be a grownup for a bit and come into the office. We did the accounting from the weekend. We factored in the 35% cut to Earl as an expense, add in the other expenses to get started and we were still a ways to go before we broke even.

June and into July was still just as busy as that first weekend.  By the end of June we were turning a profit.  Mom and Dad were doing pretty good holding down the fort, so after July 4^th Max and I decided to take a week on the road and went up to Put-in-Bay.  We were lucky to find a spot at a campground.  We took the Fiat over to the island via ferry one day, then after that we just rented bikes or a golf cart once we got there.  It was a nice week, but we had to get back to the campground by Friday afternoon.

We had Max’s parents up for a weekend, and David stayed with us for a little over a week, of course he stayed diapered almost the entire time too, even when we had many campers with kids his age.  He’d be running around with his plastic pants showing above his waistband of his shorts and cloth diapers are hard to hide too.  Since we were running the campground, there were no complaints from others.  David never said a thing if anybody said anything to him about his diapers or not. 

Maria and Carl said that pretty much the entire summer he was diapered.  A few times even when he had friends over, without a care. Hopefully he will be ready to get out of them when school starts again.

By Labor Day weekend we were all ready for the campground to start dying down.  We had been at  capacity since memorial day.  The expenses for the improvements well paid for themselves. Earl was happy and Mom and Dad liked their cut of the profits. 

We were going to stick around until after Thanksgiving.  The Wednesday before thanksgiving we drove up to Max’s parents, we parked at the store and took the fiat over to their house.  We were going to help his mom get stuff ready for the feast the next day and visit while Carl closed the store.

We had parked in the parking lot of the grocery store so many times, that Carl ended up running a electric outlet out to one of the light poles, we had a key to the outlet box so nobody else could use it.

 As soon as we walked in David ran to the door and gave me a hug; I could tell he was thickly diapered under his sweatpants. He then proceeded to hug Max, and wanted to show me some new stuff he got.  He had saved up his allowance to get some printed onesies like I had and a pair of footed PJ’s too.  “That’s cool buddy”, I thought thinking back to how it all started with me that many years ago

 “I pretty much came home from school and got diapered today.  I do that often.  Mom and dad are ok with it too” He said, like it is something totally normal for a 12 year old to be doing

 “If that’s what you want to do, but you don’t want to stay stuck in the house all the time, playing in your diapers.  You need to have time with your friends too, so don’t let diapers take over your life” I said

 “I understand, mom and dad tell me the same stuff too.  I wore diapers pretty much all summer, it was hard for me to go back to school and be out of them.  I almost had an accident once.” He said

 “Yeah, at this point, there’s no way I could go without mine.  It’s been 26 months now.” I said

“This summer my friend Will was over here, and I had a diaper on and he saw it.  He said he would not tell anybody and I don’t think he has” David said

“Yeah you have to be careful, as many people don’t understand and just want to embarrass you or make fun of you.” I said, wanting to warn him of the perils of telling others you think you can trust, only to find out you are wrong.

“I don’t think he will do that, he slept over and asked to try one on too and wore it all night” He said

“Well that’s nice.  We better get to the kitchen to help your mom before she sends Max into get us” I said

Max and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with his folks and then went out to dinner with mine the next afternoon.

After that we headed down south again to Florida, down to Key West for a week, then outside Orlando for another 3 weeks.  We were enjoying the sun, sand and warmth greatly, I had already gotten a space for my folks at the campground and they were supposed to be down the week before Christmas, driving the old RV.

About a week before they were to arrive, I was helping Max carry some stuff out of the RV and I opened the door and stepped out and fell flat on my face.  I missed the top step entirely and fell to the ground.  I immediately felt a very sharp pop in my wrists followed by the searing pain in both.  I tried to get up but could not, then all I could do was wail for daddy.  Max ran to the door and hopped out noticing me on the ground. 

“Oh my god what the hell happened” Max yelled as a small crowd began to form.

“I dunno my arms and hands hurt so much daddy” I cried

a camper said he called 911, and another came over and looked at me and said it looked broken.

The pain was so bad I think I passed out, i’m a big baby about pain.  I woke up when the ambulance came and I was loaded up on the stretcher.  Max did not come but said he would be right behind us in the car.

I was so scared and in pain, but they gave me some stuff to dull the pain.

The ER doctor had me x-rayed and CAT scanned, but I was pretty much out of it form the pain meds.  I remember somebody saying “this is going to make you really sleepy and when you wake up we’ll be done”

Next thing I know I was waking up in another room and it was night time.

“Hey buddy” Max said as he caressed my hair, you’ve been through a lot, just rest.

“What, ow!!” I said as I tried to move a bit

“I don’t know what happened, it was like you missed the top step and then could not get your footing on the bottom one. When you fell you broke your left wrist, and a bone in your right arm, and twisted an ankle too.  You’re pretty messed up” Max said

I had moved my legs because I didn’t feel that normal thickness in between my legs.  “Daddy, am I diapered?”

“No buddy, they put a tube up there” He said, which made me wince, since I knew what he meant.

The nurse came in and asked if I thought I could hold down some water or 7up, to which I tried, a bit later they brought me a protein shake to get me nourished as I hadn’t eaten all day. 

I asked if they could take the tube out and let me get diapered back up like I normally am, nope, had to remain in until the morning.

Both of my arms were in big casts, with pins sticking out, and my ankle was wrapped up.  The doctors wanted me to stay in the hospital for a couple days just to make sure my head CT looked better, I guess I banged my head a little.

It was a good thing that I had made max my medical POA so he could be there with me.

I was still pretty tired, and the pain meds made me even more sleepy.  Max had run back to the RV while I was in surgery and said the neighbors were asking about me.  He grabbed my teddy bear and some diapers and ran back before I awoke, so my teddy bear was with me.

Max stayed all night with me, only leaving the next morning to get breakfast.  He had called my parents and they were on their way in my old RV.

Max came back in after they had taken the catheter out and ended up diapering me in one of my diapers, as the hospital ones just sucked.

On the day I got released my parents arrived and were waiting at the RV for me.  My dad and another guy were working on some make shift hand rails for the RV, so I could get in and out easier.

Max took his care giver job very seriously, which included feeding me, as I had no use of either arm for feeding. 

Between Max and my mom, they took great care of me for the two weeks we were down there before I was allowed to travel.  One day my mom and Max were out getting groceries, and I was left with dad taking care of me.  Unfortunately the stool softeners that they gave me to overcome the constipation that the pain pills gave me won and, I had an accident.  

“Hey dad, I’m going to need some help.  I hate to ask and if I knew when mom or max were coming back I could wait, but I need changed, I’m messy” I said sheepishly

“It’s ok, but just to let you know, I am not nor have I ever been good at this diaper stuff, even when you were a baby” He said as he paused the show he was watching.

He directed me to the bedroom where the changing mat had been left out.  I pointed out where all the supplies he needed were, and he got started.  I’ll admit my dad was not too bad, sure he gagged, I gagged too.

Mom and Max came back right as dad had gotten me changed into a fresh diaper.

“Tim, you never changed diapers before. You always brought him to me to do it when he was little” My mom said

“Well he was stinking up the place and you two were gone so long” dad said

“Thanks dad”

Two days after Christmas I was cleared to travel and we all hit the road.  Dad had towed his little S-10 truck down with them. They got it hitched back up.

We had flown Max’s oldest brother down to Florida the day after Christmas and he was going to help Max drive back so they could switch off and on.  We didn’t really stop and see anything much on the way back, as the goal was home.

When we stopped, I would usually order things like milkshakes and max would mix in protein powder and I’d order finger foods and mom or Max would feed me as well.

It took us 3 days to get home, but it was so nice to be home, where things are not cramped and tiny. 

We ended the camping season, Max said to hold off on winterizing and storing the old RV.  Max said that we had some fun trips planned, but it was a surprise that he would tell me this weekend.  We had made reservations for our favorite restaurant for that Saturday.

We had just got dessert and finished when Max pulled out a yellow envelope.  “Now I have a surprise for you little one.  I know you love to have me as your daddy, and you like to chat with your friends online, but daddy has found something fun for both of us.  We are going to an ABDL convention.  A whole weekend of you being little and being with other littles and having fun.” Max said

I really did not know what to say, I had only heard about these events but never had the funds, or time to go to them. Even when I had the funds, it just seemed that I was either too late to get a ticket, like the first year.  This year I didn’t know what our schedule would be, would we be in the area in time.  Plus I thought that an ABDL convention might be too overboard for Max, as the tickets were going on sale when we were early in our relationship.

“I thought they sold out?” I said surprised that he was able to get tickets

“Well Daddy got tickets about 6 months ago, remember when you had asked me what our plans were for the future? Yeah I already had the tickets by then.  I figured if we broke up, I’d still give you your ticket.” He said

“When were you going to tell me?  This is 3 weeks from now daddy” I said

“I had been trying to tell you for a couple months, but somebody decided to run around to every campground in the state for the summer!!” He said as he grabbed me for a hug, tickle and tussled my hair.  “So you need to make sure you have the outfits and diapers that you want.  I’ll send you the schedule tomorrow morning, because it will be somebody’s bedtime when we get home” He said as he hugged me again.

“Aww daddy it’ll only be 10:30 can’t I stay up longer?” I begged

“Nope, or else you get an even earlier bedtime tomorrow night” he said as he playfully smacked my butt.  I decided not to push it.

The second Wednesday in November, daddy and I hit the road to the east coast for the ABDL convention.  I was so giddy to meet others just like me in person that I barely slept that night before. Daddy took the first shift driving, and I was soon asleep in the passengers seat.  I was only awoken to the RV stopping and Max hopping up and waking me up.

“Hey buddy, did you have a nice rest,  we’re just stopping for gas, and daddy is going to run in and go to the potty.  Did you need a change or need to make poopies?” He said.

“I could probably sit on the potty for a bit, and I’m hungry” I said

“Well why don’t you sit on the potty and I’ll fill up the RV and then we will park and go inside and fill your belly” He said

After fueling up, and eating we were back on the road and I was driving now.  We had arrived about 4:30 pm after leaving at like 5:00 am that morning.  Max had us stop again before we got there to fill up on fuel and propane just for good measure.

We found a space behind the hotel where we were told we could park the RV.  It was the winter time so we did not need a 50amp connection to run the air conditioners, just to keep the fridge running and the furnace blower and lights on, which we could do with a 15 amp plug in and our on-board batteries and generator.  Both of us got registered and then we headed off to the pre-event dinner in the Fiat.

We sat with a few people and told them about ourselves, and to my surprise several of them had seen my YouTube, even though my uploads had significantly fell off the last few months.  We had invited a couple of people back to the RV after dinner to hang out.

The convention started the next day at noon and the next 3 days were a whirlwind of activities, classes, parties and more. Daddy had fun too, he hung out with other Mommies and Daddies too. I swam in the hotel pool.

Our fridge and bulletin board in the RV were now adorned with the artworks I made at the convention, and every night was a late night with us sitting up talking at either the fire pit at the hotel or in our RV with our new found friends.

Sunday was a sad day as it all ended, but I made many new friends there, and hoped to see them again on our travels.  About two hours into the trip home the con drop hit me, I don’t know why but I started just crying.  I was so happy to have the time, but so sad it ended.  I thanked Max for going with me and getting the tickets too.

We decided to take the ‘less travelled’ route home, I was driving and still in a bit of a funk when Max punched in an address in the GPS and told me to follow it.  We turned and twisted through a little town before stopping at a fast food restaurant in the middle of nowhere.  It had a big cow on the sign.

I had not noticed where we were, as I was too busy making sure the RV and car were clearing all the turns.

“Ok hopefully this will cheer you up some.  Let’s go get you some ice cream before they close for the night.” He said, to which I bolted from the RV and into the shop.  I got the biggest sundae they had called the Cattle Trough, 3 scoops of ice cream, warm cookie and a warm brownie.  Max got a double scoop of ice cream and we headed back to the RV. 

Max had the high chair setup, the tray on the counter along with a bib for the inevitable mess.  He made me put my sundae on the counter while he got the tray on the chair and the bib on me, then he let me have my ice cream while he put on the TV on Nick Kids.  I had ice cream all over my face, hands, the tray, the bib, etc.  When I was finished Max grabbed a handi wipe and cleaned my hands and face off then proceeded to clean the high chair with a Clorox wipe before taking the bib off and letting me down.

We ended up staying there in the parking lot overnight and left the next morning with 4 pints of ice cream that we bought the next morning.  Max said he found a new website called Farm Fans where you are able to stay in parking lots of farms and wineries and such as long as you support the business and are gone the next morning.

We made it home that afternoon and started laundry. We had about 4 loads.

When I bought the RV it was big enough for me, but now I got ‘family’ and it is a little small, also we want to be more self-contained when on the road.  I got upgrade fever. 

Since I have had almost a year and a half on the road with this RV I know what I like and what I don’t.  I also know that I have the funds to get what I want, so it was time to start making a list.  On my wish list was a bigger fridge, washer/dryer, bigger bedroom and more sleeping than the sofa and dinette (I just hate having to convert something each night for a guest).

We got the laundry done and daddy said that we can go talk to the RV people and see what they have, but no buying today.  I agreed that we were just looking.

We went to the same place that I bought the current one at, I figured I would let them have first crack at us.

“So what is it I can help you and your son with today?” The salesman said.  To which I pulled out my list of stuff I wanted. 

“We’re looking for an RV no more that 32 feet with the following; larger than normal fridge, two beds in the back, bunk house or bunk over cab elsewhere, washer and dryer…. ” as I read off the list.  Only to be dismissed as he turned to Max and made a comment about I got a nice wish list there.

“In the end he’s the one you are selling to, not me” Max said, but I don’t think the guy really caught on.

We saw a few like 10 different ones, talked about all the customization I wanted, like graphic colors, interior trim, rear bedroom configurations, and more.  I got prices and we left to hit up another place and re-do it all over again.  We sat down that night and discussed what we liked and disliked about each model, sales guy and pricing and time-frame.

We ended up going back to the first place, but I insisted that somebody else make this sale.  I was just a little burnt that Max had clearly said that I would be the purchaser and the guy continued to ignore me. 

We ended up working with the sales manager, placed an order for a new class A 32 foot RV.  I wanted to keep the length as short as possible as some of the places we camped only allow 30 foot plus the car, and sometimes we have to leave the car elsewhere.  It had a little bit bigger fridge, the largest we could get that runs on 3-way power. Bunk over the cab, and 2 bottom beds in the back, double slides in the bedroom, kitchen slide too and and the dinette was a u-shaped one that was not hard to convert if we had to.  We had the space over the cab, that lowered down, which worked for us.  Best all, the washer and dryer.  It was a small stacked unit, but it did not need to be that big, as we could still do the laundromat for large things like the bed sheets or large loads.

It was going to take 3 months to get it and then another week to prep it the way we wanted it. Like building the custom crib on the other bed, hey when you have the money, people will do custom work.

This means one last big adventure in the old RV.  We had driven through West Virginia before but never stopped.  So this time we had some great plans.  We were going to go to Beckley WV and do a coal mine tour, then we wanted to hit some of the state parks, Babcock state park, and black water falls.  Before heading up to Somerset PA to see the Flight 93 memorial, then up into the Allegheny national Forrest for a few days of relaxing.  Before heading up to buffalo NY and then Niagara Falls and into Canada.

Now that it was planned out, we had about a week before leaving.  Time enough to stock up on supplies, and make sure all our plans were going to work out with crossing the border as well.

We stretched that trip out to take about 5 weeks, our first stop was in Hocking Hills State park for two nights, then onto Beckley WV.  The Coal mine experience was fun, as was the museum as well.  We stayed in that area for two nights before moving onto Babcock state park.  We hiked the trails there for about 3 days, getting photos of the mill from all angles, before moving down the road to Blackwater Falls where we hung out for about a week.  The area was totally awesome looking, but was getting busy as we were now mid June.  We did not stay but an afternoon at the flight 93 memorial before finding a nearby camp to stop for the night.

The next morning we packed up and we drove further east to Gettysburg, PA, which is where max wanted to go.  He is more of a history buff than I, but I must admit I did enjoy it, we did a bus tour one day, hit the museums the next day and on the final day went to the Eisenhower estate before just chilling for day 4 and 5.  I took those days to assemble the videos, photos and blog posts, and scheduled them all out. For the next 3 weeks.  These days the posts are becoming more delayed than they used to be, and not as often as before when I was posting 3 times a week.

Leaving out on the 6^th morning we were headed towards Bar Harbor Maine.  It took us about 3 days of driving at the pace we do of 200-250 miles a day, any more and it just is too taxing.  Of course we avoid the tolls like the plague, as it adds up in a RV with a tow vehicle.

  Maine was nice, we hit the bars and seafood houses and relaxed for a few days. We were going to head to Canada and drive back but it was too much of a hassle with us both having our handguns in the vehicle.  We did end up go into to Niagara Falls.  We simply secured our guns in the RV and drove the Fiat over the border and back.

We will have to get the paperwork in order before we attempt to go to Canada or through there in the future. 

After traveling for what amounted to an entire year and 2 months, I was tired. When we left Niagara Falls after 5 days I was ready to be home.  We kind of made it a point to push ourselves to getting as many miles in as we could, doing the 3 on 3 off, eat/sleep then repeat, and we made it home in 2 days.

For the next two weeks we both just chilled out, cleaned the old RV out, took the crib rails down and turned it into a normal bed, cleaned out the fridge, defrosted the freezer, sanitized the tanks.

Max and I had not really decided on what to do with the old RV as we had another one on the way.  The new one had all the solar, batteries, TV’s and such brand new in it, so I did not need to pull any of that out of there.  The old RV was paid for, as was the new one.

I got a phone call on Saturday from the RV dealer saying that the new RV was ready for pickup.  I said that we would be up on Monday.

We spent that Saturday night at my parents for dinner and conversation.

“So what are you going to do with your other RV?” My dad asked

“I am not really sure yet.  It is paid off, and I did not trade it in.  I am thinking about parking it at a nice campground for the summer and have it set up so we can just go out there and not have to drive the new coach out there.” I said

“Your mom and I have always thought about doing the whole RV thing, that’s just a dream” Dad said

“You know we could always work something out.  Maybe we will just put the old one in storage for the winter and re-visit it in the spring, maybe you could take it out for a vacation.  It runs well, has great tires and you know I keep it well maintained”  I said

“Yeah your dad can sleep in the crib” My mom quipped in.

“We took the crib down, it has 2 twin XL beds at the moment.  My bed can be moved and connected to Jason’s to make a split king sized bed.” Max said

 Sunday we went up to a campground and took a look at a spot they had, but really weren’t impressed, so we kept looking.  We went to about 5 different campgrounds that day. Finally we had to settle on some place.  We really weren’t happy with what we got, but we needed 2 spaces next to each other for the next 2 and a half months.

Monday morning I had a 10 AM appointment at the RV dealer.  We pulled up on the lot in the fiat and I knew which one was our new RV.  I had ordered a custom paint scheme of bright red, blue and green.  The representative showed us the features the new RV had, we grabbed the keys, took a quick test drive, tested out the features and were then on the road after having hooked the fiat up to the back of the new RV. I had ordered the same exact car connection system for the new RV just so it would not matter what RV we pulled it with.  This meant I got another set of connectors for another vehicle should somebody else need to connect to the back of one of the RVs.

We now needed to stock the new RV.  I had found a a new diaper pail for the new RV, well it was new to me.  I figured that since we planned to keep the old RV, we needed to keep it stocked somewhat.  I had taken an inventory of what all was in the old RV’s kitchen cabinets, pots, pans, seasonings, utensils, plates and glasses.  I mostly just re-ordered everything I had purchased to furnish the other RV. 

In the diaper department, I already had them packed up in crates, so I just had to load them into the under coach garage and into the bedroom. Soon we had the new RV loaded up and ready to hit the road, but we had other things to attend to first.

At the campground, I paid for the rest of the season for both of the RV’s even though the new one was often not there.  We left the old one there and would have my parents, and Max’s use it that year.

We had Riley, David  and Josh and Michael up a couple days too.  Since the whole blow up at Christmas time last year, when Riley was being punished with having to wear diapers, he had been seeing a therapist for his anger management and was handling his frustrations a lot better now.  What surprised me was the first night that he stayed with us, he got dressed in the back bedroom and came out with a diaper under his shorts.

“Hey buddy, are you still being punished with having to wear a diaper?” I asked being concerned that this diaper punishment had been going on this long still, and it was time for it to stop.

“No, I just sometimes have issues at night, and I don’t want to damage your beds.” He said sheepishly

“When did you start having bedwetting issues?  You weren’t wetting at night before.” I asked

“It started once I started seeing my therapist and sleeping better. My doctor also changed my meds too” He said.  Riley had epilepsy as well, but it was well controlled with medication. 

“Well thank you for being considerate, and I did not mean to embarrass you.  You can either sleep on the sofa bed, or sleep above the cab in the bunk there.” I said, thankful that this RV has the extra space to allow us to use the over cab bunk for sleeping and not storage. 

When he stayed with us, he was perfectly behaved, and took care of his diapers all on his own.  I only knew he was wearing them because when I took the trash out I saw his plain white diapers mixed with my printed ones that I used from time to time.

The second weekend that we were there, we got a letter that our behavior was lewd and would not be tolerated.  We marched up to the office and spoke to the manager.

“Your friend here needs to dress properly.  Another camper claimed he was outside in just a diaper, and he acts like a damn freak toddler.” The manager said getting loud. 

Before I could even respond, Max jumped in. “For starters he NEVER leaves our RV in ‘just a diaper’.  He always has his lower half covered; usually with shorts, but at night he may have went out in just a onsie, still covers his diaper, which unless you were spying on us, you would not be able to notice.  This is why we picked the 2 spots we did so we would have privacy.  Furthermore he is the toddler who never wanted to grow up, and is not hurting anybody.  He also is playing out behind the RV’s out of most people’s sight.” Max continued

 “I have never once lied about who I am.  I am paying just as much as the people who have music and drunken parties going at their campsite until 2 am; which we don’t complain about.  We don’t leave a mess with beer cans strewn about, have our kids and guests making a mess in the public areas either. 

We will not be back next year, and I sure as hell won’t be recommending this place to anybody else after this treatment.  Nobody seems to be having an issue with us except YOU!  The other people close by actually like that we are quiet compared to the other part of the park.” I laid into him, which I think surprised him, as I am usually very docile when Max is around.

We ended up agreeing to disagree and while walking back to the RV Max said that we might have to dial it back a notch to not loose our spot for the rest of the summer. 

That fall we ended up hitting almost every state park campground, where we could be there for a day or two and then moving along to the next spot.  We spent a week along the Lake Erie coast, hit up Cedar Point, the Zoos in Toledo, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus; along with every other animal park we could find. David and Riley enjoyed Cedar Point and the Toledo Zoo too.

That place worked for that year, but we would need a new place, one without the heavy handed rules.

Ch. 23 – Home Sweet Home – when we are there.

On the Friday before Memorial day, we headed towards Indiana, where we stopped for the night, before heading further towards home.  We made a stop in Max’s hometown to see his parents and siblings, and then headed back to my house. I stopped in the road, let the car off, then backed the RV into the driveway, unlocked the garage, and got the RV docked and then into the house to stay for a few weeks.

We spent the next week relaxing, getting the paperwork done on the purchase of the house, and talking over our next adventure, but more importantly where ‘we’ were going.

Our relationship was unique.  I knew he was not attracted to men, I was.  It’s not like I would turn him down, but the spark was not really there between us.  Really my only drive was being little and cared for.  I just felt like I was holding him back, I mean you live with and take care of a overgrown toddler, what is in it for him?  Was I falling in love with somebody who would never be in love with me?  Was he just in it for the money, after all I pay for everything, including the agreed upon student loans for him. Changing a few diapers and babysitting a toddler isn’t such hard work.

“So can you believe it has been 9 months that we have been together running around this country and globe?” I said. “What do you want to do next, we’ve seen the Grand Canyon, Gulf of Mexico, most of Route 66, the Florida keys?”

“I dunno, let me think for a few days.  How about we go to that Italian place in Columbus Saturday night?” He said

“Sure thing” I said, wondering why he would pick out of the blue a fancy restaurant.  Was he up to something?  I tried to get into the question of ‘where are we going in this whole relationship thing?’  I really wanted to know.  Should I let him go, it’s not like he sees me as a lover, he is more of my caregiver, and I know that in good relationships that each party must satisfy the needs of the other. I just wanted to be sure that he knew that I would understand if he wanted to see somebody else or even not be my daddy anymore.

A couple times that week he had taken off in the car saying that he had to go run some errands or do something, or being pre-occupied with his phone.

I had asked if there was something wrong, or something he wanted to talk about, since he had been kind of distant and secretive this week.  He just said there was nothing wrong.  I was beginning to get a little upset.

So when we drove to the restaurant I figured that we would be breaking up or something. As every other relationship I was in they asked to go out to eat to break up so it would not be a scene.

We got there and sat down and Max handed me a fancy looking bib, that is what it was.  We had dinner and made small talk. 

“So have you had a chance to think about what the next adventure is going to be?” I asked

“Honestly, anywhere with you is where I want to go.  That is, if you will have me?” He said

“Sure I will have you, I love having you travel with me.  I just worry that you’re getting nothing out of this relationship.  What’s in it for you?  I know you aren’t attracted to men.”

“I don’t feel attracted to other men, just you.  From the moment I met you on the cruise I was in love, I love that you live so freely, you see the world through the eyes of a child and are who you are.  I cannot imagine being together with anybody else either.  These last 9 months have been the best time I have ever had with anybody.” He said.

That night as Max got me out of my diaper but before re-diapering me, he kissed me on the lips, something he had not done before, usually just on the forehead.  He had me diapered back up and we went to the living room and sat on the sofa, me drinking a warm bottle of milk as he stroked my head.

“So at the restaurant, I asked you what was in it for you in this relationship; tell me?” I asked

“I get the joys of being your daddy and making you happy.  I have never had this much joy with any of my old partners.  Seeing you happy, makes me happy.  I hope I make you happy too” He said

“You do make me very happy to have somebody take care of me, and I am happy that I make you happy too” I said, which I really meant too.

That night I laid in my crib as the stars on the ceiling swirled around and drifted off the sleep.  The next morning I awoke to the smell of bacon and other breakfast stuff.  Now, like a good baby, I stayed in my crib until daddy came in to get me up, even though I could have very well lowered the side rail and climbed out on my own.

“Did daddy’s little boy sleep good last night?” Max said as he popped his head in around the door.

“Um hmm” I said around the pacifier that found it’s way into my mouth.

“Well let’s get your pants changed and get you fed then” He said as he walked in and lowered the crib rail and I crawled out and onto the changing table.

Next I waddled out to the kitchen in just my onsie and diaper and went to sit at the table before being re-directed to the high chair “Little ones eat in the high chair”, he said as I climbed into the high chair and awaited the tray to be snapped onto the arms of the chair.

He had fixed French toast, which he cut into little bites and bacon.  I proceeded to dig in with just my fingers before he could grab a fork for me to use.  I ended up getting syrup all on my hands, face, on the bib, and even in my hair.

“Well you made a mess, time for a bath for you.  How did you get syrup in your hair?” He said.

“I dunno daddy” I said, somewhat trying to get down out of the high chair, but finding that max would not let me touch him.

I had recently switched to cloth diapers when we were in the house, so I did not waste a diaper per-say, it was still dry.  Max got me undressed and bathed me in the tub before leaving me to play in the bathtub with my toys.  I assumed that he was cleaning up the mess on the high chair. 

He returned about 15 minutes later with a big fluffy towel and set it on the vanity before he reached in and pulled the plug in the bathtub.  He then motioned for me to stand up as he started to dry me from top to bottom, finally wrapping me in the towel before directing me to the bedroom.  I climbed onto the changing table and the awaiting cloth diaper.

Once changed into an outfit I helped daddy gather the laundry and we carried it downstairs and started the laundry.

While we waited for the laundry to wash we got to talking about our next adventures.On the Friday before Memorial day, we headed towards Indiana, where we stopped for the night, before heading further towards home.  We made a stop in Max’s hometown to see his parents and siblings, and then headed back to my house. I stopped in the road, let the car off, then backed the RV into the driveway, unlocked the garage, and got the RV docked and then into the house to stay for a few weeks.

We spent the next week relaxing, getting the paperwork done on the purchase of the house, and talking over our next adventure, but more importantly where ‘we’ were going.

Our relationship was unique.  I knew he was not attracted to men, I was.  It’s not like I would turn him down, but the spark was not really there between us.  Really my only drive was being little and cared for.  I just felt like I was holding him back, I mean you live with and take care of a overgrown toddler, what is in it for him?  Was I falling in love with somebody who would never be in love with me?  Was he just in it for the money, after all I pay for everything, including the agreed upon student loans for him. Changing a few diapers and babysitting a toddler isn’t such hard work.

“So can you believe it has been 9 months that we have been together running around this country and globe?” I said. “What do you want to do next, we’ve seen the Grand Canyon, Gulf of Mexico, most of Route 66, the Florida keys?”

“I dunno, let me think for a few days.  How about we go to that Italian place in Columbus Saturday night?” He said

“Sure thing” I said, wondering why he would pick out of the blue a fancy restaurant.  Was he up to something?  I tried to get into the question of ‘where are we going in this whole relationship thing?’  I really wanted to know.  Should I let him go, it’s not like he sees me as a lover, he is more of my caregiver, and I know that in good relationships that each party must satisfy the needs of the other. I just wanted to be sure that he knew that I would understand if he wanted to see somebody else or even not be my daddy anymore.

A couple times that week he had taken off in the car saying that he had to go run some errands or do something, or being pre-occupied with his phone.

I had asked if there was something wrong, or something he wanted to talk about, since he had been kind of distant and secretive this week.  He just said there was nothing wrong.  I was beginning to get a little upset.

So when we drove to the restaurant I figured that we would be breaking up or something. As every other relationship I was in they asked to go out to eat to break up so it would not be a scene.

We got there and sat down and Max handed me a fancy looking bib, that is what it was.  We had dinner and made small talk. 

“So have you had a chance to think about what the next adventure is going to be?” I asked

“Honestly, anywhere with you is where I want to go.  That is, if you will have me?” He said

“Sure I will have you, I love having you travel with me.  I just worry that you’re getting nothing out of this relationship.  What’s in it for you?  I know you aren’t attracted to men.”

“I don’t feel attracted to other men, just you.  From the moment I met you on the cruise I was in love, I love that you live so freely, you see the world through the eyes of a child and are who you are.  I cannot imagine being together with anybody else either.  These last 9 months have been the best time I have ever had with anybody.” He said.

That night as Max got me out of my diaper but before re-diapering me, he kissed me on the lips, something he had not done before, usually just on the forehead.  He had me diapered back up and we went to the living room and sat on the sofa, me drinking a warm bottle of milk as he stroked my head.

“So at the restaurant, I asked you what was in it for you in this relationship; tell me?” I asked

“I get the joys of being your daddy and making you happy.  I have never had this much joy with any of my old partners.  Seeing you happy, makes me happy.  I hope I make you happy too” He said

“You do make me very happy to have somebody take care of me, and I am happy that I make you happy too” I said, which I really meant too.

That night I laid in my crib as the stars on the ceiling swirled around and drifted off the sleep.  The next morning I awoke to the smell of bacon and other breakfast stuff.  Now, like a good baby, I stayed in my crib until daddy came in to get me up, even though I could have very well lowered the side rail and climbed out on my own.

“Did daddy’s little boy sleep good last night?” Max said as he popped his head in around the door.

“Um hmm” I said around the pacifier that found it’s way into my mouth.

“Well let’s get your pants changed and get you fed then” He said as he walked in and lowered the crib rail and I crawled out and onto the changing table.

Next I waddled out to the kitchen in just my onsie and diaper and went to sit at the table before being re-directed to the high chair “Little ones eat in the high chair”, he said as I climbed into the high chair and awaited the tray to be snapped onto the arms of the chair.

He had fixed French toast, which he cut into little bites and bacon.  I proceeded to dig in with just my fingers before he could grab a fork for me to use.  I ended up getting syrup all on my hands, face, on the bib, and even in my hair.

“Well you made a mess, time for a bath for you.  How did you get syrup in your hair?” He said.

“I dunno daddy” I said, somewhat trying to get down out of the high chair, but finding that max would not let me touch him.

I had recently switched to cloth diapers when we were in the house, so I did not waste a diaper per-say, it was still dry.  Max got me undressed and bathed me in the tub before leaving me to play in the bathtub with my toys.  I assumed that he was cleaning up the mess on the high chair. 

He returned about 15 minutes later with a big fluffy towel and set it on the vanity before he reached in and pulled the plug in the bathtub.  He then motioned for me to stand up as he started to dry me from top to bottom, finally wrapping me in the towel before directing me to the bedroom.  I climbed onto the changing table and the awaiting cloth diaper.

Once changed into an outfit I helped daddy gather the laundry and we carried it downstairs and started the laundry.

While we waited for the laundry to wash we got to talking about our next adventures.

We took a day or two to get caught up on, as I call it, business stuff.  I had to review bills, even if they were already paid, looking at my investments, checking the news and such.  We had an important decision to think about, well one of many.

“So what are we going to do about the house?” Max asked

“I don’t know, I mean it should be simple, I’ve lived there for 5 years now?” I said.

Last week my landlord called to tell me that he was needing to sell the land the house sat on after his wife fell ill.  I had asked if he could give me a week to see if I ‘could gather the money to put in an offer’

“Ya, know, I have thought of the place as my house for years, so it was a given.  What he wants is a fair price, and really, I don’t need a big fancy house to be happy, I am happy with what we have.”

“Well then, call the attorney and have him put in the offer” Max said

I had asked my landlord to not list with a real estate agent until I got back to him.  I had called the attorney earlier in the week, and had the place appraised awhile back, as I was planning on offering to buy it last winter, but didn’t.  So I knew the offer was sound and was not underselling or really over the top.

I grabbed my phone and dialed my landlord, “Hey Earl, Jason here…. I thought it through and I would like to make you an offer for the house.  Don’t list it, let’s just do a for sale by owner so you aren’t getting hit with realtor fees.  Your price was well within line, I’ll pay the closing and the taxes too, just to help you out.”

“That is very generous of you, thank you, this will help greatly” He said

“Well I will have my lawyer draw up the contract and send it over to you.  I will be back in town next week, and we can sit down and go over it all” I said

“Well that’s done.” I said looking at Max  “Big boy decisions”

I reviewed all the bills and stuff, emailed the attorney to tell him they all were good and to start the process for buying the property along with covering the other costs.  So now after all the big boy work is done, Max changed my night diaper and dressed me into a cute outfit and told me it was time to go play.  He ushered me out the door, opened the ‘garage’ and got the playpen out and the rug that goes under it and I helped him set it up.  I then climbed in while daddy brought some toys over for me to play with. 

I ran the cars and trucks around the carpet for probably 2 hours, playing with the dinosaurs, lost in my own little world. Oblivious to the other people at the RV park who by now were getting up and around and noticed the overgrown toddler sitting in the playpen.

It’s not like I was unsupervised, Max could see me from the dinette and kept popping out seeing how I was doing.  “How’s it going buddy” He asked. To which I responded that I was fine.

I played with my toys to myself for what seemed like all morning until it was time for lunch.  Max had made hotdogs, and macaroni and cheese and brought out the high chair and tray.  “Ok, lunch time buddy” He said as he set the high chair up.

“I figured let’s give the neighbors a little peek into our life.” He said as he helped me into the high chair and snapped the tray on it and put my plate of food on it.  Boy did we get some looks

“Well don’t you look cute” One lady said as she and her husband walked by. 

Another older couple were not so nice. “You know that’s what you have an inside of your camper for, nobody wants to see that” The husband said as they walked by.

“Why, you do your drinking and hollering outside” Max said

By now I was embarrassed and just wanted to get out and run inside, I was at the point of crying, and was totally out of my little space.  Max looked at me and took control. 

“Hey, you are ok, nothing is going to happen, and you aren’t hurting anybody here.  If you want to go inside you can but it is such a nice day, and you should be able to enjoy the outside too.” He said, which settled me down some, but it was hard to get back into little mode.

After lunch he brought out some cheesecake that we had in the freezer and let it thaw a bit. I finished it in my high chair and then Max cleaned my hands and face and I got back into the playpen for a bit before dozing off. That day was so much fun.

We hit a few more Route 66 things that weren’t open the last time we were through, relaxed and unwound. We found an RV resort with an indoor pool. We slept in late, relaxed at the pool while the spring sun beat down on us and took it easy at night just enjoying the campfire.

We headed through the Texas Panhandle, but not before stopping off to meet Georgie who fixed my RV my first time out on.  The RV was in need of an oil change and a check of the tires and stuff, this just was the perfect time to do it.  I had called ahead of time by a few days, so they were expecting us in the afternoon after lunch.

“Baby man!” Rodney exclaimed when I pulled into their lot.  George and Rodney got the RV all looked over, the oil changed and tires inspected.  There was a few things they fixed up. 

I was able to park the RV next to the shop and plug it in for the night. Then we met George for dinner at his place.

We talked about our travels, Max and I’s relationship and stuff in the community.  Eventually we got to the topic about George and coming out to his parents.

“So how did the whole topic of diapers come up that made you come out to your dad?” I asked George

“Well one night he saw this commercial for some show that was having somebody on who liked to wear diapers and be a baby and he said something about it and then you being a big baby man and asked me what I thought about it.  I reminded him that you had paid a lot of money for tires, oil change and other work on your RV without blinking about the cost, and we should not judge others when we don’t know them.”

“True” Max chimed in

“He said something about me wearing diaper for pissing the bed,  and was surprised I never turned into one.  To which I said, what makes you think I didn’t?  He brought up the time in middle school he caught me in one, which I said ‘oh that’s the only time you caught me, that’s not the only time it happened.’ Eventually he put two and two together to figure out that was the reason I moved out when I was out of school, still single, have a bedroom in my house that I keep locked.” George said

“So did you come out and tell him, or did he ask if your still wore them?” I asked

“Kind of both, he asked me if I wore them often when I was still at home, and I said not as much as I do since being on my own.  Then he wanted to know if I still do and if I was into the baby stuff too, which I said both.” George said.  “Oh and he was quite unhappy about it too.  I pretty much took off that night and did not come into work the rest of the week.”

“Wow!” I said

“Honestly I was considering not going back, but my mom talked me into it.  He don’t say too much, but then again I try not to wear diapers at work either.  We kind of agree to disagree on it” George said

We spent about 3 hours there talking back and forth, George has a nice nursery setup and a large wood shop behind his house where he works on other projects.  He may even start working on making cribs for other people, but wasn’t sure if he wanted to put that much time into it.

We headed back to the RV that we had left at the garage and the next morning bid George and his parents farewell before heading out after breakfast.

We stopped off in McLean Tx, then Shamrock TX at the U Drop Inn and Tower Conoco station.  Then we headed into Oklahoma, stopping at the Oklahoma Route 66 museum, then we drove a bit more before stopping near Arcadia OK.  We saw the Round barn right before it closed for the day, and then went and found a place to stop for the night.  After getting the RV level and such we took off in the car to go to Pop’s to see the giant soda bottle lit up at night.  We left with way too many sugary drinks than neither of us needed, but we’d eventually drink them.  We packed them in a way so the bottles would not clank together and break.

I slept so good that night all snuggled up in my crib.  I had gotten to the point of using a star projection light at night to go to sleep with, Max is one of those people who is out as soon as his head hits the pillow, I am not.

I am lying awake wondering what my next stops will be, when Max will get tired of being daddy and leave me, will I decide to settle down and stop traveling, if being 24/7 is something that I will do for the rest of my life, or what.  Every night it was pretty much the same thoughts as I hugged my teddy bear and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, we woke up, daddy changed me and we decided to skip making our own breakfast and the inevitable wait for things to cool off and be cleaned up.  We both grabbed a cup of coffee and headed further east to Stroud OK.

We found a place to park and entered the Rock Café for some great home cooked breakfast before heading down the road.

We weaved and wound down the roads, stopped at cool places like The Blue Whale, a totem pole park, motorcycle museum, many murals too.

We puttered through Oklahoma, into Kansas and onto Missouri.  We made so many stops. Including a night at a drive-in movie, the all too quirky Uranus MO, St. Louis arch before heading north into Illinois.

We spent about 4 more days covering the parts of Route 66 in Illinois.  Old restored gas stations, drive-ins, diners, restaurants and museums.

There is no way in hell I am taking a 30 foot RV and tow vehicle into downtown Chicago, we parked about 10 miles away and took the Fiat into the city, took the obligatory end of the route/start of the route photo.  We saw the sights of Chicago at the 360 degree view of the  John Hancock Tower, and went to Navy Pier.  We didn’t stay too long since the cat was in the RV still.

It was cold so after we got things done in Chicago, we headed back south a bit to something warmer near Pontiac, IL.