Meet Me

Hello and welcome to Life on Pioneer Trail!  My name is Vanessa and I am a city girl transplanted to a farm in rural Iowa.  I live with my amazing husband, Kevin, and my two littles Luke(3) and Lily(1).

After teaching first grade, I am blessed to be a stay at home mom and savor the opportunity to watch my kids learn and grow everyday.  We live on Pioneer Trail in rural Iowa...hence the name of the blog: Life on Pioneer Trail.  It has been an adjustment living 25 minutes from the nearest Target, but this Momma loves country life.  

I blog because I love to write and share about my life and the life I share with my family.  I would love to connect with you!  I focus mainly on toddler learning, yummy baked recipes, and some of my favorite things that make my life more sunny and beautiful.

A Little More About Me

Photography is a passion of mine.  I am such an amateur, but love experimenting and capturing special moments with my two babes.

Jesus is my Lord and Savior.  Kevin and I love the Lord and are doing our best to raise Luke and Lily in a home that honors God.  Our biggest dream for our two littles is that they group up loving Jesus.

I love Starbucks.  Give me a decaf vanilla latte or peppermint mocha and I am your best friend.

Baking is therapeutic for me.  When I pull pumpkin muffins out of the oven, there is no where else I would rather be.  My little man, Luke, loves to help in the kitchen and I can't wait to get Lily in on the action someday soon.

I am a coordinator of a MOPS group in my community.  I love this ministry and how it reaches moms in the trenches of motherhood.

Kevin and I are on the fence about whether we will send our kids to public school or homeschool them.  Kevin and I have a few years to decide, so I am test-driving this homeschool thing by doing Tot School and teaching my little guy some preschool skills.

I am a big fan of organizing, rearranging, and decorating.  #kevinisatrooper Kevin gets stuck having a lot of 'projects' on his to-do list and, bless his heart, the poor guy always comes through for me.

Kevin and I love to travel.  It is kind of our couple 'thing'.  We try and get away at least once or twice a year alone and take our littles with us on some of his work trips when we can.

I have the best friends.  From high school, college, Bible study, church, in the neighborhood, MOPS.  I am blessed with the best and I believe friendship is one of the most amazing gifts God has given me.

I like sweets, like a lot.  Donuts, anything chocolate, sweetened condensed milk (I know) and Nutella are some things that get me into trouble.  Kevin has been 'sweets free' for almost two years now, so that has limited my intake of the sweet stuff.  #imissbrownies

Thanks so much for stopping by and getting to know me more.  I hope you take some time to rewarm that coffee and stay while.