A couple with 5 kids spent $35,000 turning a school bus into a tiny home with a rainfall shower and skylight

Originally based in Fort Worth, Texas, the Battertons are one big family.

Anna and Jeff Batterton are the parents of Aria, 9, Jiada, 7, Alira, 5, Jazz, 3, and their toddler, Athena, who is 1.5 years old.

Also part of the family is their pets. There are dogs, Tofu and Jaq, and their cat, Harper. 

The family shares their "skoolie" journey on their Instagram page @regainingadventure.

For years, Jeff worked from home in Texas and Anna homeschooled their children.

On weekends, the family would embark on road trips, camping adventures, and outdoor excursions.

"We got to talking about how we could extend those road trips and those adventures," Jeff told Insider. "One thing led to another, and here we are today."

So about four and a half years ago, the family committed to living life on the road and started planning what their transition would look like. 

With a large family, they had to be strategic and maximize space in their future home.

After doing some research, they found the skoolie movement, which is a group of people who convert old school buses into tiny homes on wheels. 

Since Jeff is a software designer, he helped design the layout of their home with 3D software. 

To get a sense of what it would be like living in that smaller space, the couple taped down their bus's layout in the living room of their home.

Once that was set, they purchased their bus.

With the design set, the couple purchased a 2004 International 3000 school bus in 2018 and spent six months on renovations.

The school buses offered the Battertons more space at an affordable cost. The couple estimates their entire home cost $35,000.

When the family first moved onto the bus, they had three children and one of the way.

About a year and a half later, they had their fifth child, Athena.

The family got rid of the majority of their belongings and moved onto the 270-square-foot skoolie.

"We knew it was the right decision for us," Jeff said. "That overpowered any of the nervousness, and we were excited."

From the Everglades in Florida to the caverns in Missouri, the family has traveled all across the continental US. 

At the entrance of their skoolie is the living room area. There's a couch that folds down into a bed for guests and a chaise lounge. 

Above the driver's seat, the couple designed a shelving unit. There, they mounted their TV and have room for all the treasures they find on hikes and adventures.

The Battertons haven't let their small home stop them from hosting.

In the kitchen, there's a stove, oven, sink, and fridge. 

The kitchen is also home to the family's washer-and-dryer unit. 

Anna told Insider that there's plenty of storage space in their home.

The family is vegan and they go grocery shopping about every two weeks.

The family wanted to make sure that the emergency exit is accessible if something were to happen.

Before the pandemic, that meant this area wasn't used. But Jeff found a creative way to keep the exit accessible while utilizing the space.

He built a foldable desk that's now his "office."

Jeff said this has become his favorite area of the home, it has a window that lets in ample sunlight and space for him to get all of his work done. 

The three oldest girls each have their own area, which are beds carved into the wall of the tiny home.

Jeff and Anna gave their daughters freedom to pick their bed's color scheme.

For example, Jiada chose a purple color and a stained-glass window cover. 

Also in each room is a cubby for their clothes and a little nightstand. 

The bathroom features a toilet, sink, and a uniquely designed shower.

"We needed the biggest school bus possible," Jeff said.

That was partly because of their large family — but also because of Jeff's height.

At 6-foot-3, Jeff has only a few inches of headspace at the tallest area of the bus. On the sides, where the roof's arch dips, he can't stand.

The couple found a solution by cutting out a section of the roof and extending it, creating a shower that's about 9 feet tall.

The couple also added a skylight and rainfall showerhead.

Currently, four family members sleep in the king-sized bed, but Jeff said they have plans for a major renovation later this year.

That renovation will create bedroom areas for Jazz and Athena. 

Living on the road has been an incredible privilege, Anna said.

During the pandemic, they were able to quickly pack up and reunite with extended family in Kanas, plus they've been able to see nature and explore new parts of the country.

At the end of the day, the couple told Insider that their skoolie life is one of the best decisions they made for their family.

"We bought a bus, converted it, hit the road, and haven't looked back," Jeff said.