Our New Bed

There are definitely times when I feel like I'm getting old and that my priorities have certainly changed.  Ryan and I got a new bed and I am so excited that I'm blogging about it.  Sad?  I don't think so.

When we first got married 11 years ago, we bought the best mattress we could afford.  Needless to say, it wasn't the top of the line, and it sure wasn't mean to last 11 years.  It has gotten so lumpy that it kills my back each time I try to sleep on it.  In the past 6 months I have spent as many nights on the floor (trying to relieve the pain) as I have on my bed.   We were definitely due. 

When we got to the furniture store to get the mattress, we decided to be crazy and spring for a bed too.  In all of our 11 years of marriage we have never owned an actual bed.  We've always done the metal frame thing.  We have bought 2 cribs and 3 sets of bunk beds throughout the years, but nothing ever for us.  So if you can't tell... I'm excited.  I look forward to many nights of restful sleep!

Ta-Da!!

Now if only we had the rest of the matching bedroom set... ;)

Mueller Park

On Friday, we were able to go up to Meuller Park with some friends who had reserved a campground for the day.  I had never been up there before, but it's the talk of the town.  I wasn't disappointed. 

We started off the day with a "nice little hike".  The kids had fun chasing bugs and finding caterpillars.

We hiked for about an hour when we came to a look-out point. We asked our fearless leader how much longer we had to go. 

 

He then pointed out our final destination.

He consulted his GPS and informed us that we were probably about 1/4 of the way there.  "Umm... how long is this hike?" we asked. 

"I think it's about 5 miles."

"5 miles each way???"

With 17 kids under the age of ten in tow, and half of them being either packed on the backs of their parents or dragged by the hand behind them, we moms decided it would probably be best to turn back. 

After our hike we headed on over to our campsite for dinner and tons of fun.  Some of the highlights were: the older kids being given free range to poke sticks in the fire, tons of exploring, the discovery of a real-life whirl pool, climbing on a giant rock, smores, way too much sugar for the kids, and a kids-vs-dads pine cone fight.

Celebrating Summer

It was short day on Friday and it was also the last day of school.  Ryan surprised us all by coming home early enough to meet the kids at the door.  He thought we should so something fun to celebrate the beginning of summer vacation.  We voted as a family to go check out Thanksgiving Point.  Here are about 100 pictures of all the fun we had.

Trees!

Once again I prove just how easy it is to bring myself immense amounts of joy and excitement.  Today's example:  TREES!

We have been talking about planting trees since the first day we moved in, but for some reason they always kept getting pushed back on our list of priorities.  On Saturday we finally got some!  I'm seriously so pleased.  My backyard finally feels a little more like mine.  I even went outside and sat for a spell in the tiny little spot of shade my new trees provided.

We got a Sugar Maple,

a Sunset Maple,

and a Honeylocust. 

They should bring us (or someone else in the off chance that we actually do sell our house) years and years of joy.

Transporting them home from Lowes was a bit of a challenge.  Good thing we have the Acura.  I followed Ryan home, laughing the whole way.   I tried to get a shot of just how funny he looked.  You can kind of see.  He had one tree out the front passenger side window, one out the back passenger side window, and one out the back drivers' side window.  It was seriously so hilarious!

Seriously, Stomach Flu?  Seriously?

Thank You Target!

My dear Khursten is a little obsessive compulsive about having her glasses sit straight on her face.  If they are even a hair off she wants me to adjust them for her.  Having worked as an optician a million years ago, I know how easy it is to accidentally snap a pair of glasses in half trying to adjust them.  I warned her not to bend them herself and asked her to always have me do it for her.  Well... needless to say that didn't happen.  Here's the result.  Some seriously sad and busted up glasses.

                                

And of course I refused to be talked into buying the warranty.  Arghh!!  I took them to Target to see if by any chance they had a few spare parts laying around that I could use to fix these puppies up.  After an oh-so-helpful suggestion from the optician to fix them up with some duct tape, I hung my head low and started walking out the door. 

Luckily for me, the doctor hollered at me to stop.   He told me that since business has been low they're doing a promotion at the Centerville Target.  Kids between the ages of 5-12 can get a new pair of glasses absolutely free. (one pair per household)  No catch.  You have to pick from 10 select frames, and you just need a current prescription.  And since Khursten was in last October he decided that was recent enough and we got a completely new pair for zero dollars.  No tricks, no billing insurance.  Just free.  They should be ready next Tuesday.  Run in there and grab your kid an extra pair while you can!

This was some much needed good news in a week of bad.  Hooray for random great promotions!

I'm Back, (Kind of)

I still don't have a computer of my own, but my dear husband has so kindly agreed to share his.  Here are a few of the things you've missed.

Our house is up for sale.  Nothing's really happened yet.  Not much interest in this market, but we're still crossing our fingers.  We really want to build a new one in the same neighborhood just a few blocks over.  Are we crazy?  Probably.  We haven't even been here quite two years yet.  :)

On an impulse I sold my treadmill.  I already kind of miss it, but it was a good thing.  More space.  I can always walk around outside, right?

I have been teaching the Old Testament to my 11-year-olds in primary.  I'm really enjoying it.  It's been so great to read it so slowly and learn everything again.  The lesson manual breaks things down and goes into a lot of detail.  I'm learning a ton.  It's May and we're still in Genesis.

Ryan is working way more than any man should trying to adjust to his new job.  I think the verdict is still out on it.  Plus, he's getting so close to finishing school.  We can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel now.  Once we make it through the summer, he's done!

Everyone I know is painting their house.  It's making me antsy.  I need a change. I live for change.  Ryan has declared that painting is out, what else can a girl change?  Ryan suggested I dye my hair.

All my favorite TV shows are wrapping up this week.  Not sure what Ryan and I are going to do with all of our free time in the evenings.  We might actually have to come up with something to do!

We set up mouse traps in the backyard in an attempt to rid ourselves of the devious little voles back there.  No luck yet.  We keep spotting them though.  Georgia has declared hersef a mouser.  She's pretty lousy at her job.  She tries really hard, but they fast little buggers.

Audrey's preschool teacher had to quit unexpectedly.  She's really been missing school.  I can't wait until her sisters are out of school too so she has someone to play with.

I bought a pair of Skecher Shape-Ups.  Now my ankles are sore.  Is that supposed to happen?

The weather is finally turning around.  It's been so nice out.  Our family decided to go for a walk around the Bountiful Pond.  Very beautiful but so many bugs.  Need to remember our Off next time.

I been feeling a hankering to start painting again.  Thinking about trying oils.  Never used them before.  Could be a fun experiment.

I took my jar of change to the bank to cash it in.  There was $52.78 in there.  That was unexpected and a little exciting!

My friend and I planted a whole variety of flowers out in my front yard.  They're starting to come up.  I'm so excited to see what it all looks like when they're fully grown.  Gardening is fun.  I want to buy a tree.  What's a good shade tree to plant that won't get too huge?