Developing...

Well I've been contemplating moving our bedroom downstairs for months now. I've thought and thought and planned and sort of put it off but we finally decided to take the plunge.  And I'm so happy we did.  We all have...SPACE! Wow.  Apart from our bedroom, I knew we were sort of crammed together up there, but I also am always fascinated by small spaces and take it as a challenge to consolidate.  But there's something to be said for personal space too.  Now the kids have their own rooms again, and we have our own bathroom.  There was a ton of painting that needed to be done and that's probably the reason I put it off since I hate painting.  Matt enjoys it, and I'm so glad.  So here's a preview.  When we get everything done, I will post more pictures.  

New bike!

Ava scored a new bike and a dollhouse bookcase this weekend due to some good finds!  It's popo (purple) and it has a basket!  Just add training wheels, and she'll be ready to go!

Play dates

We hope to have a ton of these this summer.  Everything's better when enjoyed with friends!

Jack and his buddy Isaac making pizzas - so delicious!

My friend Jocelyn and her son Levi

All the little girls at the little table

My good friend Katie and her daughter Hannah

The Cushman's dog Grizz eating bubbles 

Girls' Weekend

Ava and I had a girls weekend last week and spent some time helping my sisters with some various things.  First, we spent some time with Auntie Heidi visiting some fun stores.  We love this bookstore with the kids' door built right in to the main door.  And there are all kinds of animals in there too.  Ava tried to pet most of them.  She's not inflicted with Jack's nervousness.  Then we helped Aunt Nancy and Aunt Bek with Nancy's new cd.  We also took some pictures by the railroad tracks by my parents house for the cd, and I got some good ones of Ava.  Then Sunday we went to Berean and met up with some good friends.  Great, relaxing time!

And we have a 3rd grader!

We finished school May 29th, and it feels great!  We have been partying ever since with outside time, sleeping in (somewhat), reading for fun, and enjoying the water park.  

Last book

Ava wanted to get in the picture too.  

Jack picked lunch at Hyvee to celebrate the last day of school.  

Ava just wanted a picture of her with her backpack.  She must have wanted to get in on the action.  Kindergarten, here we come!

My couch saga

We have had 4 couches in our house in the last two weeks.  We started with this one given to us years ago by my parents. I have loved it so much and really never wanted to get rid of it. But when I started sinking in it regularly and Matt had done all he could, we figured it was time to look for a different one.  

So then this one was given to us.  It had some cat scratches that we were able to blend in and while I liked the look of it, it was a little more formal than I was thinking.  

Then we had an opportunity to get this one for a great deal.  We only had it for two days, so I didn't even take a picture of it in our house.  I told Matt this is a good choice for the money we have, but someday I want a Pottery Barn one.  Sort of joking since I would never spend $2000 on a couch.  Ha.  Well, God heard me...

And we found this one for the exact amount we spent on the other one.  Actually, $2 less!  Pottery Barn, exact style I always wanted from the showroom, the color I wanted, and SOOO SOFT!  I can't stop staring at it, and I love relaxing on it.  What a personal love gift from the Lord!  He does care about every detail of our lives.  A couch has no eternal value, but it is a physical sign to me of the real blessing - my relationship with Him. 

Happy birthday, Grandpa!

We love this kind and gracious man so much!  He and Betty raised a good son who is good to me.  And they are great grandparents to the kids.  We are so grateful for him and the times we have together.