Happenings

**********Now with pictures!*************

We've had some happenings going on in our lives....and no camera for the visual proof (John's camera is in the shop). But I thought I'd go ahead and post now, because if a post gets too delayed I give up and never write it down.

#1 Ains was in her first play. She auditioned for a part in the Missoula Children's Theater play that came to Meridian. The theater company travels and happened to be near us for the week so she gave it a go. The competition was pretty fierce. They had parts for 50-60 kids 84 auditioned. She landed the part of a bat (as did most of the other kindergartners and first graders that auditioned:) I'm pretty sure she was the cutest bat up there. She got to be on stage twice and there was a whole bat song that all 10 little bats were a part of. It was a crazy week with rehearsals every night and a full morning of dress rehearsal on Saturday before the show. I think the best part for Ains was that her friend Kylie just happened to be auditioning as well and they got to be bats together. She had a great time all week and it was a new experience, so it was all worth it!

#2 John turned 33. He had a rockin' party her with the family. I don't have much else to say about that.

#3 We bought a minivan. After years of fighting my fate, I got a van. And I must say that minivans are very smart vehicles nowadays (that's what I say to make myself feel better about waiting until now to get one). I am loving the space. I love that the kids can't touch each other while we're in the car. I love that no one has to crawl over seats to get around the car. It makes travel wonderful. We ended up getting an '07 Honda Odyssey. It's pretty bare bones, I had to give up my dreams of power sliding doors, but it only has 30,000 miles and will be a great car for years to come. Buying cars always stresses me out, but once our mechanic gave it the two thumbs up I felt sure about our purchase and everything has fallen into place since.

(Not our actual van....but just like it....except this on is in Washington currently.)

#4 I sold John's car.....all by myself! I listed john's car on craigslist a few hundred less than the kelly blue book value because I knew it had some issues and needed to be seen by a mechanic. Literally 30 seconds after I published the listing my phone started ringing. Within 35 minutes I had 7 emails, 10 voice mails, several txts, and all the while my phone was ringing constantly. I would be on the phone with one person giving them directions and my phone would be beeping with other callers and then when I hung up there would be someone on the line. It was insane!!!! The car was gone literally 35 minutes after I listed it. The first people that stopped by bought it. I took the plates off, emptied the car, and handed over the title. A first for me. The buyer had to help me along. I had no idea what I was doing. I felt silly when they had to tell me that the title wouldn't be in the car. Apparently I listed his car WAY to low. But I got more for it than I thought we would. Yay!

(Again, not John's actual car, but doesn't it look all pretty in the sunset manufacturer photo?)