Changes...

Well, we figured out last night that it's only seven weeks plus a few days until Liv and Hollis go to school. We are frantically trying to save enough money to visit Utah before then, because it's been nearly three years since we've been there. We miss the fam.

In other news, Toby and I have gotten into bicycles a bit. It seems we've both put on ten pounds in the last month or two. My In-Laws have lots of bikes and lots of useful knowledge about them, and they let us borrow a bike for Olivia and myself, plus a trailer for the two little girls, PLUS a half-bike for Hollis. We have been on several rides with them, and this morning was our first solo at our house. It went...okay. Livvie has not been for many rides on gravel roads, and whined and complained and pushed her bike for a lot of it. We did end up being gone an hour (it would have been much faster if everyone was RIDING their bike). So I hope our hearts were hardened (in the good way), and our legs were strengthened. I know my bum has been bruised, but I expect that it will pass much like saddle-sores do. Mom, if you're reading this, we ALWAYS wear helmets.

Here is a picture of us, the first family photo since Hollis was nine months old-ish:

We Stimulated the Economy...

I think the check arrived last Saturday. We did the following with it:

2 new pairs of shoes for Toby

1 used pair of shoes for myself

Haircuts for Livvie, Hollis, Maggie and myself--Thank You, Laural!

A bunk bed

AND...a station wagon.

We cleaned out our Emergency Fund and used pretty much all the change lying about the house to purchase a 96 Volvo. It is lovely, and runs twice a far per gallon as the Beastly.

The kids are loving the bunk bed as well. They have a tiny room (7 x 9) which was until last week entirely eaten by a king mattress and box spring. Ah, but the snuggly piles of children were so cute in the mornings. Now they have floor space in the room, which will be nice if they can refrain from leaving piles of toys, books, clothing and papers all around.

Today we went to Silver Dollar City with Mom and Dad and Laural. They had free passes that were expiring soon, and everyone happened to have a day off on the same day. Hollis rode Lost River for the first time as he is finally tall enough for it. He is a cautious boy, and was nervous--I could see his pulse just pounding in his little neck before they started the ride up. He said he liked it, but didn't care to ride it again.

Toby took Maggie and Olivia on the Water Boggan ride. For some reason, the height requirement for this ride is only 34 inches, instead of 36 like Lost River. It is a very tall tower with a water slide tube. One rides down it with two or three other people in an inflatable raft. Maggie had a look of, "I'm enjoying this, but I'm not sure why we're doing it." Of course, Livvie just laughed the whole time down.

Dad was feeling kind of sick, so Mom and Dad left just an hour or two after we got there. He thought his gall bladder was acting up, but we think it is high blood pressure and high blood sugar. He is now taking a walk. We need to keep him moving, and encourage him to eat healthier.