Sunday, November 25, 2012

Thanksgiving Weekend in Photos

Turkey on the Green Egg grill

Luke was beside himself to practice "driving" Grammy's Corvette

Three ladies work on hand-dipping the dumplings

David is giddy to adjust the controls

Everyone dig in! This meal is a true labor of love by Grammy and Papa John. They pour hours into every detail.

After-dinner snuggles

Grammy pulled out Daddy's Legos from childhood. See how David is making sound effects?

We stopped at Dad and Sue's on the way home to visit and cheer for the Buckeyes.  


David and Great Grandma search for hidden objects in the tube.

Katy always talks Grandma Sue into a game of some sort.

Different grandparents, kids still playing board games with them.

My Granny and Grandpa pulled out this Fischer Price castle that brought back all kinds of childhood memories for me. I can't believe they still have this at their house!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Disappointment

I swear, this is the last time that I will mention KMart or bunk beds (completely ridiculous that it's coming up 3 posts in a row). But I'm really, really, reeeeaaalllly disappointed. They cancelled our order, saying they couldn't fulfill it because they ran out of stock. So then why did the ad say - RIGHT above the picture of the beds - that you could order online and have it shipped to the store?

We tried to go to the store, call customer service, chat online with a representative, but to no avail. They won't honor the order (well, really, the price).

It's silly how disappointed I am, I do realize that. But you know how you feel really excited about something, and then especially so because you feel that you got a really good deal? Boo, KMart. (And Sears, since they are in this thing together).

Today we're on our way home, with 2 stops to visit my Dad and Sue and all of my grandparents. We're timing the trip so that we're able to watch the Ohio State vs. Michigan game on my Dad's big TV. 

So it's time to get over it and look forward to another day of food and family.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Sleeping arrangements

KMart last night was...an experience. We pulled up 5 minutes after they opened and Brian said, "No, I will NOT." Because there was a line around the building. But I assured him that was because they just opened, and the line was nearly gone by the time we parked and walked up to the door.

Most of the doorbusters were gone, of course, and even the small things that we found weren't worth standing in line for 30 minutes. But we looked at the bunk bed set and liked it. We could have bought it right then, but we couldn't have fit it in the van to take home (with all the kids and luggage), so we ordered it online for the same price, with free shipping to our local KMart at home. So we can go pick it up with our empty van when we get back.

Friends and family have been asking what we will do for sleeping arrangements once the baby arrives. We are fortunate to have 4 bedrooms, and right now we have:

- Master #1 - Brian and I

- Bedroom #2 - Katy and David

- Bedroom #3 - Nursery/Luke

- Bedroom #4 - Melanie/Guest

For the first couple of months, the baby will sleep with us in the master and everything else will stay the same. But once we get to about March or April, there are several possibilities. First, it depends on whether Melanie is still living with us. She knows that she is welcome to stay, and we all want her to move when the time is right financially and the right situation presents itself. So we're not sure exactly when that will be.

So IF Melanie is still living with us, my first inclination is to move Luke into Bedroom #2 with Katy and David. That's where the bunk beds come in, along with Luke's bed. (Crib or toddler bed? We'd have to borrow a 2nd crib, but a couple of people have offered). I just know it's going to be a challenge to move him into a bed, especially if we're moving him in with the other kids at the same time.

But the baby needs her own place to sleep. I know that for sure.

But here's the thing...even IF Melanie moves out by then...I'm still not sure what to do. The most logical plan would be to move Katy into #4 with the queen size bed and put the boys together in #2. Then we would still use bunk beds plus one twin in #2, and when guests come, Katy would sleep in #2 to make room for guests. But the problem with that plan is that Katy really cannot sleep alone right now. Sharing a room with David has been a huge help with her nighttime anxiety. She doesn't want to sleep alone, and it would cause disturbance for the family at night.

So then what would I do....move Luke into room #4 in the queen size bed? That seems like a big move for a first bed? And it's just illogical...to put the 2 year old in the biggest bed in the room by himself? But that still might be the best plan. 

So we'll wait and see. When the decision was up in the air last time, I really didn't know what to do, but when it was game time, the best choice seemed obvious to me, and it was right for our family at the time. Hopefully the same clarity will come this time around.

But with all of the possible plans...eventually the bunk beds come in handy.