We ended up buying a new van, a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country, for $4,000, which took up our savings (we paid in cash) that we had to move out with. So, we're stuck in my in-laws basement, still, trying to save up to get out. And now our new van is having issues. I really feel like we can't get a break. The A/C is broken, which we had taken it back after we bought it to have the dealer fix it. They said they did, but on our way back from California, just as we got to St. George, it went out again. I was grateful that it was St. George and 4:00, about to cool off, not the middle of the Mojave and noon. But it was frustrating because they said they'd fixed it and they hadn't. Now the check engine light has just come on and the ABS system is freaking out. I'm ready to pull my hair out of my head. I'm sick of cars and car issues.
I finished my semester at the end of April. I'm taking the summer off to spend time with the kids and to finish at least one of my books. I've gotten quite a bit more done on one of them, and it feels really good to have been writing! It made me laugh because a girl in my American Lit class said to us, "I am not reading one book this summer and I am not writing one line." But I was so excited to be able to read a book for leisure and to write for leisure. I guess that just shows my personality. :)
But we did get a vacation, which was nice. We left on April 30th to go to California. That night we stayed at Buffalo Bill's in Primm (just outside of Vegas). Then on the 1st we drove the rest of the way. But before we got to our hotel in California, we went and saw my Grandma Linda, Great-Grandma Sanders, my Uncle Brad, his wife Jenn, and their kids, Ashley and Amber. It was so nice to see them. It's been quite a few years since I have and I really missed them. They prayed for us to find a way to get to California, if that is His will. I'd like to be closer to them, but I'd also miss my sister and nieces. I guess we'll see.
Anyway, that night, and for the next three nights, we stayed at the Castle Inn, which is right across the street from Disneyland. We were at Disneyland for three days and then the beach on the fourth day. The whole time at Disneyland, I made sure to keep sunblock on us. But Ben and Noah both got a rash from it (either that or it was a heat rash). So on Thursday, I didn't expect to be at the beach that long. We ended up being there for like 3 1/2, 4 hours. Oops. We all got sunburned really badly. It was really nice to play in the ocean, I did the most, Noah quite a bit, Jeremy a tiny bit, and Ben even less. Ben loved the sand. But the sunburns killed us. I felt horrible. Ben's never been sunburned before and his even blistered. Poor kid. He couldn't lay on his back for a good week after. I seriously felt like the worst mom EVER. I just didn't think about the sunblock washing off.
Then it was Mother's Day. Jeremy got me (well, more like I ordered it, he wrapped it and handed it to me) a necklace and earrings from Avon. Then he went to the store and got me some Sally Hansen finger nail polish strips. They have butterflies on them and I have them on right now. I love these things. They're awesome. Plus he got me the latest Harry Potter movie, which I really wanted and a card that he recorded the kids saying, "I love you" on and some Stargazer Lilies, which are my favorite flowers. He made me crab for dinner and I made a caesar salad, frog eye salad (family specialty) and rolls. Yum.
So that's been our month. Following are pictures of the vacation, for those of you haven't seen them on facebook, although there's more on facebook. :)
