Our new trailer!

I am a little behind in posting this, oops.

As you may know, in the past we have had "junker" trailers that got us by, kept a roof over our heads. I'd like to say "kept us dry", but last summer that actually wasn't the case. Poor Luca woke up in a puddle of water that had been dripping down onto him all night. Chris did fix the leak and it would have done us another year, but we ran into another dilemma.

There were really only 2 beds, and we knew that the boys would never get any sleep if they were to be sharing a bed. If they were older, it wouldn't be a problem but a 3 year old and a 13 month old? That spells trouble. Last year Chris and I each shared a bed with a child, but that wasn't going to last forever.

This spring we decided that if this summer's camping trips were going to be enjoyable, that we would need to look at getting something a bit larger, with a better set up for beds.

We had been looking on Kijiji for a while and other advertising sites and did some research on what we might like. We finally decided on a layout that we thought would work for us- bunks for the boys and a queen (preferrably) bed for us. Not more than 27 feet in length including the hitch or it wouldn't fit in our driveway. Anything else was gravy.

We knew our budget and began looking within that budget. We found a few trailers fitting our needs by private sellers. We did some looking at dealerships but discovered that the layout that we wanted was very desireable and when dealerships did get them in as trades, they went out again very quickly.

So, it was off to the private sellers.

On May 2, we found our trailer. We are so excited about it. We know that we will have many good trips in it.

It is a 1998, 24 foot Fleetwood Wilderness Lite.

It has a queen bed in a seperate bedroom. With sliding doors for privacy. It is an actual queen mattress, not those uncomfortable foamy cushions that you normally sleep on in a trailer.

There is a roomy "living" area with storage, oven and stove and a large fridge and seperate freezer. There is also a dinette and storage above the dinette.

If we needed extra sleeping space, the dinette and storage above it convert to beds as well, so we could sleep 6-8 people if we had to.

The boys' bunks are at the back, and Luca quickly laid claim to the top bunk. Also at the back of the trailer is the bathroom with toilet, sink, tub and shower. Luca was pretty pumped about the little tub!

It also came with an RVQ, the BBQs that attach right to the trailer and run on the trailer's propane. There is also an outdoor shower with hot and cold taps.

We are so excited to take it out this weekend on its maiden voyage (with the Graham family, anyway!). We are heading to Bow Valley Campground in Kananaskis with some friends from Crossfield. Unfortunately, after we had bought it, all the weekends up til now already had prior commitments so this is our first chance to go out with it.

We are also heading to Drumheller the following weekend, Ponoka for a family camping weekend with Chris' family on Father's Day weekend, and then are planning a trip to Montana and Yellowstone National Park July 5-16 or so. We look forward to a fun summer of camping!

Six Unimportant favorite things

My aunt tagged me in this little challenge, so here goes my list. I am assuming that "unimportant" things means in the large scheme of things. Sorry about the lack of photos, blogger was being a bit tempermental tonight.

1. My bathtub. There is nothing like soaking in hot, bubbly water with the jets on and a good magazine. Actually, a magazine is not even necessary. The soothing water and silence is often enough.

2. My shelves full of books. I absolutely love books and love to read. I don't crack the spines on my books and I don't crease the pages. I am extememly particular about who I lend books to and all borrowers must endure my speech on the "rules". I know, I know, I am a bit anal retentive.

3. The smell of fresh cut grass. Need I say more?

4. Bed. I love to snuggle in under the covers to read a good book or watch tv. Our bed is just soooo comfy, it is one of my favorite pieces of furniture in our house. Of course, there are other fun things that happen there, too! ;)

5. My "zero gravity" lawn chair. It is so nice to be able to recline in a lawn chair to read. I find it extremely uncomfortable to try to read while sitting straight up.

6. Our annual zoo pass. Seriously, I think I enjoy going regularly more than the boys do!

Now I am tagging these people to complete this challenge. Leave me a comment here when you do it so I can go check it out!

Tasha at Shawn and Tasha Tompkins

Dee at Deirdre and Layne

Lilah at Keeping up with the Poltzs

In honor of Mother's Day

Check out this great video. I wasn't aware of my achievement til my friend Jackie sent this to me. Thanks Jackie!!!

Isn't that great? I loved it, especially the breaking news at the end!

My mom sent me this in my email and I thought it was so cute. Motherhood sure isn't always glamorous (ok, who am I kidding? Almost never glamorous!), and not always respected, but is sure does sound good with a fancy title!

JOB DESCRIPTION
A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the Transport office was asked by the clerk to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the clerk, "do you have a job, or are you just a...?
"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a Mum."
"We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation...... 'housewife' covers it," said the clerk emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our local police station.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"What is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."
The clerk paused, pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire!
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't), in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (the whole bloody family), and already have four credits, (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree.?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the girl's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
When I got home, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 10, 7, and 3.
Upstairs, I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had triumphed over bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than
"just another Mum."
Motherhood.....What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations", and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"???
I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".

Author unknown..................but very smart


Happy Mother's Day!!!

Levi's first birthday party!

I'm 1 today!





Invitations





Luca helped make the cake