Miss Me???

Since last you heard from me......:

Steve and I purchased a couch. This is the first couch we have owned in our 3 years of marriage, so it is kind of exciting. In the first basement apartment we lived in, the couches Steve's parents said we could use couldn't fit down the stairs. So, we just had our jumbo Luv Sac and a papasan chair. And after that, we lived in other people's houses and used their furniture. But now, we have our first couch! Thanks to Steve's parents for supplying us with money to buy it : )

I think it's a cute little sectional. We had a heck of a time finding something to fit in the room. The room itself is plenty big, it just has a limited amount of open wall space.

Theres a large opening that goes into the dining room....

....a closet and a door that leads out of our unit....

.....two windows and double doors that lead out to the balcony.....

....a "fireplace," shelving, and more windows....

So, we had to search far and wide to find a couch to fit!

Obviouslyl, I still haven't quite figured out how to set everything up.... and I haven't hung anything on the walls yet. Some day I'll get around to decorating and hanging things up (and maybe finish unpacking....)

On Wednesday, July 30th, I made a voyage to Utah! I know, it was a little soon to already be heading back for a visit. But, turns out my braces weren't quite ready to come off when I moved and my orthodontist said they needed another month or so. He told me it would be cheaper for me to fly back and have him take my braces off than to find a new orthodontist out here in Toledo and have them do it. So, I took advantage of that, and scheduled my orthodontist appointment the same week as my Kirkham Family Reunion! I had REALLY been wanting to go to that, especially since my parents were in charge this year. Thanks to my cousin, Deirdre, who gave me one of her buddy passes so I could fly out to the reunion/orthodontist on standby. Saved me lots of money.

Flying standby was quite an adventure!

I was at the Detroit airport (closest airport to Toledo) at 9am.... and finally got on a flight at 9:30pm! I flew from there to Las Vegas...then flew to Phoenix, where I arrived some time around 1 am (which to me felt like about... 4am because of the time difference). There I slept in the airport until about 5..... then I watched the sunrise....

....which was a big deal for me... because I don't often wake early enough to see the sun rise!

There at the Phoenix airport, I met up with my cousin Deirdre (which wasn't actually part of the original plan, but since I didn't make it to Phoenix until early Thursday morning and Deirdre was heading out to the reunion that morning as well......we got to make the last stretch together!).

So, we got on the first flight at around 7 which got us to Salt lake city around 10! Nothing like living in the airport/airplanes for about 27 hours straight!

Anway, we drove up to Island Park in Idaho and met up with the family for the reunion. I love our family reunions....

We had a great time. I am glad I got to be there.

Then, Tuesday, August 5th........

..... I got my braces off!!! Hooray for no more BRACES!

The next day, I headed back to Ohio. This time, my standby experience went much more smoothly. I got on each flight I attempted.

And......

Now... here I am.......

Back in Toledo, Ohio.....

Working at Shoe Carnival....

....Steve has been working at the Pharmacy out here...

.... and next week he starts orientation for school!

THE END

Oh.... P.S. We received callings at church. Steve is going to be a ward missionary. And I am going to be the Second Counselor in the Young Womens organization.