It's a Basement Miracle!

Welp, the basement has been livable for a few months, but there are a few things left to do, like built-in shelves by the screen, and cabinets for the kitchenette. Also, we've been using our oldest furniture down there; stuff that we've had since we were first married. A couch that has been mouse-chewed, a broken recliner that leans back and almost touches the floor. Good stuff! 

A little miracle happened. We went furniture window shopping a couple weeks ago, and found a leather sectional that we loved. It was really expensive, but we were considering just getting it, which is crazy for us. We're chronically cheap. Fortunately, we walked out of the store before we made any final decisions. A couple of days passed, and we were still set on getting it, but then some unexpected expenses popped up...of course! 

I started stalking KSL classifieds like crazy, and found a leather sectional that had barely been listed- and it was super cheap; 1/4 the price of the one we were looking at new in the store! We jumped on it, and were able to pick it up that night. I'd like to thank the rich people who were sick of their brown leather sectional and just wanted it gone. Us po' folk will happily take your cast-offs.

I've been collecting decor little by little as I see it. I wanted to make it feel cozy down there, and I'm super happy with it. All together, the sectional, curtains, pillows, throw blankets and wall art were less than half the cost of the brand new sectional we were looking at from RC Willey. Yeah, baby! 

We paid $75 for the ping-pong table about 12 years ago. We just knew that one day we'd have our own ping-pong space- it only took 10 years, haha. Thanks to my mom for patiently storing it in her basement for all that time. 

Nils bought that big Star Wars poster months and months ago. I found the cool Star Wars patent pictures and gave them to him for Father's Day. He loves them! I love that they're nerdy, but still look nice. Perfect basement decor. :)

HUGE props to Nils- we were all set to put everything up today, and of course I got a stomach ache from hell and couldn't stand up without barfing. He put everything up anyway while I laid on the couch and pointed. I do love him so.

School, Yo!

What's that? School started? Is that the quiet humming of the refrigerator I hear? Yes, yes it is. So far, so good! Everyone has good teachers and seems happy.

Anders, 8th Grade

The 3 Musketeers. Ava finally gets to walk to school with her sisters (and the rest of the neighborhood)!

Addie, 6th Grade. 

Aani, 4th Grade

Ava, 1st Grade

The Red Carpet Treatment

Ava is still enthusiastic about school. :)

The kids told me I should open a bakery with my 6 hours a day. Yeah, I'll get right on that.

RARARA 2016

Another cross-country road trip in the books, y'all, this time to the South. The Rasmusson family reunion was in Gatlinburg, TN. We thought it would be fun to leave a couple of days early and visit Monticello in Charlottesville, VA. It was a successful trip, with no vehicle break-downs. The real hero of this experience was our wonderful Swagger Wagon. What a champ the ol' minivan is.

Nothing like being blinded before driving for 31 hours. 

Clouds in Kansas

Monticello is awesome, and we all enjoyed our day there. I've always wanted to visit it, so I'm happy to check an item off the bucket list. They do a great job of making it fun for kids as well, and it's super neat to see how the house/plantation has been preserved. Thomas Jefferson was a fascinating person. Also, it was really, really hot, and the humidity almost killed these desert rats. After about 4 hours, we started to melt. But I digress. Go to Monticello if you can! It will make you feel patriotic and thankful for smart people like Thomas Jefferson.

 This is the ice house, where they would store ice from the winter, and it would last most of the summer. Whuuuut?

Writing with feather quills. Fancy!

Inside the children's exhibit.

Trying out the polygraph 

The kids get to pretend to be slaves... so that's fun?

Overlooking Thomas Jefferson's garden

The back of Monticello

Word 'em up, Tommy J.

We used Airbnb for the first time in Virginia, and it was great. Such a nice break from hotels. Here's Nils, enjoying a gourmet breakfast. 

The kiddies thought the hammock was just swell. What a novelty to have trees to hang a hammock from. Sigh. Desert problems.

We found an orange with a bum. We will never grow up.

Found this amazing hat at a rest stop on our way to Tennessee. 'Merica!

After a couple of lovely days in Virginia, it was time for RARARA! We drove about 7 hours to TN, which felt really long at that point. But it was worth it! We basically didn't see our kids for 4 days. Between cousins and a ginormous cabin, they were in hog heaven. Tennessee was also really, really hot and humid. Just have to mention that.

Tosh

Addie making a scarf on Haven's loom

Hooligans together again

Ari

Tie Dye extravaganza, courtesy Uncle Shiloh!

Crantzdorf Lodge

Ava and Saada

We visited Wonder Works in Pigeon Forge. 

Downtown Gatlinburg. Quite the tourist trap!

Ripley's Believe it or Not- skip it. Not impressed.

But, I got to spend some time with my boyfriend Optimus Prime, so I suppose it was okay.

It was a fun and memorable trip. I'm thinking it's time to start flying places, though. These buns are getting too old for all that driving.