Money seems to be getting tighter and tighter. First with the fuel prices, and now everything else filters down. The only thing that doesn't keep up with the rising...salaries! We still make exactly the same amount as we did before, and slowly, we are losing everything! It's about time to look for a small business opportunity to be able to bring a little extra income into the house. If not, we'll lose it, and we'll be moving home to Utah before too long!
My husband's birthday is coming up in a few weeks (after Father's Day) and we've been trying to find the perfect gift for him. The boys want a PS2 game, he needs new video cards, and I want to get him (us) a little get away downtown for the weekend. A weekend with room service and no kids...is there a better gift anywhere? Kate really wants to get him his favorite candy bar, Peanut Butter Cups, and I'm not too sure what Brett wants to get him. But before we can focus on birthday gifts, we have to get Father's Day out of the way!!
We spent the afternoon at my in laws house with their swimming pool. I was surprised at how well my kids adjusted back into the "swimming scene", but mostly I was surprised by the little pooch in my tummy that is just a bit bigger than it was last year! Now that is just not acceptable, but understandable considering the fact that we pretty much hibernate during the winter months. But now it's time to find the top fat burners out there, and take care of this problem quickly!
June 21st brings the renewal of our car insurance. We've been with the same company for over 5 years, yet every 6 months the husband decides it's time to do an auto insurance comparison. Then inevitably, we renew with the same old company! It's like a little control dance we play every 6 months. I control the finances in the house, I pay the bills. But every so often he feels like he needs to dip his toe in and test the waters. Once he realizes that we are running like a well oiled machine, he takes his leave and the universe returns to it's normal, functioning self!
We moved in to this house a couple of years ago, and did you know that there are still moving boxes in the basement? Still packed and unopened from the move. What's up with that?? This summer my goal is to get through the entire basement and get everything put together correctly. If the box hasn't been opened in 2 years, we must not need the contents!
I'm going to take a moment to complain yet again! My birthday is coming up, and I'll be 37 years old. That is just too old to still be living with zits! Honestly, weren't they supposed to head for the hills when I "grew up"? I've been waiting and trying every all the new natural acne treatments I can find, but nothing seems to work. I wash, rinse, mask and moisturize every night, but to no avail! I guess it's time to find something new!
I've been a member of an online book club, and have really enjoyed getting back into reading books. Last month we read a book called "Goose Girl" by Shannon Hale, and it was wonderful. Luckily there are two books left in the trilogy, so I will be picking them both up later today to read. With kids you can forget just how nice it is to take a few moments and get lost in a whole 'nother world! I'm really enjoying it.
My sister has been looking into weight loss supplements. So much has been said in the past few years about Phentermine. Many people have relied on it for weight loss, and it's one of the best prescription weight loss aids. But there are so many "fakers" out there that it's to be sure what you are getting. I've never been one to take diet pills, I get 'woozy', but it's nice to know there is information out there for people who do want them!
My brother and sister in law are looking into getting a medical bracelet for my niece. She's just little but is violently allergic to several medications. She is such a rough and tumble kid, (has 3 brothers to keep up with)that they are just sure once she starts school in the fall, and they aren't around she'll get herself hurt on the playground. (yes, they wanted a bicycle helmet for her when she started walking) Medical bracelets have come a long way since I was a kid. Now you can find some that really look like jewelry, and I think they will be perfect for a little girl.
I have been looking for hotel deals in downtown Chicago. Our anniversary is coming up soon, and I'm planning a little trip away with "the man"! Not far away mind you, there are four kids to worry about. But a quick trip downtown will be fun and relaxing. When you live in the suburbs you don't get to the city as often as you think you would, and it really is a whole little world all it's own. I would love to stay 2 nights, but I think one will be pushing it!
I have to say, I have often been guilty of taking my computer memory for granted! I have been trying to find a way to get my computer to work faster. So I dumped all of my photo's onto a memory stick. Mind you, it was working great, but I never felt too comfortable deleting the files completely off of my hard drive. Yeah, I know, it defeats the whole purpose...but it was a good thing. Today I needed one of the photo's, so I stuck the memory stick into the port, and you know what...it didn't work! Phew! So I hurried to my recycle bin and restored all of my photo files back to their original space! You never can be too sure about the safety of your photos!!
Tomorrow I will be spending the day helping a neighbor friend pack up her house following a divorce. The whole situation is sad, especially with her having kids. So the least I can do is head over and help her pack some boxes. She is luckily having movers come in on Tuesday to pack up all of her furnishings and things until her apartment is ready to move into the end of May. I was happy to hear there were movers coming because she's got some really heavy things. She got the huge TV in the divorce as well as her refrigerator, platform beds, and all of her dining room furniture. I really wouldn't be able to help much with the heavy stuff, so we'll leave that to them! I'm a little worried about my own house. It's in dire need of de-cluttering, and I'll be spending yet another day out of the house. Not a good thing!!
We just found out that more of our neighbors are moving. New York movers will be here on Monday to clear them out. What makes this, and the previous three moves, so strange is the fact that we find out about the move 3 days before it happening. This one is at least going on at a normal time. The last three all moved out at midnight, and only 2 days after they told us they were moving. We just moved here, and we gave all of our neighbors a few months notice before moving. I'm just confused as to how you keep it a secret for so long and then just up and move? Or is it just as surprising to them as it is to us?
I watched a show on TV last night about a family of 13. They were a very peculiar family to me but not because of how plainly they lived. What was strange was that they were happy! Mind you, they may have edited out the discord, but the entire show was just very much centered on how great they all get a long. They don't have much in the way of money, but they honestly don't appear to need it. They have a ton of farm animals, but don't use them for their milk and eggs, hmmmm, I would at least do that!
The oldest child was 21, but looked 16, and the baby is 18 months old! That's a huge rainbow of ages. They do drive a big green van, but if that breaks down, they will need to find a bus for sale!
All 11 of the kids were smart, sweet and talented. I'm not saying I want to move out to the middle of nowhere and live the plain life. But they looked happier than most people I've met in my life!
My in laws are heading South this next weekend! Heading off to some Branson resorts. I've never been to Missouri, other than to an airport for refueling, but they didn't let us off of the plane, so I don't think that counts. There are amazingly fun things going on in Branson, and before we move West again, I would like to see it!
My father in law just went in for a stress test last week. What was strange about this stress test is that they actually let him go home. They never do that. He is usually sent immediately to a room in the hospital with an angioplasty set up for that evening or the next day. We thought this was great because it meant that he finally passed a stress test!
Wrong!
He was called this morning and admitted to the hospital for a angioplasty. He's not that old,64, but had a quintuple bypass about 15 years ago. I'm not sure how much time he has left but I do think it's time to get some life insurance quotes. I don't mean a million bucks, but enough to cover the costs of his final requests. It's not a bad idea to get it for my husband either. He's not even 40 yet, but hey, it's all in the genetics right?
My aunt just returned from a trip to Texas. I've been to Texas twice in my life, well, I've been to the Houston airport and we spent the night in Dallas after we took a bump flying home. I've always wanted to see Texas. I've heard great things about San Antonio. I would love to see Austin. Texas is too big to see all in one trip--but see it I plan to do! I wouldn't mind looking into Corpus Christi real estate. A home away from home--but only after the first home is paid off!
My husband has been asking lately what I would like to get for my birthday. Normally I'm pretty easy. I want pillows. Not just any pillows though, mine cost about $75.00 and are made of down. This makes them plushy and snuggly! This year however, I think I'm leaning toward a down comforter to go with all of my plushy pillows. Truly, I've never slept better than with these pillows. There are nights when my husband beats me to bed, and I will come in and he's stolen my fluffy pillows. I don't have the heart to steal them back, but it really isn't a very good nights sleep. Of course, it doesn't help that I'm cursing him under my breath!
Do you remember being a teenager with the face of a teenager? I had some acne problems as well as freckles. Both, I was told, would go away as I grew older. Well, I'm nearing 40 and still use an acne treatment every week or so. I'm sorry, but just how old do I have to get? To much older and I'll just be able to hide the zits in the wrinkles of my skin so that my grandkids won't be able to see them!
My parents just got into town this evening! It's always fun to see them even though it is starting to take a toll on my mom. My dad is 14 years older than she is and really seems to have the health and longevity of his dad, who passed away at 96 years old, and even then his body was young but due to Alzheimer's his mind was gone. So we are hoping to have many wonderful years with my dad!
