A new start!!!

Joel and I moved into the house of our dreams this weekend! It's been a long weekend...but a good one. There is SOOOO much to do when moving...ugh! I wish I could just blink and everything would be in its place....but it doesn't work like that:-( It's not too bad though. Those of you who know me...know that I had my kitchen together first! I LOVE my new kitchen...it really is my dream kitchen. Our home will be perfect for entertaining with the open floor plan and the swimming pool! We love nothing more then to have family and friends over to cookout!! It doesn't get much better then that:-)

There are some down sides to moving as well. Change is not easy for me. I haven't moved around a lot in my life...so it's an adjustment for sure. The first few nights I felt like I was staying at someone else's house. But...this morning I got up and made breakfast and it started to feel a little more like home. Our bedroom furniture is on back order and we will not get it until Sat...that sucks...we can't get our bedroom set up until then so it really doesn't feel like our own room yet....it will soon:-)

Saturday we moved everything in the house with the help of friends and family. After everything was in the house we fired up our new (awesome) gas grill and grilled our hot dogs...ate chips and dip and took a nice, well deserved dip in the pool! We had a great time and hope our friends did as well.

Sunday We worked all day on the house and got the bathrooms, kitchen and most of the bedrooms in order...enough to use anyways:-) Haley and Brenden were able to come over Sunday evening to spend the night with us...they were so excited to see their new bedrooms. They didn't have their own rooms at our old house so they were pumped! We cooked out "again" and had dinner outside on our patio. Then we swam for a little while and were even able to watch a little tv while we were outside. The previous owners of the home left their tv outside and we had the cable guy hook it up while he was here...How cool is that? I don't know the last time...if ever...I was able to chill in the pool and watch tv:-) The kids thought it was pretty cool too!

Today we worked on the house more...of course....and it's really starting to come together. It's weird how you find different ways to use things you had in your old house. There are some decorations that I didn't really care for in our old house but they look awesome in our new house. I plan to post pictures soon...but want to get the house just the way I like it before I post or I might have to re-post over and over again until I get the house just the way we want it. Oh, and today we installed the curved shower rods in Thomas's bathroom. He had to screw into the tile in the shower and I was SOOO afraid it was going to break the tile. The directions said very clearly...if you are going to drill into the tile and not drywall please consult a professional. Now...Joel is good at a lot and is a wonderful handyman....but if he breaks the tile that is not going to be cheap to fix....needless to say he did a GREAT job and the tile didn't break YAY! I love my husband...her really does ROCK! He also was able to mount our tv up on the wall above the fireplace...it looks GREAT! If that thing was the fall that would have been bad news...but he did it!!!!

Thomas is taking the move pretty good. He was having a hard time with it today but I assured him time will make the move better. He will start a new school next year and is really looking forward to it. He did a shadow day a few weeks ago and made quite a few friends while he was there so he will already have friends at his new school when he starts. He is leaving for camp this Sunday and asked if he could have some friends over for a pool party before he goes to camp. I think it's a great idea. I think it will be good to start new memories at his new house before he leaves for camp for a MONTH. Gosh, this is his 7th year at camp and he LOVES it. I am SO glad that he gets to go every year but sure do miss him while he is gone:-(

Tomorrow I have to go back to work...I am actually looking forward to the routine of work. That is the only thing that isn't changing in my life right now...so it will be good to be there:-) Not sure that I am looking forward to my new drive though. It will probably take me close to an hour to get to work. In our old house it took me all of 7 minutes....I will get use to it though and I know it will be WELL WORTH THE DRIVE to come home to the house of my dreams:-)

Well, that's my weekend in a nutshell. I will post more soon with pictures:-) Have a great week everyone!!!!

Family Time!

My family has decided that we don't get together enough...so we are doing monthly cookouts at each of our homes. This month the cookout was at my sister Britney's house. Her and her husband just bought a new home so we all went there to eat...hang out...and of course check out her new place! It's beautiful!!! We had such a great time too. We grilled out pizzas...YUMMY! Not sure if you have ever done this...but it's SOOO easy and really good! It's going to become a regular meal in my house. The kids loved it too because they can make whatever kind of pizza they want....that was great for the picky eaters:-) Next month we are going to the cookout at our new house! I can't wait. It gives us a reason to all hang out and enjoy each others company. Before it seemed like we were only getting together for birthdays, weddings etc. Now, once a month we get together just to hang out. We ended up playing old school Mario Brothers at Britney's house. Who knew that game would still be as fun as it was 20 year ago! DANG! I just said 20 years ago...and I am not over doing it....it was really 20 years ago. I am getting OLD:-( Here are a few pictures from the cookout at Britney and Joe's new place!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!! Can't wait to get together again!

One Year Anniversary! 5/16/2010

We made it through our first year of marriage. We had good days, bad days, crazy days and days that I could have totally done without....but everyone of those days is what makes us who we are as a couple. Love only gets you so far....having kids together doesn't get you anywhere...but being willing to work through some of the hardest situations you feel like aren't even worth it at times, is what makes our marriage grow! I know that Joel was meant for me and I was meant for him. No one ever fooled me into believing that it would be easy...and I am glad I paid attention....because some days are really hard....but what comes after "those days" are worth it!

He makes me smile:-) He makes me laugh! He makes me mad! He hurts my feelings! He loves me! He lifts me up! He encourages me! He talks me out of things! He loves my family! He usually disagrees with me about everything! He works through things with me! He works hard! He gets mad at me when I don't want to get up early! He laughs at me! He tells me I am beautiful! He takes care of me! He eats my cooking even when it's not very good! He can be very selfish! He is a wonderful father and father figure! .......I could go ON AND ON! Damn, I love this man through all of the good and the bad:-)

We spent the day together out in Grandview with some of his friends riding cross country racing (dirt bikes). It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun. Joel didn't win his race...but he had fun trying. It was new to him...he has never raced cross country before...only motocross. After his experience with cross country...I think he will stick with motocross!

What a great day!

Weekly Meal Plan

I am not going to create any meal plans until after we move. Over the next two weeks...my family will eat whatever ends up on the dinner table:-) Once we move I will focus a little more on "what's for dinner"

Weekly Goals Week of 5/17/10

OMG! I am seriously NOT going to be living in this house is just two weeks...crazy stuff! I am so excited but really nervous at the same time. Will it feel like home? Will the kids, Joel and my dogs like the new place. Will we meet nice neighbors? Will something BIG go wrong right after we move in? UGH! So many thoughts going through my head with what if's. I am sure everything will be fine....but I can't stop thinking about it! We go this Friday for our final walk through. I am looking forward to that! It's hard to believe how much our life will change in just days. Thomas is going to start a new school next year too. I am really looking forward to that change. Thomas needs a new school. The school he is at now is way too small and he doesn't get the "real school" experience. So, the move will be a good one!

My goals this week are VERY simple.

"Stay focused on regular day to day stuff...and don't stress too much over this whole house thing! Be excited!!!! It's going to be great:-) "

Weekly Goal Results 5/10/10

1. Start cleaning out the closets...and getting garage sale items ready to sell! - I just started working on that tonight:-)

2. Drink LOTS of water:-) - I am a water drinking fool! No sodas for me:-)

3. Exercise 3-4 times - Slackin' :-( I will get back on track once I get moved and settled in!

4. Portion Control - Yes, working really hard in this area since I am not working out.

5. Get caught up on all of the laundry:-( I really HATE doing laundry...I am still not caught up...You would think I have 15 kids or something!

6. Help Thomas stay focused for these last few weeks of school Yep! He is doing well!

7. Start getting Thomas's camp stuff ready for Summer Camp - Going to start getting him ready this week...Can't believe he goes off to camp in just a few weeks!

8. Stay on budget for moving.... - Not so much this weekend:-(///but we are back on track now!

9. Finish editing pictures - DONE!

10. Take a night off to enjoy yourself...and to do NOTHING!! No laundry...homework....cleaning....cooking....I mean NOTHING! - Well, I can't say I really got a day of doing nothing....but I did have a few nights that I didn't have as much going on as I usually do and was able to relax a little!

Living on a budget:-)

I found this article and thought it was a good read. I know that Joel and I will really have to work on our budgeting when we move! Hopefully these good tips will help...and thought you guys might be able to learn something from this too!!

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Whether you’re living paycheck to paycheck or you have a surplus of savings built up, learning to budget your money – and maintaining an ongoing budget planner – is vital to proper money management.There’s no one right way to budget your money. Some people like to jot income and expenses down on paper, others keep a sophisticated budget spreadsheet and still others prefer using a free, online budget planner that does most of the work for you. It doesn’t really matter how you keep your personal budget so much as picking a method that makes sense to you and one that you will maintain regularly.To make sure your budget does what it's supposed to, be sure to avoid these 11 budget planning mistakes:

1. Not keeping a budget planner at all.If you have no semblance of a budget planner and never write your income and expenses down, how do you know the state of your finances? How can you be sure you’re not spending more than you’re making? If you don’t manage your money, it will manage you – in the form of debt, interest charges, bad credit and other unpleasant consequences.

2. Thinking short-term.A monthly budget is a great first start, but it’s difficult to account for less regular expenses that way. Think ahead at least a year and budget one-time items and other events – like holidays and birthdays – so your personal finances aren’t turned upside-down by a single occasion or large purchase.

3. Being unrealistic.If your budget planner never matches up with reality, what’s the point of keeping it? The ideal personal budget tracks real income and expense patterns, and allows you to plan for the future. If your estimates are always off, however, your future finances are no more than a guess. To help keep it real, estimate what your expenses will be for the next month. Then, keep track of your actual expenses and at the end of that month, compare the estimates with the actuals. That way, you'll learn how you are really using your money so you can make better estimates for the future.

4. Spending more than you earn.This may seem like an obvious error to avoid, but with U.S. consumer debt reaching $2.45 trillion at the end of 2009, according to the Federal Reserve, it may not be obvious enough. Keeping an ongoing personal budget will help you to track what’s coming in and what’s going out – and to make sure the first number is higher than the second one.

5. Saving too little.Savings shouldn’t be an after-thought; it should be budgeted just like everything else. Traditional thinking holds that you should save 10 percent of your income. Whatever number you choose, add it to your budget planner and stick with it. Set up a direct deposit from your paycheck into a savings account, if possible, to make it automatic.

6. Neglecting to plan for a rainy day. Aside from your savings, you should budget for a rainy day – an emergency situation for which you can’t necessarily prepare, like an unexpected medical expense, house or car repair, or job loss. Like your general savings, there should be a place for these funds in your budget planner rather than pulling from whatever might be left over at the end of the month.

7. Keeping an overly elaborate budget.If you’re a budget nerd who prefers an incredibly detailed spreadsheet, kudos to you! But if you’re like most people, making your budget planner too labor-intensive and overly detailed will likely lead to budget abandonment. Everyone requires a different level of detail; find yours and stick with it. If you’re just getting started, begin with a high-level budget and add more detail as you need it.

8. Allowing your checking account balance to go too low. When you near $0 with your checking account – or main bank account – you’re flirting with unnecessary fees and frustration. Budget yourself out of this predicament by setting a new zero. If you view an amount - let's say, $100 - as the new absolute minimum, you'll prevent yourself from losing any money. Plus, you'll have a safety net in place if you ever make a budgeting error.

9. Relying completely on bank and credit card statements to get it right.Don’t assume that what’s on your bank statement or credit card statement is 100 percent correct. Banks and creditors make mistakes too and if you don’t at least occasionally double-check with receipts, you may be forfeiting your hard-earned cash.

10. Never adjusting your budget planner.Your personal financial situation is bound to change. Update your personal budget with new sources of income and new expenses, and make sure to adjust your budget to align with your spending habits. Keeping an archive of your budgets is a good idea too, as it allows you to look back and determine spending patterns and what adjustments you should make.

11. Not accounting for interest.Neglecting interest charges on credit cards and loans in your budget planner will likely lead to a budgeting shortfall, especially if you’re paying hefty sums in interest each month. You don’t have to get the amount of interest exactly right in your budget, but it’s smart to make a best guess. Estimating interest will allow you to really see how much you’re paying to borrow money from creditors and lenders, and will help ensure that you have enough money budgeted to cover these payments.

Splatter Paint Bookshelves

Haley wanted to splatter paint her white book shelves that will go in her new room. So...I said...why not? She picked out the 3 colors that she wants her room to have...so that's what we used for the paint! I LOVE them! It's going to look so cool in her room with matching colors...and the rest of her furniture is white. I can't wait to get it all fixed up. What fun!!

Weekly Goals 5-10-10

Lots to do this week!! We are moving soon...can't wait:-)

1. Start cleaning out the closets...and getting garage sale items ready to sell!

2. Drink LOTS of water:-)

3. Exercise 3-4 times

4. Portion Control

5. Get caught up on all of the laundry:-(

6. Help Thomas stay focused for these last few weeks of school

7. Start getting Thomas's camp stuff ready for Summer Camp

8. Stay on budget for moving....

9. Finish editing pictures

10. Take a night off to enjoy yourself...and to do NOTHING!! No laundry...homework....cleaning....cooking....I mean NOTHING!

Weekly Meal Plan

Monday: Spaghetti, garlic bread

Tuesday: Chicken Stir Fry, Egg Rolls

Wednesday: Pork Chops, veggies

Thursday: Poor Man's Meal, mac-n-cheese

Friday: Tacos

Sat: Grilled Chicken, veggies

Sunday: NEW RECIPE: Black Beans and Coconut Lime Rice - YUMMY!

Weekly Goal Results 5-5-10

1. Portion Control - I did really well with my portion control this week:-)

2. Exercise 3-4 times a week (whether it be running...walking......P90X....it doesn't matter) - I didn't work out once! Slacker!

3. LOTS of water - I did drink lots of water...gosh...it's amazing how much better you feel:-)

4. Plenty of sleep - Yep...lots of sleep this week...feeling great!

5. Try to start working towards NOT smoking again...I plan to try and quit ONCE AGAIN...after we move and are settled:-) - Totally slacking:-(

Weekly Goals 5-3-10

This week is going to be a little different....I am going to take it easy from now until after we get settled in our new house. I have SOOO much stuff going on...and I am starting to get stressed out. I need to just take a step back and breathe:-) Everything is going to be just fine...it won't take long to get settled in the new house...then I can get back on a comfortable routine. Trying to stay on a routine(which I LOVE to do) is NOT easy when your house is a freakin' mess....and you still have 24 (yeah I am counting) days until we move. I am really looking forward to it though...I can't wait! I am going to finally have the house of my dreams....I already have the husband of my dreams....the child of my dreams....and the family of my dreams....now I will feel complete. It will take a little time though...and in the meantime...I am going to take it easy! I am only going to work on 5 goals per week until I get settled:-)

1. Portion Control

2. Exercise 3-4 times a week (whether it be running...walking......P90X....it doesn't matter)

3. LOTS of water

4. Plenty of sleep

5. Try to start working towards NOT smoking again...I plan to try and quit ONCE AGAIN...after we move and are settled:-)

Weekly Goal Results 4-26-10

1. NO SMOKING! - Still smoking:-(

2. Hang in there with the P90X...Do it EVERY NIGHT you can!! - I did it a few nights...but not as many as I would have liked....

3. Portion Control - Doing great with my portion control...eat MORE of the good stuff and LESS of the bad....

4. Finish Thomas's project - Not yet...still working on it.

5. LOTS of water! - YES!

6. LOTS of sleep! - YES!

7. Send someone a letter to say hi!! It's WAY more personal then a facebook message:-) - I didn't....but will this week:-)

8. Stay on track with budget! - Doing good here:-)

9. NO eating out! - Only once...that's not too bad:-)

10. Help Thomas stay focused on school for this last 9 weeks. It's ALMOST over!! Then SUMMER CAMP! He can't wait!!!!- He doing ok....13 is NOT an easy age though...I will tell you that! He is a very bright young man...he will get it together...I have faith in him!