So first off, Brian got his job back as of this past Monday. We're glad for the paycheck again! We did just fine financially using our savings and cutting back and ended up with some money left in savings.
So I was just thinking of how I couldn't wait until my girls were older. I could carry on a conversation with them, they would be helpful around the house, blah, blah, blah. Well the girls are older. Lauren is 13 and Maddie is 12 (almost). OH MY GOODNESS!! I didn't factor in hormones. Man oh man. Surely I wasn't like this at that age.
They both get sooooo moody and snap at each other and their siblings. They don't dare snap at me. Fortunately Lauren only gets grumpy for about a week but it's a whole 'nother ball game with Maddie. When she was a toddler, we nicknamed her "Moody Joy". Her name is Maddie Joy but really Moody was more appropriate. She seemed to outgrow it but it's back with a vengence. It's really true that teenagers (much as I HATE that word) are like toddlers. When asked to do something that she doesn't "feel" like doing, Lauren slowly closes her eyes as if to say "my patience is wearing thin, lady." She does do the chore and does get reprimanded for the eye closing.
Most of the time they are okay to be around so that's good. We are studying Beauty & the Pig in school. Excellent book on true beauty as described in the Bible. Beauty in speech as well as action. They have many opportunities to practice patience and kind speech with 5 other kids around all the time.
So anyway, my vent is over. Boy each stage of raising kids presents new challenges and just when you think you've got it down. Keeps me humble I guess ;)
*Edited to add: Don't type a vent post when you yourself are going through PMS. Things seem so much worse than they really are ;)
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Presidents
Me: "Hey Grae - who's our president?" I'm expecting he has no idea.
Grae: "George Bush."
Me (after I picked my jaw off the floor): "Who's our next President?"
Grae: "John McCain."
Me: "Nope, I wish. Do you remember who won....Barack...
Grae: "Brocko Bama."
Brian: "Barack Hussein Obama."
Grae" "Oh yeah, Brock Insane Obama. That's right."
hee-hee
Grae: "George Bush."
Me (after I picked my jaw off the floor): "Who's our next President?"
Grae: "John McCain."
Me: "Nope, I wish. Do you remember who won....Barack...
Grae: "Brocko Bama."
Brian: "Barack Hussein Obama."
Grae" "Oh yeah, Brock Insane Obama. That's right."
hee-hee
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
For I am the Pirate King!
No, I'm not going to say much about the election. God has seen fit to put Nobama in charge for His (God's) own glory and who am I to say that was wrong? Praise God for His wisdom and power even when I don't understand.
Now to our Pirate King. Grae dressed up like the Pirate King from the movie version of Pirates of Penzance. He got out my boots and strutted around. Strutted isn't the best word, more like hobbled.
Sorry for the grainy pictures. I bumped the ISO up because it was so dark in there.
"Do pirate kings do this when they need to go potty?"
Oh and no work for Brian yet, but not for lack of trying.
Now to our Pirate King. Grae dressed up like the Pirate King from the movie version of Pirates of Penzance. He got out my boots and strutted around. Strutted isn't the best word, more like hobbled.
Sorry for the grainy pictures. I bumped the ISO up because it was so dark in there.
"Do pirate kings do this when they need to go potty?"
Oh and no work for Brian yet, but not for lack of trying.
Friday, October 17, 2008
More info...
The initial shock has worn off and I'm excited for the future. Financially, we'll be okay until January. My business is slow right now but still going steady. Brian is getting 3 weeks vacation pay so that will help and will go right into savings. We are cutting back on all things and not buying anything. We had just begun saving our 3-6 emergency fund but didn't get very far. However we're not in any credit card debt, our vans are paid off and so far nothing major is coming up.
God has been good to us. Our stove blew up the other day (before Brian got laid off) and I called Brian at work. He mentioned it to one of his co-workers who just "happened" to be getting a new gas stove the next day. She told him we could have her electric one. Guess what, it's the exact same one that we had but better condition. So the girls knew how to work it already.
Brian went to pick it up that night and got to use the company truck to haul it back to our house. When he went to unload it, who should show up but his Dad! So I didn't have to help out ;) All things worked out so well. Thank you God!
Lauren needs braces and we had the appointment scheduled for next week. We put it on hold for now until Brian finds a new job. Thank goodness we didn't already start and drain our savings account paying for it.
It's nice to have Brian home. He taught school the other day while I ran some errands. The kids had fun (and I think Brian did too). I'm taking on all kinds of custom orders that I didn't have time to take on before. That means more $$ but it's also fun. I love sewing and creating.
So we're doing great so far. Thank you to all that are praying for us. Brian is applying for two jobs that are local and sound interesting. He enjoys delveloping software to solve business problems and he's good at it. He's so creative that it would be nice for him to be part of a company that has some money to put behind their ideas.
So that's the update. I've got some pirate Grae pics to show you that are so funny but I'm too lazy to edit them right now. So maybe next time!
God has been good to us. Our stove blew up the other day (before Brian got laid off) and I called Brian at work. He mentioned it to one of his co-workers who just "happened" to be getting a new gas stove the next day. She told him we could have her electric one. Guess what, it's the exact same one that we had but better condition. So the girls knew how to work it already.
Brian went to pick it up that night and got to use the company truck to haul it back to our house. When he went to unload it, who should show up but his Dad! So I didn't have to help out ;) All things worked out so well. Thank you God!
Lauren needs braces and we had the appointment scheduled for next week. We put it on hold for now until Brian finds a new job. Thank goodness we didn't already start and drain our savings account paying for it.
It's nice to have Brian home. He taught school the other day while I ran some errands. The kids had fun (and I think Brian did too). I'm taking on all kinds of custom orders that I didn't have time to take on before. That means more $$ but it's also fun. I love sewing and creating.
So we're doing great so far. Thank you to all that are praying for us. Brian is applying for two jobs that are local and sound interesting. He enjoys delveloping software to solve business problems and he's good at it. He's so creative that it would be nice for him to be part of a company that has some money to put behind their ideas.
So that's the update. I've got some pirate Grae pics to show you that are so funny but I'm too lazy to edit them right now. So maybe next time!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Learn to take better pictures!
***Update: thank you all so much for signing up. I only need 2 more referrals and then I can get the GC.***
I've been a member of a great photography site for a few months and wanted to share it with you. It's Clickin Moms and basically it's a group of women interested in taking better pictures or wanting to start their own photography business.
There are tutorials and how to's on composing a picture, how to use the settings on your camera, lighting, etc. I've learned quite a bit. I'm also fond of browsing the pictures the members have taken. So stunning!
Anyway, here is the link: Clickin' Moms
Oh and now is a great time to sign up! The site is running a referral contest. So if you sign up under my link, I'm eligible to win a $50 GC to Pottery Barn/Williams Sonoma, Gymboree, Gap, Barnes and Noble or Starbucks, or BP Gas stations. I just need 10 new sign ups and I already have 4.
So if you become a member, you can also participate and get your own gift card with your referrals. The contest ends Oct. 31.
Even without the contest, it's a great site.
I've been a member of a great photography site for a few months and wanted to share it with you. It's Clickin Moms and basically it's a group of women interested in taking better pictures or wanting to start their own photography business.
There are tutorials and how to's on composing a picture, how to use the settings on your camera, lighting, etc. I've learned quite a bit. I'm also fond of browsing the pictures the members have taken. So stunning!
Anyway, here is the link: Clickin' Moms
Oh and now is a great time to sign up! The site is running a referral contest. So if you sign up under my link, I'm eligible to win a $50 GC to Pottery Barn/Williams Sonoma, Gymboree, Gap, Barnes and Noble or Starbucks, or BP Gas stations. I just need 10 new sign ups and I already have 4.
So if you become a member, you can also participate and get your own gift card with your referrals. The contest ends Oct. 31.
Even without the contest, it's a great site.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Pork - it's what's for dinner...
Included in our "bailout" bill.
Wooden arrows: This tax break, backed by Oregon's two senators, would benefit an Oregon manufacturer of wooden arrows for children by $2 million over 10 years.
Racetracks: Earmark would allow auto racetrack owners to depreciate their facilities over seven years, saving the industry $100 million over two years.
Rum: Offers rum producers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands a rebate on excise taxes worth $192 million over two years.
Wool: Reduces tariffs for U.S. makers of wool fabric that use imported yarn, worth $148 million over five years. The measure was pushed by Reps. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., and Melissa Bean, D-Ill.
Exxon Valdez: Plaintiffs in the suit over the 1989 oil spill could spread their tax payments on punitive damages over three years, cutting their tax bill by $49 million. The measure was backed by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska.
American Samoa: Allows certain corporations to reduce their tax liability on income earned in American Samoa, at a cost of $33 million over two years.
Hollywood: Extends a tax break for film and TV companies that keep their production in the United States, worth $478 million over 10 years. The provision was originally pushed by Rep. Diane Watson, D-Los Angeles.
Source: Taxpayers for Common Sense
Wooden arrows: This tax break, backed by Oregon's two senators, would benefit an Oregon manufacturer of wooden arrows for children by $2 million over 10 years.
Racetracks: Earmark would allow auto racetrack owners to depreciate their facilities over seven years, saving the industry $100 million over two years.
Rum: Offers rum producers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands a rebate on excise taxes worth $192 million over two years.
Wool: Reduces tariffs for U.S. makers of wool fabric that use imported yarn, worth $148 million over five years. The measure was pushed by Reps. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., and Melissa Bean, D-Ill.
Exxon Valdez: Plaintiffs in the suit over the 1989 oil spill could spread their tax payments on punitive damages over three years, cutting their tax bill by $49 million. The measure was backed by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska.
American Samoa: Allows certain corporations to reduce their tax liability on income earned in American Samoa, at a cost of $33 million over two years.
Hollywood: Extends a tax break for film and TV companies that keep their production in the United States, worth $478 million over 10 years. The provision was originally pushed by Rep. Diane Watson, D-Los Angeles.
Source: Taxpayers for Common Sense
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