a third NaBloPoMo bites the dust!

This is it - my last post of the month. Along with many of my family and friends, I've posted EVERY SINGLE DAY this entire month. Didn't miss a step and I didn't cheat. Something new from my fingers to your brain every day. Did you love it? Do you wish I'd do it all the time?

Not me. The month of November 2008 will go down in the record books. It started off too sad for words and it's just sort of carried on - a little bit of blah goes a long way sometimes.

It's funny that this whole crazy post every day thing happens in November - it's the start of such a busy time in the lives of many, yet it offers a chance to be a bit reflective, thankful and grateful for all that we have, and the chance to share those thoughts and feelings on a silly little blog.

In the last 26 days this little blog of mine got 1380 hits - and I'm pretty sure that they weren't all mine. Don't know if that's good or bad or what, but that is a decent number, right?

Oh, this post isn't going anywhere is it?

I guess I've really run out of things to say. This month just took it all out of me.

Internets, I've got lots to say.

Just not tonight. My blood sugars are a bit out of whack and I'm very tired.

We'll talk soon.

a bit too crowded but the Monkey had fun!

Tonight we went with some of our extended family to see the lights on Temple Square downtown. The lights are a grand tradition and always beautiful, and we hadn't been to see them in person for years.

Unfortunately, they just came on yesterday and, well, the early bird crowds plus a concert going on in the Tabernacle caused the two hermits in this house to panic a bit at the group induced claustrophobia.

We survived, and had a good time. The Monkey had an AWESOME! time running around, getting lost, taking off his coat, an falling down a lot. He was super good and so well behaved. A night that makes me want to take him everywhere. And, it wasn't that cold, which was good, and it was a clear and beautiful night. Ross wore a full set of long johns, just to be safe and I suppose remained extra toasty for the entire adventure (He must like them because we've been home a little over an hour now and he's still wearing them....fortunately for you all, that is not something I'll take a picture of.).

Unfortunately, I'm a dork and had messed with my camera so much that all the presets were screwed up and not until we were about finished with the light tour, did I finally find my reset button and take a few pictures that weren't fuzzy. Sometimes for being a smart kid, I AM SO DUMB! Luckily Pierre and James had their cameras to compensate for my spaz-ness. I hope that they got some good shots of my boy and my family for me to borrow later.

Merry Christmas to you! Black Friday the easy way! Thank you Dave Ramsey!

3 different titles you say? Yes, but they all apply.

First - Ross is going to pick up his Christmas Present this afternoon. It's a new tv. It's a new huge (in my opinion of course, but not as HUGE as it could have been) flat screen hang on the wall something, something, something tv. That's what he wanted for Christmas. It will hang on the wall in the fortress of solitude...I mean bat cave...I mean basement!

Second - we only got the TV because it was a Black Friday deal. It's original price was WAY OVER our discussed budget for such an extravagant item. Well, my proposed budget anyway. We got it for $600 cheaper than it's original price. And, we ordered it online last night with in-store pick-up today. Sweet! No one had to go stand in a line at 4 am to try and get the smokin' deal. We are smart!

Third - Since May of this year, Ross and I have really been trying to eliminate our debt, live on a tight budget (tight by our standards), and save some money. I'm really proud of us. We've been doing a great job!

We've switched to a cash envelope system for all of our expenditures except bills and gas - they are still taken from the checking account/debit card. Everything else in our lives is cash based (we even have a montly allowance) and when we run out of money - or don't have enough then we must wait.

The best part of this you ask? EVERYTHING we've done since May has been paid for. No credit, no lay away, no interest! All our trips over the summer, our basement remodel, all of our Christmas expenses and the new tv have been paid for in cash. Our debts are slowly being eliminated and we are doing really well.

Not trying to brag here, just wanted to tell Dave Ramsey thanks for the books, the envelopes, the will power and helping to influence our desire to be debt free!

A lot to be thankful for...

Today was a good day. It's nice to have these kind of days. Days where our dad is home, we all sleep in, and just get to hang out with all our family.

There is so much to be thankful for all the time, but today is one of those days where you are supposed to be extra grateful, right? I am. We are.

We are thankful for our family, our home, our community, our jobs, our savings accoutn, our sense of humor, our built in 2 year old entertainment and so much more.

We are thankful that we are surrounded with family and friends who love us and want to be parts of our lives and help take care of us when we need it.

We are thankful for grandparents and posterity and ancestors and the legacy's that generations past have left us.

I am thankful that I got to prepare some dishes for Thanksgiving today. It made me feel good to contribute and help out.

I am thankful that my brother is an almost 14 year old giant. It's good to know that I'm not the biggest member of the family and even though he's not quite as tall as me, at least his feet are much, much bigger. A 47.5 in european sizing in fact (that's a 13 for those of you that aren't up on your euro shoe sizes).




I am thankful for good lip gloss and hair cuts and tall jeans and funny little boys. Also thankful for warm weather so I don't have to wear socks. I am thankful for books and learning and truth and honesty and integrity and justice when I find it.

I am thankful for my husband who several times today told me that "I won the lottery" when I met and married him. I suppose he's right, but i'd say he won the lottery, too. And, if for no other reason (but there are many more, promise) I am thankful for him, because he helped me to get my sweet baby boy - who never ceases to amuse and entertain and give me kisses.

Run for your LIVES!

It's Thomas and the Killer Cars!