WOW....it has been a while.

I didn't realize how long it had been since I did a post....I apologize and will try to do better for those of you who actually read this. There has been alot that has went on since I last posted....summer came and went, we lost my aunt this summer unexpectedly due to a stroke, school started. Kristyn is now in the 7th grade and will be 13 tomorrow (boo hoo) and Ryleigh is now in the 3rd grade. Lordy, my girls are growing up and this momma doesn't know how to handle it. Both of the girls made honor roll the first 6 weeks and Kristyn made the 7A volleyball team at school....they were a great team and went undefeated and even won the district tournament. Now it is on to basketball....they started practice at school yesterday. In January she starts volleyball again for a traveling tournament team. I must say I am really looking forward to that. I have really grown to like volleyball, so has my husband. So much so that he likes to go watch the high school team play and he even watches college volleyball on tv. Something I NEVER would have expected. lol.....I am subbing at the school again and I do like it....I like the flexibility of being able to turn them down if I have something planned. I am also taking pictures for people and love it!! Well, I hate to cut this short, but I need to go outside and clean out my truck and then go get in line to get Ryleigh and then go to the Jr High and pick up Kristyn and the meat they sold for FFA....then back home to clean and mark some stuff off my evergrowing "to do" list....Am I the only one that has those??? :).....hope you have a blessed day!!

The Beginning

Ok, so I have had a few setbacks. We didn't get to have the garage sale due to rain, but we will. I received my Total Money Makeover book and workbook in the mail last week, but due to my Aunt having a stroke and then passing away a few days later, I did not get started reading it until today. I must say it is a very interesting book and really makes you think about the way you spend your money. I have started keeping a log of how much money I spend and where. I also sat down today and worked out a budget that I hope to stick to. My first step is going to be to get a $1000.00 Emergency fund. Once I have that done, I will start paying extra on my credit cards and hope to have those paid off within 6 weeks. After that, I will start on paying extra on the student loan that we had to take out to send our oldest daughter to Syl@n Learning Center....we don't want to talk about that....Once that expense is paid off, I will work on the trucks, then the trailer, then the mortgage. I am hoping to have the book finished by the end of the month and then beginning Aug 1, starting with my plan. I will keep you all updated!

What a Week....

WOW!! The last couple of weeks around here have not been the best. It all started with my aunt having a stroke and passing away several days later and all the stuff that goes along with that. My poor cousin, mother and grandparents are having a tough time with it. Aunt Gail will be missed. On top of that, it has rained and rained and rained some more. So needless to stay it is hot and humid!!

On a lighter note, how was your July 4th?? Ours was pretty nice. We went down to our neighbors house for food and fireworks. I hate buying fireworks. Yes, they are neat, pretty and all and they are fun for the kids. But I have such a hard time not thinking, "there goes money.....literally up in smoke!" Call me cheap, chinchy or whatever, but I am so determined to become debt free that I have a hard time justifying that kind of expense...and when I say "that kind of expense", I mean $100.00 worth!! Yes, the wonderful hubby spent $100.00 on FIREWORKS!

Speaking of being "debt free". I have started reading Dave Ramsey's, Total Money Makeover. It really is a good book and makes you think alot about the way you spend money. I plan on having the book finished by the end of the month, so that I can start in August on becoming debt free. I will be doing post documenting our "journey" to become debt free under the Total Money Makeover tab at the top of my blog. I hope you will follow along and maybe even join along.

I know I haven't posted any pics, but maybe I will get that accomplished along with some scrapbook layouts tomorrow since the girls are gone to their grandparents house and there is no telling when they will come back. Their grandparents live on the lake and have a blast while they are there. Well, it is going on 9:00 here and I am kinda tired, so I am going to get off of here. Hope you all have a FABULOUS Friday!!

Not Much Going On....

Today was a pretty low key day...I only had a few things to get done..run to the bank, cleaners, tax office, pick up girls, go wash truck.....I am proud to say that I did get all of that done and now here I am, sitting on the couch, watching Grey's Anatomy and blogging....Oh how I LOVE to read other blogs, if only I was better at posting to my own blog..ha! I am trying to do better, I promise. I found another blog that I really like and added it to my blog roll (Funky Junk Interiors).

Tomorrow is Kristyn's field trip to Nasa. I have been looking forward to this field trip for a while. The last time I went to NASA, I was in Jr High also. It is a field trip that I have always remembered. Ryleigh is a little bummed because I will not be able to be at her water day. This weekend will be filled up with softball. Ryleigh has a tournament and will be playing both days. There team is getting new uniforms, they are black/white/hot pink. I took her helmet to a guy and am having it repainted to match. Yes, I am one of those parents who likes for the helmets to match the uniform, I am goofy that way. lol...Well, gotta get off of here and get these kiddos in the bed....Night All....

Beautiful Weather, Wonderful Life

The weather here in my little part of Texas has been absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! The last two weekends have been spent at HOME...just us. We have worked in the yard both weekends and I must say, we accomplished alot. My flower beds are now completely done and all I want now is a bird bath and one more sego palm. Now if I can just keep the dogs from digging in them (among other things...gross).

Last night after dinner and I cleaned up the kitchen I decided to go sit out on the porch and just enjoy the evening. A few minutes after I went out there, Ryleigh came out and asked, "what are you doing?", me: " nothing, just sitting out here, why?" Ryleigh: "oh, I just wanted to be wherever you are".....that is a comment I will NEVER forget and just one of the many reasons that I absolutely LOVE being a mom to two wonderful girls!!

Allergies

Need I say more??? Ryleigh and I are both fighting them and I am absolutely miserable today. Do you hear me?? ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE!! My nose is stopped up, my throat & eyes are itchy and I am being lazy at the moment. Ryleigh has been coughing to the point that I think she is about to cough up a lung. I took her to the dr last week and they gave her a rx for Allegra which has not helped so I called them back yesterday and they have called her in an antibiotic that I have to go pick up today. That whole situation is a different story. Let's just say I was really aggravated last night around 8:00. Anyways....I took the girls to school this morning and ended up coming home and taking a nap from about 10:30-11:45. It is now 1:00 (cst) and I have done NOTHING today! I knew when I got home last night from Ryleigh's ball game that I should have taken a Zyrtec, but I didn't. That won't happen again!

What Have We Been Up To????

Well, we've been up to a little bit of everything.....softball, bluebonnets, roller skating, Texas A&M softball game, Old McDonalds farm, pond digging, making and enjoying a Redneck Waterslide and a photo shoot... Here are a few pics to show you....

The Redneck Waterslide....we are digging a 10ft deep pond and the girls decided to pour water down it and make a water slide out of it....they even pulled out the knee board that we use out on the lake and rode down the side on it....I must say it was really fun...I even got out there and did it but I am not going to post those pics :) BTW, I don't know why this is underlining...

Photo Shoot with Marissa

Texas Bluebonnets.....we stopped along the side of the road on our way home from the A&M softball game


We took Ryleigh's select softball team to see the A&M vs OU softball game and after the game the girls wanted to get autographs from the players....we all had such a good time and want to go back....Gig Em' Aggies!!


Of course there is always roller skating on Friday/Saturday nights....

We went to Old McDonalds farm one day....they have a playground, a train you can ride and you can also feed the animals....




And of course....softball. What can I say, I loved the sport when I was a kid and both of my girls love to play also. Kristyn decided not to play this year (she now regrets this decision), but Ryleigh plays league ball as well as select ball which is year round....

Ryleigh up to bat at one of the tournaments with her select team....The Ball Hawgz

and up to bat with the league team....The Heartbreakers
The Heartbreakers....Yes, Ryleigh and the girl 3rd from the left are the smallest on the team but they are also the youngest. Since they play year round we moved them up this year. Meaning we moved her up from 8 & under to 10 & under. I must say they both hang with the older girls and do just as good....

Well, I gotta go....Ryleigh has a game tonight and I have to get ready....blog at ya later!! I am going to try to do better and post more often, but as you can see, we have been pretty busy!