Financial Peace

Nate and I are taking the Dave Ramsey class through our church (with a strong recommendation from my brother and his wife - thanks guys!) and are really enjoying it. We have a ways to go - ok, years - but at least (maybe) we are on our way! I have been meaning to share this for awhile (at least I am pretty sure I haven't yet) and kept forgetting so here goes.

They have a class for kids too. Kindergarten through 5th grade, I think. Since Brecca is in Kdg, this year, she gets to go while the two others stay in the nursery. They are trying to raise money to buy a tree to plant and the kids are supposed to be earning money toward it. Brecca came home with a note that said to brainstorm with your child ways for them to earn money. Brecca's response: "Why can't we just go to the bank and they'll give us money. They always give you and dad money." OK, maybe we ALL needed this class more that we thought!

This morning about 30 minutes after Nate took Braylee and Brax to the babysitters, I get a phone call from her.

Missy: UM, Lindsey, Sorry to bother you but did you see Brax's eyes this morning?

Me: (I hated to admit that I was yet to get out of bed when Nate left with them this morning but I had to!) No, he left before I got up this morning.

Missy: Well, I am pretty sure Brax has Pink Eye. Another kid had it a couple of weeks ago and I think he may have gotten it from her.

Me: OK, I'll be right there.

So, off I go to pick him up. Poor Brax! His eyes were red and watery and he looked miserable! How could my husband not have noticed this????? (OK, in his defense he is color blind and honestly can't see stuff like that. I recall a time in the sun for 8 hours asking him over and over again, "Am I getting red?" He kept telling me that I was fine. That was the worst sunburn I have ever had!) I took him to the dr. and not only does he have pink eye (which turns out isn't really a specific medical term) but also an ear infection AND a sinus infection. He acts completely fine though. Nothing seems to slow that kid down!

So, Nate and I are continuing with our plans for the weekend. We are going out to dinner with family tonight to celebrate Chelse's birthday. Happy Birthday Chelse!!!! Then tomorrow morning, we are heading to the big city to do some shopping and go out to eat for Valentines Day. We are taking the girls with us and they want to eat at Red Lobster. I'm not sure what the appeal is since they both get macaroni and cheese and I am sure it is no better than the mac and cheese anywhere else! I think the lobster tank may have something to do with it. If they only knew what those lobsters were there for! Talk about devastation!! :)

A Few Pics!

These pictures would look so much better with some green grass in the background! Hopefully it won't be too much longer. I usually love the winter but even I am ready for Spring!

Doctor, Ducks, Goats, and Kites

Braylee had to go to the doctor today. It was her 4 year old well-child visit. We are a little late, I know, but December is pretty hectic and I really didn't have any concerns that needed to be addressed immediately. The doctor thought she looked great. She was only in the 30th percentile of weight and the 50th of height but has been in that area all along so no concerns there. She does still wet the bed fairly frequently (she'll love me for writing that someday!) but that is also normal at this age. He checked her hemoglobin since she has been a little anemic since her first birthday but no results yet on that. The finger stick really hurt though! Plus she had 5 shots on top of that! Poor thing!!!

Since it was just Braylee and I today, we went to lunch when we left the doctor. She wanted a pancake and bacon (healthy lunch, huh?) and I figured after what she had just been through, I would just go with it. I had an omelet. Delicious! Then, we went to Wal-Mart and bought Valentines for the parties at daycare and school. We bought a loaf of bread for $1 and went to the park to feed the ducks. We met a family there who had a baby goat! They said he was a twin and his brother didn't survive and his mom rejected him. He was 11 days old and so tiny. Really cute though. We also saw some people there flying kites and they shared with us. It may have been Bray's first successful attempt at flying a kite so that was neat for her! We stopped for Happy Hour at Sonic before we headed home. Other than the six little pokes at the doctor's office, we had a really good day together! Unfortunately, I forgot the camera so no pictures. Braylee kept saying, "Take my picture!" It isn't very often we get time together just the two of us so we make the most of it when we can!

Land of the Living

Well, I feel like I have rejoined the land of the living! The kids were nice enough to share the flu with me and we are all just now finally on the mend.

Brecca had a birthday party last Saturday night - her first slumber party. The phone rang about 1:00am and Brecca had thrown up at the party (very unfortunate for the girl sleeping next to her! Let's just say her mom had to give her a good hair washing! :) ) Nate went and picked her up and brought her home.

About 3:30am I hear Brax crying. He has thrown up all over his bed. This continued until about 10:00am Sunday morning. Needless to say, we didn't make it to church!

Braylee had gone home with Nanny and Poppy Saturday night so I called Nanny first thing. Not a good night out there either. Braylee started throwing up about 5:30am.

I started Monday night about 10pm. I can honestly say I can't remember ever being that sick! Today (Friday) is actually the first day that I feel somewhat back to normal. Brecca was supposed to go out to Nanny and Poppy's this weekend but Poppy just called and said Nanny had started throwing up this afternoon! I feel so bad that we passed our sick germs along to her. I am sure Poppy is next. We also shared with my dad who missed a day of work this week with the same yucky stuff! Keep everyone in your prayers this weekend (especially Nanny)! It was miserable for me and I hate the thought of anyone else suffering through it.

Excellence

Brecca told me yesterday that she was going to make me a picture and she was going to write Excellence on it since I am such a good mom! I have no idea where she learned the word excellence and how she knew what it meant is beyond me. Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most! :) (I'm still waiting on the picture!)

We say bottom, not butt

This is a coversation we had in the car on the way to school today.

Brax - Mommy, we say bottom, not butt.
Brecca - Mom, Brax said butt!
Brax: I say bottom, not butt.
Brecca: No, you said butt.
Brax: Mommy, Di di (Brecca) say butt.

Finally I had to intervene!

Me: OK, we don't say butt. Nobody in this house says butt. So both of you, quit saying it!
Brax: Hey Di di, Mommy say butt. We don't say butt!