Happy 9th Birthday, Derrick!

Derrick Thomas

03/30/04

10lbs 4oz 24 inches

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

6

 

7

 

8

 

 9!

 

 

Derrick LOVES anything to do with the solar system.  So I made him a sun cake surrounded by 8 cupcakes decorated like each planet :)

 

Derrick is starting to really love to read.  He's excellent at math in school and has too much energy at home!  Besides learning about the planets and stars, he keeps busy building spaceships with his Legos.  That's my boy :)

Financially Fit Friday

“When real faith grips you, you develop a mind-set that looks for the best in everything, refuses to give up, finds a way around or through every obstacle, and presses on to victory.”
- Norman Vincent Peale

Have you started a money makeover? What are you planning on paying CASH for? What bill are you paying off? Share a bit of your story! No story is too small to share! Real life stories keep Carrie motivated. Catch up on Our Story to see how far we’ve come.

Emergency Fund - $1000 – Stocked

House Fund – Goal $20,000.00 by 3/31/2013. I'm thankful that even though we had $1000s in medical and vehicle repair bills, that we always had the money for it. I'm also very thankful that we can now start putting our money towards the House Fund again! That was a long two months! We have one more major bill, but we are on a no-interest payment plan with them until we get reimbursed from Samaritan Ministries, hopefully in April.

According to the bank, we have all we need for our down payment (5% as of Feb 1st) and all the other fees and escrow money. So from here on out it's all extra money to use to fix the new house up or to put a bigger down payment (which is what we're going for). Now we just wait for a nice home to come onto the market. I've driven past several, and crossed them off due to location. I've got my eye on a few in our ideal location, but waiting for them to drop in price before we look at them. 

• Deposited $8.24 in spare change (I didn't have much, so I didn't make a trip to the bank)
• Deposited $2.18 from Endorse
• Deposited $153.71 in leftover income. 
• Withdrew $600 - We signed up our oldest in Tae Kwon Do.  Totally worth it! 
• Currently Saved $8,233.16

The following are the other loans we currently have, but will put them on the back burner as we save for a house bigger than a 2-bedroom for our family of SIX! We plan on keeping the duplex we currently own, and renting out the side we currently live in, thus earning more money each month that will pay these off for us

Hubby’s Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $9395

• Outstanding Balance is $8,494.81

My Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $6480

• Outstanding Balance is $5,817.57

Family Loan $3000 – I was told to keep this and put this towards a new house, since the person doesn’t need this money right now. Bonus

White Belt for Derrick!

Derrick earned his White Belt in Tae Kwon Do today!  Great Job, Dirk!  First of many to come :)

Financially Fit Friday

“When real faith grips you, you develop a mind-set that looks for the best in everything, refuses to give up, finds a way around or through every obstacle, and presses on to victory.”
- Norman Vincent Peale

Have you started a money makeover? What are you planning on paying CASH for? What bill are you paying off? Share a bit of your story! No story is too small to share! Real life stories keep Carrie motivated. Catch up on Our Story to see how far we’ve come.

Emergency Fund - $1000 – Stocked

House Fund – Goal $20,000.00 by 3/31/2013. I'm thankful that even though we had $1000s in medical and vehicle repair bills, that we always had the money for it. I'm also very thankful that we can now start putting our money towards the House Fund again! That was a long two months! We have one more major bill, but we are on a no-interest payment plan with them until we get reimbursed from Samaritan Ministries, hopefully in April.

According to the bank, we have all we need for our down payment (5% as of Feb 1st) and all the other fees and escrow money. So from here on out it's all extra money to use to fix the new house up or to put a bigger down payment (which is what we're going for). Now we just wait for a nice home to come onto the market. I've driven past several, and crossed them off due to location. I've got my eye on a few in our ideal location, but waiting for them to drop in price before we look at them. 

• Deposited $0 in spare change (I didn't have much, so I didn't make a trip to the bank)
• Deposited $2.38 from Endorse
• Deposited $25 in leftover gas money (Some weeks I really love Hy-Vee's Gas Rewards!)
• Deposited $290 in leftover income. We can finally start depositing in our House Fund again!
• Deposited $20 in work bonuses :)
• Currently Saved $8,669.03

The following are the other loans we currently have, but will put them on the back burner as we save for a house bigger than a 2-bedroom for our family of SIX! We plan on keeping the duplex we currently own, and renting out the side we currently live in, thus earning more money each month that will pay these off for us

Hubby’s Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $9395

• Outstanding Balance is $8,494.81

My Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $6480

• Outstanding Balance is $5,817.57

Family Loan $3000 – I was told to keep this and put this towards a new house, since the person doesn’t need this money right now. Bonus

Financially Fit Friday

“When real faith grips you, you develop a mind-set that looks for the best in everything, refuses to give up, finds a way around or through every obstacle, and presses on to victory.”
- Norman Vincent Peale

Have you started a money makeover? What are you planning on paying CASH for? What bill are you paying off? Share a bit of your story! No story is too small to share! Real life stories keep Carrie motivated. Catch up on Our Story to see how far we’ve come.

Emergency Fund - $1000 – Stocked

House Fund – Goal $20,000.00 by 3/31/2013. I'm thankful that even though we had $1000s in medical and vehicle repair bills, that we always had the money for it.  I'm also very thankful that we can now start putting our money towards the House Fund again!  That was a long two months!  We have one more major bill, but we are on a no-interest payment plan with them until we get reimbursed from Samaritan Ministries, hopefully in April.   

According to the bank, we have all we need for our down payment (5% as of Feb 1st) and all the other fees and escrow money. So from here on out it's all extra money to use to fix the new house up or to put a bigger down payment (which is what we're going for).  Now we just wait for a nice home to come onto the market.  I've driven past several, and crossed them off due to location.  I've got my eye on a few in our ideal location, but waiting for them to drop in price before we look at them. 

• Deposited $0 in spare change (I didn't have much, so I didn't make a trip to the bank)
• Deposited $3.68 from Endorse 
• Deposited $481 in leftover income.  We can finally start depositing in our House Fund again! 
• Currently Saved $8,331.65

The following are the other loans we currently have, but will put them on the back burner as we save for a house bigger than a 2-bedroom for our family of SIX! We plan on keeping the duplex we currently own, and renting out the side we currently live in, thus earning more money each month that will pay these off for us

Hubby’s Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $9395

• Outstanding Balance is $8,658.31

My Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $6480

• Outstanding Balance is $5,937.74

Family Loan $3000 – I was told to keep this and put this towards a new house, since the person doesn’t need this money right now. Bonus

Syllie-ism

Syllie and Victor lined up dining room chairs into a bridge near the couch.  She's running across her "bridge" and screaming, "I'M SUPERWOMAN!" with her arms out like she's flying and leaps onto the couch.

My little superhero lol

Victor-ism

V & S are lining up our chairs to make a bridge.

 V, while crossing it - Mom! This makes us healthy!
M - Why does it make you healthy?
V - Because at the end of the bridge, you get to jump on the couch.
M - Jumping on the couch makes you healthy, huh? Why?
V - Because when you jump on the couch you get hot. Like jumping jacks.
M - You mean you're exercising?
V - Yep.  

 Ha! Doing naughty things in the name of exercise I guess is ok haha!

Victor-ism

Love conversations with little ones...
V - Mom, can we have the soup for lunch that makes me not have boogers?
M - Chicken noodle soup?
V - No.
M - Ramen?
V- Yep!
I told him weeks ago soup has salt in it that kills stuff that makes him sick with boogers. He remembered. :)

Financially Fit Friday

“When real faith grips you, you develop a mind-set that looks for the best in everything, refuses to give up, finds a way around or through every obstacle, and presses on to victory.”
- Norman Vincent Peale

Have you started a money makeover? What are you planning on paying CASH for? What bill are you paying off? Share a bit of your story! No story is too small to share! Real life stories keep Carrie motivated. Catch up on Our Story to see how far we’ve come.

Emergency Fund - $1000 – Stocked

House Fund – Goal $20,000.00 by 3/31/2013. The house we put an offer in fell through, so we are starting from scratch. I have a new drive to work like crazy and stock pile more savings! We have paid off 1/2 our medical bills and will be reimbursed for them over then next 6 weeks now. Tuition is due at the end of February (hope to use part of our tax return for that). Otherwise, we can start putting all our money back into our House Fund!

According to the bank, we have all we need for our down payment (5% as of Feb 1st) and all the other fees and escrow money. So from here on out it's all extra money to use to fix the new house up or to put a bigger down payment (which is what we're going for). 

• Deposited $10.50 in spare change 
• Deposited $16.04 from a Mystery Shop
• Deposited $2.90 from Endorse
• Deposited $64 in leftover income. 
• Currently Saved $7,846.97

The following are the other loans we currently have, but will put them on the back burner as we save for a house bigger than a 2-bedroom for our family of SIX! We plan on keeping the duplex we currently own, and renting out the side we currently live in, thus earning more money each month that will pay these off for us

Hubby’s Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $9395

• Outstanding Balance is $8,658.31

My Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $6480

• Outstanding Balance is $5,937.74

Family Loan $3000 – I was told to keep this and put this towards a new house, since the person doesn’t need this money right now. Bonus

Financially Fit Friday

“When real faith grips you, you develop a mind-set that looks for the best in everything, refuses to give up, finds a way around or through every obstacle, and presses on to victory.”
- Norman Vincent Peale

Have you started a money makeover? What are you planning on paying CASH for? What bill are you paying off? Share a bit of your story! No story is too small to share! Real life stories keep Carrie motivated. Catch up on Our Story to see how far we’ve come.

Emergency Fund - $1000 – Stocked

House Fund – Goal $20,000.00 by 3/31/2013. The house we put an offer in fell through, so we are starting from scratch. I have a new drive to work like crazy and stock pile more savings! We have paid off 1/2 our medical bills and will be reimbursed for them over then next 6 weeks now. Tuition is due at the end of February (hope to use part of our tax return for that). Otherwise, we can start putting all our money back into our House Fund!

According to the bank, we have all we need for our down payment (5% as of Feb 1st) and all the other fees and escrow money. So from here on out it's all extra money to use to fix the new house up or to put a bigger down payment (which is what we're going for).

• Deposited $6.63 in spare change
• Deposited $10 from a work bonus
• Deposited 62c in interest
• Deposited $25 from leftover gas money (I had a 50c/gallon coupon, so I didn't need as much gas money this week!)
• Deposited $19.10 from Endorse
• Deposited $0 in leftover income.  We had to take a bit out of our House Fund to pay off our mechanic bills :(  From here on out I fully expect no more bills!  lol
• Withdrew $1196.05 to pay off mechanic and pay kids' tuition.  (Only one more medical bill to pay off!  I'm tired of all our extra income going towards bills, especially 3 mechanic trips in 3 weeks!  But still thankful to have the money, even if it's not what we wanted to spend it on!)
• Currently Saved $7,753.53

The following are the other loans we currently have, but will put them on the back burner as we save for a house bigger than a 2-bedroom for our family of SIX! We plan on keeping the duplex we currently own, and renting out the side we currently live in, thus earning more money each month that will pay these off for us

Hubby’s Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $9395

• Outstanding Balance is $8,658.31

My Student Loan as of 10/01/2011 $6480

• Outstanding Balance is $5,937.74

Family Loan $3000 – I was told to keep this and put this towards a new house, since the person doesn’t need this money right now. Bonus