Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Our 1st Visitors!
My cousins, Danielle and Jade, flew from Nebraska to SoCal for a long weekend vacation and reunion with us. We had so much fun with them here. They made a wonderful offer to babysit the kids while Ross and I went on a date, and we of course took them up on it! (We went to Medieval Times!) We also all went to Seaworld together in San Diego! Unfortunately, I forgot my memory card when we went there, so I don't have any pictures of that fun day.
Thanks for visiting Danielle and Jade! You are welcome here anytime!
We hope you enjoyed your time in SoCal!
On our way to the gym for a friendly game of Racquetball.
Ross & Angel at Medieval Times Dinner Show
Thanks for visiting Danielle and Jade! You are welcome here anytime!
We hope you enjoyed your time in SoCal!
On our way to the gym for a friendly game of Racquetball.
Ross & Angel at Medieval Times Dinner ShowMany Names for Grace
Ross' little nickname for Grace is G-Race. Our little girl has quite a few nick names. Aunt b calls her Baby G, Ezra calls her Gracie, Grandma calls her Gracie Faith, I call her Grace Face, and sometimes we call her Crazy Gracie. =) She is also called Gorgeous, Sweet Baby Girl and other nice pet names.=)
Evening at the Park
Everyday is a great day for the park in SoCal. Ross spent time with Grace at home while Ezra and I took some time to walk to the park together and play.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Parenting is Hard!
Ezra is a kid that is full of passion. Everything he does he seems to do it with huge amounts of zest. He plays hard, sleeps hard, talks loud, laughs huge, wears his heart on his sleeve, and he loves wonderfully.
The last couple of months have been a little challenging. I don't know if it is Ezra's age or what, but he has been a bit of a handful. I know the move has been stressful for him. He has been having a hard time obeying. He likes to challenge our authority a lot and see if we mean business. Ross is really good at laying down the law and sticking with it. Ezra obeys Ross a lot easier than he does me. So, I have been trying to be a lot stricter and demand respect from him. Ross will be gone a lot for his work while we are raising the kids and I need them to know I am in charge when Daddy isn't home.
Anyway, trying to force Ezra to obey has been a bit stressful. I have found myself frustrated and exhausted by the end of the day. The Lord has been teaching me though that it is for sure time to be praying for my children and their wills. I have been praying first of all that Ezra chooses to live for Christ early in life and that he will never stray. I have also been praying that he would honor Ross and I and want to obey. Obeying us is obeying God. I have been convicted that I haven't been praying for him like I should. As parents we also need to pray for wisdom in parenting our precious children. Who would have thought parenting was so hard!? I sure didn't until I had a preschooler!
I have also been praying that I am reminded that Ezra's passion that he brings to all situation is a gift from God. This passion can be overwhelming sometimes, but I know he is unique and God has given him this zest and it is a gift that will be used for Kingdom causes.
Ezra doesn't know a stranger, he makes friends with everyone, and he loves so well.
Parenting is hard, but I am so thankful I have the Lord to look to for wisdom.
This picture is of Ezra eating a fork full of butter.
The last couple of months have been a little challenging. I don't know if it is Ezra's age or what, but he has been a bit of a handful. I know the move has been stressful for him. He has been having a hard time obeying. He likes to challenge our authority a lot and see if we mean business. Ross is really good at laying down the law and sticking with it. Ezra obeys Ross a lot easier than he does me. So, I have been trying to be a lot stricter and demand respect from him. Ross will be gone a lot for his work while we are raising the kids and I need them to know I am in charge when Daddy isn't home.
Anyway, trying to force Ezra to obey has been a bit stressful. I have found myself frustrated and exhausted by the end of the day. The Lord has been teaching me though that it is for sure time to be praying for my children and their wills. I have been praying first of all that Ezra chooses to live for Christ early in life and that he will never stray. I have also been praying that he would honor Ross and I and want to obey. Obeying us is obeying God. I have been convicted that I haven't been praying for him like I should. As parents we also need to pray for wisdom in parenting our precious children. Who would have thought parenting was so hard!? I sure didn't until I had a preschooler!
I have also been praying that I am reminded that Ezra's passion that he brings to all situation is a gift from God. This passion can be overwhelming sometimes, but I know he is unique and God has given him this zest and it is a gift that will be used for Kingdom causes.
Ezra doesn't know a stranger, he makes friends with everyone, and he loves so well.
Parenting is hard, but I am so thankful I have the Lord to look to for wisdom.
This picture is of Ezra eating a fork full of butter.
Sleeping Beauty
Isn't she precious!?
Grace had her 2 1/2 month appt this past week. She got immunized and got weighed and measured. She is weighing in at 11 lb 14 oz! She is also 22 1/2 inches long now! She has grown so much! We have figured out this past week that she is very ticklish!
Grace had her 2 1/2 month appt this past week. She got immunized and got weighed and measured. She is weighing in at 11 lb 14 oz! She is also 22 1/2 inches long now! She has grown so much! We have figured out this past week that she is very ticklish!Monday, March 9, 2009
Hiking in Malibu
We enjoyed our Sunday afternoon by going hiking in Malibu. It was different than hiking in Alaska, but it was very enjoyable. There is so much to do here! Every weekend is like a little vacation!
Saving Money
We hear it all the time now on tv and the radio..... "people are losing jobs, losing their houses, we are in a recession maybe even a depression..."
Ross and I personally haven't been effected by this. Ross' job isn't exactly in jeopardy.
With all the talk though about Americans spending less to save because everyone is scared all of the sudden it has caused me to look at our own financial state and see how we could save a few dollars here and there for a rainy day or just to build up more of an emergency fund.
Up until recently Americans saved -.5 percent a month! Which means people overall were spending more than they made! I am glad people are waking up and taking more control of themselves and their finances.
Okay back to how this affects our family. We want to make sure we are saving maximum amount of money each more for liquid savings and for our retirement fund. So we have been exploring ways to save more money.
One way we are doing this is by driving to the Air Force base 30 minutes away twice a month to buy groceries. I have always shopped at the commissary.I would usually do the majority of the shopping once a week. I would plan menus, but then I would still be going back to the local grocery store a few times a week for something. Well, the more times I went to the store the more money I spent! I would walk away with more things than what was on my list.
So, now I only shop 2 times a month. I go with 2 weeks worth of menu planning and I stock up for 2 weeks with the exception of a few fresh fruits and veggies and I will once a week at the local store so that we have good fresh fruits.
We also recently bought our own espresso machine to make coffee at home! This will pay for itself very quickly!
We are also using the cash envelope system. We take out a certain amount of cash for groceries, entertainment, clothes, and personal supplies (example- haircuts, diapers, preschool, etc). When the money is gone, it is gone.
I was recently listening to Dave Ramsey (Financial Peace University) . go to daveramsey.com
He is a Christian financial guru. He said something that stuck w/ me. He said that when you are making a budget don't look at your tithe/giving and your savings money as something to fit into your budget. Both of these items are a given. Act like they aren't even part of your income. I learned a long time ago that we can't afford not to tithe and give, so that hasn't been the problem, but putting money into savings each month had become a lower priority. If you look at that money as part of your budget it will start to slip lower on the list as a priority. That is why you should automatically get it put into your savings account. If you get auto draft then your work should be able to put a designated amount into your savings.
I have also enjoyed watch Suze Orman's tv show. I don't agree with everything she says. She likes to slip in political views sometimes, but overall she is super smart when it comes to investing and budgets. I love the segment on the show called "Can I afford it?. Check out her show. http://www.suzeorman.com/ On the "Can I afford it" segment people call in and say they want to buy something and then they explain their financial state. They say their balances and debts and then Suze denies them or approves them for the item they want to splurge on. It is quite entertaining to see how much debt or savings people have.
Okay, so my question to you is this. Since the recession has your family changed your spending habits? If so, how are you doing that? I would love to get more ideas of ways to cut back in our spending!
I need to get on a soapbox before I close..... no matter how tough times are financially.... NEVER STOP GIVING! Our money is NOT our money... it is God's money!
Ross and I personally haven't been effected by this. Ross' job isn't exactly in jeopardy.
With all the talk though about Americans spending less to save because everyone is scared all of the sudden it has caused me to look at our own financial state and see how we could save a few dollars here and there for a rainy day or just to build up more of an emergency fund.
Up until recently Americans saved -.5 percent a month! Which means people overall were spending more than they made! I am glad people are waking up and taking more control of themselves and their finances.
Okay back to how this affects our family. We want to make sure we are saving maximum amount of money each more for liquid savings and for our retirement fund. So we have been exploring ways to save more money.
One way we are doing this is by driving to the Air Force base 30 minutes away twice a month to buy groceries. I have always shopped at the commissary.I would usually do the majority of the shopping once a week. I would plan menus, but then I would still be going back to the local grocery store a few times a week for something. Well, the more times I went to the store the more money I spent! I would walk away with more things than what was on my list.
So, now I only shop 2 times a month. I go with 2 weeks worth of menu planning and I stock up for 2 weeks with the exception of a few fresh fruits and veggies and I will once a week at the local store so that we have good fresh fruits.
We also recently bought our own espresso machine to make coffee at home! This will pay for itself very quickly!
We are also using the cash envelope system. We take out a certain amount of cash for groceries, entertainment, clothes, and personal supplies (example- haircuts, diapers, preschool, etc). When the money is gone, it is gone.
I was recently listening to Dave Ramsey (Financial Peace University) . go to daveramsey.com
He is a Christian financial guru. He said something that stuck w/ me. He said that when you are making a budget don't look at your tithe/giving and your savings money as something to fit into your budget. Both of these items are a given. Act like they aren't even part of your income. I learned a long time ago that we can't afford not to tithe and give, so that hasn't been the problem, but putting money into savings each month had become a lower priority. If you look at that money as part of your budget it will start to slip lower on the list as a priority. That is why you should automatically get it put into your savings account. If you get auto draft then your work should be able to put a designated amount into your savings.
I have also enjoyed watch Suze Orman's tv show. I don't agree with everything she says. She likes to slip in political views sometimes, but overall she is super smart when it comes to investing and budgets. I love the segment on the show called "Can I afford it?. Check out her show. http://www.suzeorman.com/ On the "Can I afford it" segment people call in and say they want to buy something and then they explain their financial state. They say their balances and debts and then Suze denies them or approves them for the item they want to splurge on. It is quite entertaining to see how much debt or savings people have.
Okay, so my question to you is this. Since the recession has your family changed your spending habits? If so, how are you doing that? I would love to get more ideas of ways to cut back in our spending!
I need to get on a soapbox before I close..... no matter how tough times are financially.... NEVER STOP GIVING! Our money is NOT our money... it is God's money!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Rescued Charger
I rescued my battery charger from a bag that I packed for the hospital when I had Grace!
I love that little lower lip
Big Brother Ezra.. " Take lots of pictures of me Mom!"
Chicks dig me.
I took these pictures today. The pictures of Grace are her when she is ready for a nap.
I love that little lower lip
Big Brother Ezra.. " Take lots of pictures of me Mom!"
Chicks dig me.Wednesday, March 4, 2009
A Dead Battery
My camera battery has died. Okay, so you are thinking..."okay, so charge it!". I would, but I can't find the charger! I am sure it is in one of the boxes full of random things. I will get to it..eventually.
Just wanted to let you know why there might not be pictures posted for a few days....or a week.=)
I do have verbal updates though!
In no particular order:
#1) We got a home espresso machine! Ross says I have no excuse to be in a bad mood now since I have espresso at my fingertips...and we all know that espresso always makes my days better.=)
#2) My big brother Saul is getting married in June!
#3) Ezra starts preschool next week!! I am so excited for him. He is soooo ready for it! It will be two days a week for three hours each time.
#4) Ross gets to dress up a lot for his job and he is one handsome man in his suit and tie.
#5)Grace slept 9 hours last night!! whoah!!
#6) We scored free YMCA memberships including free childcare! I love the untold benefits of being a military family!
#7)My cousins are coming to visit later this month!
#8) My great friends Melissa and Have will be visiting from WA in May!
#9) I have really been focusing on how to have a organize and clean home and doing it in a way that won't stress me out because it will always be picked up (as much as can be w/ a three year old). I will write a more detailed blog on this soon.
#10) I need friends. Yes, I am a bit lonely down here since I don't know anyone. We are still looking for a church. We will be trying a new one this coming Sunday.
Just wanted to let you know why there might not be pictures posted for a few days....or a week.=)
I do have verbal updates though!
In no particular order:
#1) We got a home espresso machine! Ross says I have no excuse to be in a bad mood now since I have espresso at my fingertips...and we all know that espresso always makes my days better.=)
#2) My big brother Saul is getting married in June!
#3) Ezra starts preschool next week!! I am so excited for him. He is soooo ready for it! It will be two days a week for three hours each time.
#4) Ross gets to dress up a lot for his job and he is one handsome man in his suit and tie.
#5)Grace slept 9 hours last night!! whoah!!
#6) We scored free YMCA memberships including free childcare! I love the untold benefits of being a military family!
#7)My cousins are coming to visit later this month!
#8) My great friends Melissa and Have will be visiting from WA in May!
#9) I have really been focusing on how to have a organize and clean home and doing it in a way that won't stress me out because it will always be picked up (as much as can be w/ a three year old). I will write a more detailed blog on this soon.
#10) I need friends. Yes, I am a bit lonely down here since I don't know anyone. We are still looking for a church. We will be trying a new one this coming Sunday.
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