Guess what happened this week?

Well alot of things happened in my life this week, some I may share in later blogs BUT the most exciting thing that has happened to me in a long time happened this week: We started our Total Money Makeover on Wednesday, January 27th.

Let me give you a little background here - When my mom was married to my stepdad they fought and fought and eventually divorced over money. So money confrontation was very, very upsetting to me. Scott and I don't fight about money, we just do not communicate about money, period. So for years I have had goals, he has had goals, they just weren't the same. I was the "primary" bill payer/checkbook balancer, he just lived in this la la land where money grew on trees, ok not quite that bad. This week things changed. It is something I have been praying about for a very long time. I had even been faithfully listening to my 3 Dave Ramsey CD's trying to figure out how to make sense of this mess. And by mess, I mean mess of debt we have. So much that I am embarassed by it and would never dream of telling the total, but maybe as we pay bills off I will share those amounts, I dunno. Anyway, this week we sat down with the budgeting software I got from the Dave Ramsey website and made a Cash Flow Plan. And Scott has made us stick with it. I am so excited, we have our little envelopes for fuel, groceries, babysitting, and blow $$. I can share that Murphy's Law has already hit us, but we are just regrouping and adjusting the plan as needed. This has been such a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. To think I was scared to talk to him about money, and he didn't even raise an eye. We both committed to never, ever borrowing money again. We don't care how bad our credit may or may not get because like Dave says, we won't ever need it again.

We talked alot this week about how did we get in this mess? Why don't we sit down together and pay bills, make a budget, etc. We both felt like our parents never really sat us down and taught us how to do this, and we all know the schools don't teach it. Now, I can say that my Dad and stepmom have tried. They gave us some literature and CD's a few years back. Obviously we didn't really soak in what they were saying then. But now it is. We are even developing Hannah her own little envelope system so she will know how to handle money. We also talked alot about how easy it is to get credit and how society has become so accustomed to wanting and getting on credit, not wanting, saving, and then getting.

Anyway, lots of other exciting and emotional (right Jess?) things happened this week too, but this by far is the best and most life changing. I am so proud of us!

Weekly Chore List

I actually made this list a while back, when Scott was gone to the Fire Academy. Needless to say it didn't get done then. But I have decided this week to give it a whirl. I think it will be a little easier now that Scott is home more. He can look at it and see the "chore of the day" and take care of that chore while we are gone OR if he is gone the kids and I can easily tackle it at night.

Monday - Bathrooms
Tuesday - Kitchen (counters, cabinets, and fridge)
Wednesday - Trash
Thursday - Dusting & Office
Friday - Kids rooms
Saturday/Sunday - Floors & Laundry

I know on the weekends we will add stuff in like wash windows, clean out closets, clean up outside, etc. But if we only did these basics I would be so happy! What do you guys think? Do you have a "chore list"? I know this is probably Tina's everyday list. LOL! Love yah Tina!

Results

Today we had our weigh in. I lost 3 lbs! Our team lost 8! I am so pumped!

More Pictures

I thought I would post some recent pictures of the kids for your comparison.

Random Pictures

So I had a few moments to myself today, so I decided to scan some old pictures in. I do need an opinion on them though. People always, always say that my kids look just like their dad. Now, I realize neither of them are my twins, but I really, really feel like they favor me more than Scott. So here are the pics to analyze. Let me know what you think! (Chrissy - I am soliciting an opinion here, it's ok)


June 28, 1997

Our Engagement Picture

After a High School Football Game

Weekly Update

Here is a run down of our week:

Jack - has now pooped and peed on the potty. He is officially potty trained! I am so excited. I truly believe this was a blessing from God. He only wears diapers at night now and 75% of the time he is dry when he wakes up.

Hannah - continues to do well in school. She goes to gymnastics on Monday night and loves it.

Both kids are seriously suffering from cabin fever. Reading between the lines this means my kids are out of control right now! It is a constant battle. I cannot wait until spring is here. All of us will be so much happier.

Scott - he is working hard at Mehlville Fire, and loves his job. I love that things have settled down and he has really started helping me out alot at home. I am so thankful for this. Having a husband that works hard and helps at home is a huge blessing!

I went back for my final semester of RN school. In less than 4 months I will be a graduate nurse. Sometime in June I will take my boards. I am so excited for my new adventure. I have a couple of promising leads at St. John's, but if they don't work out I know I can find a job at the hospital also. I have been trying to decide when I will go back for my bachelor's degree. Initially I thought I would go right away. Now I am leaning more toward let's give my family a year or so to relax. Plus I am sure I will have enough stress settling into my new role as an RN. On top of all that we really want to add to our family this year, another reason to take a year or two off. I would really like to lose some weight before I get pregnant again which leads me to the other exciting news this week. Thanks to Chrissy blogging about her Biggest Loser competition! I was telling the girls that I work with about the Owensville competition and one of them is a captain on the St. John's Relay for Life team, so they decided to start at competition at St. John's. I am so excited. I didn't realize how awesome it is to have support at work! Kendra and Amy are on my team and I love them. Friday it was hilarious (the first day) we were all whining about how hungry we were. We had our little WW books out trying to figure out a low point snack. It was a hoot! Our competition ends April 16th and I would really like to lose at least 10% in that time, which equals about 22.5 pounds. Yes I realize I just told you all how much I weigh, but I don't care. Obesity is such an epidemic right now, instead of being ashamed of where we start I think we should celebrate where we are heading. Anyway, that was a bit of a soap box, oh well. Let the fun begin. We all joke about how we are gonna sabatoge or temp the other teams, but I never would. I hope our team wins but if we don't it is no biggie. I figure we win if we lose something.

Have a great weekend everyone! I love you all!

Jaimee

Potty Training Update

Jack has got it by golly! He has got the peeing in the potty down. I think he has had a total of two pee accidents all week. I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!! Now the poop thing is another issue. First he went from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon without pooping. Somehow he managed to sneak away when he was with Scott and pooped in his undies. So we still have some work to do there. But I am so excited he is peeing in the potty, and he comes and tells us, it isn't just me constantly asking him. Yippee!!

Why didn't you tell me?

Ok, I got two bones to pick with you gals:
1. Why didn't anyone tell me that dieting is hard? I mean seriously, I know I know this but for some reason I didn't believe it this time. I mean it is day 3 and my flex points are in a negative balance. How does this happen? It's like once I tell myself I am gonna be careful it makes it even worse. Oh well, I am still writing what I bite hopefully it will get better.
2. Little boys should sit on the toilet backwards. I am serious on this one. Jack is finally interested in potty training so today he decided to wear his spider man undies. So we sit on the cute little cushy potty chair I bought. Umm, I guess my kid is ginormous or something but he looked like Shaq sitting in a kindergarten chair. So I thought well Hannah has this ring thing she used to put on the toilet. Got him up there, looked great. Pee, well um, everywhere. So the next time around I thought him, there has to be a better way. So I turned him around. Ding ding ding! We have a winner, pee went into water and Jack didn't fall in. I don't know if it is maybe because we have oval toilets instead of round but it worked great. Only down side is you have to take their pants completely off. Anyway, after that he proceeded to pee in his spidies three times so we went back to diapers. I am fine with that because I do not think he is ready. But I will still continue to encourage him!

Who's ready to get fired up??

About what? Getting healthy! I know I am. I have read or heard people talk about their "aha" moment or the day the lights went on or some say the day they hit rock bottom. Whatever you wanna call it, I had mine. You wanna know what it is? Probably the worst possible thing that could happen to a woman. You know those things they should teach all men not to say. Yep, my bosses husband asked me how my pregnancy was going..... Now in his defense we do have someone in our office who is pregnant and he thought it was me. In my defense the scrubs I had on were not form fitting. But, I am sure that I could pass for 5 months pregnant easily. So with that being said, I am headed to the cabinet to get out my Weight Watchers points stuff.

So my little cheerleading blog friends, here I go. Cheer me on, keep posting posts that are encouraging and are gonna make me jealous about how much weight you have lost (Chrissy & Kim). I personally intend to pray everyday for self control over food and the energy to get moving. The adventure begins now.