What Happened?

I've been so good about being budgety lately. Our dining expenses are way down, and I've cut back where I can in groceries and gas. It was probably a good thing I did, because my job at Bob's Produce Ranch ended this past Sunday, when I was told through a phone call that "the store was closing effective immediately."

Yep, that sucked big time!

So imagine my surprise when I opened my cell phone bill and found a HUGE jump in the amount I'm used to paying. I thought it was a mistake, and started scrolling through the bill. Then I found this.

those are just the extra charges on my phone, above and beyond what my normal bill is. See, the genius that I am, I reduced nate and my text messages per month, to cut our bill about $40. smart, right? only, from the looks of it, I went over my messages by about 227, and got charged that money anyways. AND, on top of that, since i figured out how to check my facebook on my phone, i racked up some hefty media net (internet) charges too, to the tune of $30.

DAAANNNNNNNNGGGGGG!

moral of the story: sometimes saving money can cost you money if you aren't being careful.

i am a mom of a tweenager

that's her in the front row center. she's great. (still a teenager, but great!) i let her have some of her mca friends over last friday night. it's important to me that she keeps those friendships, and it makes me feel good knowing the people she's letting in to her life. they were a swarm of fashion, gossip and fun...all at the same time. half the time, she was my little girl, decorating gingerbread men and laughing. the other half, i caught myself staring, not recognizing the voice of a girl who knows WAY more than i thought she did. (note to self, must have the dating talk again with her). we always tell her that she was the reason we have 4 kids: had she not been the sweetest and best baby ever, we would have never wanted more. she was so great, we knew we wanted more kids just like her.

last friday, i remembered why.

a new JibJab Christmas

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Conversations

1. Do you have a real or artificial tree? Artifical, all the beauty without the mess.
2. Do you like eggnog? in small quantities.
3. Favorite Holiday memory? getting a tube sock with stocking stuffers instead of a "classic" stocking. my dad's mom, grandma almquist, was a budgety lady.
4. Favorite Christmas movie of all time? White Christmas.
5. What do you have for dinner at Christmas? Christmas Eve: All nibblies (the best!) Christmas Day: Turkey and Ham, and all the fixings
6. Favorite Christmas song? A Baby Changes Everything by Faith Hill
7. Favorite Christmas treat? Spritz Cookies
8. Do you put up lights on the outside of your house? Nope, nate does. :P